Five Weekend Afterthoughts 4/30/12

1.  For the second time in the last three years, Attica Raceway Park's catchfence did a masterful job in keeping a race car in play and preventing several folks from getting injured...or even killed.  Two years ago, Danny Smith had a frightening accident while qualifying his Sprint Car at Attica and went full throttle into a fence that separates the race track from the staging lane and pit area.  This past Friday night, during the Late Model feature, Chris Ross (uninjured) was forced up into the catchfence near the end of the front straightaway and, just like it should, it kept Ross's car from careening into the grandstands.  In just 23 minutes, the Attica Raceway Park staff fixed the fence and support poles and we were back racing.  I can't help but wonder how many tracks have safety features like catchfences and guardrails that are simply for looks and wouldn't have held up in a situation like this.  Maybe some track owners need to ask themselves, "If a Late Model went full speed into my catchfence, would it keep the car on the race track?"  If you even have to think about your answer, it's probably time to do some work.  

2.  Bound and determined to go somewhere Saturday after Eldora cancelled, I ended up staying home.  After holding out for I-96 (MI) Speedway, their 12:30pm rain out left me with just a few options.  Brownstown (IN) Speedway and Lawrenceburg (IN) Speedway were both rolling the dice, but I decided not to and it paid off as both programs eventually fell victim to rain.  The lone track within four hours of home to race..?  Surprisingly, it was Crystal Speedway in Crystal, MI, where Zach Olger bested a field of 21 Late Models.

3.  Hat tips are in order for Brad Neat and Bub McCool for their WoO Late Model wins over the weekend.  It's always good to see new faces in victory lane and these guys are two of the most likable driers in our sport.

4.  An early check of the local weather forecast for the upcoming weekend shows (no surprise) scattered thunderstorms for both Friday and Saturday.  And, of course, in an unrelated story... 

5.  ...Limaland Motorsports Park is set to host the Sunoco ALMS Late Models this Friday, an event that has been rained out four straight years.  The last Late Model show held at the 1/4-mile track...?  May 11, 2007.  Duane Chamberlain capitalized on a late race mistake by Jason Montgomery to grab the ALMS-sanctioned win over Montgomery, Rick Combs, Jerry Bowersock, and Brian Ruhlman.

Top 10 Craziest Things... #5

#5  -  Tyler County Speedway 7/31/99

What Happened:  For a period of time in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the 40-lap races at Tyler County Speedway almost always seemed to be decided in the final few laps.  That was never more true than it was on July 31, 1999 with the running of the All-American 40.

In typical Tyler County fashion, Dave Groves and Scott Peltz wowed the packed house with a high speed game of cat-and-mouse throughout the closing stages of the race with Groves maintaining an ever-so-slight advantage.  On the final circuit, Peltz reeled in race-leader Groves one final time as the lead duo encountered lapped traffic entering turns three and four coming around for the checkered flag.  Peltz would take advantage of the backmarkers and pass Groves going into three and four.  Coming off four, Groves pulled a crossover slingshot move but, in a side-by-side drag race to the start/finish line, Peltz appeared to nip Groves by mere inches.

As both scorers had the #15 marked as the race winner, Steve Davis announced that Georgetown, OH’s Scott Peltz was the winner of the $3000 paycheck, much to the delight of the fans in attendance, as Peltz was somewhat of a fan-favorite at Tyler County.  When Peltz and his crew made their way back onto the track for the victory lane celebration, the crowd went nuts.  That’s when the unthinkable happened.  Flagman Barry Youst radioed up to the tower and told the scorers that Peltz did not win the race.  Youst insisted that Groves was the first to cross the line, regardless of what the scorers had.  Standing on the track anxiously awaiting to interview Peltz, I was baffled to say the least.

In an unforeseen turn of events, and with Yours Truly holding the wireless mic on the race track, the decision was reversed and Steve Davis had to announce over the PA system that Dave Groves was declared the winner.  A loud chorus of boos fell over the speedway as irate fans began littering the grounds with bottles, trash, and basically anything they could get their hands on.  It wasn't that fans didn't like Groves, because they did.  It was the fact that everyone witnessed Peltz cross the line first.  I distinctly remember people calling ME out, asking what the hell was going on, and wondering why we screwed Peltz out of the win.

As a 19 year-old announcer at the time, that was a pretty helpless feeling.

A few weeks later, Butch McGill's wife, Cindy, gave me a videotape of the race.  From the angle in which she filmed, Peltz was clearly the first driver to cross the start-finish line.  However, interestingly enough, he was also the LAST driver to cross the line, meaning Groves made the winning pass right at the stripe.

So much controversy followed the race that, behind closed doors, track promoter Scott Farley eventually paid Peltz (at least a portion of) the $3000 first place money.

Looking Back:  At the time, many folks were pretty upset that Peltz got screwed out of the win.  It marks one of the only times I have ever seen one flagman overturn the decision of every single scorer and every single official in the press box.  Having to dodge the flying beer bottles and debris being thrown my direction is something I hope I never have to encounter again.

Besides Dirt Late Models...

I'm guessing most of the people who read this blog are fairly hardcore Dirt Late Model fans, with a few others sprinkled in here and there.  But the question is, what other classes besides Dirt Late Models are your favorites to watch?

As for me, I love taking in a Big Block Modified show whenever possible.  I wish there were more shows close to me but, understandably, there are virtually no Big Block Mods in this area and, getting those guys to travel can be extremely difficult. However, on Tuesday August 7th, the Super DIRTcar Big Block Modified Series will be invading Ionia, Michigan's I-96 Speedway, so that may be a date to mark on your calendar if you're like me and enjoy watching those cats race.

Locally, the NRA Sprint Invaders (360 Sprints) seem to put on an absolutely outstanding show practically every time I see them, especially at Eldora.  As for the 410 Sprints, I'm usually hit-or-miss with the winged-wonders, but I've found Attica's weekly show to have some of the most talented drivers and best side-by-side racing for the 410s of anybody around.

Open Wheel Modifieds just continue to gain in popularity (we had 44 for a regular show Saturday night at Eldora) and have a nice mix of young up-and-coming as well as some old veterans and former Late Model pilots.  I'll take a good UMP Modified show any day of the week.

I guess, in summary, Dirt Late Models are where my heart lies, but I'm simply a RACE fan.  If it's on dirt, I'll typically watch it.

However, I'm curious to hear from some of you as to what your favorite "other" classes are.  What do you enjoy watching besides our beloved Late Models...??

Five Weekend Afterthoughts 4/24/12

Attica was rained out after the Sprint Car heats Friday night.

1.  Mother Nature continued her early season dominance, besting a few tracks Friday night shows and several races Saturday night.  As for me, I hit Attica Friday after work, only to be rained out after the Sprint Car heats.  Does everybody remember when we went racing in mid-March during the 80 degree weather?

2.  Wayne County swung open the gates Friday night and, from everyone I have talked to, the place was packed in the pits and grandstands both.  This is good for the fans in the area and great for Jason Flory and company, who have been working nonstop to get the place reopened.  Russ King ran off and hid from the 28-car Late Model field.

3.  If you read last week's edition of Fast Talk on DirtonDirt, you'll notice that i mentioned Scott Bloomquist has a very good chance to rattle off "four or five wins in a row" now that he's finally pick up that elusive first win.  Well, Friday night, he proved me right and won at Roaring Knob.   

4.  After Eldora's season-opening Sunoco ALMS Late Model shoe was washed out, we finally got our first race in the books at the Big E.  Tracy Hines won the USAC Sprint A-Main with a last lap pass on Dave Darland.  Meanwhile, Joey Kramer bested a strong field of 44 Modifieds for his first Eldora win in over 10 years.

5.  Kudos to my dad, Larry Jarrett, on a nice run Friday night at 250 Speedway in Cadiz, Ohio.  After being charged with an early race caution in the Street Stock feature, Dad rallied from the tail of the field to post a solid third place finish.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: May 1993

This is the first installment of "Throwback Thursday".  Periodically, I'll pick either a random week or a random event and give you the rundown of results from various tracks in and around the area.  Enjoy!   -DJ-


MAY 21, 1993
Ace High Speedway (Conneaut, OH)
Late Models - Chub Frank, Todd Andrews, Brian Ruhlman, Dan Armbruster, John Venable
Limited Lates - Mark Osburn, Frank Ponlatowski, Steve Uplinger, Craig Pearson, Matt Urban

Carter County Speedway (Olive Hill, KY)
Late Models - Jack Boggs, Weasel Rhoades, Delmas Conley, Charlie Seymour, Randy Boggs

R&R Speedway (Zanesville, OH)
Late Models - Ted Johnson, Jeff Abrams, Tye Long, Jack Walker, Butch Hartman
Sportsmen - Greg Baumberger, DJ Cline, Steve Steele, Mike Eaton, Denny Klug
Street Stocks - Daryl Dodd, Freddie Jenkins, Larry Jarrett, Marty Jenkins, Mitch Brunton

Oakshade Raceway (Wauseon, OH)
Late Models - Bill Hahn, Dennis Potridge, Shane Yoder, Matt Miller, Rody Schroyer

Pennyrile Raceway (Mortons Gap, KY)
Late Models - Kevin Claycomb, Ned Lucas, Bill Millikan, Todd Rust, Jim Grant

Ponderosa Speedway (Junction City, KY)

Late Models - EM Snowden, Paul Feistritzer, Randall Chupp, Sam Hundley, Eddie Carrier Sr.

Taylor County Speedway (Campbellsville, KY)
Late Models - Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Johnny Wheeler, Dale Atwood, Doug Smith

Union County Speedway (Liberty, IN)
Late Models - Tory Collins, Bobby Carnes, Barry Doss, Mike Bechelli, Todd Gilpin


MAY 22, 1993
Barren County Speedway (Glasgow, KY)
NDTA Late Models - Scott Bloomquist, John Gill, Randall Chupp, Kevin Claycomb, Terry English, Finn Watson, Eddie Pace, Paul Feistritzer, Dion Deason, Rod Reed

Brown County Speedway (Russellville, OH)
Late Models - Charlie Fannin, Bill Williams, John Whitney, Roger Edwards, Larry Whitaker

Brownstown Speedway (Brownstown, IN)
Late Models (odd) - CJ Rayburn, Lee Fleetwood, Jim Curry, Marty O'Neal, Earl Plessinger 
Late Models (even) - Don O'Neal, Scott Graham, Doug Ault, Dan Sturgeon, Gary Barrow

Buckeye Speedway (Orrville, OH)
Late Models - Jim Gentry, Blaine Aber, Dean Alexander, Bob Moskey, Ryan Markham
Pro Stocks - Took Wiles, Rick Moore, Alan Baker, Jim Martin, Don Conley

Fleming County Speedway (Goddard, KY)
Late Models - Vern Lefevers, Bill Castle, Bucky Jackson, Mark Morrison, Matt Gilardi

Florence Speedway (Union, KY)
Late Models - Steve Landrum, Audie McWilliams, Troy Green, Rick Corbin, Greg Williams

K-C Raceway (Alma, OH)
STARS Late Models - Davey Johnson, Bob Pierce, Donnie Moran, Jackie Boggs, Joe Meadows, Mike Balzano, Bart Hartman, Rick Eckert, Chub Frank, Jack Boggs

Midway Speedway (Crooksville, OH)
Late Models - Andy Bond, Larry Bond, Scott Peltz, Tye Long, Dave White
Sportsmen - Jeff Wood, Greg Gibson, Tim Penley, Brian Eaton, Dick Grimm

Muskingum County Speedway (Dresden, OH)
Late Models - Keith Berner, Doug Dodd, Chuck Maloney, Bobby Oney, Ted Johnson
Sportsmen - Chuck Russell, DJ Cline, Greg Baumberger, Jerry Snyder, Robin Duston
Street Stocks - Daryl Dodd, Ryan Miller, Larry Jarrett, Mitch Brunton, Freddie Jenkins

Oakshade Raceway (Wauseon, OH)
Late Models - Kris Patterson, Rody Schroyer, Todd Schroyer, George Lindsey, Bill Hahn

Ohio Valley Speedway (Lubeck, WV)
Late Models - Kenny Johnson, Sonny Fisher, Ryne Cline, Clair Sullivan, Steve Lucas
Semi-Lates - Danny Mullens, Judy White, Don White, Eddie Clendenin, Eric Otto

Pennsylvania Motor Speedway (Imperial, PA)
Late Models - Ben Miley, Mark Myers, Lynn Geisler, Lou Bradich, John Mason

Perry County Speedway (Hazard, KY)
Late Models - Eddie Carrier Sr, Dave Dixon, Smoky Collins

Portsmouth Raceway Park (Portsmouth, OH) 
Late Models - Delmas Conley, Jeff Houser, Randy Boggs, Kenny Christy, Barry Bragdon

Richmond Raceway (Richmond, KY)
Late Models - Mike Jewell, Tim Tungate, Marty Stepp, Steve Cornelius, Steve Boley

Tyler County Speedway (Middlebourne, WV)
Late Models - Butch McGill, Jeff Burdette, Bill Childers, Mike Hawkins, Bobby Hill
Semi-Lates - Steve Steele, Benny Thiemann, Mike Eaton, Leroy Ferguson, Ron Conley


MAY 23, 1993
Rockcastle Speedway (Mt. Vernon, KY)
Late Models - Jeff Wilson, Joey Daniel, Johnny Wheeler, Bobby Carrier Sr, Norman Kidwell

Best Race Track Sandwiches

It's a somewhat comical debate that comes up every now and then.  It usually starts after a trip to the concession stand...one person comments on how good the chicken sandwich is.  Or, sometimes, the opposite...you take a bite of that cheeseburger and automatically know it's a leftover from the previous week.

Either way, there's just some race track sandwiches that stand out more than others. Today, I want to give you the top three race track sandwiches I've had the pleasure of devouring over the years.

#3 - Union County Speedway (Liberty, IN) TENDERLOIN - Quite possibly the biggest sandwich I have ever had, the UCS tenderloin is about the size of a small pizza and deep fried, making it a true artery-clogger, but damn good when it goes down.  As a matter of fact, I once had a UCS tenderloin so big, it was served to me on two buns, and that's no lie.

#2 - Outlaw Motor Speedway (Oktaha, OK) BBQ BEEF - Race track barbeque tastes the same at just about every track I've ever been to.  Despite being a little outside the U.S. barbeque capital, Outlaw is the exception to the rule.  With its smokey flavor and not-too-ferocious after-kick, Outlaw's BBQ is made with it's own special barbeque recipe (or so we were told at the concession stand).  I bought one upon my arrival to the track (last May) and it was good enough I visited the dining hall for a second sammie during intermission.

Honorable Mention - Tyler County Speedway (Middlebourne, WV) FISH SANDWICH - Had I made this list about 10 years ago, the fish sandwich at Tyler County would have been a solid contender for #1.  However, in recent years, the fish sammie (which comes straight from Coleman's Fish Market in Wheeling, WV) has gone up in price and down in size.  Nevertheless, it's still worthy of trying if you're visiting "The Bullring" and the sandwich remains one of my personal favorites.

#1 - Duck River Speedway (Wheel, TN) COUNTRY HAM - Maybe I caught them on a good night.  Or maybe it's just that good every night.  Regardless, in my maiden voyage to Duck River with the Lucas Oil Series back in June of 2007, the country ham sandwich I sunk my teeth into was like a taking a bite of heaven. It was sweet...it was juicy...it was perfect.  I had not one, not two, but THREE country ham sandwiches on that night.  The taste was more like something you'd expect at your grandmother's Easter dinner, and not at some remotely located dirt track.  Honestly, I've considered going back to Duck River just get my hands on another one of those sandwiches.  

There you have it.  DJ's top three race track sandwiches.  Now, I'm interested in hearing what's tickled your taste buds' fancy...

TRIVIA TUESDAY: Name This Track

Welcome to this week's version of Trivia Tuesday!  Nobody correctly guessed this track two weeks ago, so I'm giving you another shot.  Please refer to the rules below.

Trivia Tuesday Rules:

• Must be a blog follower (and logged in) to guess 
• No more than two guesses per blog follower
• Must respond to this post using your blog follower "username"
• Contest ends this Friday at 5:00pm.  If no one guesses correctly by then, the name of the track will be revealed during next week's Trivia Tuesday.
• As always, we ask that previous contest winners give others a chance to win.  Please wait 30 days before entering another contest.  :)

Five Weekend Afterthoughts - 4/16/12

Periodically throughout the racing season, I'll post my "Five Weekend Afterthoughts" on Monday mornings. It's simply a collection of my thoughts on various racing topics of interest from the past weekend.  While most of the "afterthoughts" will pertain to regional racing action, a few mentions will cover national topics.   Enjoy!     -DJ-

Jon Henry (15) holds off Matt Miller (3) at Attica.  (Action Photos)

1.  Jon Henry debuted his brand new orange front-end Rocket Friday night at Attica and put the car in victory lane, holding off a furious late race charge from Matt Miller (driving Rick Delong's #3).  It was Henry's first win of the season and the first for his new wrench (and for Matt Miller crew chief) Scott "Schoolboy" Smith.  After four races this season, Attica is averaging 30.5 cars a night, slightly up from their 29.1 car-per-night average at the end of 2011.

2.  Scott Bloomquist's $25,000 win on a difficult-to-pass, tire-wearing Virginia Motor Speedway surface Saturday was probably a much-needed victory for that camp.  I don't know if anyone actually bought into the whole "he's leaving the Lucas Oil tour" shenanigans, but if they did, they're certainly not buying into it now.

3.  Rain was the big winner everywhere Saturday night as practically every track within a three-hour radius of my home was washed out.  The lone exceptions were Crystal, Michigan's season opener (26 cars; Scott Baker was the winner) and practice at Cadiz, Ohio's 250 Speedway, which was cut short by Mother Nature. Unfortunately, the Sunoco ALMS race at Eldora was rained out and will not be made up.

4.  Just like fine wine, Billy Moyer just continues to get better with age.  The 54-year-old notched his (I believe) eighth and ninth wins of 2012 over the weekend and something crazy like his fifth win in his last six starts, if my calculations are correct. Am I the only one who thinks Moyer will still be winning races when he's like 90?! Seriously, I don't see him slowing down anytime soon.

5.  I'll be a guest on DirtonDirt's FastTalk today.  Keep checking their website throughout the day as Todd Turner, Michael Rigsby, and myself discuss a wide array of racing topics from this past weekend.  

Eldora ALMS preview

You'll find that I don't write about Eldora Speedway much.  I guess part of that is because, being the house announcer there, I don't want anyone reading this blog to get the impression I'm an Eldora "homer" or anything like that.  Of course I love the place, but the other reason is, honestly, I want to make sure I spread the love around as much as possible and not focus too much on one specific track.

With that in mind, though, the Big E does justify a little airtime this week with their season opener just 24 hours away.  Although it's only a $2000 to win Sunoco ALMS race, expect a strong field of Late Models with drivers like Darrell Lanigan, Scott James, Donnie Moran, and Jeep Van Wormer among others battling for the rights to stand on the stage.

However, out of that group, only Van Womer has been in Eldora's victory lane recently (UMP Nationals, 2011).  In addition, Jeep is the all-time leading ALMS feature winner at the half-mile oval with six trips to the stage.  Lanigan hasn't won at Eldora since the UMP Nationals in 2006, while Moran's last win at the Big E came over ten years ago in the form of a one million dollar paycheck.  As for the Shark, his last win at the Big E was some 13 years ago in July of 1999.

If you're looking at Eldora "regulars" to put your money on, Brian Ruhlman may be the best bet with his five ALMS wins and 27 UMP modified victories at the track.  His 2011 track co-champion, Jon Henry, is still searching for his first Eldora Late Model win while Matt Miller will be there, but piloting Rick Delong's #3.

And if you're looking for a darkhorse, what about Devin Moran?  Sure, he only has one Eldora start, but the youngster is two-for-two so far this season and is driving more and more like his dad with each passing race.  Andrew Reaume turned in several strong performance at Eldora last year, only to be snake-bitten while leading the Baltes Classic.  And Kent Robinson certainly deserves a win at the track that sidelined him with a shoulder injury just a few years ago.

Finally, the UMP Modifieds alone should be worth the price of admission with Eldora stalwarts Jeff Babcock, Scott Orr, Jerry Bowersock, and Jesse Bitterling doing battle. Throw Joey Kramer in the mix (winless at Eldora since 2001; but has two wins and a second so far in 2012) and you've got yourself one helluva Modified field too.  PS - look for Kramer to be somewhat of a UMP Modified regular with us through the first half of the season.

If Mother Nature lets us get this one in, it should be an outstanding show.  Now, somebody do an anti-rain dance...

Top 10 Craziest Things... #6

#6  -  Scott County Fairgrounds 4/18/04

What Happened:  It’s difficult to see a good day race.  Likewise, it’s not often that a track who only runs once a year can provide racing that is even par with that of a track that runs weekly.  The combination of a day race on an old fairgrounds track that races once a year proved to a lethal combination that were the perfect ingredients for a one-lane train race in this NALMS-sanctioned event.

2004 was somewhat of a banner year for me.  I was single, living on my own, and wasn't working for any one race track or racing series.  Therefore, I had the opportunity to travel around and see a LOT of races that year...nearly 70 to be exact (and at 40 different tracks).  

Living in southwest Ohio at the time, and still being relatively new to the area, I was still fairly unfamiliar with tracks outside of the hour radius that I was living in at the time.  Thus, when the opportunity came up to hit a new track, I usually took advantage of it.

Such was the case with the Northern All-Stars Late Model show in Scottsburg, Indiana on April 18, 2004.  The track itself was an old, narrow, 3/8-mile that was only raced on once or twice a year.  Combine this with the fact that it was a daytime race - and with the fact that they qualified - and I think you can figure out where this one is heading.

Oh, and if that's not enough, perhaps I should mention that the most popular item on the Scottsburg menu was the (now infamous) pickle-on-a-stick.

Folks, I can't make this stuff up.

With 34 cars on hand, more passes were made by the 50/50 girls than anything we saw on the track. This bore-fest took a bizarre and semi-exciting turn in the B-Main when 7th-running Eric Smith tapped Jeff Wilson and sent him spinning, collecting 8th place Wes Steidinger in the process.  In a rage of fury, Wilson bolted out of his car and over to Steidinger’s where he proceeded to punch Steidinger in the head repeatedly until track personnel pulled him away.  

With this being the most action the crowd had seen all day, the fans, looking for anything and something to cheer about, took it upon themselves to start a “wrong guy, wrong guy” chant.  Ill feelings from the chant and angry Wilson/Steidinger fans saw several near brawls break out, including one gentleman who began throwing his nachos at people.

With order restored both on and off the track, the 30-lap feature finally hit the speedway with Mike Jewell winning from the pole.  Only one car that started in the top 10 did not finish in the top 10, in a one-lane parade that was the last Super Late Model race run at the fairgrounds facility.

Here's a look at the top 10 finishers and where they started...

(finish, start, car #, driver)

1. (1) 9 Mike Jewell

2. (3) 71 Don O'Neal

3. (2) 28 Dennis Erb Jr.

4. (5) 3s Brian Shirley

5. (7) B12 Kevin Weaver

6. (4) 30 Mark Voigt

7. (8) 89 Steve Barnett

8. (9) 81 Mark Barber

9. (10) 50 Ed Dixon

10. (11) 18 Tim Tungate

Looking Back:  This debacle has been one of those outings I get asked about most often.  The pickle-on-a-stick is now a pop culture icon.  And, I’ve come to realize that Jeff Wilson isn’t really that bad of a guy.  However, to call this race a fiasco would probably be an understate.  It was a cluster of epic proportions.

What Makes A Good Race?

Recently, a friend and I got to talking about what exactly makes a good race.  Is it side-by-side action?  Is it a last lap pass?  Is it a pit area full of cars?  Or is it simply hanging out with all your racing buddies?


I'll preface by telling you that I don't necessarily have an answer.  Heck, I'm not even sure I know the answer.  To be honest, it's probably a combination of those things, at least for me.

There's no denying that good side-by-side racing makes for a great show. I don't think anybody will argue that.  And I'm the kind of person that doesn't care if a track is black and slick or hammer down and balls-to-the wall...if they're running nip-and-tuck and swapping positions, that's a great race regardless of the track surface.


Aside from the obvious door-to-door racing, a last lap pass can make even the most boring race seem at least somewhat entertaining.  I've been to countless shows where the action itself was less than spectacular, but a last lap pass sent me home with a smile.


As for car counts, I'll be the first to admit that the quality (not the quantity) makes for a more interesting evening, but I also enjoy seeing four heat races as opposed to two.  Say what you want, but high car counts help add a little something to any race program.


And then there's the nights where you just get to hang out with your friends.  The racing might be terrible, but you've had a good time simply because of the people you're with.  We've all "been there, done there" and, ironically, that will be mentioned in tomorrow's "Top 10 Craziest Things... #6" when I highlight an absolutely awful show I went to in Scottsburg, Indiana back in 2004.


Wrapping this up, we're all different and what makes the night for one person may not be what tickles someone else's fancy.  For me, it's several different things that make for an entertaining evening, like great racing, lots of cars, and the people you're with.


What about you?  In your opinion, what makes for a great race?

Five Weekend Afterthoughts 4/10/12

Periodically throughout the racing season, I'll post my " Five Weekend Afterthoughts" on Monday mornings (or, in this case, Tuesday). It's simply a collection of my thoughts on various racing topics of interest from the past weekend.  While most of the "afterthoughts" will pertain to regional racing action, a few mentions will cover national topics.   Enjoy!     -DJ-

Garrett Krummert doubled down at Attica this weekend.  (Jeremey Rhoades photo)

1. You had to be impressed with Garrett Krummert's performance at Attica over the weekend.  The Butler, PA driver (who turns 24 years old today) notched his second and third career victories over some stout fields Friday (35 cars) and Saturday (31 cars) night at the 1/3-mile fairgrounds oval.


2.  Also impressive was Devin Moran Saturday night at Hilltop.  The youngster in now two-for-two at Jesse Wardell's track, as he held off a late race charge from Doug Drown to grab the win.  I couldn't help but notice how smooth Moran was Saturday night...much like his father's driving style.


3.  Scott Autry's $20,000 win in the Carolina Crown this weekend will certainly go down as a huge upset (ironic consider the blog I wrote just a few weeks back). Before the win, I'd venture a guess that Autry wasn't too well known outside of a two or three state region in the southeast.  Congrats to him.


4.  Why do race tracks put "first career win" in the headlines when it's simply a driver's first win at that particular track?  Case in point, the headlines from Tyler County this weekend read "Garnes Takes Career First at Tyler County".  My personal thought is the heading would have been a tad less confusing had it read, "Garnes Notches First Tyler County Win".


5.  Kudos to Eddie Carrier Jr. on his win at Florence Saturday night.  It was a "come back" win in more ways than one.  Not only was it his first race of the season (after rupturing his achilles heel playing basketball a few months back), but he won in dramatic fashion, coming from the 18th starting spot.  

BRANDON THIRLBY: DirtonDirt Exclusive

While I try hard to keep new and fresh blog-style info up on this site, from time to time, I'll have an exclusive blog up on DirtonDirt.com.  Right now, I have a feature story on Traverse City, Michigan driver Brandon Thirlby and his 2012 plans.  Make sure you head on over and check it out.  Here's a couple short excerpts from that blog:

...and let’s not forget his wild two-races-in-one-night trip last August, where he rattled off a fourth place finish at Thunderbird (Mich.) Speedway, then loaded up and hauled ass an hour and 15 minutes east to a rain-delayed program at I-96 (Mich.) Speedway.  He rolled into I-96 with barely enough time to unload the car and throw a splash of fuel in it.  Without even changing tires, he tagged the tail of the Late Model A-Main at I-96 drove his way to front, and picked up the win...


"...once you figure in tires, race fuel, pit passes, food, and wear and tear on the car, it’s hard to break even, even if you win.  Heck, the wear and tear on the equipment itself can nickel and dime a guy right out of competition...”

Top 10 Craziest Things... #7

#7  –  Muskingum County Speedway 5/29/93 

What happened:  Dad's first ever feature win came in pretty dramatic fashion Memorial Day weekend 1993 at Muskingum County Speedway.

It was May 29, 1993.  Dad had only been racing a couple years and was pretty comfortable in the local "Super Street" class.  The wide Late Model tires looked pretty cool on those old Camaro and Monte Carlo bodies, and the cars ran pretty darn good too.

Back then, the Super Street feature was only 12 laps in length and, due to the lack of cars, they were combined with an up-and-coming class called "Open Wheel Modifieds".

The race was a good one early on as Roger Salmons and Ryan Miller swapped the lead five times in the first seven laps.  Miller then assumed control of the top spot on lap 7 as Daryl Dodd motored into second. Dad slipped by Salmons to take third on lap 9, just three laps from the finish.  With two laps to go, Dodd made a bold move on Miller for the lead.  They made contact in turns three and four which resulted in Miller losing the handle and Dad, with no where to go, crashing into the side of him. Miller and Dad were both able to continue and second-running Dodd was charged with the caution and sent to the rear of the field.

This set-up a two lap dash to the finish between Ryan Miller and Larry Jarrett.

Miller led Dad on the restart and they stayed that way until the final lap.  Miller held a slim, one car length lead through turns one and two, and down the backstretch. Heading into turn three, Miller's #11 drifted high.  Dad also went high, but powered his #15 down to the bottom in an effort to get a run off the corner for the win. Coming off turn four to take the checkered flag, Miller was high and coming down the track.  Dad was low and coming up the track.  The finish was a wild one...

...with Keith Decker's checkered flag held high in the air, the two cars made contact just as the above picture was taken.  The two cars fighting for the win slammed together hard - Dad's right rear and Miller's left front - just feet from the start/finish line.  Dad spun in front of Miller right at the start/finish line and then careened backwards into the outside wall.

Despite some wrinkled sheet metal, bent suspension parts, and a flat tire, Larry Jarrett had just won his first ever feature.  At age 13, I (of course) was the first person in victory lane to great Dad after the win.

Looking Back:  My dad's won several features in his career, but this is the only one I have ever gotten to see.  It was a wild win that is still talked about by some of today's Muskingum County regulars.

Purses, Payouts, and Positions

Below you will see a sample of Late Model purses for two different night race tracks located within reasonable distance from each other.  The total payout at Track #1 is slightly less, but they pay more money to start.  Track #2, however, pays better from second through tenth.  I'd like your thoughts as to which purse is better an why?


Please post your thoughts at the end of this blog.  Thanks!!


TRACK #1
1. 1200
2. 700
3. 500
4. 400
5. 300
6. 280
7. 250
8. 230
9. 220
10. 220
11. 220
12. 220
13. 220
14. 220
15. 220
16. 220
17. 220
18. 220
19. 220
20. 220
TOTAL PURSE = $6500


TRACK #2
1. 1200
2. 900
3. 750
4. 550
5. 500
6. 350
7. 300
8. 275
9. 265
10. 260
11. 230
12. 200
13. 200
14. 200
15. 200
16. 200
17. 200
18. 200
19. 200
20. 200
TOTAL PURSE = $7405

TRIVIA TUESDAY: Name This Track

Welcome to this week's version of Trivia Tuesday!  The first person to correctly identify this race track wins a free t-shirt from our sponsor Wide Open Graphics of Lima, Ohio.  Please refer to the rules below.

Nobody was able to guess last week's track as Fayette County Speedway in West Union, Iowa.  I attended a midweek show there in July of 2007 in which Steve "Ace" Ihm passed (I believe) Chad Simpson with two laps remaining to grab the win.

Trivia Tuesday Rules:

• Must be a blog follower to guess (see instructions below on "how to follow this blog")
• No more than two guesses per follower
• Must respond to this post using your "follower name"
• Contest ends this Friday at 5:00pm.  If no one guesses correctly by then, the name of the track will be revealed during next week's Trivia Tuesday.
• As always, we ask that previous contest winners give others a chance to win.  Please wait 30 days before entering another contest.  :)