PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIP: Eagle Track Raceway, May 26

This sign welcomes folks to Eagle Track Raceway in Republic, Washington.

After Saturday's show at Lebanon, Oregon's Willamette Speedway, I drove two hours north to catch some shut-eye in Kelso, Washington.  The original plan was to spend the day doing the tourist thing at Mt. Ranier and Mt. St. Helens before heading over to Grays Harbor Raceway for an ASCS Northwest show Sunday night.  Of course, you know how plans can change when you're chasin' racin'.  And, with constant checks of the radar Saturday night, I knew things weren't looking favorable for Sunday.

This put me in quite the pickle as, all along, the goal was to seeing racing at four new tracks in four new states during this working vacation.  With May 26 being a Sunday, the only other track racing in the Evergreen State was little ol' Eagle Track Raceway.  Problem is, Eagle Track was some seven hours away in Republic, Washington and, with an advertised starting time of Noon, it would require me to forego another night of rest in favor of a 5:00am wakeup call. Oh, and it was already well past midnight.

A look at Eagle Track's gorgeous backdrop.

At 5:00am, I somehow stumbled out of bed and into the shower.  A morning cup of coffee helped me get on my way as I was scrambling to get to the track by that advertised race time of 12:00pm, knowing that I would beat the ETA my trusty GPS provided me with by at least 15-20 minutes.

The scenic trip through Washington's lush forests was quite nice. However, despite my best efforts, I wasn't able to make it to the track until 12:20pm.  No worries, though, as nothing resembling a race or even warm ups was anywhere near being ready when I pulled in.

Fans can sit high atop this perch on the fronstretch and watch the races if they choose.

Eagle Track Raceway is quite the scenic place itself.  Located at a higher elevation than most everything around it, the track is surrounded by mountains and tall trees.  The track is a big 4/10-mile grassroots establishment with not many cars and not many fans.  I don't know what the exact car count was on this particular afternoon, but there weren't more than 10 cars in any one division with the headlining Modifieds drawing in a whopping three cars total.

Everything about this place took me back at least 25 years.  The cars, the track, the people ... it was like time had just stood still since about 1987.  The race fans were certainly friendly folks and undoubtedly had a love for their little hole-in-the-wall speedway. 



Eagle Track's facilities were a bit outdated.

The facilities at Eagle Track were also exactly what one might expect from this type of track with very little bleacher seating (most folks watched the races from their vehicles, parked just off the front and back chutes), outdated ticket booths, and rustic outhouses.  I can't make this stuff up.

It's interesting how the word "racing" means different things in different parts of the country.  For example, where I'm from, "racing" mean the first actual ... ummm ... "race".  However, at Eagle Track, racing must mean "the time when everyone starts to arrive".  As I mentioned before, 12:00pm was obviously a time that was simply thrown out there and not the actual starting time of the first race, as most folks would expect.  As a matter of fact, after all 20-some cars in the pits qualified, the first actual "race" didn't hit the track until right around 2:00pm.  Not good.



This creature from outer space ran with the Modifieds.

Every class ran a Trophy Dash and a Heat, complete with driver intros on the frontstretch before each race.  The racing was as exciting as one might imagine with few cars on the big track.  And if they were trying to draw out the program, they were doing a damn good job of it.  By 4:00pm, I still hadn't seen an A-Main. Ugh.  Shortly thereafter, I hightailed it out of that place to head across the scenic North Cascades Highway and enjoy what was left of my day.

Nevertheless, Grays Harbor did eventually rain out so the decision to head to Eagle Track ended up working out for me as it became Track #167 with Washington being State #35 in my trackchasing adventures. 

A picture perfect afternoon for racing.

 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIP: Willamette Speedway, May 25

 

Trevor Glaser tunes up at Willamette Speedway on May 25.

My long-awaited "working vacation" finally came as I flew out of Dayton, Ohio and into Portland, Oregon (via Denver, Colorado) on Friday, May 24.  The weather forecast that once looked promising was now looking "not as good" with a 40% chance of rain Saturday and increasing as the night went on.

After an ill-fated attempted to get a quality jet-lagged sleep, I grabbed my Avis rental car first thing in the morning and took in the sights and sounds of the gorgeous Oregon coast. The absolutely beautiful drive wiped out my entire day and, before I knew it, it was time to start heading to Willamette Speedway.

A look at turns 3 and 4 of the well-maintained Willamette Speedway.

Having done a little research, I knew this track had recently been transformed into quite possibly the nicest facility in the northwest.  Even so, my expectations were surpassed with this 1/3-mile, semi-banked oval.  Not only was everything darned near brand new, but the entire establishment was neat, clean, and very well kept.  I could tell this was a track the owners and drivers were proud to call their own.

From new catchfencing to a backstretch scoreboard to the infield go-kart track, Willamette was a first-class operation.  The speaker system was very good, the track lighting was excellent, and the concessions was a tad high but the food was excellent.  As a matter of fact, the $6 "philly steak and cheese" has already earned a spot in my all-time top five Best Race Track Food standings.

Looking down the frontstretch and into turns 1 and 2 of Willamette.

After setting up shop in the infield and snapping a few pics during Hot Laps and Qualifying, I moved to my 50-yard line seat just before the scheduled starting time of 6:00pm.  The event on tap was the "Clair Cup", a tribute to the late track promoter.  6:00pm came and went and, at 6:10pm, the announcer read a short, touching piece about Clair.  Finally, at 6:18pm, the first race of the evening was on the track. 

A quick check of the radar showed the dreaded "green blob" was slowly working its way towards Lebanon, Oregon and, with that in mind, I couldn't help but wonder why racing started late when the track was ready to go.

The Willamette pit area provides ample parking and an asphalt staging lane.

Nevertheless, we were racing with a few support classes going ahead of the two premier divisions of Late Models and IMCA Modifieds.  The track was heavy and, in places, a bit rough.  But the hammer-down surface made for some exciting, wheel-hiking heats which were run in a timely fashion following by B-Mains and Trophy Dashes.  Obviously, the consies are a needed part of the program with nearly 30 cars in both of the top two classes.

The Trophy Dashes, however, were meaningless in my opinion, and with inclement weather on the horizon, should have been bypassed in favor of getting the main events in before the rain hit.  Not only that, but interviewing all five Trophy Dash winners on the frontstretch only extended things unnecessarily.  Now bring on a 20-minute intermission and we've got ourselves a problem.

Regional standout Rob Mayea gets some airtime during Hot Laps.

The first feature of the night finally hits the track and, surprisingly, it's not the Late Models and it's not the IMCA Modifieds.  Instead, the Super Sport A-Main comes out and, sure enough, after a handful of laps were completed, a steady shower of rain fell upon the speedway and washed out the rest of the evening's festivities.  

 

As fans, employees, and drivers, we're always upset when something out of our control wipes out an evening of racing.  But in this case, the things that WERE in the track's control weren't handled the way I might have handled them with inclement weather approaching.  Starting on time, eliminating the Trophy Dashes (and on-track interviews), and not taking an intermission would have been a great way to ensure everyone got the most bang for their buck.  In addition, this is a picture perfect example as to why I like to see the headlining divisions competing first on the nightly agenda. Those of you who know me know that I love the support classes as much as anyone.  But, in a situation like this, get the A-Mains for your headliners run as quickly as possible.

While I left disappointed that I didn't get to see an entire feature, I was certainly grateful for the opportunity and the hospitality.  Willamette Speedway became Track #166 and Oregon became State #34 in my personal trackchasing list.

 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIP: Playing the Rain Game

Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Oregon.  (Track photo)

As I sit here in the Denver International Airport and wait on my connecting flight to Portland, I can't help but ponder "what if".  What if Saturday's show at Willamette gets rained out?  What if Sunday's show at Grays Harbor falls victim to Mother Nature?  What happens?  What do I do?  

Sure, I could go see a race at one of a few different tracks, but my goal is to see racing at four different tracks in four different states while I'm out here.  If Sunday's show at Grays Harbors gets cancelled, my odds at seeing a race in Washington are all but shot.

My flight into Portland won't arrive until 10:30pm tonight (that's 1:30am eastern time).  I pick up my rental car tomorrow morning at 9am.  Whatever decision is made will have to be made quickly, but also keeping in mind the ultimate goal of four races at four tracks in four states.

Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, OR is at the top of the priority list.  Luckily, they race Saturday and Sunday both.  Grays Harbor also runs both days, so the opportunity to flip-flip those two tracks is certainly there if the weather looks more favorable one way versus another.  Other Oregon tracks racing on Saturday include Cottage Grove, Southern Oregon, and Sunset.  And in Washington, Skagit is a Saturday night option.

The Sunday options are pretty much limited to Willamette and Grays Harbor.  Silver Dollar Speedway in Chico, CA would be an absolute last resort given its proximity from where I'll be.  And Eagle Track Raceway in the northeast part of Washington is slated to race Sunday at Noon...making it nearly impossible for me to hit if I'm in Oregon Saturday night.

Few options and big decisions.  Such is the life of those who like chasin' racin'. 

PACIFIC NORTHWEST TRIP: The Gameplan

Gallatin Speedway in Belgrade, Montana.  (track photo)
 

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I'll be flying out to Portland, Oregon this Friday to present at a college admissions conference.  The timing of the trip means, unfortunately, I'll have to miss Sunday's Johnny Appleseed Classic at Eldora (Shane Andrews and Kyle Luetters will be covering our announcing duties).  However, the timing of the trip also means I'll be able to see some racing at new tracks in a part of the country I've never been to before.

With my flight arriving in Portland late Friday night, there won't be an opportunity to catch any Friday racing action.  Doesn't matter, as there's literally no tracks within nine hours of Portland racing on Friday night.  Hard to believe, I know.

Saturday, I'll look to head a little south of the city to Lebanon, Oregon's Willamette Speedway for night #1 of their Clair Cup.  Last year's event drew a whopping 48 Late Models, so I'm hoping for a solid car count and a good show in my maiden voyage to the 3/10-mile oval.  The current weather forecast is calling for a rain-free Saturday with a high of 64 and a brisk low of 46.

Sunday will find me heading north to Grays Harbor Raceway in Elma, Washington.  The ASCS Sprints' Northwest division will be in action at the 3/8-mile track with IMCA Modifieds and Street Stocks also on the card.  The weather outlook for Sunday in Elma is almost identical to that of Lebanon, OR the day before with a high of 64 and a cool low of 47.  As you see, longjohns will be a necessity for this trip.

If all goes as planned, the following weekend should find me venturing into Montana for a visit to Gallatin Speedway, as they bring Late Models in for one of their few stops to the 3/10-mile facility.  I never put much stock into the weather forecast more than a few days out, but the early models are showing a high of 72 with a low of 43 and a chance of thunderstorms.  Should that show get rained out, my only other option is to head north to Great Falls, Montana's Electric City Speedway.

My final destination is slated to be Atomic Motor Raceway in Blackfoot, Idaho.  The 1/3-mile oval will open their regular season on June 1st with IMCA Modifieds as the headlining division.  Taken with a grain of salt, the initial weather outlook shows sunny skies with a high of 83 and a low of 53...which would be, by far, the warmest temps of the trip.

As I mentioned previously, this is all tentative at best.  Of my last three summer trips that involved racing, NONE of them went as planned.  So, I'm not holding my breathe.  However, if every DOES go as planned, I'll have seen racing at 169 tracks in 37 different states.

And, of course, I'll keep everyone here posted with updates, pics, stories, and more.

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: 40 cars for a regular show?!

Todd Sherman (65) and Jeff Babcock (7B) battle for the win Friday at Limaland.  (Mike Campbell photo)

1.  Remember last week when I mentioned John Blankenship was one of the most consistent drivers in the country so far this year?  Well, he made me look good over the weekend with his $20,000 payday in the Lucas Oil sanctioned Bad Boy 98 at Batesville. He's still one of my picks to win the Dirt Late Model Dream at Eldora in a few weeks.

2.  I made it to Limaland Friday night for their anniversary race, and a VERY talented field of UMP Modifieds (29 total) saw Todd Sherman grab the win.  I was unaware that Limaland had the "if debris falls off your car and brings out a caution, you go to the tail" rule.  I can't say I'm a fan of it, as too many variable can happen to cause debris to fall off one's car.  I'll discuss that in a Puttin' On A Show editorial later this week.

3.  In case you haven't noticed, Waynesfield Motorsports Park has been quite the hotbed for Non-Wing Sprints.  The 1/4-mile oval drew nearly 40 cars Saturday night for a regular show! Hat tip to them!!

4.  Congrats are in order for Dusty Moore, who finally got a monkey off his back and grabbed the Late Model win at Attica Raceway Park Friday night.  I know that team's been working as hard as anyone to get things figured out and it all came together for them Friday evening.

5.  Doug Drown continued his hot start to 2013 with wins at Wayne County and Hilltop over the weekend.  The Hilltop victory was good for $2000, as Drown just continues to rattle off wins in the Sean Weekley owned #63.

HISTORY: Limaland's 78th Anniversary

Bill Keeler (20) leads Cory Seeling (03) and Tyler Stump (93) into the Limaland sunset.

If you know me, or even if you don't and you just follow this blog, you know I'm a fan of two things: good racing and well-run programs.  Likewise, it's no secret I'm a a big supporter of Limaland Motorsports Park. I've mentioned that on here multiple times.  This Friday, May 17, the Allen County oval will hold it's 78th Anniversary Race presented by Homeland Technology Group.

Like several tracks, Limaland has a long and storied history that began just prior to the start of World War II.  And, like most, the track shut down during the war years after a few summers of racing old jalopies and motorcycles.  Allentown Speedway, as it was called back then, reopened after the war with several now-known names taking turns at promoting the track, including Roy Spears and Jack Keller among others.  After a few "open-and-closed" seasons in the late 50's, the oval was transformed into a more formal, flat, quarter-mile race track in 1960.

The general admission entrance as it looks today. (Track photo)

In 1967, the track was renamed Limaland Speedway and took on a new look with 22 degrees of banking in the corners.  From there, the popularity of Limaland began to take its shape with track champions such as Don Hewitt and Rocky Fisher.  That popularity also prompted several regional stalwarts to tame the highbanks with drivers such as Dick Gaines, Tommy Dickson, Jim & Fred Linder, Johnny Beaber, Harold McGilton, Dick & Al Liskai, and Larry Helms among others often making the trip to the storied race track.

But even through the good times, Limaland wasn't immune to the hard times either.  At one point, it looked as though the facility may have reached its end.  However, changes in ownership saw legendary promoter Earl Baltes take a stab at reviving the track and then, in 1998, the historic speedway would be purchased by the University of Northwestern Ohio (UNOH).

As they say, "the rest is history".  UNOH has invested a countless amount of time, money, and resources into making Limaland Motorsports Park, as its now called, one of the premier facilities in the midwest.  And, as I mentioned in the beginning, the racing at Limaland is top notch and the program run in a timely fashion.  The facilities are the icing on the cake, and the complete package of what Limaland is today would certainly make its founding fathers proud.

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Eldora Off-Road, Oakshade finish, & more

(Mike Campbell/Eldora Speedway photo)

1.  It's the same old tune today with Mother Nature once again washing out many of the weekend's races in this region.  Eldora, Limaland, Attica, and Moler all fell victim to rain Friday while Waynesfield, Montpelier, and Florence were among the Saturday rainouts.  

2.  Eldora's TRAXXAS TORC Off-Road Championship Series event on Saturday was able to beat the weather and it was a pretty darned interesting show with former motocross champion (and TORC Series founder) Ricky Johnson getting the win in the Pro 4x4 division by passing Johnny Greaves with less than four laps remaining.

3.  I hear it was another outstanding Late Model finish at Oakshade Saturday night with Dona Marcoullier narrowly edging out Rusty Schlenk for a wild side-by-side victory that saw both cars spinning after the checkered flag waved. 

4.  Nationally speaking, who are the most consistent drivers in the country right now?  Shane Clanton and John Blankenship.  Clanton rattled off his third WoO win Saturday night while Blankenship scored another top five with the Lucas Oil Series.  Those two are my early favorites to win The Dream at Eldora here in a few weeks, and it's no coincidence they finished first and second in that race last year.

5.  In case you missed it, USMTS Modified ace Ryan Gustin notched his first career Late Model win over the weekend in the MARS-scantion John Kuntz Memorial at Springfield Raceway.

UPCOMING TRIP: Pacific Northwest

Willamette Speedway in Lebanon, Oregon  (Track photo)

Each year, I try to make it a point to get out and visit a few new race tracks.  By no means am I at the top of the heap when it comes to race-chasing, but I am fortunate enough to have seen races at 165 different tracks in 33 states.  The thrill of going to new tracks, especially those in new states, is my equivalent of being a kid at Christmas.

A few months ago, I was lucky enough to be selected to be a presenter at a college admissions conference in Portland, Oregon the last week of May.  As several of you know, college admissions is my "real" job...the one that pays the bills.  Just as anyone would do with an opportunity to visit a part of the country they've never been to before, I'll be taking a few extra days off to enjoy myself and catch a few races.  Most likely, this will be the only chance I ever get to visit the Pacific Northwest, so I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Even the best laid-out racing trips are often detoured thanks to Mother Nature. Especially mine.  Three years ago, a 10-day journey that was set to begin in Iowa, Colorado, and Kansas was vastly (and impromptu) rerouted to South Dakota, Wyoming, and North Dakota.  Two years back, a planned trip to a track in Oklahoma found my wife and I scrambling to Kansas to attend the only track racing in a four-state region, immediately followed by a detour through Nebraska.  And just last year, our New England trip to seeing racing in five different states (Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) was cut to four when a late rain shower washed out an event on our schedule and forced us to bypass the Connecticut track.

So, it goes without saying, this schedule is certainly subject to change without warning.

However, if all does indeed go as planned, I'll be able to knock off four new tracks in four new states with visits to Willamette Speedway (Lebanon, OR), Grays Harbor Raceway (Elma, WA), Electric City Speedway (Great Falls, MT), and Atomic Motor Raceway (Atomic City, ID).

Soooo, keep checking back.  In the coming weeks, I'll lay out the plans in some more detail and tell you about the trickery involved in trying to pull this off.  As always, it's a wild ride...

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Power Outages, Pontoons, & Big Paydays

(Jeremey Rhoades photo)

1. Finally blessed with another nice weekend, local tracks Oakshade and Waynesfield both got to swing open their gates.  From what I've heard, Oakshade's Late Model feature was a dandy with Ryan Missler narrowly edging out Brian Ruhlman at the finish line.  Waynesfield, unfortunately, fell victim to a power outage just as the green flag waved on the first A-Main.

2.  One story you probably missed this weekend was the fact that Eldora Stock racer Paul Pardo had to pull the motor out of his car after last week's race.  His replacement engine? The motor out of his pontoon jet.  Pardo wheeled the fresh power plant to a heat race victory and and second place A-Main finish Saturday night at the Big E.

3.  In a weekend full of drivers with excellent finishes, perhaps no two-day run was stronger than Jon Henry's.  "The Steel Driver" captured two wins and a second place finish in a 24-hour span by wheeling the Dean Miracle-owned 23J to a win Saturday night at Eldora, which was preceded by a win and a runner-up finish the night before in Limaland's UMP Modified "Double Down" show.  Speaking of solid UMP Modified runs, Joey Kramer picked up back-to-back wins at Southern Ohio Speedway this weekend.

4.  Anybody remember when I said Doug Drown would get himself a big payday this year?  Okay, actually what I said was that Drown would get a national touring series win this year.  But, Saturday's $12,000 victory in the Southern 100 is just as good with several national stars, regional hotshoes, and local warriors in the house.  Kudos to him on the big win.

5.  Last but not least, get well wishes go out to Barry Doss.  The veteran southwest Ohio driver suffered a heart attacked in the pits at Moler Friday night and is currently in a medically-induced coma.  Thoughts and prayers here...

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Attica, Eldora, and more!

(Action Photos)

1. If you missed Brian Smith's victory lane celebration after he won the 410 Sprint feature Friday night at Attica Raceway Park, then you missed the greatest celebration I have ever seen in my 33 years.  In a true "David vs. Goliath" battle, the under-funded Smith captured his second career win at Attica and made sure the fans wouldn't forget it any time soon.  After climbing from his car in winner's circle, Smith ran down the horse track to a long stretch of muddy mess, did a forward flip onto his back and into the ginormous mud puddle.  He topped it off with a muddy snow angel, much to the delight of the crowd.  Everyone enjoys seeing an underdog get a win ... and everyone likes an enthusiastic driver in victory lane.  Friday night at Attica, they saw both all wrapped up into one.  The video is available here (the celebration starts right around the 10:00 mark).

2.  The Sunoco ALMS feature at Attica didn't disappoint as Jon Henry and Jeep Van Wormer battled back-and-forth, side-by-side throughout the middle stages of the race.  Throw in a hard charging Matt Miller, who started 18th, and you had an instant classic with Henry coming out on top for his first win of 2013.  The Late Model and 410 Sprint features at Attica Friday just help prove what I have said the last few years ... week in and week out, Attica Raceway Park is one of the best and raciest tracks in the entire country.  I'm fortunate to live so close.

3.  Not to be outdone, Eldora finally got their 60th season opener in the books.  While the Mods and Stocks put on their usual good shows, it was the Tuff Trucks who stole the spotlight.  Although only nine drivers started their 15-lap feature, the race amongst the top four/five was as good as you'll see anywhere with side-by-side racing and slicing and dicing for the win.  The video is here and the Truck A-Feature starts right around the 7:10 mark.

4.  Celebrating his 92nd birthday (and his 66th wedding anniversary to wife Bernice), Earl Baltes was in attendance Saturday night at Eldora.  I'm truly blessed to announce at the house he built and it's always good to have him and Bernice at the track.

5.  Another week in the Dirt Late Model world and another week of tire doping infractions.  I'm not sure who or what to believe anymore.  And I'll just leave it at that.

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Twin Cities, Babcock, & The Juice

1.  It's getting old hearing the same song over and over again, but the weather won out at most tracks for yet another weekend.  Locally, Fremont was able to open the gates Saturday night with tim Shaffer winning the 410 A-Main.  Regionally, places like Hilltop, Florence, Lawrenceburg, and Twin Cities got their shows in.  But, in all, the entire weekend was pretty much wiped out.  The good news is, the weather forecast for this weekend looks much more favorable ... just in time for the Sunoco ALMS race at Attica Friday night.

2.  Speaking of Twin Cities, I've gotta make it down there sometime this year.  They're getting 20 cars a week in each of their classes, and Jeremy Hines is on a roll in the Late Model division, winning four straight.  They have a UMP SummerNationals race on Thursday, July 18 if you're looking for a date to circle on your calendar.

3.  Kudos go out to Jeff Babcock on his UMP Modified victory Saturday night at Lawrenceburg Speedway.  The win came in crowd-pleasing fashion as Babcock wowed the fans with a last lap pass of his Best Performance Motorsports teammate Matt Westfall.  The win was Babcock's second of the year (Florence, April 6).

4.  A sentimental kudos goes out to Davey Johnson on his ULMS win Saturday night at Sharon.  When I was a kid, "The Juice" was always one of my favorite drivers.  As a journalist and announcer, I never play favorites.  Ever.  But it sure was nice to see Davey J. back in victory lane at a sanctioned event this weekend.

5.  Last but not least, a work conference/presentation in Portland, Oregon will most likely allow me to visit a few new states and race tracks at the end of May.  More info to come in the coming weeks on this epic trip....

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Weather, Schlenk, NDRL, & more

1.  Mother Nature was the big winner in this area, taking the checkered at Attica, Eldora, Moler, and other tracks. It's that time of year where the weather is warm and, for the most part, perfect during the week then cold and miserable on the weekends.  Check out the local forecast for the next five days and you'll see what I mean.

2.  Typically a UMP stalwart, Rusty Schlenk opted to race at an unsanctioned Late Model track Saturday night. The former UMP National Champion headed to Brownstown Saturday evening, despite Twin Cities racing UMP sanctioned Late Models less than 30 miles away from Schlenk's destination.   

3.  We've been hearing good things about Brad McCown's Jackson County Speedway.  The car counts have continued to rise from week one, and word is the racing has been pretty good too.

4.  Crooksville, Ohio's Midway Speedway swung open the gates Friday night under the direction of Jerry Perrine.  Although the car counts were low and the weather was cold, a hat tip is certainly in line for Perrine who's track was one of the select few that got to race this weekend.  

5.  It wasn't just the high car counts that made the NDRL debut spectacular, but the quality of cars at both Paducah and I-55 was off the charts.  If this is what we can expected from John Kennedy's upstart series, I think we're all in for a treat.

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Clements, Bama Bash, Gressman

(AP photo)

1.  I don't condone what Jeremy Clements did or said...at all. However, last year a Cup driver used the word "retard" in an interview & wasn't penalized for it. Jeremy Clements used a racial slur in a conversation (not an interview) and was suspended indefinitely. What is done for one driver should be done across the board. This "picking and choosing" penalties based on who drivers are is what irks me about this particular situation and about NASCAR in general. Jeremy Clements got jobbed.  Plain and simple.

2.  By now, you know Saturday's Bama Bash at Glencoe, AL's Green Valley Speedway was called on lap 61 because of snow with Steve Casebolt getting the win in his 2013 debut.  Somewhat surprising was the pairing of Casebolt with veteran wrenchman Danny Dishman and D&R Motorsports.  Nevertheless, it was a solid win for Casebolt, who was saved by the bell as his right rear tire went flat during the snow delay.

3.  By the way, when was the last time you ever saw a race in progress cancelled due to snow?  I can honestly say it's never happened to me.

4.  There's been a lot of chatter recently about where local Sprint Car ace Phil Gressman could end up this season but, with Attica Raceway Park scheduled to open in less than three weeks, time is running out for the veteran open wheel pilot.  

5.  Lakeville Speedway has cancelled its 2013 racing season, and the track has been put up for sale, according to a message on the track's website.  The asking price is $395,000

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Volusia

(track photo)

1.  Volusia continued to be THE track to hit during Speedweeks with the highest car counts and, seemingly, the best racing.  Side-by-side battles and drivers rallying from midpack are almost the norm at the half-mile oval these days.  When this happens, the fans are the real winners.

2.  If you're a Late Model fan and you didn't stick around to watch Brett Hearn's run in Saturday night's Big Block Modified finale, you missed what was probably the best show of the week.  Hearn's pit stop for a flat with just 15 laps remaining left most folks thinking he was done for the night.  Instead, the veteran stormed back through the field and took the point as the white flag waved to capture the win.  

3.  The drivers who MOST impressed me at Volusia:  Eric Wells, Stormy Scott, and Mason Zeigler.

4.  The drivers who LEAST impressed me at Volusia:  Jimmy Mars, Chub Frank, and Gregg Satterlee.

5.  Finally, if you didn't get a chance to see it, the DirtonDirt live broadcast was an absolute smash.  I'm talking, 100% total out-of-the-ballpark homerun.  A huge hat-tip to those folks for putting together the best live internet broadcast I have ever seen.  Job well done, fellas.

SCOUTING REPORT: Curtis Deisenroth

OVERVIEW:  Since winning the Attica Raceway Park track championship in 2008, Curtis Deisenroth has been on a roller coaster ride of up and down seasons with everything from strong finishes to broken motors to just plain bad luck.

WHAT WE KNOW:  After racing just 13 times in 2012, Deisenroth will be on the track more in 2013 as motor issues have plagued the likable Oak Harbor, Ohio driver for a couple years.  He'll most likely start his season at Florence, KY's Spring 50 followed by the season opener at Attica.  From there, "2D" will see how things play out and make a determination as to whether he'll run for Attica & Oakshade points, or if he'll run the entire Michigan Dirt Cup sked. He's switched from Rayburn to MasterSbilt during the offseason, which could prove to be a learning curve...or could help get the ship pointed back in the right direction.

WHERE HE'S GOOD:  Deisenroth is a good fundamental driver and, when he hits the pill draw right, can be a strong runner at Attica and Oakshade.  He's knowledgeable about the car, and that knowledge should transfer from the Rayburn over to the MasterSbilt this year.

WHERE TO IMPROVE:  Engine woes have been an issue for Deisenroth for a few years now.  If he's going to run a full season, he'll have to make sure his motor program is on track and at 100% before contending for track or series championships.

DRIVER'S THOUGHTS:  "I'm more excited about starting this season than what I have been in years. Be glad to see friends and fans, and meet new faces this year."

TUESDAY MORNING THOUGHTS: East Bay, Ocala, & Volusia

Some random thoughts from the last few days of racing in Florida...

1.  Car counts everywhere have taken a huge hit.  With Ocala averaging roughly 40 per night - and less than that at East Bay - is it time for these two tracks to put their egos aside and start working together?  I think so but, as one twitter follower pointed out, the current situation does allow for more drivers to take home money.  

2.  Josh Richards is fast.  Damn fast.  And he will be the driver to beat on the WoO circuit this year.

3.  DirtonDirt's broadcast last night at Volusia was absolutely off the chart.  From the camera angles to the live driver interviews, they have raised an exceptionally high bar for the world of online PPV broadcasts.  Kudos to everyone involved.

4.  Nice to see Earl Pearson Jr. get back on the winning track.  

5.  Has anyone else noticed that Billy Moyer seems to be struggling right now?  He has just one top five run in six starts and, while that may not be a big deal to most, it's down right shocking considering he's one of the winningest drivers in GA/FL Speedweeks history. 

6.  There were six features at East Bay and only three (official) lead changes.  

7.  Was anybody else surprised to see Vic Coffey stay at East Bay and not head to Ocala?  I was.

THROWBACK THURSDAY: 1994 Spring 50

Today's throwback takes a look at the results of the 1994 Spring 50 at Florence Speedway.  A few things of note...   one, notice there weren't enough Late Models for a B-Main (a far cry from what this race has turned into in recent years).  And two, check out some of the familiar names in the other two divisions.  This year's Spring 50 is set for Saturday, March 16th.

5 EAST BAY THOUGHTS

1.  Dennis Erb, Scott Bloomquist, and Don O'Neal look to be the class of the field thus far...and I might throw Steve Francis in that mix too, if not for problems late in the going Monday night.  Other who have been impressive include Eric Jacobsen, Tyler Reddick, and John Blankenship (whose 24th-to-5th rally was THE show last night).  Along with Reddick, young guns Bobby Pierce and Devin Moran have also impressed me.

2.  I like seeing the new clay on the track, but it doesn't look like they built the banking all the way up on the outside to where it was 10+ year ago, which is something I was hoping for.

3.  Doug Drown is exciting to watch.  Period.  The dude can flat out drive and he proved it by "puttin' on a show" last night in the first B-Main.  He'll have himself a top five run before the week is over.

4.  Every year, there's one semi-unknown driver who rolls in and has a banner week at the 1/3-mile Florida oval.  Is Todd Frank that driver this year?  We'll see how the rest of his week goes.

5.  Tonight's winner?  My money's on Don O'Neal.

SCOUTING REPORT: Matt Irey

OVERVIEW:  When you look at drivers who have improved the most over the last three years, Matt Irey's name would most certainly be thrown into the conversation.  Now entering his fourth year of racing, Irey will set his sights on that coveted first win.

WHAT WE KNOW:  The 21-year old from Mansfield, Ohio will tackle the 2013 season equipped with a brand new MasterSbult Gen X chassis.  The new ride gives him two Gen X cars, which are powered by Draime engines.  He'll chase the Attica Raceway Park points this season and will also enter every Late Model event held at Eldora Speedway. Saturdays, you may find him traveling around the region.  

WHERE HE'S GOOD:  After just three years of full-time Late Model racing, Irey is still a student of the game.  During his first three years, Irey has grown and improved with each season, picking up more and more every week.  He's solid by himself and is often hard to beat when he's out front in a heat or consy.  Likewise, when a more experience driver is in front of him, you can see Irey shadow the moves of the faster car, learning as he goes.

WHERE TO IMPROVE:  Right now, seat time is the most important thing for the youngster.  The more he races, the better he gets.  I'm sure he would be the first to admit, he's still a little shaky when surrounded by a bunch of other cars.  More races are the best thing for him right now, and getting experience at Eldora won't hurt either.

DRIVER'S THOUGHTS:  "Everything started coming into place at the end of last year, so im gonna keep my fingers crossed for 2013!"

SCOUTING REPORT: Doug Drown

OVERVIEW:  Last June, Doug Drown hooked up with car owner Sean Weekley and duo became an automatic force, winning seven races the second half of the season, and even setting fast time at multiple events, including the Lucas Oil-sanctioned "River Days Rumble" at Portsmouth.

WHAT WE KNOW:  The second generation driver will start his season next week at East Bay Raceway Park.  From there, the team plans to regroup and start their "northern" season in mid-late March at a track yet TBD.  With Malcuit and Cornett power plants and two brand new Rocket Chassis in their arsenal, the Drown/Weekley combo is more than ready to tackle the 2013 season.  Drown plans to hit as many of the top-dollar regional races as possible, including Eldora's Dream and World 100.  

WHERE HE'S GOOD:  Drown is one heck of a wheelman.  He used to be noticeably better on a tacky track, but that's changed in recent years as he's greatly improved his black slick program.  Running against better competition has also helped and, with Sean Weekley's backing, this could certainly be the year in which Doug Drown captures national touring series win with Lucas or WoO.  I'm going to go ahead and make an early prediction that the Wooster, OH driver will do just that in 2013.

WHERE TO IMPROVE:  This is always a tough question to answer, but especially with Drown, who's game is so polished now it's hard to find an area that he needs to work on.  One thing with Doug is, he will try everything he possibly can to get the absolute most out of his car.  That sometimes means trying to make a fifth place car a first place car, and that will occasionally get a driver in trouble.

DRIVER'S THOUGHTS:  "Sean Weekley has really gotten everything I could ever need or ask for to compete at the highest level. I'm very fortunate for the opportunity to drive for SWR and hope to have a great season for Sean and the entire Weekley family."

SCOUTING REPORT: Jon Henry

OVERVIEW:  It's possible that no local driver rose to fame as quickly as Jon Henry did. After 14 wins, a World 100 start, and a solid third place finish in the UMP National Championship standings in 2011, Henry came back strong the first half of last season with a Summer Nationals win at Spoon River and regional victories at Attica, Fremont, and Oakshade.  Then, in July, after losing a primary backer, Henry abruptly shut down his race team, only to run a handful of events the rest of the season.

WHAT WE KNOW:  I'm about to answer the big question on everyone's mind...   Yes, Jon Henry will indeed be back in 2013.  Henry's now infamous "Dirty Dozen", a group of 12 supporters packaged together to form one major sponsor, has been expanded into the "Mean 15" for this year.  His Late Model team will only run a select number of races this season - an outlaw-type schedule - including every event at Eldora.  In addition, "The Steel Driver" will return to his roots and race UMP Modified owned by none other than Dean Miracle.  A throwback to Miracle's days as a Late Model owner, the car will carry the famed Miracle Motorsports #23J and will run for an Eldora points championship, a title Henry picked up back in 2010.  Henry also plans to enter the Mod in an array of other regional events throughout the year.

WHERE HE'S GOOD:  Everyone knows Henry is one of the guys to beat any time he pulls into Attica, Oakshade, Eldora, or any Sunoco ALMS sanctioned race.  He's one of the few drivers, regionally, who's name alone holds that much power.  He's excellent on any type of track condition and can seemingly stick in car in a hole quicker and smoother than anyone else on the track.  He has some of the best marketing skills of anyone in the sport, and we all know that helps tremendously in this sport.  

WHERE TO IMPROVE:  Bluntly put, Jon Henry got tired of racing last year.  After his Summer Nationals run, he took a "sabbatical" of sorts and realized he wasn't having any fun.  Too much money, too many politics, and too much pressure got the best of him and shut his entire operation down.  If he wants to get back to where he was two years ago, he has to find a way to make racing fun again.  And, from the looks of things, he's taking a giant step in the right direction.

DRIVER'S THOUGHTS:  "I'm really looking forward to getting behind the wheel of Dean Miracle's Modified this year.  I'm going to have some fun with it, which is something I haven't done for a while.  I think this new team he and I have put together has a great chance to give some guys a run for the money this year!"