As I write a story for the 2014 Dirt Late Model Dream program, I have a simple challenge for everyone: Take a kid to the races with you this weekend.
It's way too easy for us to get caught in the motions of everyday life. So, this weekend, let a youngster see what racing is like. Let them try to pick the winners of the races. Buy them a t-shirt or, at least, a souvenir program. Take them to the pits afterwards to meet a driver and get an autograph.
Remember, kids are the future of our sport. And if we want this sport to grow at all, we have to get them away from the TVs, phones, and ipads. Show them what a good time racing is...just like someone probably showed you when you were that age.
I promise, it'll make a difference in their life. Hopefully, it'll make a difference in yours too.
DJ
1. Made it to I-96 Speedway Friday night to check out the newly configured 3/8-mile track. There was no shortage of excitement with Rusty Schlenk going from 3rd to 1st in the final two laps to get the win in the Sunoco ALMS sanctioned event.
2. Jeep Van Wormer made it look easy in in Saturday's ALMS race at Oakshade while Matt Miller held off Jeep's late rally Sunday at Eldora. Are there any two drivers whose names are more synonyms with Eldora than those two drivers?
3. Really, really happy to see Davey Johnson get the $20,000 win at Tyler County this weekend. It seemed like a mid-90's STARS race with Davey J. winning and Chub finishing 2nd.
4. This weekend, I'll take advantage of a rare opportunity to watch Dad race at 250 Speedway on Friday. On Saturday, I'll hit one of my favorite tracks...Ohio Valley Speedway.
5. Just a little over 3 weeks away from this summer's big racing trip. More details in the coming weeks, but...it's gonna be epic. Six races in nine days.
1. The "Summer of Babcock" continued this weekend as he notched two more victories, one at Attica in the Late Model and one at Eldora in the Modified. As a matter of fact, he's finished no worse than second in five of his last six outings.
2. Have I mentioned how much I love seeing drivers get their first Eldora win? It happened again Saturday night at Eldora with Nick Bowers rolling into victory lane in the Stock Car division. Three of the four winners in Eldora's Stock Car class have been first timers.
3. The BOSS Sprints cranked out another phenomenal race Saturday night with Chase Stockon and Robert Ballou putting on a show over the final few laps, trading sliders and swapping the lead. Stockon came out victories in a hard fought win, making his first ever appearance in the Big E's victory stage.
4. Memorial Day weekend always bring out some great racing and solid car counts. I'm personally looking forward to this weekend's Sunoco ALMS triple-header at I-96 Friday, Oakshade Saturday, and Eldora Sunday.
5. My 2014 racing vacation is booked and just one month away. Where am I heading the fourth week of June? You'll soon find out...but I'm thinking a few new states are in order...
