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.

Indiana Icebreaker Preview

Occasionally it's the heat, occasionally it's the rain, but more times than not, weather is usually a factor when it comes to Brownstown's two major races, the Indiana Icebreaker and the Jackson 100.  Such is the case again this weekend with a 50% of the wet stuff for the Lucas Oil sanctioned 15th Annual Indiana Icebreaker at the 1/4-mile fairgrounds oval.  Remember, inclement weather forced this race to be postponed last year.


The weather forecast, combined with the announcement to start Hot Laps at 4:45pm, makes for an interesting Saturday in Brownstown, IN.  On one hand, you have an opportunity to wait out the rain with such an early start time.  With a high temp of 68 and a low of 48 predicted for Saturday, it won't necessarily be cold, but a rain shower would certainly make it feel much cooler than 68.


But let's hope for the best.  Say it doesn't rain and the show runs off without a hitch with Hot Laps starting right at the scheduled time of 4:45pm.  That's an awful lot of racing taking place in the daylight.  And this is an event draws a lot of cars.  As a matter of fact, the Indiana Icebreaker has had over 60 entries five of the last six years.  60 cars hot lapping, qualifying, and running heats on a daylight surface? Yikes.

Brad Neat won the season opener at Brownstown.  (Steve Alcorn photo)

History shows us, however, there's little need to worry about a lock-down Brownstown surface this early in the season.  The chance for a track to rubber up is always there - at any track on any night, Brownstown included - but for that to happen this early in the season would be a little out-of-the-ordinary.


The other thing to keep in mind is the fact that Brownstown is one of those race tracks whose size and shape allows for side-by-side racing whether it's black-slick or hammer-down.  Admittedly, I like it a little better when guys have to flat foot it and go balls-to-the-wall.  But, to be honest with you, I'm a RACE fan, and if a black-slick track provides good, side-by-side racing, then I'm fine with that too.


Who are the contenders heading into Saturday's race?  Well, let's start with the obvious.  Don O'Neal, fresh off his Spring 50 win at Florence one week ago, is a good bet for ANY race at Brownstown...any race that isn't a foot race, of course.  The Team Zero cars of Scott Bloomquist and Jimmy Owens are usually front runners at Brownstown, so expect them to be in the mix, especially if the track slicks off.

Scott Bloomquist is the defending winner of the Indiana Icebreaker.  (Jeremey Rhoades photo)

One other driver to keep an eye on is Brad Neat. The Dunnville, KY pilot, now racing on his own again, won the season opener at Brownstown on March 10th and has a history of running well there, dating back to the his days with the Battle of the Bluegrass Series.


If you're looking for the odds-on favorite, go with O'Neal.  If you're looking for a darkhorse, go with Neat.  If you're looking for the answer no one wants to hear, go with Mother Nature.


I'll be keeping my fingers crossed they get this one in.  Brownstown's got themselves a good, hard-working, passionate staff there.  I know they'll do everything they can to get this show in.

Who's Racing Where?

Yesterday, I read over the Brownstown (IN) Speedway results from Saturday night's season opener.  As someone who didn't follow the forums and Facebook pages to get an idea as to who was going to be there, I was pleasantly surprised at the regional diversity in the 22 Late Models in attendance.

In a way, it took me back to my childhood.  Long before we had a Facebook, Twitter, and a bazillion racing forums, I would sit in the stands on opening night at Tyler County (WV) Speedway and watch the haulers come in the long driveway behind me, often impressed by the strong contingent of Late Models on hand for the first race of the year.


Undoubtedly, there would be a few surprises...maybe Mike Balzano or Steve Shaver would stop in - not just on opening night, but on ANY night - and try to win one against a tough group of locals.  Or maybe not.  Maybe it would just be a solid showing of talent from outside the local area...drivers towing in from Elkins, WV or Zanesville, OH or ever the Pittsburgh, PA region.


I miss that.  I miss the element of surprise...the suspense of not knowing who could show up at a track on any given night.  I mean, it still happens occasionally.  I think we all know that.  It's just that some of the "fun" has been taken out of it with driver schedules and, even more so with everybody and their brother starting up a list for "who's going to race at what track on which night".  


Don't get me wrong.  I'm as thankful as anyone for the luxury of all those racing forums.  And God knows I use Facebook and Twitter as much as the next person.  I just miss the suspense of pulling into track and being surprised as to who might show up on any given night.