RACING VACATION 2014: Playing the Rain Game

With my flight set to leave Columbus tonight at 7:15pm, the stalking of the weather forecast for the racing trip is in full force.  It never fails...every time I plan some sort of racing vacation, I'm always trying to dodge wet weather.

Friday night's show at Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez, CO should have no problems with a predicted high in the upper 80's and cooler temps once the sun goes down.  This is a huge plus considering Fairgrounds is the only track in a four-state region racing tomorrow night.  Saturday's CDM Late Model show at Arizona Speedway should have no problems either, with a sweltering high of nearly 110 degrees predicted.

The Tuesday and Wednesday USMTS Modified shows in Texas are my biggest concern right now with scattered thunderstorms predicted in the area of both events.  With temps in the 90's and high humidity, the chance of a t-storm is always there...but I'm hoping at least one of these shows is able to get in.  Both the Tuesday race at Heart O'Texas and the Wednesday show at Devil's Bowl are currently staring at a 30% chance of rain.

Looking on ahead just a little, the final two races at Diamond Mountain, UT and Aztec, NM look good with no chance of rain, at least for now.  That having been said, I never put too much stock in a forecast more than a few days out.

We'll see what happens with the midweek Texas racing.  Obviously, given the fact those races are on a Tuesday and Wednesday, a rainout at both venues would be devastating to say the least.

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Limaland, Plymouth, and more

At 8:55pm, the first feature of the night was going green at Limaland.

1.  Chase and I went to Limaland Friday night and, as usual, saw an absolutely outstanding show.  The final checkered flag of the night waved at 9:48pm which, when you have to work the following day AND have a 4-year-old with you, is absolutely perfect.  The racing was superb with the UMP Modified feature coming right down to the closing laps with 7th-starting Randy Lines narrowly getting the win over 9th-starting Todd Sherman.

2.  Speaking of Randy Lines, his banner season continued as he doubled down by grabbing the victory at Montpelier Saturday night.  

3.  On Saturday, we made our first ever trip to the Plymouth Speedway in Plymouth, IN.  I'll have a full report on Plymouth later, but let me say this.  A good time was had by all.  They started on time, ran an efficient program, provided great racing, and had everyone on their way home by 10:45pm. As a bonus, we got to see racing on their inner oval with the Open 600cc class, which boosted my career track total up to 175.

4.  Nice to see Rick Eckert grab a couple wins on the Hell Tour. 

5.  Racing Vacation 2014 begins Friday.  Six races in five states.  If you haven't done so yet, check out my overview of the upcoming trip.  Early weather models are showing warm temps with virtually no chance of rain for the beginning of this adventure.  We'll see what happens!

RACING VACATION 2014: Part 2

In less than a week, I'll be 1200 miles from home on my long await summer vacation.  The trip will span nine days and will include six races at six tracks in five different states.  To say I'm excited would be a huge understatement.

The first stop will be Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez, CO on Friday, June 20th.  A regular racing program is scheduled with IMCA Modifieds headlining the card.  Little info is available on Fairgrounds, but they're the only track racing in a four-state region so they get the nod for the opening night of my trip.

Fairgrounds Speedway in Cortez, Colorado.  (track photo)

Saturday, June 21st I'll hope across the Four Corners state lines to Arizona.  A CDM Late Model show is on tap at ET Motopark's Arizona Speedway in Queen Creek.  With daytime highs well about 100 degrees for the Phoenix-area 3/8-mile track, you'll likely find me hanging out in the air-conditioned car as long as possible.  "Oh, it's a dry heat", every says.  Doesn't matter.  100+ degrees is HOT any way you slice it.

After a few days off, I'll make the trek to the Lonestar State for a pair of USMTS Modifieds show at Heart O'Texas Speedway in Elm Mott on Tuesday, June 24th and the historic Devil's Bowl Speedway in Mesquite on Wednesday, June 25th.  Heart O'Texas is a 1/4-mile bullring which, from everything I've seen, provides some absolutely outstanding racing.  On the contrast, Devil's Bowl is a big, D-shaped half-mile, but is also the home to some fantastic side-by-side action.  I've been asked to help with some post-race coverage of the USMTS shows, in which I'm extremely honored to do.

The impressive grandstands at Devil's Bowl Speedway.  (track photo)

From there, it's a long journey northwest for a Wild West Tour Modified race at Diamond Mountain Speedway in Vernal, UT.  A scenic, 3/8-mile facility located in the northeast part of the state, Diamond Mountain only races five weekends out of the year and is one of only two tracks racing in the "four corners" states on Friday, June 27th.

The trip wraps up on Saturday, June 28th with a regular racing program at Aztec Speedway in Aztec, NM.  Aztec rose to fame after being included on the original Dirt Track Racing game for the computer.  The 1/3-mile oval is hosting a regular show featuring Late Models and Modifieds among other classes.  

Cars in the staging lane at Diamond Mountain.  (track photo)

If all goes as planned, this epic trip bring my Track Chasing totals up to 180 tracks and 42 states ... leaving just Connecticut, Rhode Island, Mississippi, Louisiana, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, and Hawaii as the only states I will not have seen a race in.

Let's just hope Mother Nature cooperates...

RACING VACATION 2014: Part 1

It's hard to believe it's almost here, but my 2014 Racing Vacation is just over a week away.  If all goes as planned, the trip will afford me the opportunity to see six races in nine days covering five different states.  Of course, the key phrase there is "if all goes as planned".  It seems like, thanks to Mother Nature, my racing vacations never go as planned.

Three years ago, a four-day weekend road trip to the plain states was washed out on the second day forcing us to call an audible and drive six hours out of the way.  With a USMTS Modified show at Muskogee, OK's Thunderbird Speedway rained out early in the morning, I was able to find RPM Speedway in Hays, KS...the only race track in a four-state region running that night.  An MLRA Late Model rainout in Mayetta, KS the following night forced us to venture north to Eagle, NE to see one of the best weekly program I have ever witnessed.

RPM Speedway in Hays, KS.

Then, in 2012, a perfectly laid-out plan to hit the northeast would cover six days of racing in six different states.  The roadtrip started off well, with visits to Brewerton, NY, Bear Ridge, VT,  went sour halfway through when Maine's Oxford Plains Speedway narrowly missed beating the rain (the first heat of the night was in the lineup chute). The rainout meant we had to go back the following evening, which also meant the planned trip to hit a race in Connecticut wasn't going to happen on this adventure.

Bear Ridge Speedway in Bradford, VT

Last year, I was fortunate enough to combine a work-related presentation with a racing trip and visit the Pacific Northwest.  This trip was practically doomed from the get-go when a second day rainout at Grays Harbor, WA detoured my plans to a remotely-located grassroots facility some six hours away.  To top it all off, my planned destinations in Montana and Idaho also looked grim, so I had to reroute my final destinations to sunny California and Nevada.

Fernley 95A Speedway in Fernley, NV

I'm holding out hope that this year's trip will buck the trend of past years, knowing full well an unplanned rainout could happen at any given time.  Nevertheless, it's full steam ahead and, starting tomorrow, I'll preview the six tracks on the upcoming agenda.

Lookout southwest...DJ's coming your way!

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: I-96, STARS throwback, and more!

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.

5 WEEKEND AFTER-THOUGHTS: Babcock, BOSS, & more

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...