Bristol. Just Bristol.

Another Bristol night race has come and gone. We were once again in the DW Grandstand between turns 3 and 4. Great place to see the driver introductions, which were bland.

Well, except for Tony Stewart.

No one else made wacky comments, no one called any feud-fueled name directed toward any rival. Really a vanilla set of introductions, and you're always looking forward to someone calling somebody a name like "(so and so) is still an #!@&**$$."


After qualifying 42nd (Really? Stablemate Ryan Newman was on the pole, as seen in the warm up lap.) Smoke PROMISED he wouldn't be there long. For a while, that was true. Within the first few laps he bolted to 32nd. Then, that's pretty much where he stayed.

I turned to my friends and with dejection, said, "I need a new driver." Every time TStew passed by my seat, I shrugged in frustration or hung my head in despair. Here's the man in a place he's not accustomed to driving. In the back. Waaaaaay in the back.

Onward. In case you missed them, here are some of the driver intro songs. I don't have a clue if they make the TV broadcast, I'm always in the DW Grandstand watching as it unfolds.

Here's the list from several news sources pre-race. Junior kept his secret. For the life of me, I can't remember, well, actually, couldn't hear, the roar of the crowd in the concrete coliseum was so overwhelming.

A note on Jeff Burton's choice, it was actually made by the fans. We voted for Welcome to the Jungle. The Dolly song was a tribute to the miners in the country, and was part of the Remember the Miners night, complete with appearances by some of the miners from the Spike TV series.

Marcos Ambrose – "Land Down Under" / Men At Work
AJ Allmendinger – "Down With The Sickness" / Disturbed
Greg Biffle – Theme from "Sanford and Son"
Dave Blaney – "Better Now" / Collective Soul
Clint Bowyer – "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way?" / Waylon Jennings
Jeff Burton – "Welcome To The Jungle" / Guns N Roses AND "Coal Keeps The Lights On" / Dolly Parton
Kurt Busch – "Baby Got Back" / Sir Mix A Lot
Kyle Busch – "Rowdy Busch" / Raytona 500
Carl Edwards – "Run This Town" / Jay-Z
David Gilliland – "Living The Dream" / Yatta Da Kaptain (Gilliland's front tire changer)
Jeff Gordon – "E.I." / Nelly
Denny Hamlin – "Bad Meets Evil" / Fast Lane
Kevin Harvick – "Show Me What You Got" / Jay-Z
Jimmie Johnson – "Don't Mess Around With Jim" / Jim Croce
Matt Kenseth – "Indestructible" / Disturbed
Brad Keselowski – "Jackson, Mississippi" / Kid Rock
Travis Kvapil – "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah" / New Politics
Bobby Labonte – "Come Sunday" / Jimmy Buffett
Andy Lally – "Otep" / Battle Ready
Joey Logano – Theme from ESPN's "SportsCenter"
Mark Martin – "La Grange" / ZZ Top
Michael McDowell – "On Fire" / Rawsrvnt
Jamie McMurray – "The Distance" / Cake
Casey Mears – "Burn It To The Ground" / Nickelback
Paul Menard – "Gypsy Road" / Cinderella
Juan Pablo Montoya – "Enter Sandman" / Metallica
Joe Nemechek – "Cheap Sunglasses" / ZZ Top
Ryan Newman – "Big Green Tractor" / Jason Aldean
David Ragan – "I Am From The Country" / Tracy Byrd
David Reutimann – "Pretty Fly For A White Guy" / The Offspring
Regan Smith – "Second Heartbeat" / Avenged Sevenfold
Scott Speed – "Power" / Collective Soul
David Starr – "It's My Life" / Bon Jovi
Tony Stewart – "Throw The Hammer Down" / Derek Miller
Martin Truex Jr. – "Country Song" / Seether
Brian Vickers – "Smells Like Teen Spirit" / Nirvana
J.J. Yeley — "I'm Sexy And I Know It" by LMFAO.

There was the usual pomp and circumstance surrounding the event, the huge flag on the front stretch, the parachutist dropping with with the American flag in tow, school children leading the Pledge of Allegiance and saluting our troops, those in the stands and others overseas.


Then there was racin' Bristol style. Round and round, no bumping and beating, not a lot of three-wide anywhere or really even side by side door to door. Kind of looked like Hot Wheels on the electric track.

Yep, racin' the way it oughta be.

Oh, yeah. Broken Brad Keselowski was the winner.

Late Models, Hobby Stocks at K-C Saturday

Here's what's happening at K-C Raceway, thanks to Scott Wolfe.

K-C Raceway Hosts Tecumseh 30 $2,000 to win Late Models Aug. 27; Hobby Stocks added
Whiteman Sets New Track Record
Freedom 40 set for Sept 10; $3,000 to win for Sprints

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-A large field of Late Models is expected for the $2,000 to win "Tecumseh 30" AMRA Late Model Special Saturday Aug. 27 at Jeff and Vicki Schrader's K-C Raceway. K-C will add the Hobby Stocks to the line-up.

Additionally, K-C management would like to congratulate Brian Whiteman, the McArthur area driver for setting a new track record Saturday, Aug. 20.

The "Tecumseh 30" pays $2,000 to the winner for Late Models with $250 to start. Also on the race card are Mini-Sprints and Rear Wheel Drive Four Cylinders.

The track will be idle Labor Day weekend, then Saturday, September 10, K-C hosts the Freedom 40 for 410 Sprints (to remember 9/11). The event pays $3,000 to win with Advanced Services Modifieds and Hobby Stocks.

This past Saturday, Whiteman set fast time with a 15:381 clock, eclipsing the Oct. 15, 2006, record of 15:401 set by Doug Adkins. In the confusion of getting Saturday's show underway and presenting Whiteman with the Grooms Trucking $50 Fast Time award, no one had realized that Whiteman's time was indeed a new track record.

Owners Jeff and Vicki Schrader would like to pass along their congratulations.

Currently, Whiteman is in a points battle for another championship with Dave Fireball Pinkerton. Pinkerton leads Whiteman 453 to 444. Jeremy Rayburn, Jeremy Berwanger, and Bob Crace Jr. are also contenders still in alignment for a possible championship bid.

K-C has added Late Models to the October 1 racing program. This will give the late model and modified drivers their last chance to race on K-C before the DTWC. There will be no BOSS sprints this night.

While plans are in the works for more Road Warrior Challenge modified races, those that remain currently on the AMRA National schedule are Sept. 17 at Skyline Speedway, Stewart, Ohio(Harvest 50 Weekend)and Oct 1 at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio as a warm-up for Dirt Track World Championship.

The Dirt Track World Championship is Oct. 13, 14 and 15, paying $50,000 to win for Late Models and $3,000 to win for Modifieds.

The track Website is: www.kc-raceway.com and the phone number is 740-663-4141.

Standings:
AMRA Modified Points
David Pinkerton 453
BrianWhiteman 444
Jeremy Rayburn 428
Jeremy Berwanger 415
Bob Crace, Jr. 400
Mark Bailey 362
Tim Rayburn 348
Kevin Delaney 275
John Arthurs 262
Rob Stambaugh 250

In more news...

Skyline Set for Another Big Weekend
Road Warriors Invade Skyline Aug. 26
Sprint Special $3,000 to win on Sept. 9
Semi-Late Crates this week

STEWART, OHIO-The American Motor Racing Association (AMRA) has announced that the make-up date for the Road Warrior Challenge at Skyline Speedway in Stewart, Ohio is this Friday, August 26. To help accommodate the traveling racer, the make-up was set to stage a big Ohio Valley racing weekend.

Saturday night, August 27, the Ohio Valley Speedway will run it $1,200 to win Topless AMRA sanctioned modified special.

While plans are in the works for more Road Warrior Challenge races, those that remain currently are Sat. Sept 17th at Skyline Speedway, Stewart, Ohio (Harvest 50 Weekend) and Oct 1 at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio, as a Warm-up for Dirt Track World Championship.

Friday at Skyilne, The Road Warriors will be joined by AMRA Late Models, Semi-Late Crates, the Mike's Auto Body Mini-Wedge Money race, and the Powerful Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association (OVSCA) 410 Outlaw Sprint Cars.

Billy Jarrell's Skyline Speedway in Stewart, Ohio, will be hosting the AMRA Road Warriors Friday, Aug. 26. Currently, the top eight drivers in points have a shot at the title and even more of a shot for the Road Warrior Point money.

Veteran and former AMRA champion Doug Henry of Beverly, Ohio, is the RWT points leader over up-and-coming Morgantown, WV talent, Deana Groves.

The top ten is a melting pot of the states with Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia filling the top spots, including Brett Hamilton of Powhatan, VA, poised for a championship run in third.

Currently, with the addition of Roaring Knob Speedway in Pennsylvania, the AMRA sanctions tracks in four states.

Skyline will host a Sprint Special paying $3,000 to win on Sept. 9. For more information visit www.skylinespeedway.net or call 304-539-4410 or the track phone at 740-662-4111.

Results, news from K-C Raceway

It's Monday, so that means turning over the space to Scott Wolfe from K-C Racweay in Chillicothe, Ohio. Remember, it's his take on the night.

Smith Smites K-C Sprints
Johnson Doubles in AMRA Mods and Hobby Stocks
K-C Announces Tecumseh 30 $2,000 to win for Late Models Aug. 27

Results from Aug. 20, 2011

By Scott Wolfe

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO-A strong field of cars and good crowd set the back-drop for a great night of racing at Jeff and Vicki Schrader's K-C Raceway Saturday night (Aug. 20, 2011) where Chillicothe transplant Danny Smith continued to dazzle the fans with a thrilling green-to-checkered win in the Goodyear 410 Sprint car main. Mineral Wells, WV driver Kenny Johnson returned to his roots as the defending AMRA champion eclipsed the competition in the AMRA Modified feature, then doubled up with a win in the companion Hobby Stock feature aboard Jamie Adams 'old' mount.

In the 20-lap AMRA Modified main Kenny Johnson and Donnie Stewart led the pack to the start line, where Johnson immediately blitzed into the lead. Brian Whiteman quickly moved into second, but for Johnson it was 'off to the races' flat-footed style. Johnson does nothing in moderation; it is always a 'hang it out on the edge' style for the crafty veteran.

Jeremy Berwanger won his heat in the X car but suffered engine woes and started scratch in the Eric Arledge 52x. Berwanger was your hard charger of the night in a last (21st) to 9th place run, but giving him a run for his money was Mike Long who blasted from 16th to eighth in an equally impressive run.

Fast Timer Whiteman was strong out of the gate, but no match for the blitzing Johnson. Much of the race focused on the battle for third where Tim Rayburn, Mark Bailey, and Fireball Pinkerton exchanged positions numerous times. Then along comes another charger, Greg Oliver, who made it a four way battle. When it all panned out Pinkerton won the fight with Rayburn a strong fourth, followed by Oliver and Bailey.

Another four-way battle featured Danny Ferguson, Long, Berwanger, and multi-time champion Bob Crace, Jr. Ferguson halted the charges of the blitzing trio for one of his best K-C runs.

Rounding out the top ten were Kenny Johnson, Brian Whiteman, Dave Fireball Pinkerton, Tim Rayburn, Greg Oliver, Mark Bailey, Danny Ferguson, Mike Long, Jeremy Berwanger, and Bob Crace, Jr.

Said Johnson in victory lane, "I first want to apologize to Mike Long and his fans for a racing deal in the heat; secondly I want to dedicate this win to George Branscom (former K-C champ and K-C Hall of Famer, who is hospitalized); and third 'what a great race track this was tonight.' Cooper ( my crew chief-Tim Cooper) was giving me signals that we were way ahead, but I don't race that way. I don't want to mope around, I wanna put it up high and put the hammer down! Again great work to Brian Karshner and the track crew."

In the Goodyear 410 sprint main Danny Smith made the move of a generation-- splitting hairs between early leader Ron Blair and Nick Naber on the back chute of the first lap. The seemingly impossible move gave the fourth place starter Smith the lead before the turn three entry, giving him a running start to an impressive 15-lap charge.

Giving chase some ten lengths back, often with a lapped car or two in between was Ron Blair, who last time out at K-C claimed the NRA victory. Dueling hard for fourth were Jimmy Nier and Jimmy Stinson, who a couple of times tapped wheels in the heat of battle.

Before the 16th circuit was complete, the left front wheel of Eddie Slone's mount broke off and bounded into the parking lot, sending Slone helplessly in to a series of spins. Ed Neumeister and Nick Naber, both running strong were collected with Naber riding over the wheel and hard into the retaining wall before flipping over a couple of times. All drivers emerged only shaken, but all were out of the event.

Blair gave a valiant effort, but Smith picked up where he left off. Blair maintained striking distance, but could never really reel Smith in. Resuming the third place battle, Nier took command over Stinson with Kody Kinser, the Goodyear fast timer, briefly making it a three-way race.

Youngsters Sam Ashworth and Nathan Skaggs posted nice finishes ahead of hard charger Josh Davis. Davis came from 16th to 8th in an impressive run, winning out a tough battle with Brandy Bower and Bryce Dickson.

"Tonight was our 9th race in 14 days and we struggled a little bit," whisped a tired Smith. "We are all wore out, our truck is worn out, and my engine got hot tonight so it might be worn out too. Over the past week, maybe it was just the driver, I dunno, but we just didn't do what I wanted."

"Tonight I decided to just get up on the wheel and do the things that helped us be successful before. Also, thanks to all the fans and all our sponsors. We don't have big money sponsors but we have faithful smaller sponsors that give us a lot of heart and a lot of help. Thanks to them. That's what gets us here to victory lane."

Rounding out the top ten were Danny Smith, Ron Blair, Jimmy Nier, Jimmy Stinson, Kody Kinser, Sam Ashworth, Nathan Skaggs, Josh Davis, Brandy Bower, and Bryce Dickson.

Two beautiful yellow #42's garnered the front row of the Hobby Stock main. Both were Adams' Chassis mounts, one driven by Adams and the other by fellow racer Kenny Johnson. Adams drove his all stock steel-bodied car, while Johnson drove the older model, a more traditional K-C Hobby Stock.

Johnson took the lead early and never looked back, however, much of the time Adams was close by in second. Adams, who has won ten features found himself locked in a battle for second with Brandon Thompson. Thompson earlier shook a hard-charging Bruce Gray, Jr. then went to work on Adams. Meanwhile, Tommy Mossbarger and Evan Seitz went tooth-and-nail for position with Mossbarger finally winning out in the end.

Rounding out the top ten were Kenny Johnson, Brandon Thompson, Jamey Adams, Bruce Gray, Jr., Tommy Mossbarger, Evan Seitz, Tracey Ross, Jack Martin, Tim Cutler, and Jeff Sheets. Mossbarger was the hard charger in an 11th to 5th place run.

K-C will add the Hobby Stocks to the line-up next week, August 27, when the speedway hosts the "Tecumseh 30" paying $2,000 to win for Late Models; $250 to start. Also on the race card are Mini-Sprints and Rear Wheel Drive Four Cylinders. The track will be idle Labor Day weekend, then Saturday, September 10 K-C hosts the Freedom 40 for 410 Sprints (to remember 9/11). The event pays $3000 to win with Advanced Services Modifieds and Hobby Stocks.

For More Information visit www.kc-raceway.com or call 740-663-4141.

The summary: Aug. 20, 2011
Goodyear 410 Sprint Cars (21)
Fast Time: Kody Kinser 11.075
Heat One: Nick Naber, Kody Kinser, Keith Baxter, Bryce Dickson, Nick Forcum, Josh Davis, Randy Fink
Heat Two: Jimmy Nier, Danny Smith, Sam Ashworth, Nathan Skaggs, Brandi Bower, Jesse McCreary, John Shewbrooks
Heat Three: Ron Blair, Jimmy Stinson, Eddie Slone, Ed Neumeister, Beau Stewart
Feature: Danny Smith, Ron Blair, Jimmy Nier, Jimmy Stinson, Kody Kinser, Sam Ashworth, Nathan Skaggs, Josh Davis, Brandy Bower, Bryce Dickson, Beau Stewart, Jesse McCreary, Randy Fink, Bob Tucker, John Shewbrokks, Nick Naber, Eddie Slone, Ed Neumeister, Nick Forcum Keith Baxter.

MALTA AMRA MODIFIEDS (21)
Advanced Services Modifieds
Grooms Trucking Fast Time: Brian Whiteman 15:382
Heat One:Jeremy Berwanger, Brian Whiteman, Mark Bailey, Tim Rayburn, Bob Crace, Jr., Steven Duty, Mike Arthurs
Heat Two: Kenny Johnson, Jeremy Rayburn, Lonnie Kidd, John Arthurs, Bob Hurst, Jr., Kevin Delaney, Mike Long
Heat Three: Rob Stambaugh, Donnie Stewart, Danny Ferguson, Fireball Pinkerton, Eric Arledge, Greg Oliver
Feature: Kenny Johnson, Brian Whiteman, Dave Fireball Pinkerton, Tim Rayburn, Greg Oliver, Mark Bailey,Danny Ferguson, Mike Long, Jeremy Berwanger, Bob Crace, Jr., John Arthurs, Donnie Stewart, Bob Hurst, Jr. Jeremy Rayburn, Mike Arthurs, Steven Duty, Rob Stamgaugh, Patrick Hayes, Lonnie Kidd, Eric Arledge, Kevin Delaney.

Hobby Stocks (14)
Heat One: Kenny Johnson, Tim Cutler, Gary Park, Brandon Thompson, Tommy Mossbarger
Heat Two: Jamie Adams, Evan Seitz, Bruce Gray, Jr., Tracy Ross, Jack Martin, Brandon Mather, Jeff Sheets
Feature: Kenny Johnson, Brandon Thompson, Jamey Adams, Bruce Gray, Jr., Tommy Mossbarger, Evan Seitz, Tracey Ross, Jack Martin, Tim Cutler, Jeff Sheets, Richard Trego, Gary Park, Brandon Mather.

410 Sprints
Danny Smith 318
Jimmy Nier 288
Jimmy Stinson 233
Cole Duncan 226
Brandy Bower 219
Bryce Dickson 209
Josh Davis 203
Nathan Skaggs 197
Sheldon Haudenschild 194
Ron Blair 170
Todd Kane 166
Nick Naber 164
Randy Fink 158
John Shewbrooks 148
Jesse McCreary 147
Ed Neumeister 146
Greg Wilson 137
Eddie Slone 132
Jeb Lowder 131
Jac Haudenschild 129

AMRA Modified Points
David Pinkerton 453
BrianWhiteman 444
Jeremy Rayburn 428
Jeremy Berwanger 415
Bob Crace, Jr. 400
Mark Bailey 362
Tim Rayburn 348
Kevin Delaney 275
John Arthurs 262
Rob Stambaugh 250
Kenny Johnson 243
Donnie Stewart 235
Lonnie Kidd 210
Bob Hurst, Jr. 204
T.J. Harper 181
Bud Frazier 180
Brian Moore 166
Greg Oliver 160
Jimmy Lennex 160
Mike Long 151

K-C will add the Hobby Stocks to the line-up next week August 27th when the speedway hosts the "Tecumseh 30" paying $2,000 to win for Late Models; $250 to start. Also on the race card are Mini-Sprints and Rear Wheel Drive Four Cylinders. The track will be idle Labor Day weekend, then Saturday, September 10 K-C hosts the Freedom 40 for 410 Sprints (to remember 9/11). The event pays $3,000 to win with Advanced Services Modifieds and Hobby Stocks.

Hobby Stocks
Jamey Adams 701
Bruce Gray, Jr. 570
Brandon Thompson 558
Tommy Mossbarger 536
Brandon Mather 519
Tim Cutler 517
Butch Eblin 412
Mike Brust 383
Tracey Ross 359
Jack Martin 327
Jim Hildebrand 292
Richard Trego 259
Keith Dubois 237
Phil Rice 220
Jeff Sheets 204
Gary Park 173
Evan Seitz 160
Roger Mossbarger 156
Travis Pertuset 134
Jason Holstein 97

AMRA Motor Racing Challenge

Again, turning over the day to Scott Wolfe at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio.

Road Warriors to Hit Road Again August 26
Make-up from Skyline Rainout Aug. 26
Ohio Valley Topless Special Aug. 27
By Scott Wolfe
MT. ALTO, WV - The American Motor Racing Association (AMRA) has announced that the make-up date for the Road Warrior Challenge at Skyline Speedway in Stewart, Ohio has received a Friday, August 26 make-up date. To help accommodate the traveling racer, the make-up was set to stage a big Ohio Valley racing weekend. Saturday night, August 27 the Ohio Valley Speedway will run it $1,200 to win Topless AMRA sanctioned modified special.

While plans are in the works for more Road Warrior Challenge races, those that remain currently are Sat. Sept 17 at Skyline Speedway, Stewart, Ohio (Harvest 50 Weekend) and Sat. Oct 1 at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe, Ohio as a Warm-up for Dirt Track World Championship.

Billy Jarrell's Skyline Speedway in Stewart, Ohio will be hosting the AMRA Road Warriors Friday, Aug. 26. Currently, the top eight drivers in points have a shot at the title and even more of a shot for the Road Warrior Point money.

Veteran and former AMRA champion Doug Henry, Beverly, Ohio is the RWT points leader over up-and-coming Morgantown, WV talent Deana Groves. The top 10 is a melting pot of the states with Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia filling the top spots including Brett Hamilton, Powhatan, Va., poised for a championship run in third. Currently, with the addition of Roaring Knob Speedway in Pennsylvania, the AMRA sanctions tracks in four states.

The Road Warrior Tour features many of the best of the best in the series, and has become the road show for the weekly series. Currently, Vince Conrad paces the competitive National AMRA standings 1060 to 952 over Rick Venham Jr. The rest of the top 10 are Robert Garnes, J.P. Roberts, Doug Henry, Jeremy Blake, Robbie Evans, Kenny Johnson, Deana Groves, Tom Sigler, Andy Bond, Darin Roush, Joe Cox, Buddy Brogan and Louie Krushansky.

The rest of the pack will be fighting for higher placement in the points battle, including a gaggle of drivers shooting to get into the top 30, where a lucrative point fund pays great rewards. There are 170 drivers currently on the AMRA roster.

Skyline will run a regular show featuring AMRA Late Models, AMRA Modifieds, Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association 410 sprints, Semi-Late Crates, and Mike's Auto Body Mini-wedges this Friday, August 19. Rain checks from July 29 will be good for the rest of the season, excepting special events such as the Harvest 50 where the difference in price must be paid. Serial numbers must remain intact on the arm-bands.

Skyline is slated to pay the Silver Purse of $1,200 to win for this big event.

For further information visit www.skylinespeedway.net or call Katie at 304-539-4410 or the track phone at 740-662-4111. Skyline Speedway is located between Athens, Ohio and Coolville, Ohio on Bethany Ridge Road, Co. Rd 53. The GPS address is 7274 Quiggly Rd, Guysville, OH 45735.

More information can also be found at www.amramodified.com

The AMRA recommends that drivers and fans contact various tracks for start times via phone or individual track websites before traveling.

Malta Doors and Windows has again signed on as Title Sponsor of the AMRA for 2011. Other sponsors of the MALTA AMRA Modified series are Dave Poske's Performance Parts, Wrisco, Hoosier/Hoosier Tire Ohio Valley, PBM Performance, PBM Performance Products, AERO Racing Wheels, Rocket Chassis, Bell Racing, Lincoln Welders, Hypercoils, Bazell Race Fuels, Alky Racing Alcohol, Kluhsman Racing Components (KRC), Evans Vinyl Signs, WV Tax & Bookkeeping, Tru-Tech , Winters Performance, Bilstein Shocks, PST Drive Shafts, Schoenfield, Killer Bee Race Bodies and Pike Street Lanes.

Tru-Tech and Freddie Carpenter is now a proud sponsor of the Late Model Series, while The Bumper Man, Killer Bee Bodies and Carthage Auto Parts have joined the AMRA team. Carthage Auto Parts and Dave Norton will now sponsor the Rookie of the Year Award.

Bees, Bulls and Lions

Oh, my!

Pit crews have some creative names in NASCAR. The Pit Bulls (Greg Biffle) and The Killer Bees (Matt Kenseth) are two. Do we still call the #17 crew The Killer Bees? I know they are in Crown Royal purple for now, not the bold black and yellow of DeWalt that earned them then moniker.

So, where do the Lions come in?

Why, sponsoring a trip to the Irwin Tools night race at Bristol, of course. The Alum Creek Lions Club hosts a yearly trip to this race every summer. It’s a fund raiser for the club, which, like all Lions Clubs, provides eye exams and glasses, eye surgeries and hearing aids to folks in the community in need.

This year, there are still seats available, so let me tell you about the trip.

1. You don’t have to drive. That is a big plus in my book.

2. You don’t leave at the O-Dark-Hundred hours, it’s 10 a.m. from the Southridge Shopping Center in Charleston, W.Va. Really big plus!

3. Affordable price, $185. That includes transportation to and from the track (again, you don’t have to drive); movies on the way, a chance to nap all the way back; good seats between turns 3 and 4 (the aluminum grandstand in the Boogity, Boogity, Boogity (Darrell Waltrip) section; and a little tailgating while you wait to leave after the race (sub sandwiches, chips, soda and water). Why just hop out in traffic and sit, burning fuel? Wait for a while, socialize and snack.

The first shot on this blog is taken from our seats. Actually, so was the bottom one. It's a great view of the entire track, well except directly in front of you when you are five feet tall and everyone stands up in front of you. However, I did catch this crash from my seat in 2009. It was Mikey Waltrip. Ouchie!



After your arrival, approximately 4:30 p.m. after a stop for grub before you hit the track and the $4 bottles of water, you can take in the sightes, visit the souvenir haulers or grab some swag from race sponsors.

Speaking of taking in the sights, this Dale Jr. fan certainly let his opinion of the younger Busch Brother be known, don't you think? I've had friends in the Official NASCAR Members Club tell me they had heard about this guy, but didn't believe it was real.

I assure you, it is. This was his headgear at Bristol, 2009.



So, what’s not to like? Affordable, Bristol night racing, good company in a family atmosphere, at least the Lions group is family-friendly, and a road trip.

If you are interested, call Lion Paul Wheeler at 304-746-4415 or contact him by email at pwhee71827@aol.com. He’s also on Facebook.

It’s Bristol, baybee!

Who said? Boris Said!

And say something he did. After the rain-delayed race at Watkins Glen, Boris had some words for, and about, Greg Biffle.



1. Keep your helmet on. Check.

2. Settle it off the track and not damage the quarter-million-dollar cars. Check.

3. Boys have at it. Check.

Now, the Nascar.com videos don't get you The Biff and Boris, but at about 3:30 in, this one shows the last lap crashes of Tony Stewart, David Reutimann and David Ragan. And, yes, Boris and the #6 were trying to occupy the same piece of real estate and it didn't turn out well for the #6 or the #00.



On an aide, do we remember that Biff's then girlfriend, now wife, Nicole, left his pit box and stormed over to Kurt Busch's box to confront his wife, Eva after their menfolk had an on-track incident? But Biff ran from Boris? Say it ain't so, say it ain't so!

Racin’ the way it oughta be?

With the summer Bristol race coming up fast, actually two weeks away, it’s not a sell out? Well slap that wall and get out the Bondo, are you really surprised?

There was a time when if you didn’t renew your tickets when you got that letter, you were stuck out in the parking lot listening on your radio, hearing the roar of the engines and cheers from the crowd. Heck, people kept their seats forever and left the rights to those tickets to family and friends in their Last Will and Testament.

In past years, if you were “going to Bristol,” race fans envied you and wanted details to fill in the commercial blanks after you returned home. You had tickets and they could only dream or pay a scalper to get them.

Not so any more.

The spring race only occupied 120,000 of the 160,000 available seats. Track officials say 14-days-out, it’s close to a sellout, but won’t give specifics. One of the few local bus tours to the summer race has seats still open. It’s sponsored by the Alum Creek Lions Club.

Sidebar: If you are interested in going, contact that club, cost is $185 and includes transportation, seat between turns 3 and 4 and food before you leave the track to return home. Call Paul Wheeler at 304-746-4415 or contact him by email at pwhee71827@aol.com)

And it’s not just Bristol. Each week, if you look hard and fast, you’ll catch a glimpse of empty seats at every venue, no matter how much TNT, ABC, FOX and ESPN try to steer the cameras clear of vast empty sections.

So why are people staying away in droves? The blogisphere says it’s the racing, not the economy. After Bruton reconfigured the track to progressive banking, it just wasn’t Bristol any more. No hard-nosed, get outta my way, bumpin’ beatin’ bangin’ door to door and to the wall, racing.

It's not Concrete Chaos, like NASCAR has boasted in the past.

There are few cautions, which isn’t always a bad thing, but it can make for a boring race. Here’s where detractors have their say, “it’s just going in circles,” and they're right. Well, until the last 20 laps, when everyone wants to win and will get down to the business of racing. The rest of the race is pretty much flipped on auto-pilot.

It just doesn’t meet the track slogan any longer - Racin’ the way it oughta be!