Labor Day motorsports featuring a familiar face

Ah, Labor Day weekend. Seems like summer just started.

But there's still cruise-ins to be visited and races to be attended, including the Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series where you can see future Hall of Famer Steve Francis race! I don't just throw that HOF phrase around lightly. When I visit Charlotte aka the Mecca of Southern Motorsports, the folks at SPEED, er Fox Sports 1, call him that. NASCAR drivers who double on the dirt in sprints call him that.

Right now, Steve is second in points for the series. And, no, the other guy isn't the points leader, it's team owner Clint Bowyer, who will be busy in HotLanta on Sunday.

C'mon, Tri-State, let's get out there and fill the stands for Steve!

He's going to be at Portsmouth on Saturday and Ripley on Sunday, and I can't wait to see him on the track!

Weekend of Aug. 30 - Sept. 1
Friday, Aug. 30
Covered Bridge Car Club Cruise-In - Perry Morris Square, Milton, W.Va.; 5 p.m. to dusk. No registration. 304-743-5321 or 304-654-0745.

Saturday, Aug. 31
Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park - Pepsi 50 River Days Rumble, Lucas Oil Series $15,000 to win. Admission adults $12, (age 16 and up), ages 12-15 $5, ages 7-11 $2, and age 6 and under free. Gates open 4 p.m., hot laps at 6:30 p.m., racing begins at 7:30 p.m. www.portsraceway.com or call 740-354-3278 or 740-858-6661.

Ona Speedway, W.Va. - There will be racing at 7 p.m. in U-cars, V-6, Hobby Stock, Classics and Sports Mods. Admission $10 for adults, $7 for ages 11-17, and children under 10-years free. It will also be Youth Sports Night and football players and cheerleaders in jersey or uniform will have free admission and be invited onto the track before racing to get an upclose and personal look at the cars. 

Sunday, Sept. 1
1-77 Raceway Park, Ripley, W.Va. - the 45th annual Hillbilly 100, a $25,000 to win purse, another Lucas Oil series event. For more information, visit www.racei77.com or call 304-373-1110.
 

Cars, pancakes and the riverfront.

Ah, the weekend, places to go, cars to drool over....

Here's hoping to make it to my favorite little town on the Ohio, Gallipolis. The picturesque park will be filled with shiny cars and the air alive with music. My old friends in the Gallipolis Lions Club will serve up pancakes in the park, and after breakfast, the fire department will offer up food during the afternoon.

Weekend of Aug. 9 - 11
Saturday, Aug. 10
Ole Car Club of Gallipolis, Ohio 35th Annual Car Show - River side of historic Gallipolis City Park. Registration from 9 a.m. to noon; registration fee $10; trophies awarded at 3 p.m. in 14 categories. Special gifts to first 100 vehicles registered; dash plaques to the first 175 vehicles registered. Door prizes totaling more than $500; 50/50 raffle; music. Lions Club Pancake Breakfast in the park 7:30 to 11 a.m.; fire department food concessions 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Net profits donated to local charities. No alcohol allowed. 740-446-0643 dhively@att.net or 740-446-4064 lewis02@yahoo.com.



Getting ready for next weekend, there will be a Kentucky cruise in, and racing in West Virginia and Ohio. So, if you can't find something to suit you in the way of motorsports, well, tough luck.

Did you miss Elvis in Huntington back in the day? Oh, wait, we ALL missed Elvis back in the day 'cause he died before the concert. I'll bet if you look on Facebook, someone from Huntington will post a photo of their unused tickets.

But I digress.

Elvis anniversary night will be going on at Ona Speedway. Here's hoping for a great Elvis impersonator to appear from the misty parking lot.

Weekend of Aug. 16 - 18
Saturday, Aug. 17
Paintsville Cruiz’n - Downtown Paintsville, Ky., begins at 4 p.m. GM Alley and Movie Night. Sponsored by Paintsville Tourism.

Ona Speedway - "Elvis Presley Anniversary Night" U-cars, 6cyl Any Car, Street Stock, Hobby Stock, Classics Sport Mods & Late Models. Gates open at 5 p.m.; racing starts at 7 p.m. Cost $10 for adults, $7 for ages 11-17 and free for ages 10 and under. Free parking. Concessions available. Website, www.hughes-motorsports.com.

Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park - 19th Annual Fred Dillow Memorial. Admission adults $12, (age 16 and up), ages 12-15 $5, ages 7-11 $2, and age 6 and under free. Gates open 4 p.m., hot laps at 6:30 p.m., racing begins at 7:30 p.m. www.portsraceway.com