What's happening? Car shows and Hall of Famers plus a little racing

This week, and actually ANY week, it's good to give a shout-out to Steve Francis of Ashland, Ky.

On Saturday, this legend (Kenny Wallace's phrase about him) is being inducted into the Dirt Track Racing Hall of Fame in Florence, Ky.  

Steve's been driving the #15 Georgia Boot late model for Clint Bowyer Dirt Racing and the Tri-State should be mighty proud of this man!

So, a tip of the ball cap and a wave of the flag to Steve!

No racing this Saturday, August 9 at Portsmouth Raceway Park due to the Scioto County Fair. Racing returns on Aug. 16 with the 20^th Fred Dillow Memorial, paying late models $5,000 to win; modifeds $1,000 to win; limited late models $830 to win; and bombers $600 to win! Plus bonus cash/awards in all divisions! www.freddillowmemorial.com for more information.

Aug. 9 – Ona Speedway, Ona, W.Va. – Midway Ford Night Admission $10 for adults, $7 youth ages 11-17, ages 10 and younger free.The David Bell Memorial Car Show will precede the evening’s racing. Come out from noon to 5 p.m. to check out the car show. There will be another bicycle giveaway and a drawing for two Barbie Dolls new in box. 

Aug. 9 – Alum Creek Lions Club, Alum Creek, W.Va. The annual Car Show and Pig Roast will be held at the Alum Creek Community Building. Car Show begins at 8 a.m. and registration is $10. Trophies will be awarded to the top 50 and Specialty Trophies, Dash Plaques and gift to each car entered. Concessions open at 8 a.m., and pig meals are available at 10 a.m. The Community Pig Dinner is 5 p.m. and cost is $5. 

The Alum Creek Lions Club Facebook page has had some pretty good Memes to promote the show. Here one of my favorites. But, actually, it can also apply to the Ole Car Club of Gallipolis show, too. The Lions Club there sponsors an awesome pancake breakfast!

Aug. 9 – Ole Car Club of Gallipolis, Ohio. The 36^th Annual Car Show to benefit local charities. Registration 9 a.m. to noon in the city park; fee $10; dash plaques to the first 175 vehicles registered. Lions Club pancake breakfast 7:30 to 11 a.m.; Fire Department food concessions 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fan favorite trophies in pre- and post- 1985, scooter/motorbike, Harley-Davidson, Ford, GM, Mopar stock or modified and Antique Factory Original. Information 740-446-7443, 740-446-0643 or 740-446-4064.

AMRA geared up for the weekend

Thanks, Scott Wolfe, for the lowdown on this week's action around the region!

RACINE, OHIO –The AMRA has an action-packed weekend ahead starting Friday, August 1 and ending Sunday, August 3 with the running of the Jim Dunn Memorial.  Many big-buck races are slated for the weekend.

Friday night shows include racing at Hilltop Speedway, Jackson County Speedway, I-77, and Beckley Motor Speedway, while Saturday highlight's $1,500 to win shows at Atomic Speedway for the modifieds and also at Ohio Valley Speedway. 

Other Saturday shows include Princeton, while Sunday Midway hosts the Jim Dunn Memorial paying $5,000 to win in the Late models and $1,000 in the modifieds. 

Skyline is idle this week.

Hilltop and Ohio Valley, Friday and Saturday  $1,500 to win

 The Renegades of Dirt Modified Tour presented by Arizona Sport Shirts has added two shows to their 2014 season schedule. On August 1 the RoD will invade Hilltop Speedway for $1,500 to win and on Aug 2 the Ohio Valley Speedway for $1500 to win, in an exciting double header weekend against the AMRA’s best. Race fans are highly anticipating the ‘shootout’ between the traveling series regulars from at least six states and those who have made the local area their stomping grounds since dirt modifieds got their start in the region over twenty years ago.

The battle will begin on Friday August 1 as the RoD Modified Tour presented by Arizona Sport Shirts will invade Hilltop Speedway in Marietta, Ohio for the first night of the “Ohio River Shootout”. Saturday August 2 will be the second night of the “Ohio River Shootout” at Ohio Valley Speedway in Lubeck, W.Va. No AMRA Points at Saturday's race.

Atomic Modified Special Saturday $1,500 to win

The Atomic Speedway near Chillicothe, Ohio had already planned what was one of the best bargains in auto racing with a full slate of 410 Outlaw Ohio Valley Sprint Car Association sprint cars and the powerful AMRA Late Models on Saturday, August 2 for AP Green Night. 

Atomic is one of only a single handful of tracks nationwide that runs both classes on a regular basis. Now on top of this, Atomic will run the Octane Race Products AMRA/Advanced Services Modifieds for a whopping $1,500 to win and $175 to start, plus Street Stocks, Sport Mods, and an enduro all for just a $12 general admission. AP Green employees from Oak Hill will be admitted for just $5.

With limited tracks running for AMRA points this weekend, Atomic Speedway management decided that it would step up to the plate and make the trip worthwhile to the AMRA membership running for AMRA points.

Vallery Chevrolet and Acord's Pizza and Subs stepped to the plate to sponsor the Modified event for the weekend.

Sunday at Midway: $5,000 to Win Lates/ $1,000 to win Modifieds

 The 2014 29th annual D1RT Jim Dunn Memorial will be Sunday, August 3, at Midway Speedway. Gates will open at  noon with racing at 4 p.m. with  $5,000 going to the winner, $200 to start for the AMRA Late Models. The purse features a whopping $14,000-plus pay out, while the Octane AMRA Modifieds will race for $1000 to win and Steel Block Late Models $800 to win. Midway will also be running MOVE Mods for $500 to win, and a $350 to win enduro plus mini-wedge.There is no entry fee, only a single race AMRA Registration of $25 for AMRA non members. AMRA members will already have their license.

        

 Princeton

 Saturday, August 2, Princeton Speedway opens its gates at 4 p.m. for the 4th Annual UBB 29 Miners Memorial Race paying $2,900 to one lucky winner of the 29 lap Feature Event in honor of the 29 fallen miners from the upper Big Branch Mine on April, 5, 2010.

We will also be paying $229.00 to the fastest Qualifier and $290.00 to the fast 6 dash for the cash winner!! Also the 29th fastest qualifier will get $29  sponsored by OVDTR, and the Longest Tow in the Crate class will receive $75 sponsored by Anthony Hawks. Gates will open at 5 p.m. with racing action beginning at 7 p.m. Admission is $15 General Admission and $30 for Pits. Kids 11 and under are admitted free.

Also added to the Race will be $500 to the winner of the Street Stock Class Sponsored by KB Kida Daycare

Beckley Motor Speedway

 Friday, August 1, Beckley Motor Speedway will host a kids bike race in 3 separate age groups, 4-6 years, 7-9 years and 10-12 years old. Winner from each age group wins a new bicycle. This comes with racing in all classes.

I-77 Raceway Park show Friday

I-77 will host the J.D. Randolph Memorial Mod lite Special along with a complete show in all other classes.

1. Super Lates Regular show $1500 to win. Will receive Track & AMRA Points

2. Modifides Regular show $750 to win Will receive Track and AMRA Points

3. Mod Lite J.D. Randolph Memorial $400 to win Will receive Track Points

4. Hillbilly 50 Qualifier for Steel Block Late Models $600 to win Plus a Guaranteed starting spot in the Hillbilly 50 Aug.30th . Rules for this race: 1.Must be Steel Block Motor all else Open Rules, Can run any Tires, Heads, ect.. No Track Points for this race

5. If a Fastrack Crate Car runs in the Steel Block race and wants Fastrack points they will have to be Legal by Fastrack rules to receive Fastrack points. Fastrack cars will be checked to see if legal by Fastrack rules.

 Jackson County Speedway

 Jackson County Speedway will be racing Southern Ohio Lightning Minisprints, Modlites, Outlaw 4s, Street stocks, Modifieds, Sport mods, Enduros, and we will have our first exhibition go kart race this Friday, August 1.

Ona results and what's next

No rain was going to stop action at Ona Speedway last weekend! 

More than 400 drivers, family members, friends and fans flooded through the gates for Saturday night short track racing.

I took the night off and headed to the Huntington Symphony Orchestra’s tribute to my favorite band of all times, The Beatles.

And even though they’ll be back at it this weekend at Ona, I will be absent again. Hey, it’s my Huntington East High School class of 1974 reunion! Can’t miss that!

PR guy and driver Scott Pierson Jr., provides this synopsis of last week’s action:

·        While the 48 cars is one of our best counts to date, what’s more important is the individual classes.  The cars were spread across our six classes nicely.  The bigger classes had great car counts this week.  The 8 Late Models and 8 Sport Mods both put on a show!

·        Track promoter, Scott Pierson Sr., almost got his first career win in the Contempo Trophy B-main.  In the end it was young gun, Jeremy Cooper, taking the checkers about 3 feet ahead of his older rival.

·        Scott Pierson Jr. stayed a few car lengths back at the start of the New Heights Church V6 race, as this was the only class that didn’t have a good turn out and he thought he could make it a better show.  Rookie driver Jared Cassidy almost made him regret that decision as he held Jr. off most of the race.

·        Immediately after his V6 win Scott Pierson Jr. had to jump in his Sport Mod where he started on the pole, but fell to 7^th as the race went on.  Greg Chandler, owner of Chandlers Frame and Body Shop in St. Albans, fought his way to the front and held off John “PawPaw” Morton for the win.

·        Jeremy Cooper also won the Classic race after starting on the tail of the field.  That is 5 wins in a row for the 18 year old from Ona, WV.  To be clear, there is no lack of competition in this class as he has had to beat veterans “Magic” Mike Christy and Glen Foster among others.

·        Speaking of “Magic” Mike Christy, he won his 6^th Hobby Stock race of the year.

·        Keith Watson, who consistently runs toward the front, won his first Contempo Trophy A-main since returning to the track this year.

·        The Late Models were visibly faster top to bottom.  In the end Bobby Fihe of Columbus OH was able to pass local favorite Jake Keaton of Barboursville for the lead.  Keaton finished 3^rd.  At the end of the night, the results showed four Late Models ran under 19 second laps.  In case you didn’t know, that’s moving!

WINNERS

·        New Heights Church V6- #12 Scott Pierson Jr.

·        Contempo Trophy Ucar B-main- #00 Jeremy Cooper

·        Contempo Trophy Ucar A-main- #51 Keith Watson

·        Classics- #00 Jeremy Cooper

·        Hobby Stock- #8 “Magic” Mike Christy

·        Sport Mods- #88 Greg Chandler

·        Late Models- #64 “The Columbus Comet” Bobby Fihe

POINTS AND LAP TIMES

Points and lap times will be posted and available at www.onaspeedway.com

WHAT’S NEXT

We will be right back at it this Saturday, July 26 for the East End Body Shop 150.

Wednesday night June 25 report from Atomic Speedway

Thanks again to Scott Wolfe, the ever-faithful report from Atomic Speedway, who has some help for this midweek action on June 25 from Brian Liskai

So, here's what happened.....

 

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio (Wednesday, June 25, 2014) – Jac Haudenschild lived up to his nickname “The Wild Child” at Atomic Speedway Wednesday night.

The Wooster, Ohio driver blasted around Dale Blaney with five laps to go and went on to score the win on night #3 of the 32nd Annual Ohio Sprint Speedweek with the University of  Northwestern Ohio All Star Circuit of Champions. Dan Ebert, Lake Shore, Minnesota claimed the AMRA Modified $1,000 win, Harley Martin, Jackson, Ohio took the Sport Mod main, his 5th of the season; and Rob Smith claimed his second Street Stock win.

More than 100 cars packed the pit area, including 62 sprint cars, the largest gathering of sprint cars at any dirt track in the USA this year.

Haudenschild used the concrete wall in turns three and four as a cushion to rim-ride to his second All Star win of 2014. It is his 28th career series victory.

“That was really fun. The track was awesome. The fastest way was around the top. I was running up there pretty high. It was a little easier running second. Dale was definitely fast but I was able to see his line and we got there at the end,” said Haudenschild beside his Destiny Racing/Rick Rogers Construction/Mondak Portables/Triple X Racing/Renegade Rentals/Champion Oil backed machine.

 “We’ve been getting better every week and hopefully we can keep it up. The car is feeling good and the guys have worked their tails off,” added Haudenschild.

For Blaney, who came into the night leading the UNOH All Star national and Ohio Region points and the 2014 Ohio Sprint Speedweek points, it was another solid night with a second place finish despite leading the first 25 laps.

“It was my mistake. I moved to the middle there a little bit. It almost felt like it was starting to lock down there in the middle and I probably ran a little too conservative there to try and stay in it. He just got a run on me there and after that he was running pretty hard. My mistake for running a little too easy in one and two and being conservative. The guys gave me a great car and I just brought it home in second. Every night we’ve been really good and put ourselves in a good position and that’s what it takes,” said Blaney beside his Kennedy Cattle/GF1 Chassis/Ti22 Performance/Penske Shocks backed #14K.

Randy Hannagan would battle with Blaney for the runner-up position the final four laps before coming home in third.

 “Car came on really good the last 10 laps. I missed that corner that one time that I didn’t need to miss it,” said Hannagan beside his Do-Si-Do/Upper Auto/Kenny’s Components backed #11n. “Ed Neumeister gives me an awesome car and my guys, Kent Karhoff and Jonathan Karhoff work their butts off for me. They make me look good.”

After the 62-car field was whittled down to the final 24 A-main starters it would be Blaney and Sheldon Haudenschild who would bring the field to the green for the 30-lap feature. Blaney would grab the lead over Sheldon Haudenschild, Cole Duncan, Jac Haudenschild, Taylor Ferns, Danny Smith, Randy Hannagan, Brady Bacon and Caleb Griffith. Jac Haudenschild would grab third on lap two.

It didn’t take the leaders long to find heavy lapped traffic by lap five but the action would grind to a halt on lap six when Cale Thomas would blow a right rear tire and get into the front stretch wall, getting upside down. On the restart Blaney pulled away slightly as the son and feather battled for second. Jac would take the runner-up spot on lap eight, bringing Duncan into third with Sheldon, Hannagan, Smith and Shane Stewart in tow.

Blaney would find lapped traffic by the 12th circuit with Haudenschild staying within striking distance while Duncan battled with Hannagan with Sheldon Haudenschild, Smith and Griffith in pursuit. Jimmy Stinson would spin to bring out the caution on lap 14 and once again hand the leaders a clear track. Blaney and Jac Haudenschild would pull away from the field and run nose to tail with Duncan, Hannagan, Sheldon Haudenschild, Smith, Griffith, Stewart and Bacon in tow. Bacon would spin in turn one on lap 21 to once again give the leaders a clean track.

On the restart once again Blaney and Jac Haudenschild were glued together and pulled away while Duncan was battling with Hannagan for third. Jac would execute a perfect slider on Blaney in turns three and four to take the lead with five laps to go when the red flew for a pile-up involving Christopher Bell, Danny Holtgraver and Cory Crabtree. On the restart Jac Haudenschild would continue to blast away at the extreme top edge of the track with Blaney now locked in a battle for second with Hannagan while Sheldon Haudenschild was battling with Griffith for fourth.

Jac Haudenschild would drive to the win with Blaney edging Hannagan for second while Griffith and Sheldon Haudenschild rounded out the top five.

              

In the power-packed AMRA Modified Feature, Kenny Johnson, the 5-time AMRA champ lined up against WISOTA Champ Dan Ebert as the duo led the charging star-studded line-up to the green flag. Ebert and Johnson diced in spectacular fashion with the always-present back-in-the-pack action at Atomic Speedway. Johnson, of Mineral Wells, WV is your 2014 Gibby's DTRN Modified Mid-Season Champion with 12 feature wins in what has been a Dream season already in 2014 with 12 Victories right here in our region. Johnson's bid for win #6 was short-lived, however.

In the Modified A -main there was a very bad wreck involving Dave Pinkerton, Jason Montgomery and Mark Dickson who tried to make it Three wide where three-wide would not fit. Past feature winner Jimmy Lennex was involved in the aftermath and was taken away in an ambulance, but at press time was reported to be only shaken and suffering a sore neck.

Cody Parker worked his way toward the front, along with hard-charger Rick Hensley who was on a rail from 14th to third. Rounding out the top ten were Dan Ebert, Cody Parker, Rick Hensley, Travis Dickson, K-C Burdette, Nathan Loney , John Burdette, Jason Brookover, Mark Dickson, and Brian Whiteman.

He is only sixteen, but he is a veteran in many ways. Yes, Harley Martin persevered and won his fifth Sport Mod run of the year after a side-by-side battle with another youngster Brennan Bobst. The pair of high school young guns Martin and Bobst continued to run side-by-side lap after lap  while battling for the lead! Martin prevailed for the win ahead of Brennan Bobst, Steve Noble, Allen Gulley, Harrison Hill, Rick Neace, Steve Thornsberry, John Cuckler, Derek Davidson, Mike Brust, and John Remy.

The Street Stock main provided another torrid battle, but this time Rob Smith, scoring his second win in a row, had a little easier time of it. Last week, Smith made a last lap pass to claim the win, but although working hard in holding off the charges of a solid pack, especially Jamie Adams and Dean Boyd, Smith raced on to victory.

Rounding out the line-up were Rob Smith, Jamie Adams, Dean Boyd, Justin Poling, Evan Seitz, Adam Jones, Brian McQuay, Dave Landman, Tim Cutler, Casey Barr, and Tommy Mossbarger.

              

A reminder that there will be no SATURDAY racing June 28, but that action at Atomic Continues July 3 with the "Night the Stars Come Out!" That race pays $5,000 to win in both Sprints and Late Models plus a race for the AMRA Modifieds for $750 to win. The UMP DIRTcar Summer Nationals Hell Tour rolls into Atomic July 16 for a $5,000 to win event. Some of the top super late model drivers from around the Midwest will be on hand to battle it out on the high banked three-eighths mile dirt oval.

Atomic Speedway will be near the end of the 33 race 'Hell Tour' schedule that is set over a span of just 39 days.

The Summit UMP DIRTcar Modified Nationals will also be competing on this night with one of their 30 nights of scheduled competition. Some of the top modified drivers from the Midwest will join Atomic's stellar lineup of modifieds as they compete for the $1,000 top prize.

For more information call 740-703-9749 or 740-663-4141 or visit the Atomic Speedway website at  www.atomicspeedway.net  Atomic is located 12 miles South of Chillicothe, Ohio off SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway between Chillicothe, Ohio and Waverly, Ohio at Alma.

Ona race review for June 21

Kudos to Scott Pierson Jr. for sending in an awesome report on the action at Ona Speedway Saturday, June 21! Next best thing to being there are the reports I get from Scott at Ona, another Scott, Scott Wolfe at the Southeast Ohio tracks and from Donna Rayburn at Portsmouth Raceway Park!

Here is Scott Pierson Jr.’s take on the night. Keep in mind, he’s the promoter AND a driver! Not that he’d ever be biased, but he does a pretty straightforward report.

Excitement was in the air Saturday night at Ona Speedway for the Anderson Equipment 200!  When fans entered the gate they were greeted by a 30 foot tall, blow-up, Kobelco Transformer.  There were also several large pieces of equipment from Anderson’s Kobelco line.  If any fan left without a free Anderson t-shirt, hat, or poster, it was their own fault.  They were passing out all kinds of stuff!  New Heights Church, the sponsor of our V6 class, had a bouncing castle that kept the kids busy.  It was the best atmosphere of the year so far.

WHAT HAPPENED?

·        Scott Pierson Jr. surprised everyone when he pulled onto the track with a new setup.  His car had so much rear steer that it appeared to go down the straights sideways.  While the car looked crooked, it worked, and that’s all that matters in racing.

·        Randy Templeton almost didn’t race his Ucar, because he was frustrated with the way it ran in practice.  His buddies talked him into it and he WON!  The B main victory was the first of his 4 year career.

·        The Late Models drove their expensive cars like they were $1200 V6’s leaving metal all over the track!  Shane Koontz won a battle of survival.

·        Mike Christy finished the night with zero trophies, a rare occurrence indeed!

·        In the Classics Glen Foster, Mike Christy, and Jeremy Cooper started on the tail making for an interesting trek to the front.

·        We had arguably the best Sport Mod race of the season as Scott Pierson Sr. took the lead on lap 2 and held off John Morton until lap 25.  But in the end the wiley veteran was able to get around the “Boss” and take the victory.

WINNERS

Contempo Trophy Ucar B main-  #10 Randy Templeton

Contempo Trophy Ucar A main-  #16 Chris Deskins

New Heights Church V6-  #12 Scott Pierson Jr.

Classics-  #00 Jeremy Cooper

Hobby Stock-  #44 Gary Queen

Sport Mod-  #15 John Morton

Late Models-  #28 Shane Koontz

POINTS AND LAP TIMES

Points and lap times will be posted Wednesday  and can be seen at www.scottpiersonracing.com under the driver tab.  You can also follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Scott-Pierson-at-Ona-Speedway/140301162846191?ref_type=bookmark

WHAT’S NEXT?

Drivers will battle it out again on July 5^th in the River City Ford and Subaru 150!

What'cha gonna do this weekend?

There are a couple of things on the upcoming schedule for anything with wheels and the people who love them. 

If you miss this sweet little cruise in at South Point, Ohio, shame on you! This is the second time First Southern Baptist Church has had this event and they are hoping it grows and grows. 

No pressure. No cost to you. You can show off your car - of any age, make and model with no registration fee. They'll feed you at no charge. 

If you want to make a donation to this church and it's endeavor, please do. 

I personally had a great time last year when I stumbled upon it coming home from Ashland that Saturday about noon. I met nice people with awesome cars - lots of ponies in the parking lot. I have an affinity for Mustangs. 

Whether you have a ride to show off or just like to look, wheel on over to this event. 

After you finish there, take your pick, you're already on the way - Portsmouth and Chillicothe both boast some fine racing later in the day. 

June 14 – Cruise In at First Southern Baptist Church, South Point, Ohio. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No registration fee, but donations are accepted. Free hot dogs as long as they last. Information call 740-377-4549, 740-867-4267 or 740-646-5007

June 14 – Kids’ Night at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park. General Admission regular programs $12 ages 16-years and older, $5 ages 12-15, $2 ages 7-11 and age 6 and younger free. General admission gates open 4 p.m.; racing begins at 7:30 p.m.

June 14 – Atomic Speedway, Chillicothe, Ohio - Veterans Appreciation Night. Bring your DD214 or current military ID to the front gate and you are admitted to general admission free. Gates open at 4 p.m.; warm up at 6 pm.; racing begins at 7:30 p.m. On the card will be AMRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, Sport Mods. For more information call 740-703-9749 or 740-663-4141 or visit the Atomic Speedway website at www.atomicspeedway.net.

For your planning pleasure - cruise ins and racing

There are some places that remain in your heart forever. 

Gallipolis, Ohio, is one of them. 

The Ole Car Club has been an awesome group of car enthusiasts with a heart for the community. So if you find yourself near Gallipolis this evening, make it to the Walmart and look at the cars!

Just like there are places you keep, there are events. 

The First Southern Baptist Church in South Point, Ohio had it's first cruise in last year and it was so much fun, so many terrific cars and so many great people! 

This won't happen for another week, so this is your early warning system. 

There's no entry fee for participants, but they will take donations if you offer them. They'll also feed you fee free - yep, they'll put hot dogs and fixins on your plate and not charge you a penny.  

There is also racing on tap this weekend at Ona Speedway and Portsmouth Raceway Park. 

Take your pick - asphalt or dirt!

And if you go to Ona Speedway, formerly WV International Speedway, you can purchase a nifty addition for your racing wardrobe. For $20 this shirt - not the model - can be yours.

Here's the action for the next two weekends.

June 6 - Ole Car Club of Gallipolis, Ohio Aaron’s Rental and Arby’s Cruise-in at the Gallipolis Walmart 5 to 8 p.m. Entry fee by donations. Net profits donated to local charities. Music, door prizes. Information 740-446-7443, 740-446-0643 or 740-446-4064.

June 7 – BB&T Carson Insurance night at Ona Speedway, Ona, W.Va. General Admission $10, children 11-17 years $7, children 10 and younger free. Grandstand gates open at 5 p.m.; racing begins at 7 p.m. Drivers will battle it out in 5 different classes - V6, Ucar, Classics, Hobby Stock, and Sport Mods.

June 7 - Complete racing program at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park. General Admission regular programs $12 ages 16-years and older, $5 ages 12-15, $2 ages 7-11 and age 6 and younger free. General admission gates open 4 p.m.; racing begins at 7:30 p.m.

June 14 – Kids’ Night at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park. General Admission regular programs $12 ages 16-years and older, $5 ages 12-15, $2 ages 7-11 and age 6 and younger free. General admission gates open 4 p.m.; racing begins at 7:30 p.m.

June 14 – Cruise In at First Southern Baptist Church, South Point, Ohio. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. No registration fee, but donations are accepted. Free hot dogs as long as they last. Information call 740-377-4549, 740-867-4267 or 740-646-5007

Cruise ins, dirt track racing - what's a gal to do?

There are cruise ins, car shows and dirt racing on tap for this weekend, so how to choose? Or do we just try to make everything? But, racing is in Portsmouth AND Chillicothe, Ohio, on the same night.

We'll see where my car takes me!

May 30 – Covered Bridge Car Club, Perry Morris Square, Milton, WV. Cruise-in from 5 p.m. to dusk. Door prizes and cash drawings. Call 304-743-5321 or 304-654-0745 email coveredbridgecarclub@msn.com.

May 31 – Complete racing program at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park. General Admission regular programs $12 ages 16-years and older, $5 ages 12-15, $2 ages 7-11 and age 6 and younger free. General admission gates open 4 p.m.; racing begins at 7:30 p.m.

May 31 - Atomic Speedway Fan Appreciation Night $5 admission! Pit admission $30. Racing will be 410 Outlaw Sprints, AMRA Super Late Models, AMRA Modifieds and Street Stock. Pit gates open at 2 p.m.; general admission gates open at 4 p.m. Hot Laps begin at 6 p.m. For more information call 740-703-9749 or 740-663-4141 or visit the Atomic Speedway website at   www.atomicspeedway.net   Atomic is located 12 miles South of Chillicothe, Ohio off SR 23, two miles out Blain Highway between Chillicothe, Ohio and Waverly, Ohio at Alma.

June 1 –Tri State Street Rods Graffiti in the Park. Ritter Park, Huntington, WV; registration 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; show is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Door prizes. Awards at 4 p.m. Call Ralph Rozzi 304-617-1608.

May 24 Ona Speedway results

The Greg Chandler Frame and Body Shop 200 “was perhaps our best race yet,” said promoter Scott Pierson Jr., and added there were more than 400 fans attending.

The Sport Mod series seems to be growing quickly. Last year, there were only 3 registered and were more exhibition than racing. On Saturday, there were 8 cars on the track, and Pierson has been told more are expected at the June 7 race night.

You have to wonder how the 6 Cylinder class will shake out with a future Mr. and Mrs. duking it out on the track. As good a place as any to settle any argument Pierson and fiancée Alaina Harvey encounter.

In the pink and white Barbie Car, she won this round taking third place away from him by 18 inches. Girl power! Sorry, Scott, I have to side with my gender.

Is winning by attrition just as good as beating the field? Who knows; it’s still a W in the column. Jeremy Cooper won the division because every other car crashed out. As they say on TV, “and no one got hurt.”

Probably the most popular moment of the night was Late Model winner Greg Carby giving a shout out to his home, the Bluegrass State and sought out any child from Kentucky to join him in Victory Square. A little boy from Ashland popped up, had his picture taken with Carby, who promptly gave the child his winner’s trophy.

Yup, goodwill in abundance.

So, without further delay, here are the winners from the races on Greg Chandler Frame and Body Shop 200 night at Ona Speedway. Thanks, Scott Pierson for sending the results along. I got too wrapped up in the rivalries to note actual results. 

It's gonna get good as the nights heat up all summer long! Just remember this, drivers, keep your helmet on if you want to "discuss" an incident with another driver.   

V6 - #93 Gary Cassidy

CONTEMPO TROPHY UCARS - Heat 1-#50 Rick Watson; Heat 2-#16 Chris Deskins; Feature-#50 Rick Watson

CLASSICS -  #88 Jeremy Cooper (see above description)

HOBBY STOCK - #66 Steve Haas

SPORT MODS - #45 Kenny Parsons

LATE MODELS - #12 Greg Carby

If you want to see the current points standings, go to www.scottpiersonracing.com/points

Lap times are at www.scottpiersonracing.com/results

Results from around the region

Once again, Scott Wolfe has provided race results from WV and Ohio tracks for last weekend.

Fans from around the region certainly appreciate being able to keep up with favorite drivers!

KC/Atomic Hall of Fame night

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO - The year's biggest crowd turned out to support the KC/Atomic Speedway 2014 Hall of Fame Inductions and a great night of racing at Brad McCown's Atomic Speedway Saturday night. All three features went right down to the wire with Richmond, Indiana driver Duane Chamberlain capturing the $2,500 to win Gullion Enterprises AMRA Late Model main. Jimmy Stinson, Vandalia, Ohio was a repeat winner by a car-length over Greg Wilson for the $2,500 win in the 410 sprint main, while Lake Shore, Minnesota driver Dan Ebert claimed the Advanced Services AMRA Modified main.

 A solemn, but memorable ceremony honored past racing legends and race contributors for the Atomic Speedway 2014 Hall of Fame inductions. Inducted into the hall were Spike Spears, Jim Meeker, Harry and Tony Martin, Dale Jones, Gerald Palmer, and the Karshner family.

              

Next week, May 31 is Fan Appreciation Night with a $5 admission. Running will be Sprints, AMRA Late Models, AMRA Modifieds, Street Stocks

June 7 -  No Racing

June 14 - Veterans Night: Sprints, AMRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, Sport Mods

Legendary Hilltop Speedway Summary:

AMRA Super Late Model Feature Finish

Top 5

1) 53c Andy Bond

2) 2 Kevin Smith

3) 25 Bryan Casey

4) 7 Dan Morrison

5) 19 Dylan Bledsoe

AMRA Modified Feature Finish

Top 5

1) 01 Andy Bond

2) 1 Kenny Johnson

3) 794 Marc Martin

4) R7 Shane Roush

5) R0 Tobby Roush

Ohio Valley Speedway  May 24 Results

AMRA LATE MODELS (17)

Fast Qualifier:  Travis Brookover 15.848

Heat 1:  Brookover, Colten Burdette, Mike Foggin, Bryan Casey, George Klintworth, Mike Taylor

Heat 2:  Harold Redman Jr., Dan Morrison, Ryan Casto, Jimmy Rhodes, Vince Toler, Tim Stanley

Heat 3:  Jeromy Misel, Ed Shuman, Larry Clark, JR Gibson, Larry Longfellow

Feature:  Redman, Brookover, Casey, Misel, Foggin, Morrison, Rhodes, Klintworth, Toler, Taylor, Longfellow, Clark, Burdette, Gibson, Casto, Shuman, Stanley

AMRA MODIFIEDS (14)

Fast Qualifier:  Vince Conrad 17.327

Heat 1:  Conrad, Scott Chew, Josh Spaur, Charlie Martin, Nathan Perkins, Robin Lashley, DNS Blake Eddy

Heat 2:  Jerrad Willis, Jesse Rupe, Tommy Powell, Tim Roll, Ronnie Pickens, Dewayne Profitt, DNS Levi Woods

Feature:  Conrad, Willis, Chew, Powell, Rupe, Martin, Profitt, Lashley, Roll, Spaur, Perkins, Pickens, DNS Eddy, Woods

           

Skyline Speedway May 24  Results

-Steel Blocks / Crates : 1. 18 Chris Carpenter , 2. 34C Pete Crum , 3. 42X Robert Garnes , 4. 5B Buddy Brogan , 5. 24R Robbie Bostic , 6.45 Russ Fronapfel , 7. 21JR  Frankie Hall Jr , 8. 55 TJ Watson , 9. C2 Corey Delancey , 10. 411 Will Brogan , 11. JT10 Jordan Taylor , 12. LM19 Adam Miller , 13. 39 Eric Foster , 14. 12W Gary Wells , 15. 14 Hayden Porter

AMRA Late Model : 1. 28 Tyler Carpenter , 2. 42 Chris Garnes , 3. C4 Freddie Carpenter , 4. 50 Ronnie Mayle , 5. 8R Randy Armes , 6. 1B Nick Bocook , 7. E10 Brian Eaton , 8. A55 Bob Adams , 9. J30 Justin Powell , 10. 99T Tyler French , 11. 33 Jason Gillian , 12. B1 Josh Bocook , 13. 15W Ralph Withem , 14. 53 Steve Sabo , 15. 88 Brandon Perkins , 16. 44 Tom Hendrix , 17. T55 Tony Roush

AMRA OCTANE Modifieds : 1. 9R JP Roberts , 2. R2 Roy Roush , 3. 01 Andy Bond , 4. 73 Rick Venham , 5. 10 Kyle Bond , 6. B4 Jeremy Blake , 7. 14J Jeremy Jarvis , 8. RV1 John Burdette , 9. 3 Jason Armes , 10. 4 Tyler Hendrix , 11. 12 Cody Faulk , 12. J44 Bill Jenne , 13. 45M Ryan McGrath , 14. R0 Toby Roush

MidwayMay 24 Results

Mini Wedge : 1. 12 Garrett Brogan , 2. 25K Levi Bowen , 3. 44 Pierce Newlon , 4. 3D Alex Dunlap

-AMRA Late Models : 1. 99 Devin Moran , 2. 14 Corey Conley , 3. 88D Jimmy Smith , 4. 5M Ryan Markham , 5. 18 Chris Carpenter , 6. 12 Rick Aukland , 7. 50 Ronnie Mayle , 8. E10 Brian Eaton , 9. 45 Eric Singhaus , 10. 88 Brandon Perkins , 11. 53 Steve Sabo , 12. 2 Corey Delancey , 13. 30 Todd Brennan , 14. 28 Tyler Carpenter , 15. 7M Micheal Davis , 16. 9R Rick Conley , 17. 92 Hiram Bachman , 18. 34C Delbert Crum , 19. 20 Randy Davis

 

-AMRA Octane Modifieds : 1. RC3 Corey Conley , 2. 87S Derrick Smith , 3. 7L Mark Lunning , 4. 00 Kevin Crawford , 5. 8 Mitch Brunton , 6. 33 Jeremy Scott , 7. 999 Scott Shelhorn , 8. 10 Kyle Bond , 9. 710 Ernie Scott , 10. 85 Robin Duston , 11. LT2 Terry Hinkle

--Terry Hinkle Lost the motor in his dream chassis while leading the race 

Skyline Speedway May 24  Results

AMRA Late Model : 1. 28 Tyler Carpenter , 2. 42 Chris Garnes , 3. C4 Freddie Carpenter , 4. 50 Ronnie Mayle , 5. 8R Randy Armes , 6. 1B Nick Bocook , 7. E10 Brian Eaton , 8. A55 Bob Adams , 9. J30 Justin Powell , 10. 99T Tyler French , 11. 33 Jason Gillian , 12. B1 Josh Bocook , 13. 15W Ralph Withem , 14. 53 Steve Sabo , 15. 88 Brandon Perkins , 16. 44 Tom Hendrix , 17. T55 Tony Roush

AMRA OCTANE Modifieds : 1. 9R JP Roberts , 2. R2 Roy Roush , 3. 01 Andy Bond , 4. 73 Rick Venham , 5. 10 Kyle Bond , 6. B4 Jeremy Blake , 7. 14J Jeremy Jarvis , 8. RV1 John Burdette , 9. 3 Jason Armes , 10. 4 Tyler Hendrix , 11. 12 Cody Faulk , 12. J44 Bill Jenne , 13. 45M Ryan McGrath , 14. R0 Toby Roush 

Atomic Speedway May 24 Results

GULLION ENTERPRISES AMRA LATE MODELS (20)

Fast Time: Duane Chamberlain 13:794

Heat One- Jackie Boggs, Duane Chamberlain, Rod Conley, Mick Sansom, R.J. Conley, Rod Evans, Justin Carter

Heat Two- Devin Moran, Jason Montgomery, J.T. Conley, Kevin Wagner, Graylin Prince,Kevin Wagner, Jeremy Berwanger,Dwain Pick

Heat Three-Delmas Conley, Greggie Oliver, John Whitney, Billy Guillon, Avery Taylor, Jay Helton

Feature: Duane Chamberlain, R.J. Conley, Jason Montgomery, Rod Conley, J.T. Conley, Greggie Oliver, John Whitney, Devin Moran, Billy Guillon, Kevin Wagner, Avery Taylor, Jay Helton, Dwain Pick, Delmas Conley, Jackie Boggs, Justin Carter, Graylin Prince, Rod Evans, Jeremy Berwanger, Mick Sansom

ADVANCE SERVICES H & C AMRA MODIFIEDS (25)

Fast Time: Dan Ebert 15:445

Heat One- Dan Ebert, Luke Jordan, Tim Tribby, Jason Montgomery, Brandon Oliver, Phillip Bapts, Glenn East, Jim Lemaster, Dave Kelly

Heat Two-Dave Pinkerton, Larry Holbrook, Jimmy Lennex, Donnie Miller, Jason Cottrill, Travis Hightower,Rick Hensley, Greg Oliver, George Neely

Heat Three- Doug Adkins, Brian Whiteman, Shawn Holiday, Jeff Votaw, Rob Stambaugh, Chris Tolle, Glenn Keaton, Bob Crace, Jr.,

B-Main: Philip Bapst, Bob Crace, Jr., Glenn Keaton, Chris Tolle,Travis Hightower, Glenn East, Jim Lemaster

Feature: Dan Eberts, Tim Tribby, Shawn Holiday, Dave Pinkerton, Luke Jordan, Jimmy Lennex, Doug Adkins, Jason Montgomery, Phillip Bapst, Rob Stambaugh, Brian Whiteman, Jason Cottrill, Brandon Oliver, Jeff Votaw, Donnie Miller, Bob Crace, Jr., Glenn Keaton , Chris Tolle, Larry Holbrook, Travis Hightower.

Beckley May 23 Results

AMRA Late Models:  Mike Benedum, Harold Redman, Jr., Wayne Hughes, Rick Williams, Jeff Lilly, Chris Meadows, Brandon Carter, Tre Martin

AMRA Modifieds:  Mike Duncan, Bill Prtichard, Jr. Brett Hamilton, Joe Cox, Michael Moore, Tate Hughes, Jason Cochran, Ryan Williams, Lenny Stafford, Mike Honaker, Jeff Maxwell, Jesse Rupe, Steve Stover

Princeton Speedway Results

AMRA MODIFIEDS

Feature-Mike Duncan, Bill Pritchard, Tate Hughes, Jason Cocrhan, Jake Shafer, Michael Moore, Lenny Stafford, Joe Cox, David Godrey, Eddie Hambrick, Eric Feuchtenberger

A few moments with The King

The night the lights went out in Ona, Richard Petty was there.

Then, with the help of the fans, and their car headlights, the race continued unofficially.

The timing clock fell victim to the power outage, too.
And the King remembers it vividly.

"It's on a big field in some bottom land," Petty said. He spoke Wednesday to volunteers from the Official NASCAR Members Club. The group was at Victory Junction Gang Camp in Randleman, N.C., founded by his family.

"There was a wreck somewhere close by and they hit a pole," Petty said. "All the lights went out."
"Cars in the infield turned on their lights and we finished the race."

Petty met With the members for 30 minutes before they toured the facility and helped prepare the cabins for campers.

Not one to hold back his opinion, Petty is a fan of the new Chase format where drivers will have to perform to win the title.

"This year there'll be a champion like we've had the last 60 years. Elimination is a good way to do it,"

Looking back at his storied career and it's 200 wins and 10 championships, he said the final race in Atlanta was an emotional one.

 

"We hadn't run good and dadgum got in a wreck," his crew made repairs after the car was on fire to get him back out on the track for the last few laps.

 

"I always wanted to go out in a blaze of glory," he said.

"I just went out in a blaze."

He didn’t hold back on a number of topics – driver skills, interaction with fans, the Chase for the Sprint Cup and the state of competition and cars in NASCAR.
The newest generation of cars is quite different than those in his day, Petty said. “So much depends on downforce.”

The cars are so low to the ground, the suspension changed so that cars are jumping up and down. “That makes it tough when cars are drafting. They’re sticking to the ground and drivers can’t race in the draft."

It can be said Petty would be a good judge of talent. So, who impresses him with the skill set he brings to the track?

"Kyle Busch adapts well on the track," Petty thinks, "And Smoke's pretty good, too, he said of three-time champion Tony Stewart.

"They're both good at making adjustments during a race."

He said Kyle Busch and Tony Stewart possess the best driving skills in the sport, but who was his toughest competitor?

"No question about it, Dale Earnhardt. He took no prisoners," Petty said.
He was wildly popular and Petty said NASCAR allowed Earnhardt pretty much free reign.

"He was able to get by with just about anything he wanted to do."

There many differences on and off track for today's drivers, Petty said.

Back in his day drivers understood the better they ran and talked to the fans, signed autographs and made time for that personal contact, "the more people bought tickets so I could go home and feed my kids."

"Without the fans there would be no money to pay the drivers."

There were no sponsors in those days and you could take time for the fans.

"Now, there's pressure from the sponsors and all the interviews," Petty said.

Proving his personal touch with friends of racing, Petty didn't have to meet with the club members - the fans - that day. Later Wednesday afternoon, the Petty family would be having a memorial service for Patricia Petty, wife of his brother, Maurice Petty.

Everyone would have understood if he begged off the appearance. But he knows that throughout his career, he'd be nowhere without the fans.
 

I voted. DId you?

It's that time of year again.

Elections.

Not for public office. Although that is happening, too. I mean for the NASCAR Hall of Fame class of 2015!

I've never been shy about telling you who I cast my fan votes for to make it into the elite five each year.

Some never change - until they make the Hall. Then, I add new ones.

Here they are, in alphabetical order.

Fred Lorenzen. Did you know, he raced at Ona Speedway? Yep, and won there, too. It was 1963 and the first sanctioned NASCAR race there - it was called the Grand National tour then.

Next, a tug on the heartstrings for BP, Benny Parsons. On the track and off, a class act. He'd take time for you and make you feel like you were the only person in the room. You were the focus no matter how many were waiting behind to speak with him.

Wendell Scott. I'm going to vote for him until he's in the Hall. First African-American to win a race.

Rex White. A sweet soul. Like BP, would talk to you until you were finished. I had the opportunity to meet him at Charlotte Motor Speedway at an Official NASCAR Members Club event. He won the Grand National (now Sprint Cup) championship in 1960 and retired four years later.

Robert Yates. Legendary engine builder and a pretty darn good team owner. He retired from team ownership, but returned in 2010 to form Robert Yates Racing Engines. Yeah, you want one of these engines for your racing machine.

There you have it - my pics for the Hall. You can vote for a few more days - noon Tuesday May 20 is the fan deadline. Member voting is the next day with the announcement at 4 p.m.

Cast YOUR ballot - It's your sport and your Hall.