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.

More results from around the region

Scott Wolfe is on the prowl, providing results from around the region! Here is the first weekend in May round-up!

 

AMRA Round-up from May 2-3

RACINE, OHIO - Despite several tracks raining out Friday night, two other AMRA member tracks saw action, kicking off what would be a productive weekend for the American Motor Racing Association. Saturday saw a full slate of action, thus culminating a great dirt track racing weekend. Among the winners in the Late Models were K.C. Burdette, Jeremy Berwanger, Rod Conley, Devin Moran, and Tyler Carpenter, and Modified winners were Andy Bond, Kenny Johnson (two wins), Roy Roush, J.P. Roberts, and Tate Hughes.

         

Ohio Valley Speedway

LUBECK, WV - Nineteen AMRA Late Models were on hand for Program #4; Travis Brookover, Andy Bond, and KC Burdette won the heats and earned the 1-3 starting spots. Bond and Brookover dueled early, with Bond leading through halfway; Burdette took second from Brookover on lap 4. Brookover would race with Mike Davis, Corey Conley, Bob Adams, and Harold Redman around the four caution periods. Following a lap 14 restart, Burdette found an opening for the lead and took it, winning going-away for his first win of the season. Bond would hold off Conley, Davis, and Brookover for the other top five spots. Brookover was fast qualifier at 16.165 sec.

The same top four finishers from the previous week’s feature again dominated the AMRA Modified main, but the outcome would be a little different. Vince Conrad jumped to the early lead with Andy Bond, Robbie Evans, and Tyler Evans right behind. The quartet again exchanged positions without trading any paint throughout the 20 laps. Bond would use his patented outside line to get the lead on lap 11, but could not pull away until lap 17 when 2nd-running Conrad bobbled, and when the Evanses slowed to avoid contact, Bond was able to pull away to a 10-car-length advantage, and take the win. Conrad, T. Evans, R. Evans, and Jesse Rupe were 2-5. Tyler Evans was fast qualifier; Bond and Conrad won the heats.

Atomic Speedway

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO - Twenty-six of the hottest modifieds in the Midwest battled for a spot in the 2014 version of "Modified Mayhem" at McCown's Atomic Speedway, where the field was whittled down to the $1,500 winner Kenny Johnson of Mineral Wells, West Virginia. Claiming the companion AMRA Late Model victory was Rod "Hot Rod" Conley, while Cole Duncan, Lockbourne, Ohio outran Todd Kane to the finish in the 410 Sprints, Dean Boyd won his third straight Street Stock main, and Rob Stambaugh claimed the sport mod victory.

Three exciting heat races set the stage for a barnburner of a feature in the AMRA Octane/Advanced Services Modifieds. Travis Dickson, Gallipolis, Ohio, last week's feature winner, set fast time with a 15:491.

Heats were won by Dave McWilliams, Verona, Kentucky; Johnson, and Luke Jordan, of South Webster, Ohio. Anthony Kincade, Zanesville, Ohio won the B-main.

The Gullion Enterprises LLC AMRA Late Models were fewer than normal, but of high quality. The late model main went green to checkered without a caution.

Heat winners were Greggie Oliver, Rod Conley, and Delmas Conley

The Atomic Blast Weekend is this Thursday, Friday, Saturday featuring the NDRL Late Models. The AMRA Modifieds will race all three nights. See the website for details at www.atomicspeedway.net

Skyline Speedway

STEWART, OHIO - At Skyline Speedway the Late Model feature went caution free green to checker race in a spectacular racing fashion with Rookie Late Model driver and former multi-time Modified champion Jeremy Berwanger taking the win. Berwanger was smooth and fast repelling the efforts of Chris Garnes and Ronnie Mayle most of the race.

Garnes, Carpenter, and Crum advanced a couple spots each in trying to chase down the front runner Berwanger. Jason Gillian and Tony Roush advanced four spots in great passing efforts to earn hard-charger honors with Roush blasting into the top ten. rounding out the top ten were 1. 44J Jeremy Berwanger 2. 50 Ronnie Mayle 3. 42 Chris Garnes 4. 28 Tyler Carpenter 5. C4 Freddie Carpenter 6. 8R Randy Armes 7. 22 Boz Daugherty 8. 34C Pete Crum 9. E10 Brian Eaton and 10. T55 Tony Roush

         

Racing continues Saturday with a Mothers Day Race, $1,000 to win Modifieds, 25 Laps, plus All classes.

           

I-77 Raceway Park

I-77 Raceway Park is having autograph night this Friday, May 9.

Jackson County Speedway

Jackson County is closed Friday, May 9 as all cars trek to the Atomic Blast at Atomic Speedway. May 16 will be the Steel Block Late Models special, paying $500 to win and $100 to start. Also a full racing program including AMRA Modifieds, plus its kids night and dollar a dog night. Plus we have special surprises for the kids. The Outlaw 4`s are added to the night.

Ohio Valley Speedway - Lubeck, West Virginia

SUMMARY

AMRA Late Models (19)

Fast Qualifier: Travis Brookover 16.165 Heat 1: Brookover, Harold Redman Jr., Corey Conley, Jeromy Misel, Rick Armstrong, George Klintworth, Mike Taylor Heat 2: Andy Bond, Don White, Mike Davis, Dan Morrison, Johnny Vandale, Paul Cale Heat 3: KC Burdette, Bob Adams, Ed Shuman, Robbie Bostic, Vince Toler, Scott Robinson

Feature: Burdette, Bond, Conley, Davis, Brookover, Adams, Redman, White, Bostic, Armstrong, Vandale, Toler, Misel, Taylor, Klintworth, Robinson, Shuman, Morrison, DNS Cale

AMRA MODIFIEDS (14)

Fast Qualifier: Tyler Evans 17.051 Heat 1: Andy Bond, T. Evans, Jesse Rupe, Tom Sigler, Charlie Martin, Jay Foster, Nathan Perkins Heat 2: Vince Conrad, Robbie Evans, Scott Chew, Robin Lashley, Chris Butler, Ronnie Pickens, Brandon Davis

Feature: Bond, Conrad, T. Evans, R. Evans, Rupe, Chew, Lashley, Foster, Butler, Pickens, Perkins, Martin, Davis, Sigler

Legendary Hilltop Speedway - Marietta, Ohio

AMRA Modified Heat #1

Top 5

1) 42 Cody Parker

2) 17 Robbie Evans

3) 01 Andy Bond

4) 17t Tyler Evans

5) 73 Rick Venham Jr

AMRA Modified Heat #2

Top 5

1) 1 Kenny Johnson

2) 144 Anthony Kinkade

3) 17 Tanner Wilson

4) RV1 Mike McPherson

5) B4 Jeremy Blake

AMRA Modified Feature Finish

Top 5

1) 1 Kenny Johnson

2) 144 Anthony Kinkade

3) 17 Tanner Wilson

4) 42 Cody Parker

5) 17t Tyler Evans

AMRA Super Late Model Heat #1

1) 99m Devin Moran

2) 53c Andy Bond

3) A55 Bob Adams Jr

4) 41 Doug Parks

5) R33 Scott Robinson

AMRA Super Late Model Heat #2

1) 42 Chris Garnes

2) 44 KC Burdette

3) 2 Kevin Smith

4) J52 Jeromy Misel

5) 88D Jimmy Smith

6) 14 Chris Parks

AMRA Super Late Model Feature Finish

Top 5

1) 99m Devin Moran

2) 53c Andy Bond

3) 2 Kevin Smith

4) J52 Jeromy Misel

5) A55 Bob Adams Jr

I-77 Raceway Park - Fairplane, West Virginia

May 2 Opening Night

AMRA Modifieds

#9R JP Roberts

#3 Vince Conrad

#000 Robert Garnes

#75 Nick Carr

#39 C. McCormick

#28c Cliff Crank

#3 J. Armes

May 2 Mike Sampson Memorial Race

Late Model Feature

#28 Tyler Carpenter

#5 Harold Redman Jr

#12b Travis Brookover

#115 Zach Dohm

#7F Nelson Freshour

#40 Mike Taylor

#17 Kenney Newhouse

#99 Tyler French

#2 Don White

# 0 Ed Shuman

# 9CA CA Wentz

#21 Jimmy Rhodes

#1 Brock Morris

#8R Randy Armes

Fastest Time - Travis Brookover

Dash Winner - Travis Brookover

Princeton, West Virginia

AMRA Modifieds

Feature:

1-22C  Tate Hughes

2-17    Jason Cochran

3-41S  Steve Stover       

4-38    Eric Feuchtenberger

5-2      Micheal Moore

6-53    Mike Duncan

7-21    Rick Lilly

Skyline Speedway - Stewart, Ohio

AMRA Modifieds (23)

-Modifieds Results 5-3 Top 5: 1. R2 Roy Roush 2. 000 Robert Garnes 3. 73 Rick Venham 4. 10 Kyle Bond 5. 87s Derrick Smith

Late Model Results 5-3 Top 5:

1. 44J Jeremy Berwanger, 2. 50 Ronnie Mayle , 3. 42 Chris Garnes , 4. 28 Tyler Carpenter , 5. C4 Freddie Carpenter

Ona results for May 3

Another awesome update from Ona Speedway for the May 3 Jones Excavating 150.

Attendance in the place was 402, which according to manager Scott Pierson is pretty spectacular for a night Late Models didn’t race.

Late Models will be back on May 17 for the River City Ford and Subaru 150.

Here is his rundown for the May 3 action:

·         We had 7 Sport Mods and 7 V6’s. These 2 classes each had 4 cars at most last season.  I’ve already talked to several drivers who plan on the May 17, being their first race in these classes. I fully expect a double digit car count in the Sport Mods next race.

·         Mike Christy and Brett Carey had one of the best battles I’ve seen at Ona in the Hobby Stock division.  After trading more than a little paint, Christy made a pass and prevailed in the end.

·         Joe Workman crossed the finish line first in the Ucar feature, but was stripped of the win when he pulled on to the scales too light, making Rick Watson our winner.

·         Jeromy Cooper made his first ever start in a Classic and finished 2^nd while running the fastest lap in the class at 20.712.

·         Nathaniel Edmunds made his first ever V6 start and finished 3^rd.

·         Track Announcer Hall Furrow gave away a bunch more free stuff from Sheetz again this week.  Thanks Sheetz!

·         Alaina Harvey had a group of about 30 little girls gathered around her Barbie car after the V6 race taking pictures and signing autographs.

WINNERS

·         UCAR - Heat 1-#9 Joe Workman; Heat 2-#16 Chris Deskins; Feature-#50 Rick Watson

·         V6 - #11 Ben Marcum

·         CLASSICS - #8 Mike Christy

·         HOBBY STOCK - #8 Mike Christy

·         SPORT MODIFIED - #15 John Morton

There’s no racing this weekend.

For your gearhead planning needs

It takes some time to compile these things, you know. So, I'm behind a couple of weeks.

But, I collect flyers everywhere, scour bulletin boards around the community and rely on friends to let me know when races, car shows and cruise-ins are planned. 

Right now, here's what I have uncovered for May. 

May 3 – Modified Mayhem at Atomic Speedway, Chillicothe, Ohio. Classes running will be Sprints, AMRA Modifieds $1,500 to win, and Sport Mods. General admission $12; Pit admission $30. Pit gate opens at noon, General Admission gates open at 2 p.m. Hot Laps begin at 4 p.m. For more information call 740-703-9749 or 740-663-4141, or visit the Atomic Speedway website at www.atomicspeedway.net  

May 3 – Stonie Jones Excavating 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. Classes running  6- Any Car and 4- Cylinder U-Car, Hobby Stock, Classic V-8, Sport Mods and Late Models.

May 3 – Ole Car Club of Gallipolis, Ohio Airport Show and Cruise-in at the Gallipolis Airport, 9 a.m. to 4 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.

May 10 – PRP Classic 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 17 – River City Ford 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. Classes running  6- Any Car and 4- Cylinder U-Car, Hobby Stock, Classic V-8, Sport Mods and Late Models.

May 17 – DARF Night at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park. DARF members admitted for $5. 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 17 – Paintsville, Ky., Cruiz’n – Main Street in Paintsville beginning 4 p.m. Trucks, Slammed Minis and 4x4 Monsters featured. More information at www.ekygearheads.com

May 17 – BB’s Car Club Cruz-in, Kyova Mall, Ashland, KY. Cancer Awareness day. Early registration 2 p.m.; Cruz-in 4 to 9 p.m.

May 25 – Boone Coleman Memorial Gator 50 at Portsmouth (Ohio) Raceway Park. Veteran’s Appreciation Night, veterans admitted free with Veteran’s ID. Late Models $5,000 to win. 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 – 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.

Let's get out there and look at some cool cars, watch some good racing and enjoy the weather!
 

Action at Ona Speedway

There was a gaggle of racefans at Ona Speedway last weekend for the Midway Ford 200 – 558 people, to be more precise!

There was a lot of activity both on and off the track.

Longtime flagman JR Tooley died April 7, and drivers and fans collected $971 for his family to help with all the expenses. JR was a terrific guy and taught me how to drop the flag for races. It’s not as simple as you think it might be, and I was happy to learn from him.

When I locate the photo of me dropping the green at Ona Speedway, I'll post that one, too. 

I’m sorry I missed Wolfy, the mascot of 96.1 The Wolf radio. I love costumed characters. Ask my Race Peeps! I see a costume, I’m running over to them camera in hand! I have photos of me with Lug Nut, me with the Stewart’s Hot Dog, me with the TUMS Taco, me with the Chick-fil-A Cow, me with each of the Red, Yellow and Green M&Ms, me with, well, you get the idea.

Since I was in meetings all day and evening Saturday at Stonewall Jackson Resort with West Virginia Lions, I also missed the Barbie Car. Alaina Harvey – regular attendees to Ona Speedway know her name – decked out her car in a Barbie theme and finished third in the V6 race.GIRL POWER!

Here is the winners list from April 26. I need to give a shout out here to Scott Pierson for sending the results.

·         UCAR—Heat 1-Joe Workman; Heat 2-Rick Watson; Feature-Chris Deskins

·         V6—#93 Gary Cassidy

·         CLASSICS—#3 Glen Foster

·         HOBBY STOCK—#8 Mike Christy

·         SPORT MODIFIED—#88 Greg Chandler

·         LATE MODEL--#12 Greg Carby

The Jones Excavating 150 will be this coming Saturday, May 3. Racing starts at 7 p.m.

Scott says all the photos aren’t up on the track’s Facebook page yet, but here’s a link:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.218210471721926.1073741832.140301162846191&type=1

Where to go, close to home?

While NASCAR IS at the Track Too Tough to Tame, Steve Francis is at Winchester (VA) Speedway tonight with his #15 Georgia Boot latemodel for Clint Bowyer Dirt, and we have some local racing happening.

April 12 – DARF Night at Atomic Speedway, Chillicothe, Ohio. Classes running will be Sprints, AMRA Late Models, AMRA Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Sport Mods. General admission $12; Pit admission $30. Pit gate opens at noon, General Admission gates open at 2 p.m. Hot Laps begin at 4 p.m. For more information call 740-703-9749 or 740-663-4141, or visit the Atomic Speedway website at www.atomicspeedway.net  

April 12 – State Equipment Night at Ona Speedway, Ona, W.Va. Classes running  6- Any Car and 4- Cylinder U-Car, Hobby Stock, Classic V-8, Sport Mods and Late Models. General Admission $10, children 11-17 years $7, children 10 and younger free. Green drops at 7 p.m.

Let's go racin'!

Boogity, boogity, boogity, it's time to race!

It’s hard to believe local racing is ready to roll off pit road.

Some places are already turning laps; others are gearing up for the fraternity of giddy-up-go!

For a preview of Ona Speedway, stop by Lowe’s at the Huntington Mall from 9 a.m. to noon this Saturday, April 5 to meet and greet the drivers from some of the classes which will run every other weekend on the asphalt track in the valley.

Scott Pierson Racing is in charge this season, and the green flag will drop at 7 p.m. on April 12.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Stop by Lowe’s and see Scott and some of the 2014 drivers. Maybe there will be one of those huge Jimmie Johnson grassman things. They do appear at NASCAR events. Boom! Confetti. Old 6-time won’t be in aisle 3 or in his reserved parking space, either. He’ll be, well, a little too busy in Texas to make an appearance in Barboursville.

See, I TOLD you there was a grass statue of Jimmie Johnson! That's me with my friends at the Kobalt 400 in Las Vegas last month. 

 

Anyway, while you are at Lowe's, Scott says there will be time for photos with the cars, free bumper stickers and there will be some race tickets given away.

And on that note, admission for Ona Speedway will be $10 with children from 11-17 admitted for $7 and children 10 and under will be free. General admission gates open at 5 p.m.

Up Route 23 at Chillicothe, Ohio, Atomic Speedway will honor all emergency responders this Saturday. Any and all emergency responders either in uniform or showing ID will be admitted for $5.

In addition, there will be “cheap eats” with Dollar Dogs at the concession stand, perfect for big families.

Racing starts at 6 p.m.  and will featured 410 Sprints, Late Models, Modifieds and Sport Mods.

General admission is $12 for adults, children 12 and younger are free. Gates open at 4 p.m.

Boogity, boogity, boogity, as we hear ‘Ol DW say – Let’s go racin’!