The Bucket List

   I think everyone has things in their life they have always dreamed of doing and places they have always dreamed of going. I have quite a few things I want to do and places I want to go. It's called a bucket list. I have a couple of seperate bucket lists that vary from college football games and stadiums I want to go to, to driving Route 66 and a girls weekend in Vegas. One of my lists involves a list of short tracks and races I want to visit and watch a race at. Here's my list. See if any of your favorites are on there. We could be psychic twins.

6. HAGERSTOWN SPEEDWAY



Located in Hagerstown, Maryland, the 1/2 mile, clay oval is home to some of the fastest dirt racing in the country. it's home to the annual Octoberfest 350. Running big block modifieds, super late models, 410 sprint cars, and small block modifieds. The purses for the 410 sprints and small block modifieds is $10,000.

5. Las Vegas Motor Speedway (dirt track)



One of the most obvious reasons is it's in Vegas baby! Another list! New clay was brought in to the 1/2 mile track before the beginning of the season. LVMS runs some of my favorite cars, like, World of Outlaw Sprints, late models, IMCA modifieds, legends cars, bandoleros,super late models, the list is endless. Ahhhh, Vegas, we will be together one day.

4. Quicktrip Center

 

Who hasn't heard of the Chili Bowl? The 1/4 mile clay oval is located indoors at the Tulsa State Fairgrounds in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Chili Bowl is a race that features midgets and is run over a period of five days and involves one of the biggest trade shows in the country. Well over 200 entries are received every year by the track.

3. Knoxville Raceway



This track started out as a horse racing track on the Marion County Fairgrounds in Knoxville, Iowa. It's one of the largest facilities in Iowa behind the major college football stadiums and seats over 24,000. The two BIG races are the Knoxville Nationals for sprints and one for late models. The late model race has a three day purse of $246,410! Now the purse for the sprint race is over $1,000,000. I think I just fainted. Legendary names can call themselves winners at this historic race like Steve Kinser (one of my favorites), Donny Schatz, Sammy Swindell and Mark Kinser.

2. Charlotte Motor Speedway dirt track

I have actually been to this track but never saw a race there. Meaning I did a drive by while drooling at the track. One race in particular, and anyone who knows me knows this, is the one I want to go to. Say it with me, " World of Outlaws World Finals". I tremble a little when I say that. I get so excited! It will be ran this year from November 1-3. I happen to absolutely love the World of Outlaws and I love Charlotte. It's a perfect combination. It's an extremely fast 4/10 mile track. With the top late model drivers in the country showing up to win.

1. Eldora Speedway



What can I say about this track? It's my dream. It haunts my sleep. It calls me. This track is a dirt fans' dream. Located in Rossburg, Ohio, this 1/2 mile track is owned by none other than Tony Stewart and hosts THE premier dirt races in the country. I will order the Prelude on t.v. every year and wait to see what magic awaits me. The Prelude to the Dream, The Dream, Kings Royal, and World 100 are the biggest races the track hosts and happen to be the biggest in the country. I absolutely, positively, without a doubt, want to go to this track BAD. Eldora is a dirt mecca. I need a fairy godmother to magically whisk me away to my dirt fairyland. Ever seen a grown woman cry? This would be my undoing. Until then, I'll be haunted by dirt and Kings Royals and World 100s.
                 
                                                      Till later,
                                                       The Sportster

A Dirty Perspective

     I think I should start this blog out by saying something about my blog Need More Needmore. It seems it brought about quite a bit of opinions. I did mention in the post that everything I wrote was just gossip and hearsay and not to be taken as fact. Next time, I think I'll put a disclaimer in BIG, bold writing so that there isn't any misconception as to if it's fact or not. I really did enjoy all the opinions though. It let me know that someone is reading my ramblings and not just me. Now on to the subject at hand. My dirty perspective. Has you raising your eyebrows huh? Let me just tell you about that.

     I should start by saying I LOVE DIRT TRACK RACING! There is nothing like cars, fans, dirt-slinging, tempers, and families together at a track. I have rather fond memories of one of my favorite dirt races at Volusia Speedway and getting attacked by dirt clumps the size of a baby's head, but getting to see Tony Stewart sling dirt made it all worth it. I personally have never drove a dirt car, actually I have never driven any kind of race car unless speeding down the interstate in my car counts. I can hit that gas pedal so hard Kyle Busch would be jealous. Watching the drivers on the tracks makes me always wonder. "How are you people keeping that car so stable on something as unstable as wet dirt?". I know the whole talk about tires and car setup. But it has to take serious skill to keep a car on a track when the ground is going to move underneath you. Dirt, I imagine, is constantly moving along with the tires. I have also walked across a track that has been wet down and almost busted my rear end, but to imagine the race cars driving on it and it looks like it's staying in it's groove boggles me. 

     Before you start with the science of it I know, I know. Setup and tires have a lot to do with it but don't drivers have the most to do with it? They essentially control every aspect of that car and how it drives. I can see gloved hands through the drivers' side and it looks like a mad man is in control, the way their hands are moving side to side so quickly. I was at a race track last night and paid close attention to these little details. As I was watching, my eyes scanned to the pits and the haulers, trucks, and equipment I saw. Just how much money does it take to run these things to the track? I couldn't imagine. Gas, tools, and parts have got to be setting these drivers and owners back a good bit of money. I know the amount for the purses at the track can't begin to cover the costs. Unless you happen to be Don O'Neal and win $100,000 at The Dream, but for most of the driving community I think it's a much smaller purse if you get paid what you're promised at all. 

     It seems to be a really expensive way of life. One that I wish more people would get involved in. I do know people that can race on a shoestring budget also. It still costs something though. They may not be up in the front of the pack but they are doing what they love and they always come back for more. Are the purses at the track enough to even cover a quarter of the costs? I think it really doesn't matter to some drivers because I think they would drive for five cents to get out there on the track with the wheel in their hands and say they outran the rest of the pack. I can understand that. But is the cost of racing worth the time, labor, and parts it costs to do it? My answer, and I'm not a driver, is it has to be! If it wasn't, would drivers do it? No. Simply put. You also have to look at it from the perspective of the track owners and promoters. It isn't chump change they're handing out at these tracks. They also have to pay workers, gas for the water trucks, food for the concessions, and small things like your tickets and  bracelets you get for pit passes. It can't be cheap. 

     What happens if you don't get a good car count or a big group of fans to come in the pits or sit in the stands? These questions are making my nerves bad, I couldn't imagine what it does to the owner. Not to mention what they have to deal with in relation to bad attitudes, fights, and general complainers. I say to always speak your mind but you and I both know those people who will always find something negative to say about anything. There is a lot that goes into these tracks, time-wise and money-wise. With that being said, I want to run a track. Just a small dream I've always had. Unless I win the powerball I think I'll just keep dreaming. But the question I have is, "Can there be some kind of common ground between drivers and owners to offset costs between them both?".

    My answer is that it all comes down to fans. Nothing can be done without them. We need them in the stands, in the pits, and at the concessions. We need their time, their enthusiasm, and most importantly their money. It's the only thing that can help both sides of this coin. Just imagine, a track that has full stands and so many people in the pits you can't take a step without bumping into someone. If I can walk in a pit and have to actually walk around people, I know that track has got a good thing that night. How can we get more people to the tracks? This is pretty tricky. This only my opinion mind you, I am in no way a track owner or driver and DO NOT know all the details involved. I can only give what I think would be helpful suggestions. Do with it what you will. I am only an avid fan and general attention payer. With the economy the way it is, not everyone can get to a track every weekend. But getting the word out with some advertising, nothing huge, some discounted prices every so often, a few big races sprinkled in, and more community backing are only some of the things we can do. I say all of us who are at the tracks should get the word out to people who may not necessarily go to a track and get them interested to go. One time and I'm sure they'll be hooked. My perspective on dirt is this, it's a hell of a good time, but it takes all of us to keep things going. Get the word out, scream it at your neighbor, put it on a billboard, sky write it. Whatever it takes. Let's make this season the best for all involved.

                                                     Till the next track,

                                                    The Sporty Housewife

Driver Questionaire

Hey drivers! I'm with Deep Dixie Racing Report and we are tryin to come up with some new and exciting ways to get fans more involved with their favorite local drivers and tracks. Our group consists of Dale Hall, Leo Johnson, and Carolyn Johnson. We are creating a racing resource and news blog designed to promote and help grow interest in short track racing. We are in the process of creating driver pages for individual drivers. Below you will find a set of questions that will help us to create your individual pages. Please fill this out and send us your answers by either: facebook, returning the sheet, or email. Email addresses and facebook pages are provided below the questions.

1. Name

2. Hometown

3. Class of car you drive

4. Car number

5. Home track

6. Pit crew

7. Sponsors

8. Number of years racing

9. Who your favorite driver was growing up?

10. What got you into racing?

11. Favorite track to drive

12. Worst wreck you've been in at a race track

13. Twitter account

email addresses carolynforvols@yahoo.com or dhall31794@gmail.com

facebook pages are deep dixie racing report or racegirl photos

Thanks in advance,

Deep Dixie Racing Report

Need More Needmore

             So, I have learned that men can be worse gossips than women any day of the week. I have been to beauty shops, ladies luncheons, and countless girls' nights out and have never, EVER heard as much "so and so said this and so and so said that." as when a group of men get together. If it involves a track that has been closed down and speculation as to whom may purchase it, well, the rumor mill gets to going into overtime. Point in case would be the track Needmore Speedway in Norman Park, Georgia. When the track opened in 2010 it was the biggest thing around here in a while. A track that was within driving distance for the drivers in this area was like the clouds had parted and the sun came out. Not to mention that the fans weren't going to have that far to drive.
             I was there opening night and I can say it was packed! There were tons of people, cars, and excitement. I hadn't seen this kind of reaction to a track opening ever. As the racing season went on the crowds were still there as big as ever and car counts were just the same. You knew if you went to a Saturday night race it was going to be a good night. Even if they had a race on mother's day there were going to be plenty of cars. This was a shocker to me but I guess if it comes down to your mama or racing we know who is gonna lose that battle. Sorry moms of the world. It's just in the blood. When the track finally closed because of legal troubles with the neighbors it was a sad day. I knew it would be long trips and late night drives from now on which, I really don't mind as long as the racing is good. It was just so much easier having the track right down the road from my house. But, we dried our eyes and blew our noses and moved on with our lives. Praying that one day the clouds would part again and the sun would shine and maybe, just maybe, someone would open the track back up.
            Well, since the day it closed I have heard everywhere I go, from everyone I know and even don't know, that so and so was going to buy the track and open it back up. I have heard everyone from Tony Stewart to the Smurfs were opening it back up. You were never supposed to say anything either because it was hush hush. Yet, everyone would talk. I would rarely ever give the gossip a second thought because it's just that, gossip. That is, until recently. I have my ear to ground for one glimmer of truth in any of what people say about the track opening back up and I usually go with my gut as to if it's even credible enough to be considered. So, when I heard yet another story from a reliable source that Needmore has in fact been leased and insurance has been purchased, my ears perked right up. I have a few feelers out as to if the story is true and 100% accurate. If this IS true I can only pray that it will be opened soon and start back with as much excitement and enthusiasm as when it first opened. I need more Needmore in my life! Here's to hoping that the clouds part and the sun starts shining again.

                                                         Until next time,

                                                        The Sporty Housewife