I did something different, for me, over the weekend as I took in two shows as a fan in the stands. Each season I go to 50 or 60 races and I stand in the infield taking pictures or roam around the pit area. I never usually see an entire race track, and I never sit down. After a couple of decades of this, I find it difficult to sit still, in one spot, and watch a race. It’s just how I’m wired.
My daughter Aidan is now six, and her curiosity has gotten the best of her, “Where does Dad go every night and stay so late?” She finally reached the point where she wanted to check out a race. I started going at the age of two, so at six, Aidan has missed four good years of action already, so I am thrilled she is gaining an interest.
My wife, Stephanie, used to travel with me a lot when we were dating and first married. Then, she realized how much she could get done around the house with me out of the way, so she started to let me go racing by myself. We are both only-children, so we are fairly independent and good at doing our own thing, so me on the road and her at home is no big deal – she has all winter for me to get in her way.
So with my daughter’s insistence that she go racing, we were both a little leery. We figured a safe way to take care of it would be to attend the free practice at Knoxville last Saturday night. We would be close to home (11 miles) and out no travel or ticket expense if she hated it. Well, practice rained out and as I was explaining this to Aidan I told her the only thing running was Boone. Her eyes lit up and she gave me her big “Daddy I want it” smile and she asked if we could go. I told her to go tell her mother what our option was, preparing for a night in front of the television. Well, Mom said yes, and we were on our way to Boone. I can sum it up early by telling you the entire family had a good time, and Aidan is ready to go again, as long it is a little warmer than it was Saturday night.
With rain all around the area and several tracks pulling the plug, I felt safe making the drive to Boone, because they are one of the few tracks equipped to get the show in barring tornado or hurricane. It sprinkled a couple of times Saturday, but that was it. Once they rolled the track in, the show was on and didn’t stop until it was over – no intermission, no farming. Officials were trying to stay ahead of the weather and they did a good job.
The drivers did a good job too. There were over 130 cars on hand, and the heat races saw only one caution for their entirety. You have to love going to a track with spin and yellow flag rules. It keeps the show rolling and makes everyone more accountable – another reason to go to Boone. The third factor Boone has going for it is that when one heat finishes, the next one is rolling out onto the track .More and more tracks are figuring this out these days, but Boone is one of the leaders in keeping things moving.
It was fun to be in the stands because I got to see a lot of good friends: four-fifths of the Positively Racing team was there, Crazy Martin, and I got to see good friends Bill and Judy Haglund as Bill is now behind the microphone at Boone. Bill is a walking encyclopedia of racing history in Iowa and I’m sure he will share that knowledge with the fans as the season progresses. It is always nice to learn something beyond names and hometowns.
Blake Anderson was lending a hand with the announcing on Saturday night since he had a night off. Anderson is the new voice of Knoxville Raceway and will be joining Tony Bokhoven in the announcing booth there this season. He holds a lot of enthusiasm for the sport, is more than fired-up about working at Knoxville, and I’m sure he will do a great job there this season. I look forward to hearing his work this Saturday night.
Kevin, Dick and Joyce have given you a rundown of the action at Boone already but I can throw a couple of highlights at you. Luke Wanninger and Scott Davis working their way through the IMCA sportmod feature to finish one-two was impressive, as was Mike Molle’s win in the IMCA modifieds against a very tough field.
The fast way around for the IMCA stock cars was the bottom, but drivers chose their spots and moved up. There was plenty of action in this one. The hobby stocks kept things clean for the most part and put a nice cap on the evening, which was over before 10:30.
Sorry I have no pictures, I didn’t even take my camera, which is very, VERY strange for me. I’ll get back there this season and get you some shots.
With Sunday night’s Deery show at Quincy postponed, Jeff Broeg talked me into the trip to Vinton to check out their weekly show. A long drive on a chilly night, it was a trip I wasn’t afraid to make. Vinton is another place that understands getting the show underway, and getting it finished. We were treated to some great feature action and were headed to the car at 8:25 p.m. A super time to finish a Sunday night show with over 100 miles left to get home.
Again, Positively Racing was well-represented in the stands, with Jeff and Tapfan giving you their insights – check them out for the racing details.
Two things stand out at Vinton outside the track I’d like to share. One is the availability of a quality point sheet and driver list. For 50 cents, you can get a four-page, four-color point sheet that includes highlights from the previous week. Filled with local advertisers, the sheets are readily available at the concession stand checkout - a valuable tool to keep you up to date, especially if you are new to the track. I am a big believer in quality programs and point sheets, and this effort at Vinton fits the bill.
Also impressive at Vinton is the concession stand. A friend of mine, Dan Engledow, manages it, but that doesn’t influence my opinion. If he wasn’t doing a good job, I wouldn’t be telling you about it. The food offered there is fresh, and holds a lot of variety, with affordable prices. I love it when tracks offer chicken gizzards, and Vinton is one of those places. I have to clarify that by saying I don’t eat gizzards, but by them being offered, it shows the people in charge of the food are willing to take some chances and offer some variety. Being diabetic, their soft drink selection stood out to me too. Not many places offer diet Orange Crush or diet Sierra Mist, so such options catch my attention. At the other end of the sugar scale, their fresh-baked cookies are also attention getters. No, I didn’t eat everything in sight, but I was tempted.
There was good racing to boot. Brad Forbes took advantage of last corner contact between leaders Bill Bonnett and Wes Stanek and grabbed the IMCA hobby stock win. Austin Kaplan started ninth and quickly weaved his way to the win in the IMCA sportmods. Jesse Sobbing started tenth and put on the pressure in second. Don Erger held off pressure from Troy Cordes in an action-filled IMCA modified main event.
I had a great time both Saturday and Sunday night, doing something I normally don’t get a chance to do. It was fun getting to sample the sights and sounds of the grandstands for a change, but more than likely, you’ll see me in the infield for most of the rest of the season; however, now that racing is becoming a family outing at the Johnson household, don’t be surprised to see me in the stands more, point sheet and diet Crush in hand.
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