By Mike DaRoza Sports Writer

Jimmy Parker may just be the hardest working man in the racing business. When he leaves his home in Moultree, Georgia, to head for the office, hes driving over 100 miles to get there.

That's because his office is located at the 3/8-mile high-banked dirt oval of Lake City Speedway.

And right now, he enjoys his job as much as anyone around him. Parker, a 20-year veteran dirt Late Model driver, found himself out of racing three years ago and decided he wasnt quite ready to get out of the sport he loved so much.

The next natural step, he thought, would be to purchase a racetrack so he could stay involved in racing.

So, when he heard the old track in Lake City - one of his sentimental favorites anyway - was up for the taking last November, Parker made his move. "I won my first race here in Lake City in 1978", Parker said. "I quit racing about three years ago, and had been out searching for a racetrack to buy. I heard this one was available, so I came down here and talked to the previous owner and worked up a deal and leased it from him. Its going to take some work, but with all the help were getting from the people in Lake City, well do it. I will tell you though, its much different being a promoter than it is being a driver."



Indeed, drivers don't have to worry about putting on a good show for the fans every Saturday night or making last-minute runs to the grocery store for the concession stand, like Parker does now.

Parker may have 16 employees working the racetrack on any given weekend, but he still finds himself right in the middle of everything, come Saturday night. "I take up for about eight of them, Parker laughed. I do miss out on the racing sometimes."

"Being a racer and being around the races and racecars makes me still want to race. But, thats not my job right now." stated Parker.

It may not be his job to race anymore, but Parker still gets plenty of opportunities to get behind the wheel and go fast.

"Moultree is about 100 miles away", Parker said with a sigh. "Thats about 1-1/2 hoursspeeding It can be pretty difficult sometimes. Right now were debating on whether to move down here or not. That may be in the near future if we get a chance to purchase this racetrack."

Parker said he would love nothing more than buying a racetrack with the tradition that Lake City Speedway holds.

Lake City Speedway opened in 1963, making it one of the oldest stock car racing facilities in North Central Florida. "They tell me that Bobby Allison, Dale Earnhardt and many other legendary drivers have raced here one time or another", Parker noted.

"This place has a lot of history behind it, being that old."

Unlike some racetracks across the nation that have made the switch to asphalt, Lake City Speedway still retains an oil-based, dirt/clay surface. And, Parker will be the first one to tell you thats what sets Lake City Speedway apart from any other racetrack in the area.

"Dirt is for racing and asphalt is to get you there", Parker said, a wink shooting from his right eye.

"We're probably the only dirt track within a one-hundred-mile radius. Its a super smooth surface and the drivers love racing on it."

There's at least two or three good grooves for passing on it that makes for good competition. It's a super fast track.

Under Parkers constant direction, Lake City Speedway features six racing divisions - Late Model Sportsmans, Limited Sportsmans, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Mini Stocks- each week.



However, Parker is always trying to add something to the show.

"We're going to be bringing in the Renegade Super Late Models from Ohio", Parker explained. "Plus, we're planning some other things for the future, like Monster Truck shows or the possibility of bringing nationally-known singers out here. We have bicycle races for the kids at halftime, and we have Fan Appreciation Night every weekend where we give away prizes."

Regardless of what is to become of the future for Parker and Lake City Speedway, Parker said it has already been a wonderful ride since February 27 - his first Saturday night of racing as a promoter and not a driver.

"I'm just thankful for all the fans that have come out to support us in our first eight races this year", Parker said. "They come out here faithfully every weekend. Compared to what I have heard, we're putting on a better show than what had been taking place here. And, I'm hoping we put on a lot better shows in the future. If they just stay with us, were going to give them a lot."

If nothing else, the hardest working man in racing will be giving them a lot of hard work.

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