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July 26, 1999 WHERE THEY ARE NOW
For fans, who know and saw these drivers at SpeedWeeks 99 at
New Smyrna Speedway, this is how some of our drivers stand.
Dennis Demers, profiled on this web-site and driver in the Busch
North Series, won the Busch North race last weekend. Dennis
has been spending his winters here and racing at Orlando Speed-
World and New Smyrna Speedway for many years. Dennis started
racing somewhat late in life but is doing really well. Dennis has alot
of Florida fans and friends and we all CONGRATULATE Dennis on
his win.
Wayne Anderson was the winner in the Arndt & Herman 200 last weekend with
David Reutimann in 6th; Ronnie Burkett in l0th, and Billy Bigley in 25th.
Tina Gordon, the only woman driver in the Slim-Jim All Pro Series and
cousin to Homer Gordon (driver of the #22 Bomber at Orlando SpeedWorld
and New Smyrna Speedway) came in 19th. Coy Gibbs, son of Joe Gibbs
and brother to Busch North racer Jason Gibbs, came in 21st.
Several SpeedWeeks drivers run in the Re/Max Challenge Series which
ran the Jensen 150 last weekend. Brian Hoppe came in 2nd, Steve
Carlson came in 3rd and Jason Schuler came in 8th. This is the series
that Matt Kenseth ran in and the rumor is that Jason Schuler may run
a few Busch races in Kenseth's car when he takes over his Winston Cup
car next year. As it was last year, Steve Carlson and Brian Hoppe are
battling for first and second place in this series.
The Goody's Dash Series that ran last weekend at St. Augustine had the
Points Leader see Victory Lane. Congratulations to Robert Huffman.
Also Mario Gosselin saw Victory Lane in the Hooter's Pro Cup Series last
weekend.
And this is where some of our adopted Florida boys stand these days.
-Jane __________________ July 21, 1999 WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FUN?
Local short track racing is not done to make a living, it will never pay
that kind of money. People who race on their local tracks do so
because mainly, IT IS SUPPOSE TO BE FUN. But lately, it seems
the fun is going out of racing and we have more and more complaints
on our tracks. Why?
There is not just one answer to this question. If you read message
boards at local tracks and at Florida Stock Car Racing, you see that
each track seems to have their own individual complaints.
They seem to go from favoritism, bad calls, unfair calls, cheating,
safety questions, and fair treatment by owners if you happen to be a
employee of the track.
Running a racetrack does not take anything but the manager/owner loving
this sport and respecting the people who make the tracks run, the drivers
who put on the show, and knowing what it takes to bring fans back week
after week. A little common sense can go very far today.
It is true that some tracks have much bigger pay-offs than others. And by
doing this, it will bring in more cars but most pay-offs are about equal in
this area. Drivers run where they can afford to run because it does cost
money to get to that track and enter that track. Most hope just to break
even in the lower divisions where Late Model and Limited Late may make
some profit.
Yes, people do get tired of the same winner every week. It does cause
bad feelings in that class. If after so many wins, it would be more exciting
to see that weekly winner in the back of the pack fighting his way up front
instead of just taking the win. But, the rules of the track are not ours but
the owner's and he or she must decide the rules for repeat winners.
The "World of Short Track Local Racing" will NEVER be perfect. Nothing
is ever perfect. You can complain all you want and sometimes never be
heard if the person you are complaining to really does not give two cents
about racing and only thinks of the money. Sometimes it does take money
to make money but purse strings are hard to open in many places.
Fans and racers, DON'T GIVE UP ON YOUR TRACKS. Remember why
you started going to the races in the first place or even why you started
your first stock car up and went out on that track. Remember why you
still go to see racing and race - because it is in your blood and that does
not just go away. Remember the fun and the closeness you share with
your fellow racers - your second family. And when you win the Florida
Lotto, buy the track and run it your way. -Jane Smith
July 11, 1999 "Screwed" But Still a Winner
More and more at our local short tracks, the word "screwed and unfair"
seem to pop up. Why do rules change from race to race? Why is one
car left in his spot and another made to go to the back of the lead lap?
Good question but obviously one that cannot be answered.
If you read any racing message boards or visit your local short
track every weekend, you will find this. Do track favorites really
get special care or does it just seem that way to others? The
answer only you know yourselves but I believe that it is yes to
both questions. Tracks can't afford to lose racers or they would
lose their fans. So sometimes they do turn a "blind eye" in the
direction of their track favorite. No, it is not fair but as we all know,
you cannot argue with an official or you will be looking for a new
track to race on. Even in Winston Cup, you will see this so it
is not just something that happens at the local level.
Racing should be fair, rules should be stuck to but when they
aren't, all that can be done is to "call the kettle black". And
keep on trying because eventually it will be YOUR day. Take
the bad experience and turn it into a good one and know in your
own heart, that you ran a fair, clean race without cheating or
taking someone out because you know how to make it look
like it was their fault. Winning is important but local track
racing also is sportsmanship and it teaches those young fans
in the grandstands that when you do your best with what you
have, you always WIN.
"Being screwed" happens and it is unfair but unfair calls will
always exsist in racing. But remember, most race fans and
racers watching know when unfair calls are made and when it
happens take the unfair call and turn it into a good run anyway
and you WON where it counts most, in the hearts of the fans.
-Jane Smith ___________________________ July 5, 1999 Experiencing the Pepsi 400
This past weekend, I spent most all my time in the garage area of the
Daytona International Speedway. Being a novice in the pits is a little scary
but there are many nice people who will guide you thru what is and isn't
exceptable in the "pits". Three rules hold to everyone in those pits - no
shorts, no sleeveless shirts, and no open toe shoes but a few got away
with putting jackets over shirts and slipping them off when no official was
looking and open-toe shoes.
If you don't have "garage" on your pass, you are not allowed in that area -
you must stay in the gated pits. And even if you have "garage", there are
certain times you leave those areas alone. A little common sense goes a
long way especially if you have been around racing and in the pits at all.
Winston Cup drivers and their crew have to have the best bladders in the
world because going to the "men's room" is near to impossible at times for
them. Fans wanting autographs, pictures of someone with one of the drivers,
anything and everything, keeps them from their main goal - the bathroom.
Once they did finally get into that much needed room, they had to fight
their way back out from the fans that had gotten in there with them.
I met many drivers, even got a hug from my "ideal" racer - Dave Marcis.
But I wanted more than that, I wanted to know some of the people who make
Winston Cup work and those are the officials who travel from their homes to
most all the racetracks week after week. None seem to be very young in the
garage area and none had small children. More the "grandfather" type men.
Most said their wives always went with them and they got maybe a day to
two days at home during race season per week. They usually fly, don't drive,
to each race.
The most interesting person in the pits was passed by most everyone. He
was not really noticed but when you see a gentlemen walking around in a
flight suit, you just have to talk to him or at least I do. Luckily, this
was the Captain of the Navy planes that had flown in from Jacksonville to do the
fly-over before the Pepsi 400 began. He told me that to be able to do this, his planes cannot just come to fly over a racetrack, but they must have some kind of combat simulated flight manevers before the fly over. The racetrack pays for
their fuel for the fly over and this year gave them a place to stay and they
get to go to the race.
There are a few who still love the kind of racing that the Florida fans get
every weekend. To them, it is where the beginning of Winston Cup came. But for some, the concrete walls of a 2 l/2 mile track that is like running a race on
I-95 is "THE ONLY RACING". Even when asked point blank, "was this not how
you began or you son or grandson or whoever", the local racing was nothing
and only Winston Cup counted.
Yes, I rubbed shoulders with the STARS of Winston Cup. But, as I like to
call them, MY GUYS outshine them all.
-Jane Smith June 17, 1999 GREASE MONKEYS Okay, it is midnight. When other sane people are in bed or
going to bed, you are still working on the race car for the
upcoming weekend races. You want to snuggle and your
mate wants you to hold the light so he can see. Sound
familiar??
Being the wife of a racer or even husband of a racer,
gives you a different view of what romance and time
together is. At least if you have alot of money and
a crew that keeps your car up, you may get a little
more snuggle time than a poor racer with no one but
himself, his family and his good old mate to help.
Racing locally takes up what spare time most people
have after work. It means missing dinners at times,
always having grease under your nails, and always having
something that must be done on the car. I can assure you
that many a birthday, anniversary, even high school graduation
has been spent at a race track. We are a dedicated, serious
bunch of nuts.
But as all wives and husbands know, if you are a racer and
you got the racing bug, it is not so bad. Time together alone
may be hard but in the end, it will come. And even
though it is hard to watch the one you love go out on that track
and race, it is also thrilling too. You don't have to win to get
that thrill and no matter what place you come in, pride is always
there.
Racers and their wives and husbands are a strange breed too many
but to those who also share that common bond, not so strange. We
work, we have families and homes, and we have race cars and parts
and more parts and extra tires and rims and the best friends anyone
could ask for. When one needs help, the others will come.
Yes, we are Grease Monkeys but we chose to be. If you want to race,
you have to get dirty and miss dinner sometimes. But a trophy here and
there and maybe a rose or two makes up all those dinners missed and
snuggle sessions. So this Father's Day, thank you for all our Grease
Monkeys.
-Jane __________________ June 16, 1999 Giving Your Time Is Easy To Do
Lately I have been overwhelmed with "whys". Why do I spend so much time
promoting local track racing, showcasing some of the greatest gang of
drivers any state has, fight for what is right and wrong in safety. Why
would any sane person do this and not get one single nickle for the effort.
And the simple answer is, "it feels right".
When I first started going to races, believe it or not, I started at the drag
strip. I loved the speed of the cars and the noise that came from within
them. And for one reason or another, one day my family and I just
went to the round track. An instant love affair started and very few
weekends ever went by that we were not in those stands.
Little by little, my daughter and I talked her step-dad into trading an
old l961 Parkwood station wagon for a car we could use as a runabout.
We ended up with a l981 Buick Regal with a 301 engine that ran pretty
good for an old car. We put a roll cage in it, gutted what we were suppose
to, got helmet, firesuit, fire extinguisher and off we went to race.
Somewhere in this time period, someone told me about Florida Stock Car
Racing and one day I went to the site to check it out. There, in the track
section, was an ad for Track Reporter needed. Since I was at the track
every weekend, I e-mailed karnac and soon I was the track reporter for
not only Orlando SpeedWorld but New Smyrna Speedway. I got nothing
for doing this, not even into the track free but I loved it and it became my
corner of the world.
The more I did this, the more new feelings I got inside of me about racing.
And soon, I was sharing those feelings with you, my friends. Stories
flowed from every corner of me and a fire inside of me started that is still
burning very bright today. I had found at 47 what my life's roll was -
writing about the great sport of racing.
We are now two years down that road and a few months ago, I somehow
got lucky and ended up as the Sports Writer for Local Track racing for the
Daytona News Journal. And to be honest, I would have done this for no
money but I did not have to. I also write for another web-site which has
a published magazine but I don't get anything but "I liked your story" for
that. I have had stories used by Jeff Gordon's Fan Club, Bobby LaBonte's
Fan Club, Busch North, and a few others and no money was ever involved.
So why would any grown-up give so much time for something that you get
nothing for? The first and most important reason is that I believe in local
track racing and all the drivers that work their butts off to take care of
their families and be able to race on the weekends. They deserve alot more than I can give them but I try. The second reason is my 6 year old son in hopes
that he will still see what racing was to many people and not just a money
game. To me, it is kind of like when you want to save a forrest or the river
so your children will know what they were like - I want to save history for
him. And last, because I have a deep passion and love for racing and the
closeness local track racing gives people. You really do get a second
family.
Everyone wants to be paid for their time, that is for sure, but sometimes you
do not receive your pay in money but in thanks. Every time I help someone,
profile a driver, or post an event for someone, I get paid. Racing gave me
wings and I will always give it the best that I can no matter what. -Jane __________________________ June 9, 1999
Fading Dreams
Everyone has dreams and a local racer dreams of being in Winston
Cup. I can't say for sure that is what they all want but from alot of
them that I have talked to over the years, this would be the icing on
their cake. I have seen a few go to some of the series like Busch
Grand National, Hooter's Pro Cup, Slim-Jim All Pro, Goody's Dash
to name a few but these guys not only could drive and had made
a name for themselves prior but also had the one thing that is vital
to racing NASCAR, a very good sponsor or sponsors.
There are no more days where your driving talent and your mechanic
ability will get you to the top, Dave Marcis has learned that and so has
Eddie Hill. Both of these well known men not only drive their own cars
but both fine tune them for the track. But they don't have the money
behind them like their competitors even though they should. Inside of
them is still that same person who did win races or got fastest time
back when racing was racing and not so much of a money game. But
times changed and today's drivers seldom know anything about the
running of the car, they only drive.
When you race locally and you have no big sponsors but your own
family and your back making your race team work, you slowly come
to realize that more than likely you will never be a Winston Cup driver.
Even though you may be as good as some of the Winston Cup guys,
you don't have the money yourself to get you where you need to be
to get noticed. Your dream fades, a little part of your heart may die,
but by no means does this ever mean you were not good enough. It
only means you could not play the money game to get where you
needed to be so someone could see you.
Florida is full of very talented drivers, some have very good sponsors
and are in good places showcasing their talents. Hopefully, one of them
will make it to the top but it is very hard to do today without a family
name behind you. If you were a LaBonte, Jarrett, Earnhardt, Hamilton,
Petty - you have a better chance.
Dreams are good things and when one dream dies, another can come.
When you can't make it to the top in Winston Cup, you can make it
to the top at your local track or in a series that may run in your state.
Being the best you can be is always good and fans are fans no matter
whether they live around you or come to Daytona International to see
you. You have to earn their respect by doing your best, by racing
clean as you can.
Winston Cup guys are great, NHRA guys are brave in my book but it
is the every Friday and Saturday night guy who works his butt off all
week long to race at a local track that my respect really goes to. Not
only do these guys drive but they can build their cars, fix their cars and
make local racing the best there is.
Dreams don't always come true. You reach an age where you see that it
just isn't going to happen but remember, from working your way to that
dream, you have made a new dream and you are a star no matter where
you race.
-Jane Smith
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