Monmouth, IL (Thursday, March 16, 2017) - For the many of you who know me, know how much I spend my time trying to make sure the sport we all enjoy survives for years to come. But during the 2016 racing season I discovered how hard it is to please everyone, and how much social media is going to kill off this sport.
Many times during 2016 I contemplated walking away from this sport that has been a part of my life for 30 years. I also found out who my true friends and supporters are through the good and bad times. Thanks to the many good people I have gotten to know through those 30 years, they showed me over the final three months of the season what great times can still be had.
My 2016 number came in with 80 race nights attended, with most of them coming at the three tracks I worked at during the season. The most being at 34 Raceway in West Burlington, Iowa with 17 nights, followed by another track I worked most the season at with 11, and then finishing off with 10 at the Quincy Raceways in Quincy, Illinois. Coming in next was the Lee County Speedway in Donnellson, Iowa with 6 nights. A track I returned to working at on Friday nights late in the season, and will be returning to again in 2017. Another track coming in with 6 nights was the Boone Speedway in Boone, Iowa, where I attended the week long IMCA Super Nationals. The Southern Iowa Speedway in Oskaloosa, Iowa was next with 5 nights, and was followed by the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri with 4 nights. Also with 4 nights was the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, where I attended the NASCAR weekend. Other tracks with multiple nights include the Dirt Track at Charlotte, North Carolina with 3 nights of the World Finals events, The Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa and the Marshalltown Speedway in Marshalltown, Iowa both with 2 nights. Then my final event of 2016 was taking in the two nights of racing inside the Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
Finally the tracks I went to on a single night included the West Liberty Raceway in West Liberty, Iowa, the Fairbury American Legion Speedway in Fairbury, Illinois, the LaSalle Speedway in LaSalle, Illinois, the Knox County Fair race in Knoxville, Illinois, the Jacksonville Speedway in Jacksonville, Illinois, and the Eldon Raceway in Eldon, Iowa. One last track that I made 1 visit to, which was also the first ever visit to this track, was the Beatrice Speedway in Beatrice, Nebraska.
The following subject matter may be controversial to some of you, but it is something that should be talked about. For several years the major sanctioning bodies have awarded national champions in each of their divisions. And each of those sanctioning bodies have a different way in determining who will be crowned national champions. Is there a correct way to go about determining these nationals champions? One can say yes, and another person may say no. But there is one sanctioning body that does it in a way to promote not only winning races, but winning track championships along the way. While another one awards bonus points to a competitor for the car counts they race against. One may ask why I bring this up, well let me fill you in.
Everybody knows the main reason why a racer takes to the track each night, and that is to hopefully end up in victory lane at the end of that night. The UMP DIRTcar Racing uses a driver's best 30 races towards earning points for the national points chase. And in 2016 Michael Long of Fowler, Illinois ended up in victory lane more than 30 times, which one would thought he would have maxed out his best 30 finishes in the national title. But unfortunately he didn't win the UMP National Championship, he came in a close second to Highland, Illinois native Mike Harrison. Harrison only ended up in victory lane 21 times, which was 9 less than what Long won towards the national title. One might ask how is that possible.
Well what made up the difference was the bonus points award for competing against 20 to 25+ cars in an event. Long, who punches a time clock at work, had to hope each weekend race that he showed up at had more than 20 cars to compete against. Unfortunately that wasn't the case many a times during the season. On the other hand Harrison, who is a farmer, was able to pick and choose the races he wanted to compete in during the season. As a result the majority of his wins came with 20 to 25+ cars to earn the maximum points towards the national championship. So one may ask is UMP set up for a weekend racer or for one who can travel throughout the season.
This Friday, March 17th and Saturday, March 18th kicks off the 2017 racing season in my area, as the "Spring Nationals" takes place at the Scotland County Speedway in Memphis, Missouri. The Modifieds, Stock Cars and SportMods will race Friday for $1,000 to win. Then if you raced on Friday the Modifieds will have a shot at $2,000 to win on Saturday, the Stock Cars and SportMods will have a chance at $1,500 to win. Otherwise if you can only race Saturday, the Modifieds, Stock Cars, and SportMods will race for $1,000 to win. Both nights will also feature racing in the Hobby Stocks and Sport Compacts, with both shooting for a top prize of $300 to win each night. For more information about the "Spring Nationals" you can call Mike Van Genderen at 641-521-0330, or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Scotland-County-Speedway-531042493650646/.
There is plenty of weekly and special events planned for the 2017 season, and to make it easy for one to plan there schedule you are encouraged to check out the calendar page on Positively Racing at http://www.positivelyracing.com/calendar.shtml. But we remind you that schedules are subject to change without notice, so make sure you call or check the tracks website before attending a race.
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