NM Motor Sports Report August 2023

Steven‘Fenix’MaesandThaison‘Hollywood’Garcia

There was a time, doesn’t seem so long ago, that most of us “older” motorcyclists can remember when riding dirt bikes and small 50cc motorcycles was a right of passage. Dirt tracks hosting Flat Track racing were a huge draw for fans, and an event that would pack stands and fill seats. It was something to look forward to on summer nights with concession stands and cold drinks. Somehow over the years the thrill of riding a motorized two-wheel machine lost its appeal - either from overprotective parents or the overwhelming addictive nature of computers and social media. What once was a common activity is now more of a novelty and becoming increasingly more rare among the younger generation.

Fast forward to the present and a visit to the dirt flat track - and it’s not hard to see that the majority of riders are over 30 and in some cases pushing 50 plus. Generation X seems to be the holdout and still enjoying racing and pushing the sport as much as their aging bodies will allow. The few existing race tracks throughout the south-

west are struggling to attract racers and fans and stands hold only a sprinkling of spectators - such is the case at New Mexico’s Sandia Raceway.

Early this year Sandia Speedway was sold and optimism was high for the new ownership and management. Flat track enthusiasts were very excited to have meetings and conversations with the new management. Was the time finally right for a turn-around at the track, and a chance to draw more racers and bigger crowds? Sadly, it was not to be, with a rough start, ill-prepared track, disorganization, long wait times between car races and motorcycle races. Slowly the initial excitement waned, and motorcycle racers felt shoved aside and concerns were dismissed. By halfway through the season, flat track races had been canceled and ultimately put indefinitely on hold.

So, what do you do when the sport you and many of your friends love no longer has a home? Well, if you recall that old quote from the movie (Field of dreams) it

goes something like “If you build it they will come” and that is exactly what a few die-hard and stubborn racers are going to do, you find a solution or sometimes a solution finds you. This is where a flat track racer named Sean and the crew from Rust Is Gold Coffee stepped up in an attempt to revive the flat track community or at least have some fun running flat track motorcycles. There’s no telling whether or not this attempt will work but just like any other endeavor sometimes you just have to take a chance and that’s exactly what the RIG crew loves to do.

The proposed idea is to form a club - the New Mexico Flat Track Club, take a small plot of land in San Ysidro near the Jemez turnoff and build a fun 1/8 mile track, invite anyone that wants to run a few laps, learn the techniques and have a fun time regardless of skill level. The track would be open for anyone that wants to attend once a month, for afternoon practice, and riders will be able to run as many laps as they want. Spectators of course will be allowed to support for free as the idea is to build the community back and not to focus on profits. There’s always going to be a few hurdles to get past but that never stopped the RIG guys before.

Be sure to check out the NMFTC and Rust is Gold Coffee Instagram accounts for additional information and media.

For registration information and upcoming Fall events schedule, visit: www.nmflattrackclub.com

The racing season for WeBe rolls thru the halfway point as it heads to the next venue, BullHollow Raceway in Monticello, UT. This race has been an annual staple on the WeBe schedule, varying at times in the rotation, and even holding the entire season during Covid. Under the great views of the mountain, this year’s race was a longer format at 12 miles. It started on the motocross portion, then headed off into the rolling hills and technical rocky sections. As racers curated a flow, the course developed well. Using some older race trails and cutting in new ones, racers battled it out. As they came to the end of the course, the racers left a section of wooded oak and technical off cambers and moved back onto the motocross track. Over some big high-flying jumps, thru a tunnel, and into the scoring

chute, some relieved to be finished, while others wanting more. One brand new section was added this season nicknamed "The Shire.” It was the subject of bench racing at the awards ceremony. A tight wooded area, it was over 20 turns within 1/10 of a mile, where you had to duck, dodge, and navigate thru a heavily tree-laden area. Lots of course tape guided the racers thru the section, with some trees being just wide enough to pass a single bike thru it. The small bike course had its fair share of fun obstacles as well. Mini

riders started on the same starting area and ran a similar set up. Their course included motocross style jumps, wandering thru an arroyo section, some uphill and downhill fun, a mini wooded section, and going thru the same tunnel as the big bikes. To go along with the racing action, there was a vintage bike show, a drawing for good grades among the kiddos, and celebrating Father’s Day. Over the course of two days of racing the weather held out nicely and was a bit breezy as Sunday came to a close. A big thank you to the BullHollow crew for hosting WeBe Racing. They had the track dialed in and helped the weekend of racing flow well. The WeBe crew was also in perfect form keeping everyone on time, informed, and safe. Thanks to our riders for bringing the speed. If you are interested in learning more reach out to us at weberacing.com or find us on social media.

MEET MIKE GARCIA, NEW GENERAL MANAGER VADO SPEEDWAY PARK

ABOUT MIKE

1. Mike is a proud Las Cruces native and eats, sleeps, and breathes for his community. He believes in family, faith, and hard work. Mike is committed to helping others in our community and has sponsored numerous business and racers over the years and is always willing to lend a helping hand, on and off the track.

2. Mike has been at the track since he was just a young boy, but didn't start racing until 2000. He started driving his own car for four years, and then started driving for other Super Truck owners until 2015 when he purchased Duke.

3. Mike ran full seasons in 2016 and 2019, which came with the new Vado Speedway Park track opening. Mike decided to run for the Championship and won! In fact, each year Mike has raced he has won at least one Main Event.

4. He has ran a successful body shop, the Body Works, for 27 years, and has now moved into his dream job, accepting the GM position a Vado Speedway Park. He is beyond honoured to be a part of the track.

5. Mike is also the owner of Lomadore Stables, a local Equine Assisted Learning program, helping people develop life skills through working with horses.

SandiaSpeedwaySuperLapisagroupcreatedtosupportourlocalcircuitbyhostingevents, improvingdriverskill,andmostimportantly;“safetyandhavingfun.”Thisgroupdoesnotsupportstreet racingandwillnottolerateimmaturityhoweverfriendlycompetitionisencouraged.

We’re excited to announce that ABQ Super Lap and ASR Super Lap have become “sister” series! ASR Super Lap has been around since 2007 at Arroyo Seco Raceway in Deming, NM, and with how close in proximity the two series are, we all wanted to make it easier to compete in both so we got together and mirrored our rulesets. What does this mean for ABQ Super Lap competitors? A small change to classing - both series will now be utilizing the same power/weight formula and tire model.

Vehicles will now be classed based on their RACE WEIGHT (the weight of the vehicle with all fluids and driver) divided by their peak WHP (Weight/WHP=Class). We know not everyone has a dyno sheet and that’s ok; we’re here to help you make sure you’re in the proper class however, we expect built cars to have a dyno sheet to include: Make, Model, and Last 6 of the VIN Number. If there is no dyno sheet then you will be placed in TA-C.

2022 ABQ Super Lap classes are:

• TA-A: 15.00 and up

• TA-B: 14.99 to 10.00

• TA-C: 09.99 and below

So if your 2200lbs car makes 130whp, that’s: 2200/130=16.9 - Class A

If your 3270lb car makes 299whp, that’s: 3270/356=10.9 - Class B (Ballast is allowed for fine-tuning your classing but no more than 250lbs.)

The only tire limitation we have now is that they must be DOT legal. You may still lap with us on Super Lap days on non-DOT tires but series points will only be awarded to those on DOT legal tires.

Series Points will be awarded as follows:

This is a championship series based on a 100 point system. Every driver will earn points.

Points are awarded to drivers based on fastest lap times.

The 1st in class will receive 20 points, 2nd in class 18 points, 3rd in class 16 points, 4th in class 14 points, and 5th in class 12 points. All other drivers will receive 6 points for participation.

FASTHEATV-SATURDAY,AUGUST27TH,2023

While SWMS sports car and kart racing takes a bit of a quick break during these hot few weeks in the peak of summer, plenty is happening to get ready for the next SWMS race, Fast Heat VI on Sunday, August 27th.

In keeping with the annual festivities for the exciting Fast Heat race event, race chair Scott Claunch and his team have crafted up another amazing t-shirt. Ordering is done on the web at https://www.zazzle.com/z/a40lgoz9 (and bonus hint, there are lots of coupons floating around on a quick Google search which make orders even less expensive). Word is that shipping is fast, and a few SWMS members have already had theirs show up.

Plan for the driver’s meeting to be held at 8:30AM Sunday, with workers and cars to the track shortly after. Please register early so we can determine the race line up prior to the race day. Registration costs are $175 cars and $125 karts, SWMS.org.

Hope to see everyone at Suika Circuit!

BySpencerHill

Photos Courtesy of House of Cars New Mexico

They say that every man's car collection begins with their first hotwheel or matchbox car. My story is no different, as I can still remember when I got my first diecast at what had to have been just 3 years old. What started as what I am sure was a quick way for me to give my parents a few moments of peace and quiet quickly turned into a giant collection that I still grow 23 years later.

Diecast collecting has been around for decades, but the hunt for the rarest cars you can find on the peg continues to bring thousands of collectors together day after day. Whether it is facebook groups sharing their finds, or collector anxiously waiting for the newest release in their favorite scale and series, you can count on men, women, and children of all ages to still get excited when they find the perfect mini version of the automobile they adore.

For years it was somewhat difficult to be a diecast collector in New Mexico. Stores would generally pop up, stay around for a couple years, then slowly slip into the abyss and become just another "remember that" business in New Mexico.

Finally, there is another store in town that will give collectors something to be excited about. House of Cars New Mexico is owned by long-time collector, trader, and diecast guru, Oscar Mann. Oscar's love for the diecast

world is obvious when you go and talk to him and he is always willing to help new and old collectors find exactly what they're looking for. Even if it means a special order to one of his vendors.

House of Cars is relatively new to Albuquerque, so don't feel bad if you didn't know about it until just now. Oscar and his family opened up shop officially on November 5th, 2022 at 301 Coors NW Suite F Albuquerque, NM 87120. They carry the latest diecast from Matchbox, Hotwheels, Greenlight, ACME, Auto World, Mini GT, Fast Track Collectibles, Johnny Lightning, M2, Racing Champions, and hundreds of other brands including a nice selection from the motorsports world.

The time has never been better to get into diecast collecting. It is a fun and inexpensive way to hold your dream car in your hands, or maybe introduce a new generation to love cars the same way you do.

Time to move on….

BY DAVID SWOPE

TheUnser Museum closed the doors to it’s Albuquerque, New Mexico home on Monday May 29, the day after the running of the 107th Indianapolis 500. The docents of the museum have been packing for months all the items and prepping the cars for the move.

The racing memorabilia and the Unser family’s racing career that had been chronicling within the facility was loaded up into Speedway Motors trucks in July. The items included Indianapolis winning race car which could be seen lined-up to go in the truck.

MuseumOfAmericanSpeed.com

The Speedway Motors Museum of American Speed is located at 599 Oakcreek Dr in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Cused to improve the appearance, life expectancy, and sheen of a vehicle. Car care products protect and cure wear and tear, ensuring that each aspect of the vehicle is correctly maintained, and that the outside appearance of the vehicle is preserved. Pads, cleaning products, sprays, waxes, anti-aging moisturizing milk, and dust repellents are common components. Furthermore, rising sales of high-end and luxury automobiles, as well as electrically driven vehicles, which necessitate frequent maintenance to maintain the vehicle's premium appearance and sensation, will drive demand for car care products.

Based on product type, the global car care products market is segmented into the car cleaning products, car polish, car wax, glass cleaning products, interior care products, wheel & tire care products, and others. Due to its widespread use in eliminating impurities and residues from the external surface of vehicles, the interior care & car cleaning products sector is dominating the market with the biggest revenue share of 38.6% over the projection period. Interior care items include a wide range of products used to clean the inside of autos. Furthermore, among automobile cleaning goods, the car wash shampoo and detergent market is a key segment since it aids in the safe removal of dirt, oil, grease, stains, and numerous other contaminants from the vehicle body.

Reference: GlobeNewsWire.com

GabrielCampollaMakesABetterAutomotiveQuickDetailer-TeykoAutomotiveLifestyle

After spending 15 years perfecting the art of detailing cars both professionally and personally, we founded Teyko Automotive Lifestyle with one simple goal in mind - to enhance the joy and satisfaction of car enthusiasts during their detailing process.

During our experience, we noticed a significant gap in the market for quality auto care products that were affordable and effective. Driven by our passion for cars, we dedicated ourselves to creating a superior product - Quick Detailer.

Don't be fooled by its straightforward name - Quick Detailer is a three-in-one formula that delivers body shine, waterless wash, and spray wax benefits in one easy-to-use solution. Our Quick Detailer is perfect for everyday enthusiasts who seek a high-quality product without breaking the bank.

Our mission is to simplify the process for car enthusiasts by providing them with a reliable and effective product, thereby avoiding the hassle of dealing with countless gimmicky versions of the same products. We are thrilled to offer Quick Detailer and a range of other products that we have in store for you.

Our inspiration came from racing pit crews. Imagine you’re a world-famous race car driver, and we’re your pit crew! We help you keep your car in tip-top shape so you can dominate any track you come to. As true enthusiasts ourselves, we understand the importance of the little details that make all the difference. And that's why each of our Teyko products come with a special surprise or two, designed to put a smile on your face. As a team, with you in the driver’s seat, we’re becoming world champions. And that’s why… we’re your biggest fan.

2 EASY STEPS WASH

To begin the process, the car should be sprayed down with high-pressure soap to loosen and remove dirt and grime from the surface. The soap should be allowed to sit for a few minutes to work its magic before being rinsed off with clean water. The wheels and tires should also be cleaned thoroughly to remove any brake dust or debris. After washing, the car should be rinsed off to remove all soap residue. Finally, the car can be dried with a soft towel or chamois to prevent water spots from forming. Whether washing by hand or with a touchless car wash, following these simple steps will help to keep a car looking clean and shiny.

FINISHING

Spray Quick Detailer onto your vehicle’s paint surface and gently wipe away. Fold your towel into quarters, so you can easily flip to a fresh side. The quick detailer will lift away any dirt or dust, while the spray wax will leave behind a protective layer that helps to maintain the car's shine. This process can be done quickly and easily, making it a great option for keeping a car looking its best after and between washes.

Quick Detailer can be used on any type of vehicle, including cars, trucks, and motorcycles. It's a great way to maintain the exterior of a vehicle without spending hours washing and waxing. With regular use, quick detailer with spray wax can help to keep a car's paint looking shiny and new, while also providing a layer of protection against the elements.

Join us on this exciting journey and experience the pride and joy of owning a well-detailed car! TeamTeyko.com

CENTER FOLD COAST

We are proud to announce the No Coast Drift Party 13 at Suika Circuit! Presented by 10 Tenths Motorsports, Valino Tires, Kansei Wheels and HQ Auto Spa.

There are a few changes this year, so please read up!!! NCDP is back in it's 13th form, stoked to be getting to say that! Pumped to announce we have some extra rad people coming this year, but thats a surprise for later. On top of that we will be filming the tail end of an episode of 'Runs Good' Saturday night for team tandem. So that gives one of the guests away.

Tickets here: https://www.whiskeygarage.com/pro.../no-coastdrift-party-13

The entire proceeds of this years No Coast are going into paying for sealing the rest of the small oval, and adding a new extension in that goes before the light pole to make the transition from small oval to big oval nice and smooth. I love you all.

I also have a ton of new Whiskey Garage merch that will be available only at the event.

- Spots along the power fence will have a reservation fee from now on. After dealing with what happened last year, these are limited and will go fast. If you are not reserved, I will make you pack up and move. You can reserve power spots here: https://www.whiskeygarage.com/pro.../no-coast-13-powerspots

- Out of state roll in is Thursday, everyone else, gates open Friday at 8am. NO ROLL IN MON TUES WEDS

- No spectator parking inside the gate, you can camp with your drivers, but keep cars out.

- NO BURNOUTS IN PITS, I personally have to pay for damage now.

- No open trailers in pits #nocoast13 #ncdp13 #nocoast13prep

- Dan Brockett

SALINAS FAMILY HITS

NHRA WESTERN SWING ROAD ON BIKES

BySusanWade

Photos Courtesy of Salinas Family & NHRA

The NHRA’s Western Swing is a grueling series of three races in consecutive weeks at wildly different altitudes, in markedly different conditions and a road map of about 2,000 miles – actually, far more for most, considering their starting points are their Midwest-based shops.

So Top Fuel owner-driver Mike Salinas decided to have some fun with it this summer.

The San Jose businessman has a handful of ventures he operates with wife Monica and their four daughters – Jacquelin, Jasmine, Jianna, and Janae – all while he competes in Top Fuel, supports Jianna’s Pro Stock Motorcycle efforts, and fields Jasmine’s Top Alcohol Dragster. So life can be hectic for the Scrappers Racing family.

And rather than let the Western Swing add any more stress to their lives, Salinas and daughter Janna Evaristo, along with Mike’s brother

Carl, turned the schedule into an opportunity to see some of the picturesque U.S.A. between home and Denver, Denver and Seattle, and Seattle and Sonoma, Calif. – aboard their motorcycles. “This ride was something that we really wanted to do as a way to not focus on the business for a few weeks, but instead focus on our time together,” Salinas said. “We know our businesses are in good hands while we are enjoying time on the road.”

Jasmine, who’s working toward earning a Top Fuel license, raced at Columbus, Ohio, and didn’t get to experience the first leg of the trip, and Monica joined the family nomads after the Denver race.

Scorching temperatures across the western U.S. didn’t deter the hardy racers as they set off for Denver.

The trio hit the jackpot – a warm shower and relaxing bed – at Las Vegas the first day after leaving California’s Bay Area at 4 a.m. to avoid riding in the hottest part of the day.

The bright lights of The Strip – not the one they race on there just up Interstate 15 –gave way to the rugged but fascinating hills of Utah the next day as they encountered triple-digit temperatures.

Despite necessary stops to hydrate and fuel their bodies as well as their motorcycle gas tanks, the Salinas/Evaristo clan had some unforgettable experiences, exploring Zion National Park and visiting Moab, Utah.

“We definitely battled the heat in Utah,” Evaristo said. “It was hotter than I’ve experienced on a ride before. We’ve historically tried to schedule one big family ride each year, and this was a part of the country we hadn’t been able to visit before. With the three races back-toback, this was a great opportunity to see some beautiful parts of the country together.

“Of course, with the heat and the crazy time schedules, I’m definitely living on caffeine and sugar,” she said. “So I’ll have to work on my detox after Sonoma!”

ByJohnHaverlin

Photos Courtesy of Getty Images

It's hard to pinpoint the most memorable part of NASCAR's inaugural Chicago Street Course race from Independence Day Weekend.

The event was historic as it was the first time the Xfinity and Cup Series ran on a street circuit through the middle of a city. It was hyped for its unique setting, and it made local residents take notice of the buzz.

About 70 percent of the spectators had never been to a NASCAR race before this event. When NASCAR was booming in popularity two decades ago and building tracks in new markets outside the Southeast, it allowed fans to see racing in rural areas on the outskirts of cities around the country. Chicago was one of those markets as it had Chicagoland Speedway built an hour away in Joliet, Illinois.

But NASCAR's approach to attracting new fans has changed. Instead of building tracks outside the city limits, it brought the racing right into the heart of the metro area.

NASCAR first did this with its Los Angeles Clash at the Memorial Coliseum at the start of 2022, and it has done it again with the Chicago event, which was years in the making.

"If you go back two or three years of us trying to put this event together and the planning process, a lot of folks were here today that were with us from the very start in some of those early conversations," NASCAR's Senior Vice President of Racing Development and Strategy Ben Kennedy said. "It was neat to see them. Some of them were actually down in Victory Lane kind of taking in the moment and soaking it all in because I know NASCAR and the industry put a lot of effort in, but the city certainly put a lot of effort into this event, and it showed."

The weekend was well-received by fans and individuals within the industry, but it almost became a huge disappointment. It was nothing NASCAR could control, though, because the torrential rain on Saturday and Sunday spoiled the ending of the Xfinity race and canceled three of the four scheduled concerts.

Chicago received seven inches of rain on Sunday, and for most of the day, the Cup race might have to be held off until Monday. Logistically, that would have pinned NASCAR in a challenging position as it would have had to pay the city additional fees to keep the track maintained for an extra day before deconstruction began. And just as it would be on any other weekend, fans who bought tickets might be unable to return for the race if it ran on a weekday.

NASCAR worked tirelessly to get the track prepared, though. The jet driers were out in full force, removing the puddles of water around the track, and the rain relented in the late afternoon, so the race got underway.

It was scheduled to be 100 laps, but due to the delay and limited daylight hours, the Grant Park 220 only logged 78 laps. But with a damp track and a few less-familiar names running at the front of the field, there was plenty of action throughout the evening.

As fascinating as the weekend was, perhaps its winner was the most exciting facet of the Cup race. Three-time Australian Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen qualified third and won in his NASCAR debut. It was the first time a driver won his first Cup race since 1963, when Johnny Rutherford did so in one of the qualifying races for the Daytona 500.

Van Gisbergen drove Trackhouse Racing's Project 91 car, created by team owner Justin Marks to bring in talent worldwide. Kimi Raikkonen, the retired Formula 1 star who won the 2007 world championship, drove the entry at Watkins Glen last year and at Circuit of The Americas in the spring. Van Gisbergen is the second driver to run in the No. 91 Chevrolet, and he brought it to victory in its third-ever start. "Anything is possible," van Gisbergen said. "The fans in Australia

and New Zealand, the response this week and the coverage has been -- I can't explain it. Like the response and the support I've got from everyone and even over here how welcoming everyone is, I can't believe it. Dream come true."

Despite the rain and uncertainty over how the weekend would transpire, NASCAR's Chicago experiment succeeded. It's not certain the race will return to the 2024 schedule, but even if it doesn't, the opportunity to visit other cities -- not just within the U.S. but across borders -- is possible.

"I think we're all confident at NASCAR that we could take the Cup Series anywhere we want," NASCAR COO Steve O'Donnell said. "I know the race we put on today would sell and would be embraced globally for sure."

ForovaliRacers,JulyisFirecracker400month

By Justin Melillo Junior Gaming and eSports Editor, Traxion.GG

The Firecracker 400 returns in 2023 after taking a year off in 2022. This community event is one of the largest on the iRacing platform, and it takes basically an entire month just to set the field. The race itself is a 160-lap feature, and both previous events have seen some absolutely wild results. With its return, this month has been all about the Firecracker, and it’s crazy to think of how this race has become such a hit.

In 2020, sim racing, namely iRacing, was soaring in popularity among sim racers and real-world racers alike. There was an eNASCAR boom, stemming from real racers taking their talents to the computer for a couple of months as the world was shut down and sports were on pause.

From that eNASCAR Pro Invitational Series grew many new events and series, one of which included eRacr. Founded by NASCAR drivers Parker Kligerman and Landon Cassill, eRacr was looking to not only capitalize on the esports boom, but also on a nostalgia boom that crept up right at the end of the inaugural Pro Invitational season.

You see, iRacing managed to add in a retro flair for the oval side of the community. While road racers were treated with historic racing machines such as the Lotus 49 and Lotus 79, oval enthusiasts really just had the current cars that would eventually be replaced by the newer models. That changed in June of 2020 with the release of the 1987 NASCAR

Elliott, tuned and tested with the help of NASCAR Hall of Famer Bobby Labonte, who drove those cars during his career. Another Hall of Famer, Dale Earnhardt Jr, also had a big role in bringing these cars into the limelight.

Stock Cars - the Chevrolet Monte Carlo and the Ford Thunderbird - recreated with scans of cars from Dale Earnhardt and Bill

The combination of all of this led to the creation of the eRacr.gg Firecracker 400, a multi-week event for anyone in the iRacing community to take part in. Using the 1987 cars at what was the legacy edition of Daytona International Speedway, a track scan from 2007 that was replaced by a smoother model in 2011, Kligerman and Cassill looked to recreate the magic of the former Summer Daytona event from the 1980s, what’s now known as the Coke Zero Sugar 400 night race, but formerly the Firecracker which would run on the 4th of July.

Hundreds of sim racers signed up, but the main event could only hold a starting field of 43. From preliminary events on the first week in fixed setups that whittled the cluster to a field of 88, to a pair of qualifying nights the next week that would split the field in half, sending 43 hopefuls to the 400 and the rest to the 200-mile consolation a few days earlier, the last two weeks of the event contested with open setups, which meant these drivers needed to science speed out of their 1987 machines, the event had completely taken over the iRacing atmosphere.

In that first year, Brandon Kettelle found the magic he needed to score the victory in the 400. The following year, Michael Cosey Jr, with a shove from Dale Earnhardt Jr, was able to claim the big win in 2021. With the hype lingering for the 2022 show, it was a shame to see that neither Parker or Landon could commit to bringing it back, forcing the third iteration to be held in 2023 instead. Now that it’s back, it’s like it never left.

This year’s festivities saw more than 350 entrants, including 25 current eNASCAR drivers and some real-world flair once again, although it was unfortunate that the two-time starter in the race, Earnhardt Jr, was not able to make time for it this time around. Instead, we had hopefuls such as Conor Daly, Rajah Caruth, Garrett Smithley and Ryan Vargas in the Preliminary Round. Vargas was able to make the Top 88, qualifying for the Firecracker 200, unfortunately wrecking out of that early.

The 400 is set to conclude the month, which is unfortunately set for after this magazine goes into print, but it’s set to be another incredible race. This year’s race features both former winners - Kettelle stood on his Day 1 time in qualifying to advance which Cosey Jr made it harder for himself, opting to withdraw a time that would have put him in the field, racing the 80 laps of the Firecracker 200 on the 24th and winning his way back into the show in dramatic fashion.

Alek Martinez won the pole position and will take the Whitz Racing ‘Lastto-First’ Challenge with a chance to win an extra $10,000. The total purse is $12,500 excluding that bonus, with whoever wins pocketing $2,000 as well as the forever title of being one of eRacr’s Firecracker champions.

It’s hard to believe it was 25 years ago when NASCAR named the 50 Greatest Drivers ahead of the 1998 Daytona 500. It feels like just yesterday when life was in high gear and I was racing full-time in the NASCAR Cup Series.

To me it seems like an impossible task to pick 50 drivers, and feel fortunate to be in that first 50.

It was a great honor to be part of the original Greatest 50 Drivers NASCAR announced that year, and now to be included in the addition of the next 25.

A few weeks back, I was contacted by the people at NASCAR. They said they needed to send me something. I knew it wasn’t going to be a trip to the Bahamas, and I had heard about the expansion of the 50 list, but didn’t know what to expect.

Some time passed and I got a box in the mail from NASCAR. Inside was the NASCAR 75th logo printed on the inside of a nice box. Inside it was a piece of paper that congratulated me on being one of the 75 greatest drivers and that NASCAR would like to recognize my “outstanding achievements in stock car racing.”

PHOTOS BY NASCAR, TRE, GETTY IMAGES

Also inside the box, buried in some blue, yellow, and red zig-zag confetti was a 1:24 scale diecast with the 75th anniversary logos in a black-and-silver paint scheme.

It was neat to see the car and hold it. Other drivers being honored have received the same package in the mail.

It was nice to be recognized, but I’m really glad to see Sterling Marlin being honored on the list. He’s a fighter. It will be fun to reminisce with him and the many others that will be there.

think these kinds of awards should be reserved for drivers no longer active. Some of the current drivers being honored have done plenty to be a part of the group, but these types of awards should be for people that aren’t active, but that’s my opinion and feelings.

It’s great to be in the number, but there’s so many drivers that are not in it that should be in it. Unfortunately, there’s times and situations where you can’t include everyone at the same time. Hopefully, in the long run, everyone that deserves to be on the list will get in.

My wife Lori and I will be in Darlington. As of right now, I have no idea what is planned. I’ve told NASCAR and the track to keep me busy signing autographs and shaking as many hands as possible.

Then, I will be back at the track the following week ahead of this year’s All-Star Race at North Wilkesboro Speedway. I will be there midweek for filming prior to the race weekend. What a cool track. I won in modifieds and Cup cars, and was the last driver to lap the field.

It is rare for me to go back to the track and do appearances, especially back-toback weekends.

I

If you have any Geoff Bodine memorabilia and are coming to the races at Darlington and/or North Wilkesboro, bring what you can, I’ll sign it! While we’re at it, let’s grab a picture too.

I usually sign autographs on the couch on Sundays while I’m watching the race and I’ll mail them back. Without the racefans, I wouldn’t have a career. I’m very thankful for you.

The best part for me will be to see all the drivers. When you stop being at the track, you stop seeing the people too, and you miss them. You miss the drivers, fans, the atmosphere. I’m hoping we have great weather and exciting racing.

If you’d like to partner with Geoff’s Journal, e-mail us at info@theracingexperts.net.

“America’sFavoriteShortTrack”NashvilleFairgroundsSpeedway

By Spencer Hill | Photos Courtesy of Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway

Just minutes away from the buzzing neon lights of Broadway in downtown Nashville, Tennessee lies the second oldest continually operating racetrack in the United States. Through its 119-year history, Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway has earned its title from adoring fans as “America’s Favorite Short Track.”

As you approach the speedway, you might be surprised at its location with housing all around, a new state-of-the-art soccer stadium shadowing turn 4 and a creek running parallel to the back straightaway. Although this is unusual for most short tracks that are still in operation today, it helps tell the story of the historic facility that first hosted “horseless carriages” and motorcycles in 1904 on a massive 1 1/8th mile dirt oval.

After many years of holding annual motor racing events to coincide with the Tennessee State Fair, racers received a 10-year lease from the fair board in 1957 in order to revamp the track and build a paved ½ mile oval with a smaller ¼ mile oval in the infield, sharing a front stretch. This would bring the NASCAR Grand National Series to Nashville for the first time in 1958, with Joe Weatherly winning the 200-lap race and $1850.

The speedway continued to boom in the 60s with frequent appearances from the “Alabama Gang,” Coo Coo Marlin and Darrell Waltrip. The featured divisions would make the move to the big track when lights were strung around the ½ mile in 1965. With additional success from added figure 8 and Tuesday night events, the track grew slightly longer, increased to 35 degrees of banking and acquired new grandstands after the 1969 season. This was short-lived however as the increased banking created dangerous speeds and track officials were forced to cut it down to 18 degrees shortly thereafter.

NASCAR made a departure from the fairgrounds in 1984 after multiple disputes with track management and the city of Nashville. Luckily, their new headliner,

the Late Model Stock Car division, caught the eyes of future stars like Ster ling Marlin, Bill Elliott, Dale Earnhardt and more which kept the short track alive and well until NASCAR made a short return with the Busch and Truck Series in 1995 before those events made the move to the freshly formed Nashville Super Speedway in 2001.

With NASCAR again vacating the historic fairgrounds, the speedway went through a name change and encountered many struggles in the mid-to-late 2000s. The newly named “Music City Motorplex” had arguably its hardest year in 2009 when it lost its scheduled ARCA race to Mansfield and was forced to cancel its largest race of the year, the All American 400. It wasn’t until the 2012 season when the prestigious All American 400 made a return but the event has since returned to its glory it once had since the first race won by Butch Lindley in 1981. Every year, the best late model drivers in the world circle the All American 400 on their calendar and consider the Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway race as a crown jewel event in the same category as the Snowball Derby in Pensacola, Florida.

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Most recently, many of the drivers that have their eye on winning the All American 400 in 2023 participated in the North/South 100 Super Late Model race at Nashville Fairgrounds; the final tune up before the biggest race of the year. For the first half of the race, it seemed as if the defending All American champion, Stephen Nasse, was going to pick up another win on his season until pressure came from the 2019 track champion, Jackson Boone. Boone was on his way to his first-career super late model victory until heartbreak struck and a radiator hose blew on the No. 7 machine, bringing him to a stop on lap 92. The restart would relinquish the lead to 18-year-old NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, Jake Garcia, who would hold off for his first late model triumph at Nashville.

The Fairgrounds has gone through many turbulent changes since 1904, but still to this day drivers and fans understand the importance of the speedway and the legacy that it has written in over a century of competition. With the North/South 100 in the books, all eyes and preparation point toward November 3rd-5th at Nashville Fairgrounds Speedway as we wait in anticipation to see who will be the 39th winner of the All American 400.

STORY BY SYDNEE HAMBLIN • PHOTOS COURTESY FLORACING/SHARK RACING/WHM PHOTOGRAPHY

In his tenth season on the World of Outlaws sprint car tour, Logan Schuchart finally has his name in the history books. Crown jewel victories have seemed to elude the thirty year old driver from Hanover, Pennsylvania. Finishing in the top five at several of the Outlaws crown jewel events including the national open and the Kings Royal. However on July 13th, that all changed.

Schuchart currently drives the Shark Racing 1S owned by Grandfather and National Sprint Car Hall of Fame member Bobby Allen. Logan’s career began at the young age of eight when he started racing go-karts in Pennsylvania in 2001. That year he claimed rookie of the year honors in the 425 box stock class. He continued racing go-karts around Pennsylvania until 2008 when he made his sprint car debut at Trailway Speedway, claiming his first sprint car feature soon after on June 26th, 2009. In 2010, he became the youngest driver to win Lincoln Speedways 358 sprint car track championship. The following year Schuchart took on the regional 358 series in Pennsylvania, claiming the season championship and making his first 410 Sprint start. 2012 would be the young driver's first full year in 410 competition, where he was voted the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame 410 rookie of the year.

A few years later, Grandpa Bobby Allen decided that to be the best you have to race with the best, and the team set out on their first full season with the World of Outlaws sprint car series. Even though the team was undoubtedly the underdogs of the series, they quickly showed they were competitive and destined for victory. Perseverance was the name of the Shark racing team, being vastly under budgeted in comparison to the other touring teams. The team claimed several podium finishes in their first season before claiming their first victory in their second season at Cedar Lake speedway in Wisconsin. Over the next years, Schuchart and the Shark racing team quickly grew to be one of the front runners with the World of Outlaws.

Eldora speedway is no stranger to the World of Outlaws season year in and year out. The series racks up a total of four visits a season, making it one of the most visited tracks on the tour. Logan Schuchart is no stranger to victory lane at the historic track either. He’s racked up five total wins at the track including one earlier this year during the Let’s Race Two weekend in May.

While the Eldora Million was an unsanctioned sprint car event, the chance of winning the largest payday in sprint car history drew drivers and fans from across the country to the track. Boasting a crowd of over 30,000 people, it marked one of the largest crowds in Eldora history. The FloRacing sponsored event marked a points based format that started the night before with a twin feature night.

Drivers were awarded points based on finishing positions in each of their races. The lineup for the heat races of the Eldora Million were based on these points with the top three finishers of the heats transferring to the Million dollar feature. Heat race winners drew for their starting positions 1-6. Schuchart finished fourth in his feature on Wednesday which set him up to start on the pole of heat two on Thursday. He went on to win the heat race despite having a power steering issue. In the draw for starting positions in the feature, Logan had luck on his side and drew the pole position. Starting the 50 lap feature in the first position, Schuchart would go on to lead all 50 laps and claim the $1,002,023 paycheck in Victory lane. Carson Macedo and Brad Sweet rounded out the podium for the historic event.

Timeline of career:

2001 - Rookie of the year at Hunterstown Speedway - Age 8

2008 - 358 Sprintcar debut at Trailway Speedway

2009 - First full season in 358 sprints - first win June 26, 2009 at Trailway Speedway

2010 - First championship - Lincoln speedway 358 sprint track championship

2011 - first regional season - 358 Sprint regional championship

WoO debut

2012 - First full 410 Season

Speedway motors central Pa rookie of the year

Williams Grove speedway rookie of the year

National Sprint Car Hall of Fame Rookie of the year

2013 - First 410 victory at Lincoln Speedway in Pennsylvania

2014 - First World of Outlaw season

2016 - First World of Outlaw Win at Cedar Lake Speedway in Wisconsin

2017 - First win at Eldora

First Knoxville nationals A-feature appearance

2018 - First Knoxville Raceway feature win

2019 - 8 World of Outlaw feature wins

5th in WoO season points

2020 - 7 World of Outlaw feature wins

Second in WoO season points

2021 - 7 World of Outlaws feature wins

5th in WoO Season points

2022 - 4 World of Outlaws feature wins

Sixth in WoO season points

2023 (so far) - 3 World of Outlaws feature wins

Eldora million winner