Practice Day Video

You never know what you will find when surfing. Check out this cool video of practice.

In Fact The Inevitable

Before you freak on my two earlier posts, I do not in any way intend to say that there are not talented race car drivers racing in the multitude of recently created but sparsely populated touring series.

In fact, I would strongly suggest that those drivers return to their home tracks. Do you want short track racing to survive? Return to your roots. We want to see you race again. Seems kind of silly to travel hundreds of miles to race in front of dozens of fans to race against 11 other cars.

Buy a Late Model and race at Thunder Road Thursday, Lee Friday, and Oxford Saturday if you want to travel. Create your own mini tour. Tune up for the 250.

Come on home.

Even Travis Could Not Save Them

Even with Travis taking an interest, only four people cared to watch........

Be Careful What You Wish For

I was amused to see some folks bashing Travis Barrett at maineracing.com. Without Travis, there are many series that would literally have NO coverage whatsoever except possibly a press release printed in a trade paper. Which is the same as no coverage, right?

In fact, I would go as to far as to say that Travis' coverage in the Kennebec Journal widened knowledge of certain series from 10's of people to potentially 1000's. Travis has given enormous coverage and legitimacy to races made up of a dozen or two drivers from Maine. Besides an occasional mention in Steve Craig's Press Herald column last year, what media outlet ever mentioned any of Speed 51's favorite group of series besides Travis? John Williams and I will receive a rare call on our show but that is about it.

Instead of chastising Travis, go up and shake his hand and thank him. Even if he is criticizing your series, at least he is writing about it. Because if a tree falls in a forest and no one is there to see it, does it make a sound? If a race occurs and no one knows about it, did it occur?

Is your goal to become famous? Want to get on television? Want to see your name in every paper in Maine? Want to become well known? Win the 250. The original.

Suggestion Box Is Now Open

I am throwing this blog wide open for your comments. What do you want to see at Oxford? What are we doing right? What are we doing wrong?

Like I have said before, I will let all comments fly unless they are libelous.

Unless you are libeling me. That I am amused by.

First week and it is already open season! Did we not play a song you wanted to hear?

First twenty comments to leave an email get a pair of tix for the May 10 race. You can send me your email referencing your comments at williamjryanjr@gmail.com.

If you are in Dubuque, Iowa reading this blog, what is up?!

Kevin Lepage

Kevin is a talented race car driver. More talented than 99% of those that will ever strap in.

He made a stupid, capital STUPID move on Saturday.

However, it does not take away from the fact that he is a guy deserving of a lot of respect.

I have had a chance to hang with him a little and he is an awesome guy. Let's all take his apology and move on.

The Ridge

I had a chance to catch the Wildcat and Pro Stock feature at Beech Ridge yesterday. Both were entertaining races on a dismal day. The folks at Beech Ridge run a professional show and seemed to be pushing things along for the good of competitors and fans.

I was amazed that DJ Shaw stuck on the throttle for a few laps with a tire that looked like it was going to explode to come in 3rd.

I was rooting for Lyman McKeague (whose name I think I just butchered) in the Wildcats. His and Dan's crew are a great group of guys who I always love seeing at Oxford.

Seems like TJ Brackett has a great deal with Kyle Busch. He was strong and finished in the top five.

Too cold to drink beer yesterday, but I am looking forward to a cold one in turn four on a Thursday night soon. Had some onion rings and was told that they were better than those at Oxford. I cannot hide at a race track. Should I start wearing a fake beard?

I wish the weather had been better. It is impossible to make money when it is misty and forty eight degrees. Here is to rain showers on Monday and Tuesday all summer long. Let the rest of us enjoy the races the rest of the time.

From The Desk Of

Tidbits from the past few weeks.....

- I went on Mainely Motorsports a couple weeks back with Steve Perry. He was saying that people were surprised that I would go on the show. Their assumption was that we must not get along because Steve is a Pro Stock guy. That is strange to me. Just because we disagree we are supposed to hate each other? I get that some people still dislike me because of the whole split. It is tough for those guys that did not make the change over to a Late Model because they will always be playing second fiddle now to whatever goes on at Oxford. That must be frustrating. I am cool to talk with anyone that can listen and understand a different view point and Steve is one of those guys. Even when he disagrees with me.

- The biggest bummer of going on the show was that Mark Thomas was not there. Mark has been one of my biggest supporters over the years and it would have been nice to have been on the show with him.

- Yesterday we had a woman scheduled to sing the National Anthem. So when I heard the Anthem being played through the sound system I was puzzled. A little miscommunication, no sweat, as the Oxford faithful were treated to two versions of the Anthem.

- Tough times in the newspaper industry may mean we see less and less about short track racing. Call the sports editor of your favorite paper and tell him you enjoy articles about the local racing scene. It can't hurt.

- I know this may make me old, but I love newspapers. I surf the net quite a bit, but I hate reading long articles on the computer. I need the old fashioned paper for that.

- Danica Patrick cries and folks try to make it a big deal? Ridiculous. We have all seen big bad male athletes cry, why should she be any different?

- I am back doing a segment every Friday at 5:25 on the Big Jab with Chris Sedenka. If you happen to see me Friday afternoon can you remind me I have the show to do? It always slips my mind. You can continue to hear John Williams and I every Friday morning from 9 am to 10 am on the Jab. We have been at it for four years week in and week out. It is a fun show and we love to hear from race fans.

- A little friendly advice for anyone getting into the racing business. Inexpensive classes = good car counts = good spectator count = success. If you don't want to spend that retirement account, take note.

The Season Opener

The greatest thing in the world for a track is sunshine on opening day.

We had a nice sunny day for our season opening races yesterday. Hundreds of laps of competitive racing all done in less than four hours.

We had fifty Late Model teams from around New England and Canada attempt to qualify for the ACT race. Our other divisions had numbers that were comparable to last year's opening day with some significant growth in the Mini Stock division.

A special thanks to the OPS staff for their effort in preparing the track. We had very little time to do it, but they got it done and the place looked great.

Hey Wait, I Want To Outspend My Competitors

What is the world coming too when folks in the Pro Stock world decide to limit costs...........................WITH A SEALED ENGINE!

That sounds wicked familiar. Where have I heard that before?

My good friends at Speed 51 have the full story here.