April 2016 Sayingsaying Goodbyegoodbye Toto Anan Oldold Friendfriend
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www.theracingconnection.comwww.theracingconnection.com April 2016 SayingSaying GoodbyeGoodbye ToTo AnAn OldOld FriendFriend Inside... NASCAR Insight Short Track History Part II April 2016 Page 2 Page 3 April 2016 Publisher's Note What I like about short track racing April 2016 P.O. Box 22111 Racing According The sights and sounds on the track and in the stands St. Paul MN, 55122 can’t be beat a short track. One of my favorite 651-451-4036 to Plan sayings is you can’t make this stuff up. You can look www.theracingconnection.com at the line up of a race before it starts, and try to predict what’s going to happen. Sometimes your Publisher predictions are right, but most times one little bobble Dan Plan causes the outcome to be entirely different than Contributing Writers predicted. The same goes with the fans. Listening to Shane Carlson the reaction of the fans is also entirely unpredictable. Dale P. Danielski What you might think is just a racing incident might Kris Peterson cause a totally different reaction depending on where Jacklyn Daniels-Nuttleman you sit in the stands. I’ve even seen a husband and Jason Searcy wife have totally different views of the same incident. Dean Reller Charlie Spry The drivers at a short track are generally very approachable. Unlike the “Big Leagues” all you have Photographers Dan Plan Jimmy Ambruoso (815-623-3200) to do is walk up to somebody and ask them a question. Rick Blewett (507-398-9483) No media center requirements or fines for saying Martin DeFries (651-346-1199) I touched on the topic in the headline of this column a something that’s on your mind is a good thing. Doug Hornickel (920-563-0993) Sometimes, it’s best to leave somebody alone on a bad Tom Johnson (612-309-7142) bit in my March column, following my trip to the 2016 Mark Melchiori (414-463-0131) version of Speedweeks. I figured this would be night. Trying to get a quote from somebody that’s Stan Meissner (651-428-4717) another opportunity to explain why short track racing doing this as a hobby isn’t going to gain me a Pulitzer Jacy Norgaard (612-432-9113) has been one of my favorite activities for most of my prize. If somebody looks pissed, and doesn’t want to Bruce Nuttleman(612-860-6622) life. talk, that’s fine by me. Jerry Zimmer (715-792-2174) The Midwest Racing Connection is published six times In my opinion, you simply can’t top the action on a Heck, even most track owners and officials too. I’m during the summer racing season by The Plan Company, track one-half mile in length or less. One can only pretty sure most mainstream “journalist” couldn’t call Inc. All material is copyrighted 2016 and may not be imagine how popular NASCAR would still be if they a top NASCAR driver or BZF on a Wednesday night reprinted without permission. Subscriptions are $20 for six issues. Call 651-451-4036. added a bunch of Bristol/Martinsville/Richmond type to chat. On the other hand, I’ve been lucky enough to have a few people in the sport that are nice enough to tracks instead of all of the 1.5 mile tracks. I know I Cover photos by: Getty Images/NASCAR, Dan Plan, take my call and always take the time to talk with me. wouldn’t fall asleep every Sunday afternoon. Dale P. Danielski and Bruce Nuttleman The concessions at most short tracks are fairly priced The show at a short track typically isn’t too long. I say Member of the NMPA in my mind. Believe it or not, I actually like race track typically, because I’ve been to a few that had way too National Motorsports Press Association food. I miss the roast beef sandwiches at Cedar Lake, many divisions and went on way too long. I’ve always but the Sloppy Joes are pretty tasty. Lacrosse liked when a show wraps up and your thoughts are Speedway doesn’t offer just regular popcorn; they have Gourmet popcorn and homemade caramel corn at their concession stand. continued on page 5 AIRPORT SERVICE - CALL 24 HOURS *Time Calls - Appointments DISCOUNT TAXI FOR TRANSPORTATION Toll Free 1-888-240-8294 612-723-5500 www.discounttaxiracing.com April 2016 Page 4 The Midwest Racing Connection Directory Page Downtown Shakopee 952-445-9668 Hillside Drywall Shakopee, MN 612-812-0278 www.araceworthwinning.org Red Wing, MN RaceFab 1-800-634-9666 3BDJOH1BSUTt$VTUPN.FUBM'BCSJDBUJPO La Crosse, WI Daniel Navrestad www.wilsonoilcompany.com www.dcaracefab.com Tel: 608.781.3929 Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube www.facbook.com/themidwestracingconnection www.twitter.com/MidwestRace wwww.youtube.com/theracingconnection Page 5 April 2016 Racing According to Plan from page 3 “wow, I can’t wait to come back next week,” versus thinking “is this show ever going to end.” I grew up reading the racing papers and magazines that were available when I was a kid (Checkered Flag Racing News and Stock Car Racing Magazine.) It seemed that every year there was always a columnist in either publication that would mention the after race activities of legendary drivers like Dick Trickle or Richie Evans. I wasn’t old enough to hang out with these drivers in their prime, but the stories always left me with a smile. I can’t thank the people enough that have let me be part of their inner circle during the after race activities. It makes me feel like I’m re-living the Trickle and Evans activities first hand, and that my friend is pretty damn cool. With all this in mind, I’m ready for the season to kick off here in the upper- Midwest early in the month of April. Make sure to get a copy of our first print issue in May as we celebrate the 20th year of The Midwest Racing Connection Miscellaneous news & Notes: While I’m on the topic of good things, the following item was one of the best uses of social media I’ve seen in some time. During the early part of 2016, many people were posting 10 photos in 10 days on Facebook. I have to tell you, this idea made my newsfeed on Facebook the most enjoyable it has ever been since I joined Facebook. A ton of great old photos and stories where shared. This idea also brought out many people that rarely post on Facebook to share some of their racing history. Whoever came up with this idea should receive an award of some sort. And finally, the quote of the month goes back to February in Florida. A promoter (that shall rename nameless) was asked if it’s difficult to address drivers that are upset. The promoter stated; “The drivers aren’t the problem. It’s usually their wives or crew members that start the trouble.” There you go drivers, just another example that the promoters are on your side. April 2016 Page 6 Page 7 April 2016 Going in Saying Goodbye To An Old Friend Circles Charlie Spry Dan Plan photo As I write this column, I think about the loss of another great short track venue in the Midwest, track was briefly named “Red Bud Speedway,” which first race in a four cylinder stock car. This is Wisconsin’s Columbus 151 Speedway. The track didn’t last long, as it soon went back to being something that you never forget. property was recently sold to a Madison college to be Columbus 151 Speedway. used for police training. I forged many great friendships with fellow racers My first time ever there as a spectator was back in there, and as a “writer” I made many more. I can’t The track was first opened in 1955. Playing host to the about 1969 or 1970 as a child, then not again until the think of anyone who ever refused to take the time to ever popular Milwaukee area modified stock cars, but early 1980’s. It soon became a regular attraction for chat with me in this capacity there. I will always joined in with the trend of pavement racing in the mid- me, with the limited late models headlining. This was remember the Weishoff Racing Team giving me the 1960’s, becoming a paved quarter mile track with late also where I did most of my racing, as I really enjoyed traditional can of soda every Friday night that I cruised model stock cars soon headlining. the tight quarter-mile track. Get right up against the the pits. wall on the straights and dive down low in the corners The track had some good years and some bad ones all were the way to turn good laps. If you dusted off the The Moore family always treated me with respect and throughout its existence. Even closing a couple of marbles on the back straight, you were making the kindness. I also brought several different friends with different times, but never for very long. In 1976 the most of the track. This is also where I won my very me to the track, and all had good things to say about it. Wayne Hook operated the pit gate, and he was one of the most personable people you could ever meet. The perfect person for the job. Wayne also raced backup cars at the end of the night, even as he was approaching seventy years of age. That was another thing unique about the track.