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Clinton County Speedway Roger and Trish Eriksen A poet, an author much more articulate than I, once wrote, “Horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies only glow. As I headed out from home toward the Clinton County Speedway, Kentucky’s super track, last Friday evening, June 9, I thought, “I must be a horse!” The temperature was 95 degrees and it wasn’t perspiration on my brow, it was sweat! Fortunately, by race time the sun had set and a somewhat cool breeze had begun to blow. There must have been something in the water that owner, Tommy Craig, placed on the racetrack, or perhaps it was the way we drivers rolled it in, because we had two new qualifying records set last Friday evening. Don Adams, driving his blue and white Lightning Chassis special number 1 car, set a new track qualifying record in the Open Wheel division. He turned the track in 13.15 seconds. Don’s time broke the old record held by last year’s UMP National Champion, Ricky Arms. Scott Shelton, driving the number 3M car, set a new one lap qualifying record in the Chevette division. He turned the track in 15.46 seconds. Scott reclaimed this record after a short term as second fastest. Our congratulations to both Don Adams and Scott Shelton. Dwight Chitwood, driving his number 203 car, held off Don Adams to win the Open Wheel Trophy Dash. Jeff Cotterman, finished 3rd driving his number 28 car. This race “jump started” the evening’s program. Before going any further, let me remind everyone that next Friday evening, July 16, the Open Wheel division of the Battle of the Bluegrass will race at the Clinton County Speedway, Kentucky’s super track. You can expect to see some of the best drivers in the country compete right in your own back yard. The list of drivers should include: Qualifying record holder, Don Adams, along with last year’s UMP national champion and super track champion, Ricky Arms, last year’s 2nd place super track runner-up, Leonard Pierce, along with other outstanding drivers such as, Hank Bradley, Kelly Warren, Anthony Reams, and Allen Mathews. If you don’t have time to fix supper, or, you just don’t feel like fixing it, plan on eating here at the super track. If you have never eaten here at the super track, I think you’re in for a very pleasant surprise. The Road Hog’s fast qualifier, Tommy Hargis, sat on the pole in his number 17 car to start the Trophy Dash. Tommy didn’t waste any time establishing the lead and then taking the checkered flag. Scott Hutchinson drove the BP93 car to a 2nd place finish. For a guy who hasn’t been in a stockcar since last year, Scott drove one heck of a race. Yours truly finished 3rd, and Tim Frost, driving his number 28 car, finished 4th. It didn’t take Tim very long before he put his new car into the dash. Congratulations, Tim! Qualifying record holder, Scott Shelton, won the Chevette Trophy Dash. Monticello’s Jamie Burke, driving his number 28 car, finished 2nd, Tommy Craig, in his number 97 car, finished 3rd, and Tony Radford in car 29T finished 4th. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, the Trophy Dash is a short, six-lap race between the fastest qualifying four to six cars in their class. The driver’s order of finish in the dash determines their starting position for the feature race. Hence, there is usually plenty of fast action in the dashes. Clifton Dobbs, in car 74, held off John Ridener, in car J14, to win the Open Wheel Heat Race. Roy Chumbley, in car D3, finished 3rd. As with the Trophy Dash, the drivers finishing position in the heat race determines their starting position in the feature race. However, they are placed behind the Trophy Dash cars. Barton Williams, the regular driver of Road Hog BP93, arrived at the super track too late to qualify; therefore, he had to start the heat race at the tail end. Barton took to the high groove and within only about three laps he took the lead and ultimately the checkered flag. Barton continues to be one of the smoothest drivers at the super track, regardless of class. Joseph Patrick, in car 53, finished 2nd. After NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon won a couple of big speedway races, the late Dale Earnhardt referred to him as, “Boy wonder.” I’m not for sure if that remark was intended to be fully complimentary. Just so there is no doubt in anyone’s mind, I consider twelve year old, Joseph Patrick, to be a very talented young man and I think he has a bright future in auto racing. Jack Green, in car 48, finished 3rd, and Ryan Hargis, in car number 1, finished 4th. Janet Beck drove her front wheel drive car number 01 to victory in the Chevette Heat Race. After winning the race, Janet held the checkered flag and drove a lap holding it high. Janet finished ahead of Steve Burns, in car 8R, and Dewayne Garner, in car 99. Both Steve and Dewayne are experienced, excellent drivers; therefore, Janet’s victory was solid to the core. Our congratulations, Janet, may your victory be the first of many. Don Adams had the fastest car at the speedway and he displayed that fact by winning the Open Wheel feature race. Dwight Chitwood, who ordinarily has one of the fastest cars at the super track, finished 2nd. Dwight just could not match Don’s mid-corner speed. When a car runs fast in mid-corner, it runs fast everywhere on the speedway. Jeff Cotterman, in car 28, finished 3rd, and Tommy Bailey, in car 11, finished 4th. Tommy Hargis sat on the pole to start the Road Hog feature race. As with the Trophy Dash, Tommy wasted no time establishing himself as the leader. As I watched Tommy pull away my thought was, “color him gone.” For Tommy, it was a well-deserved victory. Tommy and crew have had more than their share of problems this season. It seems that every time they fix one problem, another “pops up.” Hopefully, the worst is over and they can race without further problems. Barton Williams passed me for 2nd place, Tim Frost finished 4th, and that very able young man, Joseph Patrick, finished 5th. Scott Shelton made it a perfect night by winning the Chevette feature race. As with the Trophy Dash, Jamie Burke finished 2nd. After the race, Jamie expressed his frustration to me regarding his 2nd place finishes. Stick with it Jamie, you have what it takes. It will just take a little time to fully develop into a champion. Tony Radford finished 3rd, young Tommy Craig, in car 97, finished 4th, and Steve Burns finished 5th. This race concluded another super night of racing at the super track. Don’t forget that next Friday, July 16, the Open Wheel division of the Battle of the Bluegrass will be at the super track. Some of the best drivers in the country will “square off” for this 40-lap event. So get the family together, put them in the family bus, and come on down to the super track. Stockcar racing is clean, wholesome entertainment for the entire family. And please “click” your seat belt. Your family deserves the best. Till next Friday, take care, and we’ll see y’all at the super track. Nation’s largest firearm safety program to distribute free gun locks in Kentucky The National Safety Tour will be visiting Wayne County to provide free cable-style gunlocks and accompanying educational materials to local law enforcement as part of the Project ChildSafe program This tour will be conducted by a Project ChildSafe representative and the local law enforcement agency. The safety tour will be held Wednesday, July 14 at the Monticello Police Department. The National Shooting Sports Foundation has partnered with local law enforcement to distribute more than 370,000 free gun locks in Kentucky as part of the National Project ChildSafe (PCS) initiative. PCS is designed to help make homes with firearms safer by raising awareness about responsible firearm ownership and storage. An expansion of NSSF’s Project HomeSafe, Project ChildSafe is funded by a $50 million dollar grant from the Department of Justice and will provide nearly 20 million free gunlocks and firearm safety educational materials to families in all 50 states, the five U.S. territories and District of Columbia. In 2002, Project HomeSafe succeeded in distributing 2.4 million safety kits to 44 states and has significantly raised awareness of firearms safety and responsibility. “We are proud to say that, since its grassrouts beginning in 1999, Project HomeSafe became the largest, most comprehensive firearms safety education program in the nation thanks to the enthusiastic support from high-ranking government officials and law enforcement departments in communities across America,” said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. A PCS representative will drop off the cable style gunlocks and educational materials at each department to then be distributed throughout each community by the local law entorcement For further information, please visit the Web site at www.projectchildsafe.org Add a comment |
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