I am thankful By: Jody Shannon

Posted Jody Shannon on November 22nd, 2007 | Filed under Articles, Commentary, Jody Shannon, The DRC

Today is the day that Americans sit down and give thanks for what they have in life. There is plenty to be happy about in the world of Dirt Racing, here are some of the things floating through my mind today.

I am thankful for: The one dollar McDonald’s menu. You were a savior when I was in Concord! If wasn’t for you I would have been forced to purchase one of the seven dollar sandwiches at Lowes Motor Speedway I am thankful for: Hilltop Speedway! The racing there is nothing short of amazing and the track is fan friendly. Hilltop has the best surface I have ever seen at a race track. The Amish built grandstands are very comfortable and accommodating. Everyone needs to mark their calendars for 5/30/08 for the Lucas Oil race; I guarantee it will be UNREAL.

I am thankful for: “The General” George Lee. ALL HAIL THE GENERAL! If you’re not familiar with “The General” check out this video, he is in the red #21: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0bJEWzravE

I am thankful for: Tyler County Speedway. Many people bash the place for being old and rustic, but that is just part of the mystique for me. While it may be a tad dusty at times, the racing is fantastic, two and three grooves all night long. The local contingent of racers is very stout and capable of beating the touring drivers when they pull into town. An excellent race track and symbolic of what dirt racing is and should be. The one down fall to the place is the smell of fish that is emitted from the famous Tyler County Fish Sandwiches. I am not a fan of anything that comes from the water, except for “The Silver Shark” of course.

I am thankful for: Chuckie May purchasing 201 Speedway. If they ever find a place to park the legions of rowdy hillbillies that pack the hillside, this place could host a World 100 size event. The view from the mountains is unbelievable and one of the best in all of racing. Chuckie knows how to properly prep a racing surface and it shows, as the race track is nearly the same from qualifying to feature time. You can take ANYTHING into 201! Kegs, grills, couches… I saw a bit of everything. If you do decide to drink at 201, do is sensibly, it’s not hard to fall down the side of one of those mountains! Trust me, I done it.

I am thankful for: Challenger Raceway’s formats. Challenger Raceway is keeping it real and I want to personally thank Jack Lentz and staff for giving race fans such a bang for their buck. In an era of promoters afraid to go out on a limb, Challenger continues to raise the bar by running a very fan friendly format and consolidating the support class rules, allowing more drivers to race at their mega events. My only wish is they would open up and run a few more times a year. It’s awful hard for me to get out that way, considering it’s somewhere around seven or eight hours away, but Fall Fest 2008 is on my wish list of races I wanna attend.

I am thankful for: Cherokee Speedway. “The place your momma warned you about” is the place I suggest you check out sometime. Lennie Buff and staff showed some great hospitality and were very cordial. I have never seen a night race there, but the two day races I seen was very good. The surface had a cushion both days, and was surprisingly racy. Concession stand prices were very fair and the announcer is great! At the Blue/Grey 100, I ordered two slices of pizza and a coke. The lady at the window handed me three slices and charged $5 total for everything. Maybe it was my stunning good looks, or maybe it was Cherokee treating their fans with respect and showing they appreciate us… I guess I will never know

I am thankful for: The IRS Series and Dean Miracle. Initially I was very skeptical of this series, but I ended up traveling to almost all the events, and walked away with a great deal of respect for the staff and drivers. Aukland, Markham, Chinn, and Wilson all have different qualities and different styles of driving, and provided a great dynamic for the fans to watch on a weekly basis. Dean was very fair and impartial all season and the staff was very co-operative. My only beef with the series is the dash format awarding the overall fastest five drivers to make it through a heat, this allows guys to lay back in the heat races if they qualify good, and it penalizes guys who get a bad draw and go out in a later qualifying group. I wish they would go to a system of taking the fastest drivers from each group, as opposed to overall fastest qualifiers. I love the series and can’t wait to see what drivers join up next year, and what new venues they will be racing at.

I am thankful for: Fan appreciation night at PRP. Portsmouth Raceway Park has always done great promotions for their fans, and done a good job of rewarding their weekly crowd, but they stepped their game up in 2007. $5 admission to all fans in attendance! The place was absolutely packed and over flowing with race fans. Standing in line at the concession stand, I got to listening to the group of people behind me, and it was their first ever race, so not only did this promotion bring established race fans it hopefully brought in some new diehards. I see they have tentatively scheduled this race again for June 28th of 2008. Hope they get another record turn out.

I am thankful for: The Heritage 101 being changed to a Modified race. This had to been the best move of 2007. After many years of struggling as a Late Model race, the Heritage 101 found a new life as an AMRA Modfied Crown Jewel. A record car count and spectacular racing greeted all the fans who made their way to Brushcreek Motorsports Complex, and while many went in missing the Late Models, I am sure most forgot all about them by the time the checker flag flew. Steve “Eh” Arpin, “The Jedi” Jerry Bowersock, Dave Hess, Kenny Johnson and Jeff Harris all put on a show, This race put most but not all the Late Model shows I seen this year to shame, with Arpin taking home the trophy and a new Harley Davidson. My only hope is this race gains some steam, and with the good reviews it got, brings in even more modfied’s to the wicked fast crick.

I am thankful for: The Hall of fame café. The best food in all of racing comes from East Bay Raceway Park, hands down. Nothing like sitting in the air conditioning, eating ice cream while boring ass qualifying takes place on the track. Now all they need is an onside bar next door and it would be the perfect race track.

I am thankful for: Josh McGuire, Jason Jameson, and Wayne Chinn. These guys are the future of stock car racing in my region. All of them have a different style and are fun to watch. One thing is consistent about all three of these drivers; they need more backing so they can take their show on the road. I feel sorry for fans in other regions who don’t get to see just how exciting these guys can be, and I hope one day they find the funding to take them on a Lucas/WoO type schedule.

I am thankful for: Flying J truck stops! Man I love these places. Where else can you get dinner, buy a shot glass, take a shower, play video games, and then take a nap while watching television? I have spent countless hours at the Flying J’s all across America this year and they almost feel like a second home to me now. I spent so much time at Flying J in Tampa this year the cashier’s all knew me by name. I don’t know rather that’s a good thing, or a sign I have no life.

I am thankful for: The Coors light booth at Eldora Speedway. It is very convenient to get beer at this stand. Hardly anyone in line and the prices are great. Walking up there, not standing in line and walking away looking at fifty people waiting for a beer at the bar… THATS GREAT!

I am thankful for: The T3G. What is Eldora without these folks? Tony Stewart should pay these guys for the fun and entertainment they bring to the “Big E.” Screw Coca-Cola, the double bubble should be the tracks official drink.

I am thankful for: Alex Ferree. This dude is a wild man and always entertaining to watch. He gives it his all every time he is on the race track and backs down from no one. Hope to see this dude race more in 08′.

I am thankful for: Oakshade Raceway’s diligence and commitment to race fans. I was at the Birthday race and finale to the UMP Summer Nationals. It rained like a SOB, a straight downpour for several hours. Discouraged and soaked I thought I would be going home early without seeing a race at a track I had been anticipating for years. But then in the distance I heard “I can see clearly now the rain is gone” start playing over the PA. People gathered in the parking lot and no one went home. Talking to the locals they assured me that I would see racing even if it was to finish the following morning. After hours of working their ass off on the track, the push trucks left the surface and fans were treated to what might be the best race I seen last year. Oakshade Raceway and its fans are truly hardcore!

These are just a few things that came into my mind as I sit here today. But…

Most of all I am thankful for everyone who visits this site and helps contribute. When thinking back to some of my former associates in this racing thing, I can’t help but be thankful I have moved on and got away from some of the sell outs, and liars that surrounded me in the past. Many people have made this site possible, from the most dangerous man in dirt Barry Braun to Chinn Motorsports for allowing me to tag along and see many new tracks in 2007. Nothing would be possible without the great core of people involved with this website, Emily Franklin, Eric Arnett, Gary Boggan, John Sullivan, and Chad Wells have been an invaluable help to this point, and I thank each and every one of them. I hope this site will be bigger and better come this time next year and we have even more people, and things to be thankful for.

A thousand thank yous,

Jody Shannon - Founder - The DRC