So here we are (at least so the schedule says… don’t get wise Mutha Nature, we’re chompin’ at the bit here)… so close to opening weekend. And this time ’round I’m all Thanksgiving style thinking about how fortunate we are to have our 2008 season. I mean, how ’bout the Wall Stadium contingent?? As sad as I was to hear another track in the Northeast with a long history was closing, I feel even worse for all the race teams that spent money during the off-season to race there weekly, only to hear a month before the season was ‘spose to start that the gig was up. It’s not that bad ’round here, so be thankful for what we have…
Can’t say I have the slightest clue what the hell is going on between Terry, Jerry, Daryl and their other brother Daryl, and I’m sure that story will resurface during the season, and we can debate it then. But for now, it’s time to make the best with what we got… and we definitely got some things going on, so lemme drop some shout outs:
Billy Roberts back in the mix, now on the management side. And I’ll be honest, it took some time to get things moving, but over the last few weeks, he’s been great to work with for my weekly adventures. Plus, I like some of the ideas he shared on Danko’s show last week – like moving Victory Lane back to the frontstretch and selecting a random fan to present the feature winners’ trophies. And I definitely have to echo the praise for Dave Dykes as he really did a tremendous job with the driver interview and quotes over the last 2 months on the website. Harraka and Fox should be a good show… as I’ve said for some time now, things just need to get better each year. Not sure if that was the case last year, but it needs to be this time around.
The Vault Report is pretty much set – and it’ll be bigger and better than ever. Learned alot last year, and even though I still have no idea what I’m doing with some of this stuff, doing the program is actually alotta fun. I’m actually excited to make my first rounds thru the pits to see how everyone’s doing… actually looking forward to Coby’s Paper Boy taunts.
Speaking o’ this guy… Coby gettin’ some hype this year… and well deserved – for all our verbal abuse over the years, Coby’s a great dude and can definitely wheel a mod. I think he’ll be a factor in the SK 150… if he isn’t, I get to make more fun of him, so it’s win-win as I see it.
And the SK 150 during the Modified Nationals is really becoming what was originally intended back when Terry, Tony and Pete put this bad-boy together in 1997. I think it is ha-UGE that Jimmy Blewett and Matt Hirschman make it part of their busy schedules as I believe they are the 2 with the longest travel. To have Summers, Coby, Pitkat, Ruocco, Horton and Malave make it to the ‘bowl to battle it out with our crafty SK squad is freakin’ awesome for the track. It’s unreasonable to ask these guys to run here weekly, but to have them recognize this event as one they wanna make during their traveling schedules is really good thing for the Speedbowl. I hope the race lives up to the hype.
As for the SK’s this season – to me, it’s still about the Big 4. With Fox out this year, it’s now made up of Dennis, JP, Rob and the returning Ronnie U. Without lookin, I believe they are the 4 active drivers with the most SK Mod wins at the ‘bowl. I think they’re the front runners for the title, but I’ll get back to my pick later. I hope the young gun troop makes some noise this year – specifically JP Jr and Tyler Chadwick. I think they’ll be workin’ the trophies this year. Charette, Diego, Jay Miller… plus ya got that old school troop like Donnie Fowler and Frankie Mooch… And of course, my man Wendell Dailey…. dude, I’m tellin’ ya, if Wendell throws down a win I’ll freakin’ lose my mind.
But it’s the Late Models I’m really jammed up about. I wanna see Timmy & Bruce battle it out each week. We’ve had 2 straight dominate seasons – one by each of them – so it could be a great championship battle… Not that they’re the only 2 – Eddie & Larry will be back, Coates apparently too (although not in the opener) and the regular players.. I hope for 20 car average, at least never below 15, and I’ll be happy… a little better each year, right??
Stone Cold seems to be the favorite in the Sportsman, but that doesn’t mean the title’s his. I remember the year after ‘chard battled it out with Glen Colvin and Timmy Stock in the Minis, Rich got all the hype when Glen and Timmy moved up, but then Danny Boy came on strong for 2 years straight when he was never a championship contender previously – so ya never know. It’ll be good to see Puglisi back in his own 43. I hope Dwayne Wayne makes some cameos too… and of course, I expect Our Boy Lajoie to appear sometime in June or so… I almost hope he doesn’t have new tin, like his trademark to have all the battle wounds from years past on that bad-boy… and is Ted Dupre really coming back or what??? I’ve seen a preseason blurb about him for the last couple o’ years, but yet to see the #59 back on track…
Minis… ah, I love the minis I tell ya… Kinda bummed Joey Trips will be MIA, but he’s going to the Army to defend our county so I’ll let him slide, I guess! Kenny Jr is back to defend his title, Miller will be back behind the wheel, Evans back too, in Godbout’s old car, heard rumblings about Colvin’s return too, Sylvia back in the mix as well as Bill Leonard, so it should be another stellar season for the 4-bangers… Some day ‘chard’s hiatus has gotta end but for now, these dudes still get me all fired up.
Legends will be missing the Buck-EYE Boys from weekly competition, but I hope they’ll mix in some cameos along the way. Gervais and Palmer both back I believe…
So since I started the lamest Pick Em title defense by forgettin’ to make the IceBreaker pics, I’ll throw out some meaningless Track Champion predicitions:
SK MODIFIEDS – although admittedly not a point chaser, give me a consistent JP holding off wins co-leaders Rob and Dennis, the latter thus having to put off retirement yet again
LATE MODELS – Da House Ronnie U in the Sangermano special with 5 drivers alive for title during Finale (Bruce, Timmy, Eddie and Macrino). Could somewhat squash those hideous Drop-2 season flashbacks
SPORTSMANS – Stone Cold opens a can o’ whoop-ass
MINI STOCKS – I think could be a serious championship race. I think any of these dudes could… could be fast and consistent over the season: Evans, Kenny, Miller, Sylvia, Leonard… even Colvin if he runs weekly, but I’ll take the upset special Champion Randy Jr
LEGEND CARS – Jason Palmer to join pops Jaggs, Chris Pasteryak and Mark Buck-EYE as Sat & Wed Legend champs
OFF-SEASON FORUM SHOCKER
Family Section Menace / Team 47 spotter Chris Burton finally growin’ a set and gettin’ a jp.com profile. Even showed me up by making Thompson IceBreaker pics… All’s it takes is one week when the LM run first and by the last feature Paul the Speedbowl guy will be all up in his grill about the rowdiness… can’t friggin’ wait, man
So that’ll about do til we can gather at the track… it’ll be great to see everyone again. I really hope the SK 150 is a great, great race this year. I can’t wait until I get out of the car on Saturday and hear the cars on the track for the first time… Not sure which Saturday that’ll be yet (seriously, Mutha Nature, don’t get wise!), but I’m freakin’ ready suckas!!!
Rest in Peace Shane Hammonds – you’ll be missed this weekend!
See ya then people
Sid