Ninety-Five cars checked into the pits at I-35 Speedway on Saturday, June 9 to put on a great show for the super race fans who came out to enjoy all the fun racing has to offer. As I was making my travels I heard numerous fans choosing who they thought when a particular race. I even got to visit with former asphalt racers Erich Hamdorf and Shane Dawe and reminded them of the July 21 asphalt racers reunion. What is even more exciting is to see all the youth at the track from those who are still playing with their toy race cars to those practicing flagging following Official Starter Bob Reber’s lead to those obviously on a date. Car counts, and fan counts are climbing. Our Facebook comment of the week comes from Eric D Henry Sr. “AWESOME time last night loved no wait between races”.
Summer is here and of course that creates new challenges at I-35 Speedway. For example, the track requires more water which means starting the process of watering earlier on race day. Add in a wind and the track will dry quicker. Fortunately, we are blessed with the Mike and Mike tag team water crew. Summer brings warmer temperatures and, fortunately, our grandstands are in the shade.
What great racing this past weekend. Congratulations to Austin Johnson holding off veteran Mark Dotson to claim his first USRA A Modified feature. For twenty laps and a green white checkered finish after a late caution Johnson held off one of the best in the business to ever drive a Modified. Something new was introduced this week at the track, for those classes that go green to checkered in the feature the following week they will receive two free drinks at the Trackside Bar and Grill.
This week promises to be busy as the 2nd Annual Gary Davis Memorial is being held at I-35 Speedway for the Stock Cars. Gary Davis is a former racer on both dirt and asphalt. He was the 1988 Rookie of the Year at the original Lakeside Speedway located where the Woodlands Horse track now sits. I was fortunate to race with Gary and hire him as an official upon his retirement from driving. So see you at the racetrack this Saturday, June 16. The next week is the 7th Annual Racin for Rian. More fun all month. See you at the track!
