Fan Thoughts

Tailgating

Racing World is proud to "branch out" to, once again, get in contact with the "grass-roots" race fans. We are going to produce up to ten "Tailgate Programs" which is designed to promote some "special races" at Eldora Speedway, Millstream Speedway, Limaland Speedway, Fremont Speedway and Attica Raceway Park. The emphasis will center on interviews with racing fans who are passionate about the sport and want to display their support for their favorite race team. Race drivers will be asked to come for special interviews while the music will feature some the best sport jams to "pump up the volume" for a great night of racing. This again, is all designed for the fan's whose interviews will be replayed during Racing World on WFIN 1330 AM from ten till noon each Saturday. We will have a full sound system featuring Racing World host Dwight Allen and DJ Ryan Bush along with reporters John Wells and Lisa Hammer. Photographer Larry Reece will be documenting the event with some great shots of the interviews to be seen later on our Racing World web site. So plan to come to the race track just a little early and be a part of Racing World where you can be a part of the show! The Tailgate Show will start around 5 o'clock and last until the beginning of time trails. So join us and enjoy the sport with us!

A Racing World Perspective...Dwight Allen - Host/Founder
I started Racing World on WFIN over ten years ago. Many people ask me why I took on such an adventure and the answer is really quite simple. I had a "part time" job in high school in the Clinton Auto Supply store in my home town of Clinton, Illinois and consequently met many of the local race car drivers running at such places as the Farmer City Speedway in Farmer City, Illinois and at the Macon County Speedway just outside Decatur, Illinois. I soon got to know the popular drivers '"Rosie" Roteman and "Tiger" Snow and I was hooked ON DIRT TRACK RACING! I eventually got to know every "shade tree" mechanic in central Illinois who played around with these race cares which became some of my best friends. I, from that time on, really developed a love for the sport and the guys who "strapped into these race cars".

So when I first became a part of WFIN Radio Sports Staff in Findlay, Ohio... the first thing I asked General Manager Sandy Kozlevcar (sp) and her staff was..."Do you have a racing show"? I found out that they had never even thought about having such a show so I knew I had to develop the resources to make such a program a reality. During the next ten years the show has grown to one of the most highly rated shows on local radio. It starts at ten and ends at noon each Saturday.

The thing that has made it go is the cooperation of people like promoter Rex Le June of Attica Raceway Park. Yet, I still remember sitting down with Attica Promoter Gene Frankert many years ago at a restaurant in Tiffin where he gave me the encouragement to give Racing World it a try. Gene has always been a special friend ever since and believe he is one the best "racing minds" in the area....particularly as it pertains to preparing the race track for competition. Then Racing World hooked with Fremont Speedway and Bryan Liski when the Fords owned the race track. Bryan is the knowledgeable voice for both Attica Raceway Park and Fremont and was a welcome addition to the program. Then came Larry Kemp of the Eldora Speedway prefaced by the legendary figure of the "Big E" Larry Boos and suddenly we were having dialogue with one of the most exciting tracks in America owned by the one and only Tony Stewart. Other race tracks have cooperated to play a part on Racing World like Mansfield, Limaland, Waynesfield and many others all which contribute the show. We are so thankful for the cooperation of so many people which allows Racing World to produce two solid hours of racing news from NASCAR to ARCA to USAC. to the world of sprint cars, late models and Indy Cars.

Some of our special guests have been Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Joe Gibbs, Chris Economaki, Donnie Moran, Steve Francis, Red Farmer, Sam Hornish, Kyle Petty, writer Dave Augabright plus local drivers like Byron Reed, Craig Wilson and Lee Jacobs... and we thank them all, once again, for their cooperation!

So we invite you to join us each Saturday to take an exciting trip around the world of racing in a rather "smorgasbord approach" It Is, informative, enlightening and entertaining with knowledgeable "bench racers" like John Wells, Larry Reece, Lisa Hammer and Tim Clegg to make it the fastest two hours on radio.

One of the bye lines of the show has always been, "Hey keep turning left...and stay out of trouble.... and Hey Craig Wilson hasn't quit...so don't you quit Ok...at least not today!...climaxed by "God's Speed Everybody"!

RRacing is Coming Soon!

Well when the racers start for the Florida run...you know it won't be long until we smell methanol again! As we start another season... just some random thoughts as we wait for the checked flag drop at Attica Raceway Park.

1. Discussion Question... I am concerned how racing will be affected if Washington starts to tax those small businesses that have an income of $250,000...which is the heart of sprint car racing...give me your thoughts to be used on Racing World! Send me a email...I am interested in what the race fan thinks!

2. We will continue to reach out to race fans by continuing our Race Nites with Larry Reese/Lisa Hammer which was so well received last year. It will be held again this year in Fremont, Findlay, Tiffin, Lima etc. We want to make the drivers accessible to the fans in an atmosphere where there is no competition or interference of any kind. Pictures taken by Larry at these events will be posted on my web site and the interviews will heard on Racing World between ten and noon! We need your cooperation by inviting your friends to these Race Nites... to get them "hooked on racing"... that will benefit all the race tracks in northwest Ohio.

3. One of my "past concerns" is how we prepare race fans for a night of racing. I recently attended a NFL Football game featuring the Detroit Lions and the Arizona Cardinals. They started their "pregame promo" a hour and a half before kickoff. I have always thought this is a prime time for promoting and teaching the fans about the sport. Racing World's Ryan Bush will try to organize a WFIN Radio Booth for pre-race interviews, autograph sessions and asking fans to do some "bench racing" with us before the "time trials". New fans need to appreciate the sport which is "more caught than taught"... I mean by that... they need to get into the spirit of things before racing guru's start explaining the many facets of racing! We need the fans to show up and "set the tone" for the best dirt track racing in the country! Ralph Waldo Emerson once stated."Nothing great has ever been established without great enthusiasm! These pre-race festivities again... will be done before the marquee events this year at Attica, Fremont, Limaland and Eldora! More details later!

4. Someone said "Correction does much but encouragement does much more"! I believe we as fans need to be more animated!! When an announcer, like Brian Liskai, ends a interview with the winner...we need more noise to let the drivers really know we appreciate all the time and talent they have invested to make these race cars go. We need more clapping, more stomping, more noise makers, somebody "blasting away" on a trumpet..raising the noise level... showing we that we have "the spirit" to make racing successful as we compete with so many other forms of entertainment. We need to learn how to compete for the entertainment dollar that will be strained more than ever this year when the economy is less than what we would like it to be...

5. And Just one MORE thing...if you are an avid fan of some race car driver...BUT THEIR STINKING MERCHANDISE, the stands should be a literal "color-fest" reflecting the various colors on the cars themselves. I mean buy that stuff the first night of racing and WEAR IT! When I go to see the Cleveland Browns play...the stands are a sea of Brown....when I go to Detroit a sea of blue! Let's go for it this summer fans...you guys "make the difference" whether this going to be a good summer or a "so-so summer"...by how you bring your friends...by the enthusiasm you show...by the colors you wear! You always make the difference..so get reved up...and let's go racing!

My Best to the many drivers as you prepare for this season of racing..."Keep turning left and stay out of trouble"....because it is ALWAYS "FUN TO WATCH YOU RUN"!

Greetings All Racing Fans!
I can't believe that we are wrapping up yet another year of racing! Because it is Thanksgiving...I thought I would write a "thank you note" to some of those who have helped me with Racing World. I first want to thank all the race fans who listen to Racing World each week. It is quite humbling that you have been so faithful in tuning in for so many years! You are the secret to the success that racing, in general, has experienced the past summer in northwest Ohio and... I trust we never take you for granted. Racing World's Arbitron rating still is in number one slot for radio programming in our area between 10 and Noon! We are thankful for the reported thousands who listen in on WFIN each Saturday and the hundreds who catch us on WFIN.com! We are so grateful and thankful! I want to thank John Wells for all his reports from all across the country...it gives the program the needed variety that is needed to give each program a "life of its own" in that you never know quite what to expect when you listen to this program that is now approaching 15 years of broadcasting. I want to thank Lisa Hammer for bringing in the "feminine touch" with so many interviews that emphasize the growing role of women in our sport! She has been such a boost to the program! Then...I want to thank Larry Reese for organizing all the Race Nites that we have done the last year. He has done such a nice job! I love his effort because it really gets me, as host, acquainted with all the "grass roots" racers who may not frequent "victory lane" but yet they are the reason this sport keeps going! The picture gallery on this web site is unique primarily because of Larry's effort and talent. Also...I want to thank all the drivers who have given me so many interviews through the years and have been so gracious about it I want thank all my sponsors who "pay the freight" so that we can do all that we do to promote, promote, promote the sport of Sprint Car racing that we all love and enjoy! Finally... thanks goes to WFIN who "turned me loose" when I initially suggested doing a racing show...they have been so patient with me which I so appreciate Thanks everybody and have an enjoyable Thanksgiving as you remember "Gratitude is the best attitude"!

"Keep Turning Left...and stay out of trouble"!

Dwight Allen
Host of Racing World

As I seen it from the Press Box...
As we close out another racing season I was impressed with four young drivers that will rise to the top as their careers continue to blossom! I like 16 year old Cale Conley from the Carolina's...man has this kid got potential.. or what? He ran up front nearly every race I saw him in last summer. He is so good in the corners! He is a quiet kid who has a real "car jockey" build at about 5'4" and maybe 130 pounds but he has all the makings of being a real good sprint car diver someday soon. He reminds of a young Jeff Gordon who could very well be in NASCAR by the time he is 20. He is as good off the track as he is on the track and will be a good role model for all the youth to see...which we desperately need today!

Then second of all there is Caleb Helms which is a third generation driver! I don't know anybody who does not like this kid who are more than willing to give him a "helping hand"...from Mike Lindner to Greg Wilson to Chad Kemenaugh. They all want this kid to succeed and why not...he is so humble which is refreshing to see around the ole race track where ego's seem to abound. I will never forget when he and Cale "duked it out" at Eldora...Caleb was ahead of Cale but...try as he would...Cale could not get around his fellow 16 year old despite the fact that Helms has ever been on that track. Good kid ...with a Dad Shane as his top wrench... who cares!

Then their is couple of young ladies that impressed me. Jessica Zemken who raced recently at Eldora Speedway subbing for Dale Blaney/Hammons team! (nice gesture big guy!) She has done well with the World of Outlaws and Canada..caught Ron's eye and gazame there she is sitting in the blue 6 car. She is a superb interview with a nice personality and a vocabulary to match. This girl is so smooth both off and on the track. So....as I stationed myself at the base of turn one at Eldroa this lady had complete control of the car and was fascinating to see her adjust to Eldora for the first time. She was amazing...go get em girl!

And then the girl I have talked about so much on Racing World... Paige Polyak who was the first woman ever to win at Fremont! The thing I like about Paige is her background in sports! She has been a leader both in basketball and baseball at Fremont High School. She knows how to compete and will be a real credit to the racing in Northwest Ohio no matter where she runs. This is a kid you don't want to miss before she starts running weekends elsewhere. I love her spirit and her guts to run into the corner's...and to go side-by-side with anyone who gets in her path. She is going to be interesting to watch! She again is from Fremont which has put out so many quality sprint car divers...but this is the female to really get my attention...and again I say...go get 'em girl..."It's fun... to watch you run"!

Until Next time race fans...keep turning left...and stay out of trouble!

Your Racing World Host
Dwight Allen
PS Dont forget racing fans...Limaland Banquet October 17; Fremont Banquet November 21 and the Attica Banquet Novenber 28th,,,be there!

A Fan's Perspective - John Wells

Ever since the word came out that the great open-wheel civil war was over, we've heard analysis from all over the TV, newspapers, and magazines. But Racing World has always been more about the fan, so Dwight asked me to give you the fan's perspective on the recent unification of Indy-style racing. It sounded like a pretty easy assignment for such a dedicated fan of open-wheel racing as I.
Here's the problem – WHICH fans?

There are a lot of different types of fans that like Indy cars. Some of them still remember and love the roadsters of the '50's and '60's. For them, Vukovich, Sachs and Foyt will never be replaced. Others idolized Ayerton Senna and revere Formula 1 as the pinnacle of motorsports. Some of them wouldn't walk across the street to watch a road course race, while others think ovals are for those who don't care to learn how to drive.

The differences of opinion don't stop at drivers or tracks. We have high-tech vs keep-it-simple, all-American vs international, and beer & peanuts vs wine & cheese. Everyone is passionate about his or her favorites, but all these differences slice thin an already smallish pie of fans. And all the while, NASCAR fans continue to shake their heads in bemusement and disinterest, and their empire grows mightier.

But before you pass harsh judgment on the Indy car crowd, consider this… Most of you reading this are probably short track fans. We short track fans are famous for our passion and notorious for sometimes being a bit narrow-minded about what we like to watch.
What if… this coming season the promoters and sanctioning bodies decided that, due to struggling attendance and fan interest, we'll only have one race per weekend, with alternating tracks and classes of cars. On opening weekend, we'll watch 410 winged sprints at Attica, followed the next week by USAC midgets at Waynesfield. Next up would be late models at Eldora, followed by non-winged sprints on the pavement at Mansfield. Next month, we'll start with a modified invitational at Fremont, then it's on to the big SCCA national event at Mid-Ohio.

Sure, you'll have to attend different types of tracks to watch different types of racing driven by some drivers you don't know or care for. But look at the bright side… the national media (who rarely watch, let alone report on your type of racing) all say that this is the only thing that can save short-track racing!

Now you know how I feel about “unification.” I'm a serious Indy Car Series fan, but oddly enough, I feel sorry for the Champ Car fans, too, because they're also losing a part of what they love. Despite the reports of glee and harmony by the media, many fans on both sides of the aisle see Indy-style racing moving further away from what they prefer.

Yet most of us also can't deny that we weren't doing very well on our own. CART went bankrupt and Champ Car wasn't far from it. The IRL was surviving, but the original vision was gone. With a shortage of ovals that could run their events profitably, they had to turn to road and street courses to fill out their schedule. And with short fields of cars and stars defecting to NASCAR, the future was not secure. So, while the hard cores on both sides will never accept unification, most of us realize (some grudgingly) that it needed to happen.

How to watch a sprint car race- Tim Clagg

Many people who are not racing fans have the idea that racing is just cars going around in a circle. If you have this kind of attitude about racing it's more then likely you won't enjoy it. There are many different factors that go into how to watch a race.

1. If you are a first time fan going to a sprint car race you should either go with someone who goes to the races regularly or sit next to someone in the stands who can help you with some of the common things in racing. This way if the first time fan has any questions he/she can have them answered by someone who is a regular fan of the sport

2. During qualifying watch each individual sprint car in the corners. You can tell where each driver gets on the brakes and picks up the throttle out of the corner. This is very important in qualifying. However it also transfers over to the race and you will see where each driver is good at on the race track.

3. During the heat races and actual A-main feature first time fans just tend to watch the lead car in the race and nothing else. The fan needs to watch every car throughout the field. A majority of the time fast cars get stuck in the back for heats or features and you have a mixture of fast cars in the back and slower cars in the front to start the race this makes for some very exciting racing.

4. Watch some of the lines drivers take into the corners some drivers like to drive high and some drivers like to run the bottom. During the course of the night the lines change and drivers have to guess at the right time when the “groove” is changing and adjust to the changing conditions.

5. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish lapped cars and cars on the lead lap this is another reason why you have to watch everything throughout the field to see who is on the lead lap and who is not. If you have a problem finding out who is running where in the field most tracks have a scoreboard in the infield of the top 5 running order this helps out fans of all kind immensely. Also on the scoreboard is a lap counter this helps everyone keep track of how close the race is to the end. This is a very good tool for race fans cause most of us lose track throughout the course of the race what lap they are actually on.

6. One of the most important thing also is the announcer, if you are not a new fan and don't know a lot of the drivers the announcer does a good job telling the fans who is in every car during the race so I suggest new fans try and listen to the announcer so they can start putting names with the racecars.

These are all of the things you have to focus on when watching a race. If you do all of these things I guarantee that new fans will fall in love with racing and keep coming back. To quote a friend of mine Dwight Allen “there is nothing like a sprint car coming out of turn 4 and kicking dirt up in the stands.” I couldn't agree anymore when you go to a sprint car race for the first time you then become infected with the racing disease!