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May 7, 2008

Trackside: Action Track is back and it couldn’t be better

By Joe Buckles

TERRE HAUTE — If there were any lingering questions among Wabash Valley motorsports fans regarding the future of racing at the Terre Haute Action Track following an unsettling season a year ago, those doubts were laid to rest in impressive fashion over the weekend.

Thanks to the yeoman efforts of DHK Promotions, the famed oval not only sported a vibrant new look but served up racing that sent a sizable fan turnout home buzzing.

Yes, racing has returned to the Action Track and it couldn’t have been better. The closing laps of the Don Smith Classic provided a brand of racing that the five remaining events on the track schedule will be hard pressed to match. Just bring it on.

A big tip of the hat to Chris Novotney and Tim Wolfe for their countless hours of track prep. The pair were brought in on an advisory bases to get the track back in shape. They went far beyond that and the old place never looked better in or out.

Wolfe noted that they dumped close to 100,00 gallons of water on the half-mile oval between Wednesday and Thursday afternoon. Ripped the surface Saturday morning, added more water, then sheepfooted the track before closing it up. Then ripped it a second time raceday morning.

Among those in attendance Sunday was Tri-State Speedway track owner-operator Tom Helfrich, who also owns the Midwest Sprint Car Series that sanctioned the event.

Few people in racing can claim to have as much experience (51 years and counting) and expertise of preparing a dirt surface as Tom. Local officials didn’t pass on the opportunity to seek his input in the prepping of the track Sunday.

Helfrich was not only impressed with the way the facility looked but the eagerness on the part of the DHK group to make the track raceable under less-than-ideal circumstances.

“Like most other people here today, I would have preferred to have run at night, but this is the cards that were dealt us,” Helfrich said prior to the feature event.

“I think everybody came together and salvaged this show in a remarkable way compared to the way the track has been treated in the past.

“I think they did the right thing, doing what they did but it is more nerve-wracking doing a day show. [DHK promoters] were willing to work with [MSCS]. You know the worst thing that can happen when you’re in this kind of situation is for egos to lock horns. Nobody wins when that happens. These guys are very willing to ask for our input. They are willing to learn.”

One would have been hard-pressed to find anyone with a bigger smile on his face Sunday night than Sam Stockon. And for good reason.

Not only did his grandson Chase Stockon put on a stellar driving performance, but Sam also had to sense a measure of pride with what the MSCS series had to offer.

He founded the MSCS but had to relinquish controls of the series two years ago due to his declining health .

It was his grandson’s drive that Sam wanted to talk about at day’s end, however. He recalled when Chase made his sprint-car debut at the Action Track six years ago at the tender young age of 14.

“I really didn’t want him running this big half mile, but it’s something he and his dad wanted to give a try. I took him aside and said, ‘This it the way it is. At your age and your experience, you’re going to start at the back of each race,’” Sam Stockon said.

“’You’re going to be smooth. If you’re not smooth, I’m going to make you go up and sit it the grandstand.’ He passed several cars in his heat, worked his way half up through the field in the C-main and just seemed to gain confidence from there.”

It’s pretty evident that Chase, a student at Ivy Tech, has always taking a liking to the Action Track. Charging from 21st to ninth Sunday certainly revealed what a quick learner he is.

One his fellow racers and good friends, Dusty Wright of Seelyville, was battling Chase for a top-10 spot late in the main event but was caught up in a nasty four-car mishap.

Dusty emerged from the incident surprisingly only bruised and shaken, but his ride did not fare as well. His car received extensive front-end damage. Running a family operation, the Wrights now face an uphill battle of getting the personable young racer back on the track.

A visit to the Action Track wouldn’t be the same if it didn’t culminate in a day of rubbing shoulders and sharing stories with long time-supporters of racing at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds.

Among the name grabbers here Sunday were NASCAR driver Jason Leffler and World of Outlaws competitor Kraig Kinser. Both enjoying a rare Sunday off from their respective series.

Leffler kept a close eye on his fellow California driver, Damion Gardner, while confessing he misses his days of racing on the dirt. Kinser is back in the sprint cars after a brief stint on the NASCAR Craftsman Truck circuit. He spent the afternoon helping out fellow Hoosier racer Danny Holtsclaw.

Kinser confided that he harbors no ill feelings about his failed attempt to make it the stocks and looks forward to getting back on the Outlaws tour once Mother Nature gives them the green light.

It was nice renewing acquaintances with former Terre Haute Star sports editor Kent Harris on a day set aside to revive much of the history of racing at the half-mile oval. An avid race fan over the years, Kent shared some of his more memorable visits to the track, which started back in the track’s early beginnings in the 1950s.

Also seen strolling the pits Sunday were Bob Durr, Bill Kauffman and Bill Hopton, whose THAT Racing group helped revive racing at the track back in the mid-1990s.

He might not have been racing Sunday, but local racing buff Don Bradbury was still sporting a big smile resulting from his recent exhilarating experience at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Along with brother Jon, Don participated in the Richard Petty’s Driving Experience program at IMS. An avid race fan, Don proudly confided he got his stocker in the 130-mph range under the watchful eyes of program officials.

He’s not ready for the Brickyard, but his time behind the wheel of the stocker gave Don an even greater appreciation of what the NASCAR good ‘ole boys do each weekend at race tracks across the country.

Chuck Boehler up at Terre Haute North High School passes along word that the school’s Career and Technology Department will present its 14th annual “Thunder at North Day” today on the school’s west parking lot.

The program runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If Mother Nature fails to cooperate, they will try again Thursday.



Joe Buckles can be reached at jbuckles4@verizon.net.

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