The racing season is coming to a close. The number of events is dwindling to a precious few and trying to find races to attend gets to be real challenging this time of year. That is particularly so especially when the weather conditions become less than favorable. It becomes time to weigh the cost and time involved to the reward harvested.
This weekend found most of the racing action called off days ahead of time, good in some ways but also very depressing in others. My choice of racing options was very limited but I really wanted to squeeze in another race or so this last weekend in October if possible plus, who wants to sit around the house and watch it snow?
One race that I happened to discover over the past couple of weeks that was being held this weekend was the Midwest Dirt Track Nationals which were being held at the Thunderbird Speedway in Muskogee Oklahoma. Now, I used to attend the Oktoberfest special that was always held in Muskogee but that was years ago and I have not been to a race in Muskogee for quite frankly, probably decades. The idea of going back to the big half mile for a year end special piqued my interest but I needed to make sure that they wouldn't cancel the event at the last minute due to the cold as a drive to Muskogee is more than just a a drive around the block. Also, would there be enough cars to warrant such a long drive. I flip flopped on the idea for a couple of days but finally decided that you only live once so why not go for the gusto?
So, one flat tire later I rolled into the city of Muskogee set to see some racing action. The program was split over two nights with the qualifying heats and dashes on Friday and on Saturday the Last Chance races and main events will be held. Five classes will be racing with Late Models making a rare appearance along with Modifieds, B Mods, Super Stocks and Pure Stocks.
This race is an attempt to get the old Oktoberfest kind of year end special restarted and the track ownership and management worked hard to get some Late Models to commit to this race. They visited a number of other year end specials and talked to a number of drivers, trying to get them back to Muskogee for this race. With twenty two cars on hand, they were moderately successful although I must admit that I had hoped for a few more than showed up. Probably the cold weather didn't help this situation and race car drivers are like most other people. First they watch to see how things pan out and if the event is successful, then they jump on board the following year. While I know that the top paying spot is ten grand, I don't know about the rest of the purse schedule and that may also be a factor. However, there were some good cars on hand plus some drivers I never get to see so the racing should be entertaining.
The car count for all classes was remarkably similar with each class fielding between the low twenties and the high twenties and a total of one hundred and twenty seven cars signing in. As far as the other classes, the Modifieds were running under USRA rules although there were a few IMCA cars also while the B Mods were also USRA with a few Sport Mods, minus spoilers also in the mix.
The Super Stocks and Pure Stocks were a little more confusing as to look at the cars, they appear similar. They are even running on the same size tires this weekend as Muskogee, Salina and Fort Smith, the three tracks that are supplying the majority of the cars in the support classes, all have different rules. This is the point where you say hallelujah for sanctioning bodies that supply consistent rules over a broad range of territory.
The Thunderbird Speedway is a big, half mile track with not much banking, much like it was when it was first built around the turn of the century. In fact, Muskogee is known as the "Historic Track" with the first racing here in 1903 I believe. However, everything has been spit polished under the new ownership with bright retaining walls, new sponsorship signs and new wheel fences being placed around the track. The lighting for both the track and the seating areas is excellent and new sound system has just been installed also.
One thing that has been changed is that the roof of the huge grandstand has been removed. Apparently it was condemned several years ago and then taken off. However, the grandstand remains as a huge concrete edifice that dates back to the WPA days and the wide concrete slabs provide excellent places for lawn chair seating.
The track has gone through its share of rocky times over the past decade or so with several management groups trying to run the show and the track opening and closing more often than a revolving door. The opening of the ultra modern Outlaw Motor Speedway just down the road didn't help things but now that facility sits closed for an indeterminate time.
Everyone speaks very highly of the new owner, Randy Gass, who is a businessman in the area. What I didn't know was that the Fairgrounds was a city owned property and Gass bought it lock, stock and barrel and it's now his alone. However, there must be some kind of a working agreement between the city and Gass as a large building just across from the main grandstand houses many city vehicles and in fact, the cities' police vehicles were getting maintenance in this building also.
I also got to meet the track announcer, Jesse Webb, who is one of those rare breed of announcers that actually roam the pits and meet the drivers and find out what the inside scoop is, rather than waiting for a line up sheet to be handed to him so he can read it over the pa. He made it clear that enthusiasm for racing in Muskogee and been reignited by Gass and that their plan is to get the track sanctioned by NASCAR for next year, running USRA rules, so that they can form a three night circuit with Salina OK and Humboldt.
Friday night was a special night for the track as they were also inducting a number of new members for their Thunderbird Speedway Hall of Fame. Many of those on hand I was not familiar with but there were some that I had either heard of or had actually seen race such as T.J. Pauchert, Larry Phillips, Dan Leatherman and Harold Leep. In fact, Paster Paul, the chaplain of the KRA Speedway in Willmar Minnesota and pastor of a church in that city and a long time friend of the Leep family, would be pleased to know that Harold's widow was on hand to accept the award. Leep was promoted Thunderbird the first time I was ever at this track.
Passing points were used for four classes on Friday but the Late Models had to time trial for some reason, even though the vast majority of the drivers on hand are used to running under a passing points format. However, the track was set up to time multiple cars at once and after a slight malfunction of their equipment, they were able to breeze through that thrilling portion of the program quickly.
Just running heats and dashes alone doesn't make for a very thrilling program but there were some close finishes in all classes. With all the necessary special things with the Hall of Fame induction, it made the start of the program very last with the first race not taking the green until 8:42 p.m. However, I was very impressed with the speed that they ran through the rest of the program. One race was just taking the checkered when the next one would pull on to the track, take one lap and the green would wave again. the entire twenty race card was done in two hours flat which was good on a bone chillingly cold Oklahoma evening.
One car I found particularly interesting was the #32Y Modified of Ron Yates. The car is painted black and white just like a police car and is sponsored by the Muskogee Police. As an added attraction, the car has "a cherry on top" which was blinking brightly throughout his heat race. He, however, did not pull anyone over during his heat event.
Billy Moyer Jr was the quick qualifier for the evening for the Late Models and then won the dash so he will be starting on the pole position for the main event. However, I anticipate that Jesse Stovall, Terry Phillips, Kyle Beard and Robert Baker, among others, will give him plenty of competition on Saturday night.
One last comment. I can't think off hand of any other track I've run into this year where the drivers, car owners, mechanics and track officials have all been so friendly. Everyone that found out I was from "out of town" wanted to talk and their enthusiasm for the track and desire to spread the word about Thunderbird was refreshing and honest. A nicer group or racers I haven't run into in a long time.
Look for a report on the main events on Saturday but likely not until Monday as I'll be traveling home and I can't both drive and type! Also, for those interested, there should be some information on the World Finals in Charlotte next weekend as I plan to be in attendance all three nights at the Dirt Track at Charlotte Motor Speedway. And after that weekend, who knows?
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