Tony Talks 11-10-11

Good Morning everyone. Well it is over the short track racing season for this guy has come to an end for 2011.  What a dream life we live in Michiana with short tracks every where. Some folks say to many tracks to close together hurt the sport. I say its awesome. In 2011 I had the honor of taking in 10 different tracks and around 40 races. I have seen some of the best racing around simply because the amount of short tracks in our area. Back to the dream life. I have had the privilege to do a TV show all about racing and take this show to many tracks. I have interviewed Nascar Drivers Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Bill Elliott, Johhny Benson, and David Stremme. Sons of Nascar drivers Ryan Blaney, Ross Kenseth, and Chase Elliott. Three years of being on TV gets me noticed every where I go. Yet none of this is the dream. The dream is living the life of a race fan being able to go and watch races and also promoting and get as many people as i can to go see what I call the best thing on earth. 
 
For me racing is my life and where I choose to be any day I can. There is nothing like being at a track smelling the fumes and hearing the roar of a engine. Watching the fans get on their feet for a wave lap or jumping up when we see a good pass. Hearing the little kids talk about their favorite driver. Watching a racer get the first win or seeing the underdog win the race. This is the dream. Sharing in the lives of people who have the same passion as I do. You know the racing community is a tight nit family. We can yell at each other argue fight and leave angry but let there be a family emergency or a death in the family and watch the racers come together as one. This is the dream life to me. Knowing that no matter who or what you are at a race track your just another race fan sharing the love of the sport. 
 
As we all know race tracks are posting schedules, rules, and even pay off. In life everyone seems to think the answer to all questions is to throw some money at it and a few tracks are doing just that. Raised pay offs for all drivers and classes. I love it and think its great. Each track has to do what they think is best. I for one hope it helps the tracks who have had issues. As for me i love each track the same and can not wait to get to the next track. 
 
Well this past weekend was one I am sure not to forget. As I was working again at the Mottville Speedway as the turn 3 flagman I heard hot laps are over and began to walk away. Next thing I hear is the flagger yell on the radio "Al is in the woods" I said um what and again heard "Al is in the woods". As we began to run to the turn 3 woods I could tell Al was deep and I mean deep in the woods. Mind you this crazy old man just had 3 stints put in his heart. I froze at the edge as the first responders ran to the car. They had to climb trees and tires and bushes to check on Al but he was fine. As i got to the car all Al wanted to know was could he race. He really wanted a trophy. I have never laughed so hard. What a man who has a passion for racing second to none. Al went on to win the heat and feature. Caleb Woods won his first feature of the year in the pure stocks. Eric Frazier took the lead on lap 20 then spun out on his own and restarted 5th. Mike Mast had led 15 of those 20 laps and went on to lead the last 5 putting him in victory lane with one of the biggest upsets all year. Todd Roberts won the fwd main over a very aggressive and hard charging Nick Weeks. Actually was some very good racing all day ! 
 
Well as we move forward to 2012 it sounds like Galesburg will reopen with Tom Mcghee at the helm. Plymouth is adding a dirt track to the line up which Tony Stewart will race on in June. M 40 has some big changes in the works as well and Kalamazoo added mini stocks but dropped mods. Berlin says good bye to Mike Blackmer all to just name a few silly season notes. If you know me at all you know I am on top of it ! 
 
Thank you to each and every one of you who have watched Michiana Speed Zone Sundays at 5 pm on SBT 2! Also thank you to everyone who talks racing in a good way and makes their way to a local short track. Next year keep going whether you like the owner or announcer or workers. Just take time to give each track a new try and a clean slate in 2012 ! 
 
Jerry Cannon said it best ................ Until next time we will see you at the races.