After a brief foray onto another website for a few "Ramblings", Rob's Ramblings officially returns home to RACE22.com
 
Story by: Rob Staley ~ rob@RACE22.com
 
Item one: Best of 2010 so far .....

I think the biggest success story ( and perhaps the biggest surprise) of 2010 has been the return of Ace Speedway as a major venue in local short track racing. Left for dead after the multiple bungling of management in 2009, new general manager Brad Allen has used hard work, common sense, and just plain generosity to build both the car count and the crowd.

The track still has major issues to face, but it seems that Allen and his staff have the right attitude to take them on. The most pleasing change from last year has been the priority put on the racing on the track and not concerts and sideshows. The racing at Ace can be incredible at times, as our staffer Corey Latham put it, "You'll see more action in ten laps at Ace than you'll see in 150 laps at most tracks."

Brief shots...

Ace combatants Bobby Griffin and Brad Kurth were fined $300 and $150 respectively for their roles in an altercation during a race program on May 21....Orange County Speedway has one more race ( June 19 ) where first time 2010 racers can receive new tires courtesy of Chip Lofton. 19 Late Model Stocks took the green flag for the June 5 feature there, biggest starting field in years for that class....Former Late Model standout Peyton Sellers and his family owned race team will take another stab at NASCAR Nationwide racing later this month as they will attempt to qualify for the event in Loudon, New Hampshire. Sellers has past experience in both the K&N Series (a couple of strong runs) and Nationwide at that track.

A Fond Farewell...

We lost Mike Hawkins last week. He was a crew member for Morgan Shepherd in the old Late Model Sportsman days of the 70's and often related amusing tales to me about his experiences during that era. He was a person that you never got tired of being around. Ace Sportsman racer Ross Dalton dedicated his second place finish in last week's race to Mike. He will be greatly missed.