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Racing returns to speedway
by Will Sparklin
(Photo caption) Bill Blair Jr. takes the checkered flag in the modified division of the Flat Head Ford racing series, one of the races run Saturday and part of a full day of events.
The engines roared again Saturday at North Wilkesboro Speedway as the historic track hosted the Flat Head Ford Racing Series for its first competitive auto races since the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series left the track in 1996.
The races were among six events at the track Saturday. It also hosted the Buck Baker Driving School, a car show, tractor pull exhibition, a Matt Dylan concert and premiere showing of the movie "Red Dirt Rising."
Vintage racers, as well as the Flat Head Ford Racing series, were on hand. Each ran 20-lap races and put on good shows for the roughly 3,000 spectators.
The Flat Head Fords raced first. Split between two classes, Sportsman and Modified, there were two winners. Bill Blair Jr. won the modified division and Harry Hale took home the win in the sportsman class.
The Vintage class was also split into two groups, with six cylinders and V8s competing simultaneously. Susan Kimel won the V8 division in her Mercury Comet. Joe Evans, driving a '57 Chevy, won the six-cylinder class.
The four winning drivers all have a rich history with racing, some having driven at North Wilkesboro in various events before the speedway was closed in 1996.
For Blair, in particular, this night is about more than his win at the speedway. His father, Bill Blair, along with Jimmie Lewallen, are prominent characters for the film "Red Dirt Rising," which premiered at the end of the night.
Blair said the movie and his racing are in memory of his father, and he thanked everyone who helped make it possible.
"I was up here for the first race. At the time I was just a baby. The main reason I'm here is because of what he did, and I enjoy racing," Blair said. "I'm a little like my dad in that I don't show emotion, but it's an honor to participate in this."
As a returning driver at North Wilkesboro, Susan Kimel suggested bringing back races such as the Coca-Cola 300 of old, which featured racers from various niches all over the state.
"It was our own personal Daytona to come up here every September and run the Coca-Cola 300," Ms. Kimel said. "I'd have never thought we'd been able to come back here and do this. It needs to keep going, it's a waste not to use this track."
Harry Hale of Wirtz, Va., agreed with Ms. Kimel.
"It's great. I couldn't understand why they ever stopped running events here," said Hale. "It's a nice track, it could be a beautiful facility with a little work. I'd like to have more opportunities to come here."
Joe Evans of South Carolina raced the NASCAR hobby class in California during the '70s. Competing in the vintage division allowed him to showcase his '57 Chevy, a car that Evans has raced in its current state since 1969.
"I flat enjoyed it out there. I've been racing for a long time. I raced in this car in the hobby class in the '70s until '78. I retired in 1985 and brought back this car for vintage racing in the '90s. Every dent that's on it, I've put in it."
Each of the winners was presented with a trophy fashioned out of wood taken from the Junior Johnson grandstands.
North Wilkesboro Mayor Robert Johnson served as the honorary starter for the race, waving the green flag from the stand. He said that Saturday's success was the result of the efforts of many.
"I'm honored that they asked me to wave the flag. It's the start of even better things to come," Johnson said. "I'm elated to be a part of making this happen but none of this is possible without the help of our volunteers and people like Alton McBride, Terri Parsons, Paul Call, Ronald Queen or Larry Camp."
For those able to tough out the heat and humidity, spectators had plenty to take in.
In addition to the race, fans received a full day's worth of entertainment.
Making a fourth appearance at the speedway this year, Buck Baker Driving School was providing rides to fans wanting to experience the thrill of racing up close and personal.
About 70 vehicles showed up for the car show afterward, which kicked off around mid-day. The Wilkes County Cruisers were out in force, accounting for a good number of the vintage autos present.
The ultimate show of force Saturday was the tractor pull demonstration in the infield, which was in the mid afternoon. Despite being an exhibition in preparation for a July 3 event, some impressive machines were on display.
One was powered by a Pratt and Whiney turbine out of a sky-crane helicopter. Another had five supercharged big block Chevrolet motors rigged to run in tandem, making upward of 13,000 horsepower.
Junior Johnson made a brief appearance in the afternoon to sign autographs and look over the track. Like so many others, he's hoping that the track continues to flourish.
"It needs to keep building momentum. I think it'd be nice to get a modified race like they have in Winston-Salem and other tracks, and continue to have guys testing here," Johnson said. "There are a lot of things than can be done to turn this place around."
The evening lineup went right to the historical roots of the venue and was a bit like taking a walk back in time.
After both the flathead and vintage races, fans were treated to a concert by Matt Dylan, who wrote "Carolina Moonshine," a song featured in the film, "Red Dirt Rising."
Dylan was thankful to be associated with the day's festivities.
"What they're doing here is history in the making. This community is going to put this North Wilkesboro back on the map," Dylan said. "I'm just glad to be here and be a part of it."
Following the concert was the world premiere of "Red Dirt Rising," which finished just before 11 that evening. A large screen and projector placed in the infield allowed for easy viewing from the grandstands.
The film, based on a true story, was directed by James Suttles and Kathleen Bobak.
Centered on Jimmie Lewallen and Bill Blair, it's meant to give a historical depiction of what life was like for the two young men growing up in rural North Carolina. Stricken by poverty and forced to run moonshine, their passion for automobiles soon turned into what became the birth of organized racing in the area.
Looking ahead, the speedway is set to bring in two major competitions in the coming months.
First up will be the tractor pull on July 3. A 300-foot-long, 30-foot-wide track was prepared in the infield out of local red clay. Cindy Atkins, head of the Southern Truck and Tractor Pullers Association, said it's an excellent track with a good surface.
On Oct. 3, the USA Pro Cup Series (Formerly Hooters Pro Cup) will take to the track. With two 14-year olds and a 15-year-old competing this year, Pro Cup serves as a stepping-stone for many drivers.
Larry Camp, a managing partner for the series, dropped by after the Pro Cup race at Rockingham was over.
Like so many of the drivers in the series, Camp is looking forward to having a race at North Wilkesboro.
"After the change of ownership, Terri Parsons gave me a call and said 'Hey, you need to bring your series here,'" said Camp.
"We look at North Wilkesboro as our new crown jewel, because of the history here. I believe we'll put on a good show, and be here for many races in the future."
Alton McBride, president of Speedway Associates, thought that the day's events went well, and wants everyone to know that this is about bringing racing culture back where it belongs. Speedway Associates is leasing and has an option to purchase the North Wilkesboro Speedway property.
"Everybody in the public, especially our opponents, needs to see that this is something that our region needs. People here need to understand what we have here, the potential of this track," McBride said.
"There are people all over the United States, even so far as England, that want to see this place come alive again. Johnny Cash did what he did for the downtrodden. Speedway Associates is kind of the same way. We're not doing this for the high society. We're doing this for the fans and the community." |
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