There have been a number of newsworthy items over the last several weeks in dirt racing. This edition of the Quick Six offers thoughts on some of those items.
1. After viewing the video of the terrible fire at Senoia Raceway on July 4, racetracks need to be proactive in requiring track officials with four-wheelers to carry a fire extinguisher and knowing how to use it. Track officials arrive on the scene faster than a fire or rescue truck. A driver’s life or his quality of life may depend on the quickest response possible which is typically from the track’s officials.
2. Darrell Lanigan stepping away from the World of Outlaws Late Model Series tour shows how difficult it is for a driver to both compete on a national tour and operate their own chassis business with a good number of customers. Racing 50+ races a season is difficult enough let alone trying to run a successful business that’s tied to the racing program.
3. The drivers list for this year’s Southern Nationals looks interesting with a good mix. Casey Roberts and Clint Smith, plus area drivers/teams such as Billy Ogle Jr., Vic Hill, and Donald McIntosh.
4. Absent from the Southern Nationals is defending and six-time champion Chris Madden. Madden was slated to run the series, but removed it from his web site earlier this week. Speculation continues why Madden has not raced since April.
4. Will anyone be able to put a dent into the domination by Longhorn this season?
5. Hearing that a track is allegedly altering qualifying times to play favorites is disturbing in today’s racing. There is too much technology for things like that to go unnoticed.
