It All Comes Down To Business

It All Comes Down To Business

By Brad Vores May 22, 2008

When Williams Grove Speedway announced that it would use a Saturday night rain date for last week’s World of Outlaws sprint car program, it caused one of the biggest firestorms of the season.

For what?

First off, unlike some others, I admit I read the message boards. Why, I don’t know but I do. And at times, I post. And while we’ve sounded off about them in the past as have many drivers, last week’s postings about Williams Grove’s decision to try to recoup some of its losses by racing on Saturday, topped the list for some of the most clueless posts ever.

Unfortunately, I guess it’s par for the course for some people who call themselves race fans. Sprint car fans all across the country sit back and laugh at how some of the Pennsylvania fans act on message boards and so forth. Honestly, most of it is sad.

Those blasting track owner Kathy Hughes and general manager Justin Loh’s decision to race will be the first ones to fire away should the track ever be sold or anything for that matter.

“I don’t know what the big deal was,” Loh said Tuesday night about his decision to use a Saturday rain date. “I called Port Royal and I called Lincoln and told them what I was thinking about doing when the Outlaws offered the Saturday night date when they arrived on Thursday. Port pretty much agreed and I talked to Alan (Kreitzer) and he said if I was in your shoes, I’d have to do something too.”

So for race fans, they had three options for 410 Sprint car racing all within a one hour distance from the Harrisburg area. What more could a sprint car fan ask for. No where in the country would that be possible! Come on people, wake up!

So instead of looking at the positives, many wanted to complain.

But none of it really mattered.

Mother Nature once again had the upper hand on Saturday and forced tracks to cancel most of their programs.

“The thought process was there but the weather killed us,” Loh said of the Saturday night rain date. “NASCAR, weather and rain dates are never good, so add it all up and it spells disaster for the most part. No other tracks had good crowds from what we hear and fans are just not going to come out when the weather is bad.”

Loh realizes the ticket price is high for the World of Outlaws events but also knows what the Outlaws mean to Williams Grove.

“I understand the ticket prices are high but they are higher in other regions than here and I do understand it’s not a good thing to race against other tracks but Williams Grove has to do what it has to do to survive and stay in business,” Loh said. “It’s not like we race against tracks all the time and all the tracks have to work together and we do that. But things happen and it is what it is. We try to bring the big shows to town and I know a lot of people don’t like the Outlaws, but they are good for the sport and if we didn’t have the Outlaws come to the Grove, then there really wouldn’t be much to Central Pennsylvania racing other than our weekly deal.”

Most of the drivers that were expected to be at Williams Grove on Saturday supported the track. To me, it was a no brainer for top drivers, full-time teams or good teams.

Those competing for points in the area had to make a decision. The Cindy Rowe Auto Glass championship at the Grove pays $15,000 to the championship team. Port Royal’s title pays $5,000 while $6,000 goes to the title winner at Lincoln.

Saturday night’s Outlaw race paid $12,000 to win and $1,000 to start back through a good portion of the field. Lincoln paid $3,200 to win Saturday and Port paid $2,700. Many of the top teams in this area are more than capable to a win against the Outlaws, so it made sense to be at Williams Grove.

“The Outlaws bring in a lot of money and it’s also one of a very few times that our local guys can race for a bigger purse than normal,” Loh added. “It’s a known fact that our drivers are as good as any in the country and that’s because we give them chance to race for bigger purses against the Outlaws and prove they are capable.”

The Outlaws bring a lot of good to local racing.

They bring SPEED TV to the Grove for tape delayed racing this time around and LIVE racing in September. They bring excitement with driver autograph session, blow up balloons, banners all over and more. It’s an event.

But unfortunately this time around, rain ruined everyone’s fun. Including Williams Grove track owners.

“Rain ruins racing, no doubt about it,” Loh commented. “We’ve lost seven or eight shows this year and we’ve really only had good weather two times. Right now, there isn’t a chance of rain for Friday night and temperatures are supposed to be in the 70’s. We have the Keystone Cup and it hasn’t been a real big event for us, but Friday night will go a long way in determining what the season will be like as far as fan support. We’d like to have a good crowd.”

WILBUR CONTINUES TO IMPROVE
One would never know Steve Wilbur just suffered third degree burns on his legs and feet and escaped death by probably just minutes.

Talking to Wilbur on Tuesday night, he is so positive and upbeat and is looking forward to coming back to his Mechanicsburg home by the weekend after spending the last two weeks in Lehigh Valley Burn Center in Allentown.

Last week, Wilbur underwent skin grafting and was able to walk for the first time on Tuesday.

“Today was a good day,” said Wilbur about his rehabilitation of his burns and surgery. “Monday they tried to get me up but my blood pressure dropped real low because of being on my back for so long and I was in terrible pain so I wasn’t very optimistic about anything. But later in the day, they let me sit up with my legs dangling off the bed and it went pretty good so that was a little bit of encouragement for today.”

On Tuesday, Wilbur walked about 10 steps on his own and then walked with the aid of a walker.

“I looked like Tim Conway on the Carol Burnett show,” Wilbur joked. “I was about that speed.”

Wilbur said doctors say his grafts are healing on pace and he is expected to be released no later than Thursday.

“To me, my legs look like a total disaster and every color imaginable is on them, but to the doctors and nurses, they look real good,” he said. “I told them they must really have to look at some bad sites if mine are good.”

Obviously, he is looking forward to coming home where he can visit in the comforts of his own home with family and friends.

“You hear everybody say how incredible the racing community is and it’s no joke,” he stated. “It’s just been incredible. I’ve got so many cards, cards with checks in and so many calls every day. It will be nice to be home.”

He expects to be fitted with pressure garments upon returning home and has no idea how long he will be off work.

But he is looking forward to getting back to the track as a spectactor.

“I might be in a car in the infield or something but I can’t wait to get back to the Grove and Lincoln for some racing,” he said.

For those interested in helping with the costs of his medical expenses, a fund has been established to help out. Donations may be sent to Members First Federal Credit Union, Steve Wilbur Burn Fund, 5000 Louise Drive, PO Box 40, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055-0040.

Cards reach Wilbur at 20 Sinclair Rd, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

KEYSTONE CUP UP NEXT
The second annual Keystone Cup Sprint Series for 410 Sprints will kick off the big Memorial Day weekend with an event at Williams Grove tomorrow night.

The series moves to the Lincoln Speedway Saturday night followed by a Sunday night date at Selinsgrove Speedway and then wrapping up Monday evening at the Port Royal Speedway.

All events will be 30 laps in distance with $5,000 going to the winner.

Hagerstown Speedway is in action twice this weekend with a Friday night special Charity Night Race with double late model sportsman events. Admission is free with donations going to the Speedway Children’s Charity.

The track returns to action Saturday with the Richard Boney Bonebrake Memorial for late models along with late model sportsman and double pure stock features.

Trail-Way is back Friday with 358 Sprints and micro sprint racing on Saturday while Selinsgrove Speedway has a Saturday night with a regular show headlined by 358 Sprints.

Port Royal is in action Saturday with late models, Super Sportsman and 305 Sprints.

It will be the 54th Anniversary race Saturday at Susquehanna Speedway for the 358 late models and stock car divisions.

PIT STOPS
Carlisle’s Carl Billet won the makeup 358 late model feature last weekend at SSP before rains hit the track after all qualifying was in the books. Billet’s win came over Jake Jones, Bud Witmer, Cam Zeigler and John Moser, Jr. The 358 late model feature that was rained out will be made up on June 28th…

Les Hare won for the first time in Hagerstown Speedway late model action since the 1996 season with a win in last week’s makeup feature before rains hit the track. Hare outran Gary Stuhler, Kirk Ryan, Roy Deese, Jr. and Billy Wampler…

The Outlaws were rained out once again Sunday at New York’s Orange County Speedway. They head to the Dirt Track at Lowe’s Motor Speedway Friday night. The race will be shown Live on SPEED TV. Race time will be 8-11pm…

Look for Carlisle driver Jason Shultz to return to the 358 sprint car ranks later this season after parting ways with FrommCo Motorsports. The team tried their hand at 410 Sprint car racing at Port Royal this season but after four events, funding became an issue forcing. Shultz will return to his own No. 2 358 sprinter at Selinsgrove Speedway…

Mark your calenders for January 16 and 17, 2009 for Motorsports 2009 and the Gambler’s Classic indoor micro sprint races to be held in Atlantic City, NJ. Organizers have sent out packets to those who were on hand last year to renew their spaces for the show…

Bass Pro Shops of Harrisburg is increasing its sponsorship for the 358 Sprints this season at Williams Grove. A Hard Charger award will be in place for the remaining 11 races at the Grove with driver advancing the most spots from his original starting spot taking home some extra cash. Eight of the races will pay $100 with three more events paying $125. Bass Pro Shops is also the title sponsor for the 358 sprint car point fund…