Spotlight on Sportsman!
The Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 100 goes this Saturday night at Speedway 660. The competition is intense in our Sportsman division and every team wants to be the best in their first big event of the 2011 season. We should be looking at about 25 entries for the Martin’s Home Heating 100.
Richard and Anne Martin play a big role in our brand of racing. The owners of Martin’s Home Heating are first and foremost race fans. They enjoy racing and have been hangin around Speedway 660 for years. They sponsored several cars before taking on the sponsorship of the Sportsman division many years ago. This year for their Martins Home Heating Sportsman 100 they are putting some serious cash up for the top three finishers. The winner will receive an additional $1000 from Martins as well as 2nd and 3rd will each receive an additional $500 from Martins on top of the race purse. The Martins are “family” and we appreciate their involvement in the sport and on behalf of all of the race teams I want to thank them for their continued support.
Who to Watch
Glyn Nott has been hotter than a 12 dollar pistol in two outings this season. He leads the Sportsman points and over the years has had lots of success in the longer races. I look for Team Nott to be near the front of the pack all night long and to turn up the wick in the last 25 laps.
Defending point champ Ken MacKenzie is looking for a good outcome this Saturday night. MacKenzie, who has yet to have a podium finish in 2011, may change all of that with a trip to Speedway 660’s Victory Lane this weekend.
Michael Banks, John Rankin, Brent Roy and Matt Maillet are all capable of winning the Martin’s Home Heating 100. As a matter of fact, this division is so strong that more than half of the drivers in the starting grid could win this race. And that’s why Sportsman racing is so great at Speedway 660.
Ruff and Ready
Although the focus is on the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 100 this weekend, our other divisions will all race. After a couple of events, it’s amazing to see Benji Ruff leading the RV World Street Stock point standings. The former Enduro champ and 2010 Street Stock Rookie of the Year has served notice that he just may have something for Rick Cashol this year.
I believe Mr. Cashol intimidates a lot of street stockers. And with good reason too, because he has won four championships. On top of that, “The Villan” only races to win and has traded more than a little paint with most of his fellow competitors over the years. But Benji Ruff knows a thing or two about hard knocks, from his days in Enduro. It’s going to be fun to watch these two go toe to toe in 2011.
A Wet Start to Our Season
For the second time in four weeks the weather got the best of us last Saturday. It sure has been a soggy spring that has dampened the spirits of race fans in our area. But when we have had decent weather, we’ve been treated to some great racing. It’s no fun watching the weather forecast all week and hopin for a sunny Saturday. Going forward, let’s hope we get a good stretch of weather for race fans at Speedway 660!
Saturday Night Heroes
It’s hard to pick a Saturday Night Hero when we get washed out, like we did last week. But I would like to nominate all of our part-time employees and volunteers who love racing. We sometimes take for granted just how smooth things go on race night. That does not happen by accident! From the ticket booth to the tech shed and everywhere in between there are dedicated folks who do great work to make it all happen.
This Saturday night, Speedway 660 is proud to present the Martin’s Home Heating Sportsman 100. We’ll see you all at the races!
