The only night race of the 2014 ENDURO schedule is set for Saturday at 7PM. It only happens once a year and Speedway 660’s ENDURO drivers are excited to be able to put on a show under the lights for our fans. Wade Wilson recently caught up with veteran driver Carman McKeen to talk about ENDURO racing.

 

Talkin with Carman McKeen
Wade: Hello Carman, can you tell our fans how long you have been racing ENDURO and how you got started?

Carman: I have been racing for ten years. I got started when a good friend of mine said “let’s build a car for Geary and try Enduro racing.” So we did…and the rest is history. It`s hard work, but it`s a lot of fun too.Carman gets turned around by Team Barton’s “Holstein Express” during Speedway 660’s first ENDURO of 2014.

Wade: What keeps you coming back, year after year, to get spun-out and banged around out there on the track?

Carman: The thing that keeps me coming back is the thrill and excitement of the whole experience. You never know what`s going to happen out on the track and you have to be on your guard the whole time because you never know when someone has you in their sights and is getting ready to spin you out. Turn-around is fair play in ENDURO racing. Remember that Cow Car? Well, it’s pay-back time!

Wade: What make ENDURO  different than our regular racing and why do people like it so much?

Carman: Because the Enduro race is a little tougher than “regular racing”. You have to outlast the other cars, because this is an endurance race. And all of that spinning and crashing adds plenty of excitement.Safety is a primary concern in ENDURO racing. Speedway 660 officials inspect the cars before every race to make sure they have proper roll cages and other safety equipment. Our Fire & Rescue and Emergency Medical teams are always ready to respond when something like this happens.

Wade: Some people don’t realize how much work it really takes to get one of these car geared up and ready to run one of these races.

Carman: It takes a lot of hard work and lots of help from the pit crew and sponsors. You might not know it by looking at our cars, but we do spend a lot of time getting them ready for the races. And between races, depending on how bad you get banged up, there’s always something to do to prepare for the next ENDURO.How can we make this baby go a little faster? Carman and Perry Boone (right) look for some answers under the hood of #10. Even ENDURO drivers are looking for ways to get around the race track a little quicker.

Wade: You’ve got to have a pretty good pit crew, because these cars get banged up and require some work during the race and between each segment of the race. Who helps you out?

Carman: I couldn’t do it without Perry Boone, Jordan Waye, Devin Murphy, Ken Vallis and Jimmy Ferguson. They make it possible for me to concentrate on driving and not have to worry about the car repairs. I know if I get banged up out there, that I can count on them to work a little magic to get me back on the track.Fire and Rescue Team members take an active roll in working with the Speedway 660 race teams to keep drivers safe during ENDURO races.

Wade: This Saturday, the ENDURO 200 will be run under the lights at Speedway 660. That’s got to be a special race for you guys.

Carman: There is something about a night race…the sparks flying and the atmosphere is so different from a day race. It seems to add to the excitement. It’s a lot more fun for the drivers and I know the fans love to see us run at night too.Are you all right in there? ENDURO drivers are tough – even tougher than their cars!

Wade: Racing is a family sport and you need support from your family to come out here and race these cars three times a year.

Carman: You sure do! My wife Brenda and kids Hannah, who is nine and six year old Michael are very supportive. The kids like to help me work on the car and Hannah did a bit of painting on it. Brenda is very understanding because I spend a lot of time working on the car.

Wade: You’ve been spun-out a lot and you’ve dished out your share of punishment to other drivers. What’s the worst thing that’s happened to you out on the track?

Carman: A few years ago I flipped my car on the practice lap, two end-for-ends and three barrel rolls! I stepped on the brake pedal and it went right to the floor. After that rough ride, the first thing we do now is test the brakes before we get the old number ten up to speed!What a pile of junk! Sometimes that’s about all that’s left after an ENDURO crash. This one looks like it’s ready for the crusher.

Wade: Pat Sharpe has won a few ENDURO championships and dominated the first event of this season. What makes him so good and do you think the other drivers will focus their attention on the 51 this Saturday night?

Carman: He has a very good car and a great pit crew. Pat has won a lot of these races and a few championships too. He’s always a strong contender. So I think we should all focus on him this Saturday night. He is pretty fast but I think we can find a way to slow him down a bit. If we do that, somebody else might visit the Riverview Ford Victory Lane at the end of the night.Pat Sharpe (#51) can expect a little more of this kind of treatment on Saturday night at Speedway 660. Pat, who won the first ENDURO of the season, will be a bit of a target next time out!

Wade: Thanks for doing this Carman and I hope you have a lot of fun Saturday night. I know the fans are hoping to see a great show in the Geary Woods.

Carman: Oh it will be a great show! I can’t wait to see all the sparks fly and hear the engines roar! ENDURO drivers love to go racing at Speedway 660 and I want to thank everyone involved with the track, my fellow competitors and especially the fans for supporting us.