(May 30, 2016) We’re just two weeks into the 2016 racing season and the countdown is on for one of the biggest races of the year. The MacLaughlin Roof Trusses Best of the Best Pro Stock 150 highlights action this coming weekend. We have already seen some great racing, new and old rivalries and a few racing incidents so far this season. In this edition of the weekly, we’ll try to illustrate the definition of the word respect as it applies to race car drivers. 

Racing is a contact sport. The cars are fast, the track is short and the corners are tight. The drivers come in all shapes and sizes and have a wide range of talent, skill and experience. It makes for an exciting show every week. One thing I have noticed early this season is the respect most drivers have for each other.

Let’s look at the Re/Max Group Four Realty Pro Stock Division. The car count is in the 20 range for our weekly shows, the highest it’s probably ever been. The pro stock field includes lots of experienced veterans and several rookies. In both 50 lap features this year, we’ve had our fair share of cautions. As D.W. would say – “you picked a fine time to leave me loose wheel”. Cautions are part of the short-track racing scene. From Bristol to 660 or Martinsville to Scotia, fast cars on short tracks are occasionally going to end up in situations like this.

One might think the veterans would be a little upset when the rookies cause some of those cautions. But the veterans know there is a steep learning curve, when you get into a pro stock car, and they understand what the rookies are going through.

On Saturday night Lonnie Sommerville had the best car and he won the feature. Not only did he not complain about the rookies who brought out some of the caution flags, but in his post race interview Lonnie said he remembers 15 years ago or so, when he tore up a lot of equipment when he was a rookie.What a wreck! Last year, during SpeedWeekend, Sommerville’s #23 was involved in this incident with Glyn Nott. For the record, Lonnie wasn’t driving that car in the race. His friend John Flemming was.

Flash back to week one, Sommerville was leading the pro stock feature when he got tangled up with a driver who was about to be lapped. Lonnie wasn’t upset, in fact he claimed he and the other veterans were responsible for most of the cautions in week one.

Everyone always says the rookies have to earn the respect of the veterans. That’s true, but Lonnie and the other pro stock vets appreciate the efforts the rookies in our top division are making to become competitive. That’s respect!Lonnie Sommerville has won some big races in his career including two Irving Blending & Packaging 250’s. The defending Re/Max Group Four Realty Pro Stock champion welcomes all of the rookies to our top division and remembers the learning curve he went through when he moved up to pro stock.

Speaking of respect, how about Alexandra O’Blenis and Ryan Messer? These kids go all the way back to bandolero and know each other well. In Saturday’s Martins Home Heating Sportsman feature, Alex was leading when Ryan caught her. O’Blenis protected the low side and after a lap or two, young Messer loosened her up and was able to take the spot. After finishing third, Alexandra had no problem with Ryan’s move. She saw him in her mirror and knew, from experience, that he wasn’t going to dump her in the beach. Ryan, who finished second, talked to Alex after the race and everybody was cool with what went down. That’s respect!Excuse me, pardon me, just passing through! Ryan Messer loosens up Alexandra O’Blenis during last week’s Martins Home Heating Sportsman feature. These two great young drivers are good friends and know the “bump & run” is a part of short track racin. 

After winning the DMR Auto Sales Street Stock feature on Saturday night, Courtney O’Blenis enjoyed her moment in the spotlight. But it didn’t take too long in her post race interview before she thanked her Mom and Dad for giving her the opportunity to come up through the ranks of racing at Speedway 660. And she appreciates the lessons she is learning by racing with Rick Cashol, Rob Raynes, Roger Slocum and the other street stockers. That’s respect!Grade 11 student Courtney O’Blenis is having a blast. She gets to race against legends like Rick Cashol and is learning how to win. Courtney is thankful her Mom (Corrie) and Dad (Dave) make it possible for her to do what she loves to do!  Here’s a teenager who know the meaning of the word respect.

I know some rivalries and some racing incidents do boil over, but for the most part drivers do respect one another. They’ll race each other hard and there’ll be a little contact out on the track from time to time, but in most cases at the end of the night, the drivers  shake hands and come back to race each other hard all over again the very next week.

Racing is kinda like hockey. It’s a contact sport. The action is fast. The teams are extremely competitive. But at the end of a hard fought playoff series or in our case a race, the teams will shake hands and congratulate each other. Just last week Sidney Crosby shook hands with Steven Stamkos after the Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated Tampa Bay in a hard fought seven game Stanley Cup Playoff Series.  Hockey and racing have a lot in common, especially in regards to the respect that is displayed after a hotly contested game or race.

On Saturday night we’re in for a real treat when the Best of the Best Pro Stock 150 takes center stage. It’s going to be an awesome race. On behalf of all of our weekly pro stock drivers and all of the visiting race teams, I want to thank Andy Fox from MacLaughlin Roof Trusses. They are presenting the Best of the Best 150. Its marketing partners like Mr. Fox who make it possible for Speedway 660 to bring awesome events to the Geary Woods. Hey Andy, we appreciate your commitment to racing!Andy Fox (far right) congratulates Greg Fahey (center), Lonnie Sommerville (left) and Cassius Clark after last year’s Best of the Best 150. You’ll have to come out this weekend to see who will be on the podium in this season’s race.

So spread the word. Let everyone know Speedway 660 is the place to be on Saturday night. The MacLaughlin Roof Trusses Best of the Best Pro Stock 150 is always a great race and we can’t wait for this year’s edition.

We’ll see you at the races!