The news of C.J. Rayburn’s passing on New Year’s Day didn’t necessarily come as a shock to those closest to the legendary chassis builder from Whiteland, Ind. Rayburn, 81, died after battling the complications from Covid-related pneumonia, a tough out for an old bird who was every much an eagle in the eyes of nearly everyone he crossed paths with.

Don’t believe me? Try finding a negative comment on social media about Carl Jerome Rayburn. I bet you’d spend hours searching fruitlessly. MORE

Much like 2020, most of us are eager to put 2021 in the rearview mirror. It was a strange year indeed, one that began with great hope, but fizzled somewhat about halfway through. We were fortunate to enjoy twice as many events at Ohio’s famed Eldora Speedway — though it’s likely that Evans. Ga., superstar Brandon Overton enjoyed it more than anyone — and we welcomed the return of the Gateway Dirt Nationals inside the Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis. I was at the track this season MORE

It seems like each year following the Castrol Gateway Dirt Nationals the same question pops up: Should the Late Model field be limited to invitees only? And each time it does, it seems like I have to defend the little guy.

One thing I like about the Gateway Dirt Nationals is that it’s one of the few events we have where low-budget and underfunded teams truly believe that they can compete with the sport’s big-budget teams. For drivers, often times the one thing they desire the most is simply MORE