National notebook
Notes: Rogers takes aim at capturing father's race
Rick Rogers
Rick Rogers has won scores of races at tracks all over the Tennessee Valley. But there is one event that would mean more than any other to the 50-year-old racer from Knoxville, Tenn., the race named in honor of his late father, Ralph "Buddy" Rogers Sr.
"It would be huge to win the race named after my dad," Rogers said. "To get to put my name in the win column would probably make me cry. I wouldn't care if it paid $2 to win."
Sunday's Buddy Rogers Memorial 44 will pay $3,000 to the winner in National All Star Racing Association action at Tazewell (Tenn.) Speedway. Its the third annual race bearing the name of Rogers, who died in 2008 after a bout with cancer.
Dale McDowell of Chickamauga, Ga., won in 2008 when the event hosted by The Mountain Raceway in Maryville, Tenn., while Billy Ogle Jr. of Knoxville won last year in Tazewell.
"We had the fastest car last year and a pill draw killed me," Rogers said. ""We set fast time and won our heat race but got pushed into the wall trying to race through traffic and had to drop out of the race."
Aside from providing fans with thrilling competition on the steeply banked third-mile dirt oval, the race raises money for the American Cancer Society in honor of Buddy Rogers. More than $2,000 was raised last year.
Jimmy "Pup" Thomas of Hoosier Tire South is spearheading the drive to raise money for the fight against the debilitating disease. Lap sponsorships of $44 apiece will go to the American Cancer Society in honor of Rogers. Information on how to reach Thomas can be found at the Tazewell Speedway's website(tazewellspeedway.net).
Because of his relationship with his father, there was never much doubt that Rick Rogers would drive race cars. Even though he was a highly regarded baseball player at Knoxville's Halls High School, he put racing above all else.
"I was going to races when I was in diapers," Rogers said. "Even though I was a pretty good ballplayer in school, I chose not to go to a banquet once to go to a race."
Rogers took a weekend off to prepare for the race he most wants to win.
"We've been hit and miss this year and have not found that happy medium like we're used to," Rogers said. "We want to have our best shot at running well."
But win or lose, Rogers will always hold his father in high regard. "There's no way I could live up to his credentials," he said. "He was a good, loyal man. I just looked up to him for anything and everything. He made me proud." — Richard Allen
KENTUCKY RACETRACK OWNER KILLED IN ACCIDENT: The track owner of 191 Speedway near Campton, Ky., was struck by a car and killed Saturday evening while helping park cars of race fans. Wince Mayabb, who opened the track with his sons Kevin and Walt last autumn, was 67. Family members and track workers rushed to Mayabb's aid after the accident, but he was declared dead later at Kentucky River Medical Center in Jackson. A memorial on the track's website said Mayabb had dreamed of building and operating the eastern Kentucky oval. "He was known at the track for his peacemaking ability and taking care of all the racers and fans to make sure they had anything and everything they needed to have a good time," the website said. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Wince Mayabb Memorial Fund at Farmers and Traders Bank, P.O. Box 699, Campton, KY 41301. After Wednesday's funeral, the track is hosting a 6 p.m. potluck dinner. — From staff reports
BIG-BLOCKS, SPRINTS ADDED TO PITTSBURGHER: Big-block modifieds and outlaw sprints will join Super Late Models at Pittsburgh's Pennsylvania Motor Speedway in a new format the track announced for its annual Tri-Star Pittsburgher. The Super Late Model portion of the Sept. 17-18 event will feature an unsanctioned $2,000-to-win main event on Friday and a $7,000-to-win feature Saturday sanctioned by the UFO Race Championship Series and Northern Tier United Late Model Series. A driver sweeping the 33- and 66-lap features earns a $1,000 bonus. Fastrak-sanctioned Crate Late Models are among lower divisions in action. For more information visit ppms.com. — From series reports
YANKEE DIRT TRACK CLASSIC PURSE GETS $10,000 BOOST: Undisclosed sponsorship at Farley (Iowa) Speedway has helped boost the purse for the long-time Super Late Model event by $10,000. The winner of the Sept. 15-18 event receives $15,000, an increase of $5,000 from last year, and all 24 main event starters receive at least $1,000. In other news at Simmons Promotions tracks, all three Simmons ovals (Farley on Friday, West Liberty on Saturday and Dubuque on Sunday) will host $2,000-to-win events for unsanctioned Super Late Models on Labor Day weekend. — From track reports
CHEROKEE ADDING FIVE TO HALL OF FAME: Festivities at Cherokee Speedway's fourth annual Hall of Fame Race on Sunday, Sept. 5, will include the inductions of five new members to the Hall of Fame at the Gaffney, S.C. track. Retired racers Paul "The Ghost" Gose and Jack Pennington along with current racer Ricky Weeks will be inducted along with late track photographer Mike Butler and legendary chassis builder Barry Wright. The inductions will precede the $10,000-to-win Southern All Star East event at the 4/10-mile oval. — From series reports
SPECIAL EVENT AND SCHEDULE CHANGES: The Dewitt Singleton-promoted Magnolia State 100, scheduled for Sept. 24-25 at Columbus (Miss.) Speedway, has boosted its winning purse by $5,000 up to $25,000. ... The $10,000-to-win Southern Regional Racing Series event scheduled for Labor Day weekend at Duck River Speedway in Wheel, Tenn., was cancelled citing financial issues; SRRS amended its weekend schedule with a $2,000-to-win event at Duck River on Friday and a $2,000-to-win event at Thunderhill Raceway in Summertown, Tenn., on Saturday. ... The Mississippi State Championship Challenge Series has added a $3,000-to-win event on Oct. 2 at Jackson (Miss.) Motor Speedway. ... Swainsboro (Ga.) Raceway's Southern Dream for Crate Late Models, scheduled to pay $20,000 to the winner, has been pushed back from its original Labor Day weekend date to Nov. 25-27.
ODDS AND ENDS: The NDRA Crate organization suspended driver Dan Yarbrough on year because of engine violations discovered at a July 30 event at Cleveland County Speedway in Lawndale, N.C. Yarbrough was also fined $1,500. ... Fans can win prizes of all sorts Sunday, Sept. 5, at Eldora Speedway's Baltes Classic on the Sunoco American Late Model Series. Among prizes up for grabs are cash, gift cards, Tony Stewart merchandise, sets of Goodyear tires, suite tickets for the World 100, and a $900 trip to November's World Finals in Charlotte, N.C.
