Bristol Motor Speedway
Notebook: West Plains primed for Show-Me 100
From series, track and special reports
Get ready for one of the nation's most lucrative Dirt Late Model events. The 16th annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Show-Me 100 is scheduled for May 22-24 at West Plains (Mo.) Motor Speedway, The Memorial Day weekend tradition is scheduled to pay a race-high $42,000 to the winner and at least $4,200 to each driver in the 24-car starting field. The event's fast qualifier is also in line for $1,900.
Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Ark., will gun for his third consecutive Show-Me 100 victory at the 3/8-mile track promoted by Don and Billie Gibson in southcentral Missouri. Don Gibson, one of the true specialists in preparing the track's racing surface, had open-heart surgery during the off-season but is fully recovered and ready for his duties at West Plains.
The May 22-24 event will see practice and the traditional barbecue dinner on Thursday night. Friday's action will include time trials and six heat races with the top three finishers from each heat transferring to the main event. On Saturday, consolation races will help fill the remainder of the starting field for the 100-lapper, which will cap the event. Saturday's action will also include a Race of Champions and Manufacturer's Dash. Modifieds will be in competition on Friday and Saturday. — Ben Shelton
CLAYCOMB OFF TO HOT START: Obviously well rested, veteran dirt racer Kevin Claycomb of Vincennes, Ind., has come back from his four-year retirement with a flurry. He won two of his first three starts, including Florence (Ky.) Speedway's Spring 50 on April 5, his first $5,000 victory since 2001. Claycomb's family-backed team quit touring in 2004, but he's taken a ride with Scott Clippinger Racing of Evansville, Ind. “The kids got older and they were playing sports and with the business we just didn’t have the time to put into (racing)," said Claycomb, who attended a single event before driving a few times for Clippinger last fall. "I don’t know how much we’ll be racing this year. I’m just enjoying this right now, I go (to Evansville) once a week to check things out, so hopefully we can keep this going in a positive direction." — James Essex
STEIDINGER EYES VICTORY CIRCLE: Last year's UMP weekly points runner-up Wes Steidinger of Fairbury, Ill., was impressive in finishing fifth in the World of Outlaws Late Model Series stop at Farmer City (Ill.) Raceway in April 4-5. Steidinger finished four spots behind Billy Moyer's Victory Circle M1 Chassis, and soon he plans to take delivery of a similar car from the Bakersfield, Calif.-based chassis builder that's been collaborating with the Hall of Famer. “We hope that working with someone as knowledgeable as Billy will help us get (to major-contender status),” said Steidinger, who plans to continue fielding his customary Rayburn cars as well. “A deal to do something with Billy came up, and it was something we couldn’t pass up. I can’t wait to get in the car.” — Kevin Kovac
EIGHT-TIME NCRA CHAMP GETS PROBATION: A plea agreement with prosecutors will keep eight-time NCRA champion Larry McDaniels of Valley Center, Kan., out of jail, but it won’t keep him off the sex offender list. The 52-year-old McDaniels on March 12 was sentenced to 36 months probation after pleading no contest to charges of indecent liberties with a child and attempted solicitation. He'll be required to register as a sex offender with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. The charges stemmed from an August 2006 incident where police said they interrupted a sexual encounter in a truck between McDaniels and a 15-year-old girl. — Ark Valley News
IMCA ANNOUNCES BRODIX CONTINGENCIES: Brodix will give cylinder head sets to IMCA weekly and Deery Brothers Summer Series champions, as well as the top rookies in both divisions. Drivers cannot have competed in more than four sanctioned events to be considered rookies in either case. Rookie contenders must register by Aug. 1 and drivers must display two Brodix decals on their race cars. — Bill Martin
HARRIS EXPECTED TO RETURN WITH WDRL: Brian Harris of Davenport, Iowa, who suffered serious injuries in a Sept. 22 racing accident that ended his 2007 season, is expected to be among those in action when the World Dirt Racing League launches its 2008 season April 11 at Davenport Speedway. The Fiesta 40, sponsored by Rudy's Tacos, pays $5,000 to the winner. — Bucky Doren
