In Memory of Adam PettyThe loss of Adam Petty on May 12, 2000, left everyone involved in racing shocked and saddened. The Petty family lost a son and a grandson. The racing community lost a friend, a competitor, a role model, and a future hero. Adam Petty, a 19-year-old Busch Grand National Series driver, was practicing at New Hampshire International Raceway in preparation for the next day's Busch 200 when the fatal accident occurred.
Petty was competing in his second year in the Busch Grand National Series and was headed to Winston Cup in 2001 where he was going to have the opportunity to fulfill a dream: race against his father.
Adam began racing go-karts at 6. His first competitive Stock Car experience was in 1997 in the Late Model division in the NASCAR Weekly Racing Series. He was the youngest driver ever to win a race in both the ASA and ARCA Series. He clearly possessed talent and was gaining valuable experience with every race. His Winston Cup debut came in April 2000 at Texas Motor Speedway, where he ran well but fell out with engine failure. Nevertheless, that Texas race made him the fourth generation of Pettys to race in NASCAR's highest division.
Adam's future appeared to be bright. In his short time on the public stage, he showed the value of a genuine smile, a passion for life, and a great attitude. The staff of Circle Track Magazine extends its condolences and sympathies to the Petty family.
Dirt Late Model Race PaysOne Million to WinAre you tired of purses that don't pay diddly? Then take your dirt Late Model to Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio, October 6 and 7. Track owner Earl Baltes will pay $1 million to the winner of The Eldora Million.
To put this in perspective, the Indy 500 and the Daytona 500 are the only other American races that pay a million to win. And this is on a 11/42-mile high-banked dirt oval! The series is the American Late Model Series by Sunoco (ALMS), which is sanctioned by the United Midwestern Promoters (UMP). ALMS uses UMP's car-specification guidelines.
The event is expected to attract all types of Late Model dirt track racers, but nobody knows for sure who will show up. Drivers from the Hav-A-Tampa, Southern All Stars, and many other top dirt series may show up, but scheduling difficulties with points races may keep non-ALMS drivers away. Or they may not.
Baltes is no stranger to big-purse races. He also is responsible for the Kings Royal and The Big One (Sprint Cars), and The Dream (a $100,000-to-win Late Model race). The typical ALMS purse is $2,000. At press time, no announcements had been made regarding a TV broadcast or any special promotions.
Kansas City and Chicago Will be on 2001 Winston Cup ScheduleThe 2001 Winston Cup schedule is growing by two races. Official announcements report two new dates on the 2001 schedule, bringing the total number of points races to 36. The Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, and the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kansas, received the two new dates. The Kansas Speedway will host a Winston Cup and a Busch race Sept. 29-30, and the Chicagoland Speedway will host a Winston Cup and a Busch race July 14-15. Both tracks are 1.5-mile speedways.
First WinsName: Jimmy WalkerSeries: UMP ModifiedsCar: UMP Modified #7Hometown: Rensselaer, Indiana
Bio: Jimmy Walker won his first UMP Modified race at Shadyhill Speedway in Medary-ville, Indiana, on Saturday, July 24, 1999. The 36 year old won the Hobby Stock Division Championship at Shady in 1997 before moving up a class to run Modifieds in 1998.
Jimmy works 50-plus hours a week at a stone quarry and maintains his car by himself. He races every Saturday night at the local track, and whenever possible, he travels to surrounding tracks to participate in special events. Jimmy has been involved in racing since he was in high school. His future plans include racing at the UMP Winter Nationals in Florida and the UMP Fall Nationals at Eldora. He hopes to be the track champion in the Modified division and is working hard to make 2000 the year.
Goodbye Restrictor Plates?In response to drivers' pleas for a resolution to the dangerous conditions created by restrictor plates mandated at Daytona and Talladega, NASCAR's top rule makers are allowing the teams to demonstrate alternative ways to slow the cars down.
NASCAR Winston Cup Series Director Gary Nelson held a test session in April at Talladega with cars from Richard Childress' and Jack Roush's teams. Although the restrictor plates were never completely removed, larger holes were used in combination with different aerodynamic configurations. About 20 ideas were tested, which ranged from larger, more upright spoilers to increasing the height of the roof and windows and the rake of the windshield. Test results were not made public, and no announcements were made of any imminent changes.
First WinsBio: Tim got his first win in an I.M.C.A. Stock Car in July at the Audobon County Speedway in Audobon, Iowa. This 19 year old finished third in points at that track and also placed fourth in points at the Shelby County Speedway in Harlan, Iowa. The win came three months into Tim's first year in the Stock Car class, in which he races against national champions. Tim, who started racing in the I.M.C.A. Hobby Stock class at the age of 16, spends long nights with his pit crew to prepare his car for weekend races.
| Name: | Tim Bengard |
| Series: | I.M.C.A. |
| Car: | '85 Oldsmobile | Cutlass #19B |
| Hometown: | Exira, Iowa |
Where to Send Info:Do you qualify to be in Circle Track's First Wins section? Any driver who recently took his or her first win in a particular series qualifies. Follow the format we used and include: name, series, driver, car, hometown, 4x6 photo, and brief description of what it took to get to victory lane. Send everything to Circle Track, First Wins Dept., 6420 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048. We are unable to return any photos or information.
Dodge This!When Dodge asked visitors to its Web site who they thought should drive for its new team, it received more than 57,000 responses. Keep in mind this was before any formal announcement had been made. Out of 15 possible drivers, 72 percent of the respondents chose Bill Elliott-and were correct. Runners-up were Casey Atwood at seven percent, Jeff Gordon at four percent, Kyle Petty at three percent, and Adam Petty and John Andretti at two percent. Those who guessed correctly were rewarded with a free hat. Dodge's Web address is www.4adodge.com.
In other Dodge news, we received this picture of Jimmy Becker's Dodge Intrepid, which is said to be one of the first-ever Stock Cars to actually race with the new Intrepid body style. This car races in the McLeodUSA Stock Car Touring Series and debuted April 2 at the Rockford Speedway in Rockford, Illinois.