Kevin Swindell picked up the...
Kevin Swindell picked up the victory in the Friday night action of the Mason-Dixon Dixieland Challenge.
In most parts of the country, you can't enjoy certain outdoor activities all year long. Fishermen will adapt by cutting holes in the ice surface to get to their prizes. Some racers will retreat to indoor radio-controlled events or, in some cases, slot cars, if they have made a resurgence in your area. Some racers are fortunate enough to keep the real thing going, even when the temperature dips below the spot where outdoor spectating is insane.
Indoor racing is as much a part of the sport as its outdoor counterpart, but it is truly more seasonal. You'll generally only find the indoor racing in the months of December and January. It's only natural. After all, other outdoor sports such as baseball and football have retreated inside domed stadia for decades.
At the end of 2005, there were a couple of scheduled indoor events in Michigan and Indiana. Of course, there's the Chili Bowl in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which has been going on for 20 years, but that one will be covered later.
Photographer Todd Ridgeway gets plenty of action during the warm months, but his restless racing spirit doesn't allow him to miss much. When he had the opportunity to load up his camera gear and take in some December racing, he did.
 Mason-Dixon Dixieland Challenge...  Mason-Dixon Dixieland Challenge
Grand Rapids, MI
Dec. 16-17
Ryan Davis (8) and Bill Jacoby (10) tangle in the fourth turn. |  Cameron Dodson (50) was one...  Cameron Dodson (50) was one of the hot hands in open-wheel racing in 2005. He makes his move on Doug Berryman in the feature. |  While most indoor racing involves...  While most indoor racing involves open-wheel cars, this event invited Sportsman racers. Paul Smith won the Sportsman event. |
 NASCAR Nextel Cup racer Dave...  NASCAR Nextel Cup racer Dave Blaney takes a break from his stock car and track promotion duties to suit up for a return to the open-wheel cars of his heritage. |  Johnny Heydenreich (92) came...  Johnny Heydenreich (92) came from Pennsylvania to do battle. (Note: Racing was cancelled after 18 laps on the first night, due to a non-racing accident that resulted in the death of a security guard.) |  Rumble in the Dome Fort Wayne,...  Rumble in the Dome
Fort Wayne, IN
Dec. 29-30
Just weeks after picking up the prestigious H.G. Adcox Sportsmanship Award at the series banquet, ARCA standout Brandon Knupp (15) moved his racing indoors. |
 An early feature race accident...  An early feature race accident quashed the hopes of some Midget powers. Dave Darland (0) and Mel Kenyon (61) rest atop Tony Stewart's car, and all three were done. Johnny Heydenreich, sitting sideways on the track, could continue. |  Rich Corson fought off four...  Rich Corson fought off four former USAC national champions to win the Friday Midget feature from his sixth starting spot. |  Tony Elliott (left) and Don...  Tony Elliott (left) and Don Kenyon contemplate the setup before the Saturday feature. |
 Fremont (Ohio) Speedway Sprint...  Fremont (Ohio) Speedway Sprint champ John Ivy captured the 600cc Midget mains on Friday and Saturday. |  Tony Stewart was the big winner...  Tony Stewart was the big winner in the Saturday night Midget main. | |