Brad Heath

BURNING UP THE TRACK WITH A 312 V-8!
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85-4024
Edward Glenn Roberts, Jr. loved baseball and
car racing. Baseball got him his nickname,
“Fireball,” but his victories on dirt tracks
turned him to racing full time. His most
famous racer was a 1957 Ford with a
“Thunderbird Special” supercharged 312 c.i.
V-8. In it, he won eight races. His victories
were second only to his personality and he
was voted “Most Popular Driver”.
Ford Motor Company Trademarks and Trade dress used under license to Revell Inc.
©2014 Revell Inc. Elk Grove Village, IL 60007 • All rights reserved. OCT14
All trademarks used under license.
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
3
10
| Port City Racin’
It’s going to be another great
year at Port City. Check out their
schedule of events for 2015.
14 | Daryn Pittman
Driver of the No.9 Great Clips
car Daryn Pittman continues
to rock the World of Outlaws.
20 | 50 Years of Drag Racing
Tulsa Raceway Park is
celebrating its 50th birthday.
We take a look back at an
amazing 50 years of drag
racing at TRP.
30 | Pole Position
Where is the best place in
Oklahoma City to tighten those
belts and get your race on? Pole
Position of course.
More Of What
We Love
In this edition of American
Racer Magazine we sit down
with 2013 World of Outlaws
champion Daryn Pittman, to
discuss the 2015 season and
what we can expect from the
driver of the Kasey Kahne Racing No.9 car.
Tulsa Raceway Park is turning 50 this year and we couldn’t think
of a better gift than a 6-page feature with great photos and quotes
from some of TRP’s favorite sons and daughters.
We caught up with Braden Huff as he returns to the track after a
fiery crash at the Tulsa Shootout. Huff has a message every driver
should hear.
Other stories include the return of Tulsa MX racing, SDRA drag
racing, and “The List-Tulsa Style” finds a home in American Racer.
Be sure and log on to www.MicroOutlaws.com or www.
bghphotosonline.com to download a digital copy of the magazine.
Or you can contact us at 918-812-5858 for a subscription and
have the magazine mailed directly to your house or business.
As always we would like to thank our sponsors for their support.
Without their support we couldn’t bring you the best coverage in
Oklahoma motorsports. Pinnacle Performance, Absolute Power
Wash, Harley Hollan Co. and A-1 AutoBody are the new sponsors
we’re proud to call a partner. So go visit their businesses and let
them know you saw their ad in American Racer Magazine!
Brad Heath
Publisher
Bent Wrench Media, LLC
12330 E. 60th St. STE A • Tulsa, OK 74146 All rights reserved.
Publisher Brad Heath
Associate Editor Matt Witte
Art Editor Brad Harris
Corn Husker Rod Coulter
Show Daddy Chris Gibson
Sales/Events Coordinator Katina Heath
Contributing Writers Damon Hassell, Brad Heath, Lonnie Wheatley, Carl Blanton, John Watt
Contributing Photographers Carl Blanton, Dylan Duvall, Bob DeYoung, Bland Bridenstine, Ashley Harris, Brad
Harris, Mike Spivey, Ped Watt, Toyse Woody Jr.
Special Thanks Todd Harper, Shawn Lowman, Jake Rosario, Mathew DeYoung, Steve Huff, Don Garlits, Jack Wyatt,
Tracy Thompson-Dean, Mable Mischief
Cover Photo Courtesy of National Dragster
Contact Information
Facebook: American Racer Magazine • Twitter: @AmericanRacerMag • Phone: 918.812.5858
Sales: 918.902.9696
American Racer Magazine is published bi-monthly by Bent Wrench Media, LLC. Reproductions in whole
or in part without permission are prohibited. American Racer Magazine is not responsible for the return
of unsolicited artwork, photography or manuscripts and will not be responsible for holding fees or similar
charges. All digital submissions and correspondence will become property of American Racer Magazine.
charges. All digital submissions and correspondences will become property of ARM.
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
5
PICTURE THIS
Jake Chapman
By Ped Watt
6
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
Conlee McAlvain
By Ped Watt
Blazik Perez
By Ped Watt
Marvin Jenkins
By Ped Watt
Christopher Bell
By Brad Harris
Enough Said
By Brad Heath
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
7
Dirt Nationals Kylee Bryson Drew Sawyer Scott Sawyer
By Brad Harris
Juniors Side By SIde
By Brad Harris
Will Scribner
By Brad Heath
Perry Hicks
Paul York
Robert Sievert
Karley Kay Dobson
By Ped Watt
By Brad Heath
By Brad Heath
By Brad Harris
Chris Andrews driving SpongeBob
By Brad Harris
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
9
lus Outlaw Class Micros
P
3/27: Spring Fling
3/28: Spring Fling
MARCH
3/7: Practice
3/14: Practice
3/20: POWRI Midgets National Series/Plus 600
Non-Wing Class Micros
3/21: POWRI Midgets National Series 10
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
APRIL
4/4: First Points Race
4/11: Points Race
4/18: Points Race
4/25: Points Race
MAY
5/2: Points Race
5/9: Points Race
5/16: Points Race
5/22: Memorial Day Special
Points Race
5/23: Memorial Day Special
Points Race
JUNE
6/6: Points Race
6/13: Points Race
6/20: Points Race
6/27: Points Race
Photos By Brad Harris
AmeriFlex / OCRS Sprint Cars Are Off and
Running
By John Lemon
OCRS Public Relations
While area racetracks and regional racing series found it tough going
to get the 2015 racing season underway in the month of March due
to unfavorable weather, the AmeriFlex Hose & Accessories / Oil
Capital Racing Series got their season under way in perfect weather
conditions at the Southern Oklahoma Speedway in Ardmore on
March 28th. Here are some notes from the recently completed event:
*Nigel Calvert went green to checkered for his first career victory
in his Aegis Oil / DSO Racing Engines / D&E Supply special in a car
owned by David Stephenson.
*The 34 cars that checked in for competition was the third best car
count for a season opener in the 14 years the series has existed.
Lawton Speedway with 40 cars in 2011 and Brill Motor Speedway
with 37 in 2013 were the only years to top the 2015 opener.
*Only 3 drivers in the final 2014 top ten standings finished in the
top 10 of the season opener at Southern Oklahoma Speedway. Brian
McClelland was 5th in each, 2014 champion Andrew Deal was 7th at
SOS and Cameron Hagin finished 10th at SOS while he nestled into a
9th place final spot in 2014.
*More Tough Luck: 4 drivers that won feature events in 2014
finished in positions 15-20 at SOS: Kade Morton (15th), Danny Smith
(17th), Alex DeCamp (18th) and Shane Sellers (20th) found the
opener tough.
*A record of five Texans participated in a season opener: Cody
Cothran (6th) and Brandon Long (9th) were feature competitors
while TJ Honkomp, Denny Cothran and John Kelly also competed.
*The Good and the Bad of a Father and Son Team…….
Robert & Shane Sellers each won heat races and looked to be in great
shape for solid feature runs only to be the first two knocked out of
the main event. Each were a serious threat to win the opener.
*While the exact numbers aren’t known, it was without a doubt
that the attendance at
Southern Oklahoma
Speedway was the
largest ever for the
AmeriFlex / OCRS
sprints since first
coming in midsummer of 2011 when
promoters John &
Nicky Webb purchased
the track.
April – May AmeriFlex / OCRS Docket:
April 11th: It’s “Open Wheel Saturday” at the Outlaw Motor
Speedway where the AmeriFlex / OCRS sprint cars will headline an
all open wheel show that will include the Powri West Midgets and
the Oklahoma Wingless Warrior sprints.
April 18th: The series treks north to the Osage Casino Caney Valley
Speedway in Caney Kansas for a ‘Thunder in the Valley” showdown.
April 25th: AmeriFlex / OCRS sprint cars will visit ‘Lanny’s House’
in Lawton OK as the red clay of Lanny Edwards’ Lawton Speedway
will be the host destination. Forty plus cars isn’t a bad bet to make
for this stop.
May 9th: Oklahoma Sports Park in Ada OK will present the 7th
Annual Harold Leep Jr Memorial event. OSP is one of the fastest
tracks on tour so don’t blink when you go.
May 15th: Flint Creek Speedway in West Siloam Springs OK will be
host to the first leg of a weekend doubleheader that will see extra
AmeriFlex cash up for the taking.
May 16th: Its hold your breath time as the AmeriFlex / OCRS sprint
cars take on the steep grades of the Salina Highbanks located in
Salina OK for the second leg of the weekend double involving the
aforementioned AmeriFlex cash.
May 23rd: Back to the Osage Casino Caney Valley Speedway for a
Memorial Day racing weekend. Watch some hyped up sprints ride
rough shod before you take in the ultra smooth Indy cars for the
Indianapolis 500 on TV the next day.
May 30th: Another visit to Lawton Speedway is in order for the
AmeriFlex / OCRS sprint cars in southwest Oklahoma. Can a car
count of 40+ happen back to back at Lawton? Don’t bet against it.
Checkout the remaining 2015 sprint car schedule along with
AmeriFlex / OCRS news and racing photo action at: www.ocrsracing.
com
AMERICAN RACER
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APRIL 2015
11
Tulsa MX
Story and Photos By Ped Watt
“TMX, Tulsa MX, Tulsa Motocross, or Extreme World. No matter
what name you know Tulsa MX by, if you have raced motocross in
northeastern Oklahoma in the last 15 years, then you have probably
have raced on this track. Many of us called it home; many of us
experienced motocross for the first time on this revered piece of
dirt off of Apache Street. A little over a year ago, the news spread
across Facebook like wildfire that not only had TMX closed, but it
would be going up for auction. Panic struck the Oklahoma Motocross
community as one of it’s cornerstones was feared gone forever. The
property was bought at auction by Belk Bridge to store construction
equipment. As the Belks are a MX family, the rumors soon
started that they would reopen it. Some of the rumors grew quite
extravagant, but the core of the rumor remained the same - TMX
would return under new management in 2015. Then the rumors
died, and most people wrote them off as wishful thinking. Then on
November 3, 2014, a Facebook page
was created with the declaration
of the return of TMX in March
of 2015. Jeremy Thomas of
JT Powersports, the brains
behind AMP and Stillwater
Mini-X, would be managing
the track.
The wait started as we all
watched the page like
hawks waiting on updates.
Would it be early or late
March? Would they do
weekly practices or
just a handful of
races? Would they
appreciate the
history of the track,
or would they rip
the track apart
and create their
own monster?
Slowly, details
trickled onto the
page. The first
race
and practice
dates were posted,
then pushed back, and then a late
snowfall pushed the date back
again.
Chase Snapp
12
AMERICAN RACER
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March 12, 2015, the day the
Oklahoma Motocross community had
been awaiting for over a year. With a
APRIL 2015
Jett Wilson
Addison Emory IV
water truck stuck by the starting line, a bulldozer with a cracked
engine block, and their tractor in Stillwater, Jeremy and family
welcomed us to our old home. There was a line five trucks deep
when I arrived, and by the time I got through the line there were
ten trucks behind me. The riders were working the track, telling the
new guys about this table top or that triple, about the first time they
pulled a whip on the table top by the starting line, or wiped out on
the hairpin the first time they took it too fast. Joe “Spine” Metzger
said that returning to TMX gave him a “feeling of home.” The track
came alive as over 80 riders came in from all over the state and
neighboring states to be part of the rebirth of this track. The track
was rough around the edges, and the infield had a pond or two, but
the dirt worked up and the riders reported it was like the “old days.”
We caught up with Jeremy to see what he thought after the success
of the opening night and after so many setbacks. “When we first
started talking about taking over TMX, everyone I talked to threw
different numbers around about the turnouts they used to get for
practice nights. I heard numbers in the 140’s, then as low as the 40’s
so I really had no idea what to expect. About 5:45 pm, I was sitting
in the flag stand and noticed the cars lined up all the way to the road
and they stayed that way until about 6:30. This was the first time I
really felt like ‘OK I can make this work.’ It was a huge relief to finally
have bikes on the track.”
The Oklahoma State Championship Series, Sooner Series, and the
Pro Circuit Series will be racing at Tulsa MX in 2015. They will also
be doing a Summer Series and challenging the motocross community
once again with the Iron Man Race. No matter how you look at it,
Tulsa MX is back and it is going to be an exciting year for Oklahoma
MX.”
Braden Huff survived a scary crash and subsequent fire at the
Tulsa Shootout this year. After getting back on the track and in
the car, Huff shared his story with American Racer Magazine
as well as some intense images courtesy of Mike Spivey and
Dylan Duvall.
AR: Braden, you’re an experienced racer with ten years in
the cockpit, but even with all of that experience sometimes
a scary situation can pop up when you least expect it. Tell
me about the accident at the Shootout this year.
Huff: On the start it was a little loose and I felt the car
slide up a little but I thought that the right rear would just
tag the wall and I would go on. But, it tagged the wall and the
right front got sucked up in the wall and then all I saw was a
blur of colors and then I slammed into the ground. Then I saw
the fire from underneath the firewall and I quickly got out.
AR: The danger is an inherit part of racing. That chance
that you may end up in a situation where your knowledge
of the situation has to take over. In that moment what’s
going through your mind and are you just on autopilot
doing what you know you have to do to get out? Walk us
through it.
Huff: There really wasn’t a whole lot going through my mind.
I knew that when I was going to land, it was going to hurt. I
didn’t know the car had caught fire until I landed and as soon
as I saw it, I knew I had to get out quick.
AR: Was there any safety equipment that worked better
than you expected and was there anything that failed?
Huff: Not really. My safety equipment did everything it was
designed to do.
AR: How quick did the track workers respond and
important were they in helping you to safety?
Huff: The track workers were there immediately and I was
already getting out so there wasn’t much they could do until I
was over the top of the roll cage. Once I was out of the car, the
track workers put out the fire on my legs.
AR: What was the result of the accident for you physically?
Huff: 1st degree and a little bit of 2nd degree burns to my
face, and a transverse fracture and compressed fracture in my
lower back.
AR: How ready were you to get back into the car?
Huff: I was ready to go around the first of
February after most of the pain was gone.
AR: What do you want other drivers and
car owners to learn from your accident?
Huff: Don’t short cut your safety
equipment.
AR: So what does the future hold for
Braden?
Huff: I plan to continue racing micros
for a while. After I graduate high school,
I plan to go to college for mechanical
engineering.
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
13
Daryn Pittman
The Owasso, OK Native Is On Top Of The World
Daryn Pittman is off to a great start
to the 2015 season as the World of
Outlaws driver of the #9 Great Clips
car is placing the pressure on himself to grab some big wins for Kasey
Kahne Racing.
AR: After a great 2014 campaign,
what can we expect from the #9 in
2015?
Pittman: Hopefully more of what
we have done over the past two
years. Obviously we are always
striving to accomplish more and
run better than we have in the past.
We definitely want to win another
championship and while a lofty 20
win season is very achievable with
this team. Personally I want to win
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AMERICAN RACER
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APRIL 2015
a crown jewel of our sport for KKR
(Kasey Kahne Racing)! We really
need to perform well at the big
races this year and win at least one.
We have been close at the National
Open the last two years and lost the
Gold Cup off of turn 4 last year. It’s
definitely a major goal of mine for
the year and one I am putting a lot
of pressure on myself to achieve.
list of favorites would be: Williams
Grove, Eldora, Pevely, Beaver Dam,
New Egypt, and Salina Highbanks.
All are tracks I have had success
at and feel we are a threat to win
every time we race there.
AR: Most drivers have one or two
places they love to race, what’s
your favorite place and why?
AR: Social media has brought fans
to your doorstep and for some
there is an added pressure to respond to fans. What advice would
you give young drivers when it
comes to dealing with social media and interacting with fans?
Pittman: I get asked that question
a lot and to be honest have never
been able to answer with just one
track. I have a lot of tracks I feel suit
me and have had success at. So my
Pittman: Well that’s a tough one
for me as I am one of the last ones
to join the social media scene it
seems. I never understood it until
I joined twitter a few years ago. I
beautiful daughters that will get to travel the country
with us as a family. She allows me to do what I love for a
living and supports me 100 percent. It’s all we have ever
done since we got married and I am lucky to have her by
my side.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
2014 – 14 Feature Wins, 50 Top Fives
2013 – WoO Champion
2011 – WoO Summer Nationals Winner
King of the 360’s at East Bay
2010 – PA Keystone Cup Champion
have to admit that I do love the interaction from the fans
and the connection it brings between fans and drivers.
I follow drivers I am a fan of and it definitely makes you
feel like you get to know people more than you ever
would in real life. I don’t respond as much as I probably
should, but I definitely read every comment and it’s an
awesome feeling seeing how many people live your ups
and downs with you. As far as advice goes I was always
taught to act right as you never knew who was watching
and that’s never been more true now with social media.
Even comments that people make on there own twitter/
Facebook you never know who is going to see it now. It’s
definitely something I am still learning, but try real hard
to keep comments positive. I try to keep a balance between racing stuff and family activities and non-racing
stuff. I know I enjoy seeing what people do away from
the racetrack so I try to do the same.
AR: In every racing career there is someone who
helped the driver early in his career. Maybe it was
providing them with a ride or simple words of encouragement. Who helped you early on and what did
that mean to you?
Mitch Smith Memorial Winner
2009 – Mitch Smith Memorial Winner
Won 2-of-3 Triples 20’s at Williams Grove
2008 – King’s Royal at Eldora Speedway
2007 – 7 Victories including ESPN/Speed at Dodge City
2006 – 7 WoO Features
Summer Nationals Win
Gold Cup at Chico Speedway
Wins at Eagle Raceway & Princeton Speedway
2005 – Won Clean-O World Challenge at Knoxville
2004 – Won Kele World Challenge at Knoxville
2003 – Won Historical Big One Champion at Eldora
2003 – Australian Sprint Car Driver of the Year
2002 – WoO Hard Charger Award Winner
Won 1st WoO A Feature at Perris Speedway
2001 – Gumout Series Champion
1998 – Rookie of the Knoxville Nationals
Pittman: No doubt I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t
for my dad. He has always been my biggest fan and
pushed me to do the best I could. He was the one that
took me as far as he could until I could start getting
rides in other people’s cars. I have memories of a lot of
drivers giving me advice and helping me out early on in
an occasion or two, but no doubt my dad was the most
influential.
AR: First congrats! You added a new addition to the
family this year, how important of a role does Mandy
play in your overall success and what’s it like to have
Kady as part of the family?
Pittman: Thank You! Mandy’s role is by far the most important role hands down. If she were not on board with
our lifestyle I would quit! I am very blessed to have two
AMERICAN RACER
|
APRIL 2015
15
Hunter
Photo By BGHP
Fischer
PhotosOnline.com
Outlaw Motor Speedway
Track owner Jessie Hoskins from Longdale,
Oklahoma began racing in 2013 and enjoyed it
so much he decided to build a track in Longdale.
With Enid Speedway closing, Northeast
Oklahoma had no place to race, the track in
Longdale filled a need for racers in that area. In
July of 2014 Hoskins made the trip to Outlaw
Motor Speedway for a Saturday night race and
liked what he saw. One thing led to another and
Hoskins ended up buying the track. Soon after
Chris Smith became track manager, running dayto-day operations. We sat down with Smith to
talk about the 2015 season, track improvements
and what fans can expect when they come out
for one of several big events this season.
AR: Outlaw Motor Speedway is very popular,
what do you think separates it from other
tracks in eastern Oklahoma?
Smith: Outlaw is one of the nicest tracks in the
area. In the last five or six years it has had a
problem drawing fans to the track. Our goal is to
give the fans an enjoyable time. Getting started
on time, running a good fast clean show and
keeping the dust down so the fans can see the
races.
AR: There have been several big events held at
Outlaw Motor Speedway over the years, what
do you have planned this season?
Smith: This year we have added a few specials
throughout the season. April we had Open
Wheel Saturday and the show went well. We
will have the Comp Cams & Mars Late Model
series here in June. Memorial weekend Outlaw
has a two-day show for the IMCA Modifieds &
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AMERICAN RACER
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APRIL 2015
IMCA Sport Mod. May 6th
Outlaw has Ken Schrader
& Kenny Wallace racing
here with the IMCA
Modifieds. On the same card we have IMCA
Sport Mods & IMCA Stock Cars. We also have an
ASCS event, a NCRA/USRA Modified & the OCRS
Sprint Cars.
AR: What classes are running points at
Outlaw this year and what nights are they
running?
Smith: We are running seven classes on a
rotation. IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods,
IMCA Stock Cars, Grand Nationals, Pure Stocks,
Outlaw Mods & Late Models.
AR: For someone who may be new to Outlaw
or someone who hasn’t been there in a while,
what can they expect when they come out?
Smith: We have enclosed the main grandstands
& the pit grandstands. We have installed a
new scoreboard. Added two new LED signs.
We changed the concession stands around,
refurbished the beer shack & the T-shirt room.
Also changed the logo throughout the track.
AR: With such a large facility to maintain
there’s no doubt it’s a full time job. What
made you decide to take on such a huge task?
Smith: I have been around racing all my life. My
wife and I moved to Tulsa from Oklahoma City
27 years ago. In the last 27 years I have been
lucky enough to have worked with Emmett
Hahn, Lanny Edwards and worked eleven years
on a limited basis with C Ray Hall, owner of 81
Speedway and NCRA in Wichita, KS. I had been
in touch with Jessie about working with him.
One day I received a call from him asking if I
would be interested in running Outlaw for him.
So here I am.
AR: How are your numbers this early in the
season? Do you have a lot of fans coming out
even though the season just started?
Smith: With only three races under our belt
this year, we have not seen an increase in the
grandstands. With the help from all the good
people I have working at the track on the
weekends I’m sure that will change.
AR: What about the number of cars coming
out?
Smith: The car count has not increased at this
time. I know there is still a lot of cars being built
in the area. I’m hoping we can get a few weeks in
a row of racing in without it raining.
AR: With a great facility and an great staff
working the track, what does the future hold
for Outlaw Motor Speedway?
Smith: What does the future hold for Outlaw?
That is a very good question.
Besides racing we are wanting to have concerts,
cars shows, monster trucks, maybe even some
mud bogs. But our main effort will be car racing.
I know we are looking at bigger shows in 2016
and beyond.
AR: Chris, thank you for giving us the time
today and best of luck with future events. I’m
sure we’ll be here to cover it!
Smith: Thank you. We look forward to seeing
you guys out here.
For more information visit www.
outlawmotorspeedway.net
Photo By Ashley Harris
Tulsa Mud
Story & Photos By Ped Watt
Mud, slimy, nasty, sticky MUD. Tulsa Raceway Park
Mud Bogs & Dirt Track kicked off their third year of
taking the biggest and baddest trucks in the region
and running them through mud to the delight of
screaming fans. Make that over 2,000 screaming
fans at the inaugural event of the year, along with
63 of the dirtiest trucks this side of Texas, thanks to
the Kansas Mud Racing Organization. Trucks named
Coaltrain, Mud Puppy, Junk Yard Dog, Dirty Princess
and King Nitro, made it apparent this wasn’t going to
be clean civilized racing we’re used to on the Tarmac
side of the drag strip. With the season just starting
and this venture gaining traction, the new mud bogs
are, “Going great and only going to get better,” according to track co-owner Todd Martin.
CLASS 4
1. Charlie Holub
2. Robert Whitehead
3. Chad Winkleblack
Ryan Holem
CLASS 5
1. Darwin Coffman
2. Nick Nuessen
3. Jacob Knight
CLASS 6
1. Nick Nuessen
2. Johnnie Brown
3. Pepper Ashenfelter
CLASS 7B
1.Shelbie Brown
2. Shelbie Brown
3. Gene Roberts
Robert Whitehead
CLASS 9
1. Aaron King
2. Ryan Holem
3. Perry Hicks
CLASS X
1. Bob Wallo
2. Bobby Oller
3. Robert Whitehead
Brad Carreder
Johnnie Brown
AMERICAN RACER
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APRIL 2015
19
Tulsa Raceway Park Celebrates
50 Years of Drag Racing
Fifty years of drag racing history cannot be covered in one story. Tulsa Raceway Park has more than left
its mark on the history of drag racing and for the drivers, owners, track workers and fans that made it a
place everyone loved to race, Tulsa Raceway Park will always be hallowed ground.
Opened in 1965 as Southwest Raceway, the new track quickly
became one of the premier drag strips in the Midwest. Built by Jerry
Interline and Ray Lollar from Bartlesville OK, until 1965 racing was
limited to racing at the North Airpark on 36th Street North. When
Southwest Raceway was built racing in Tulsa changed forever. The
National Hot Rod Association added four national events in 1965,
which included the World Finals held in Tulsa.
In 1967 and 1968 Bennie Osborn became the first back-to-back
champion in the Top Fuel category. Known as “The Wizard,” Osborn’s
1968 front-engine dragster had a camera mounted on the framerail
giving photographer Leslie Lovett a photo that would end up on
the cover of National Dragster with the famous Tulsa tower in the
background. In 1968 the track was purchased by the Sanditon family,
who reportedly intended to tear down the track and build a motel.
Before it met the wrecking ball the Tulsa Timing Association began
renting the track in 1969 on a month-to-month basis. Long time
track manager Larry Warrick was a member of the TTA and stayed
on staff until 1993.
By 1969 it was on the national event schedule for the AHRA and
gained notoriety for being one of the best tracks in the nation. That
momentum helped carry Tulsa’s popularity into the 1970’s, as other
racing organizations began to shake the establishment and looked to
20
AMERICAN RACER
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APRIL 2015
use newly named Tulsa International Raceway as ground zero.
An unknown party from Louisiana leased the track in April of 1970
and hired famous west coast promoter John Durbin as manager.
In 1972 the Professional Racers Association (PRA) was formed
by many of the biggest names in drag racing and teamed up with
the AHRA. In short, the goal of the PRA was to raise purse money
and put on more large-scale events with only professional racers.
So, what better day to launch your markee event then on Labor
Day, 1972. Yes, the same Labor Day as the NHRA Nationals in
Indianapolis, IN. PRA President Jim Tice called it the National
Challenge and had a total cash payout of $151,000. The event would
change drag racing forever and Tulsa International Raceway was at
the center of the drag racing universe again.
“In my humble opinion, that event the PRA and later the PRO
National Challenge, changed the entire sport. The purses doubled
and tripled overnight! I remember the terrible crash between John
Wiebe and Jeb Allen, when they got tangled up, no fault of the track,
just young drivers that refused to lift when they got into trouble,”
Don Garlits told American Racer publisher Brad Heath. “But most
of all, I remember the late Jim Tice at Tulsa, President of AHRA. He
loved Tulsa and put every effort into making all the races there a
success, and they were!”
Don Moody won the Top Fuel title, while Tom McEwen won Funny
Car and Bill “Grumpy” Jenkins won Pro Stock.
The next year Tice decided to make Tulsa the spot for another
National Challenge event. This time the event was moved to the
weekend before the NHRA Nationals giving other racers the
opportunity to make both events. Garlits won Top Fuel, Don
Prudhomme won Funny Car and Jenkins repeated as Pro Stock
champion.
Racing continued through the 70’s as match races began to take
over and tracks were hosting local events that featured a couple of
professional drivers pulling through town on their way to another
national event.
Racers like Bob Alberty in the Thunderin’ Okie and Vicki Farr on her
bike were frequent visitors to Tulsa.
“TRP is a wonderful place to race. We always looked forward to
being out there because it was like we were going to go see our
family. It was always fun to be out there. I think that we were out
there every time the gate was open,” said Vicki Farr.
During the 1980’s the track struggled with a tough economy and
poor numbers, but despite the challenges the track remained open
and found it’s way through the tough times. Mainly thanks to the
Tulsa Spring Nationals.
Gerald Pritchard leased the track in 1974, running it until 1993.
Pritchard’s place in the tracks history is firmly placed on the AHRA
Spring Nationals. That event helped the track survive many lean
years.
“I had a neighbor that raced and he came to Tulsa a few times a year.
When he raced at Tulsa International back in the early 80’s it was
big time. I also had another neighbor that loved drag racing. He took
me to the Spring Nationals for the first time in 1980. I watched all of
my NHRA hero’s in one place. Still today that is one of my greatest
memories of going to a race,” said current track owner Todd Martin.
With weekly points races and the start of the Midnight Drags, TIR
was seeing some great racing and numbers were climbing. The
Spring Nationals brought in pros like John Force, Don ‘The Snake”
Pruhdomme, Tom “Mongoose” McEwen, Chris “The Golden Greek”
Karamesines, Tom Hoover, Paula Martin, Tom Conway, “Flash”
Gordon Mineo, Al Hoffman, Brent Fanning, and so many others.
“Tulsa was one of the tracks that I got my start with AHRA in alky
funny car. Most memorable of many good times there was, when
I was invited to the pre-race parties for the pros and it was the
Greeks birthday. Don Prudhomme was the speaker. When I started
going we still take the cars back to motel to work on at night. It was
always a great place to start our season,” said Jack Wyatt. “I have a
ton of stories from Tulsa. That place had the biggest impact on me
racing.”
Bill Woods purchased the lease from Pritchard and began
operating the track in July of 1993. In February of 1994, Woods
took Jerry Yeoman as a partner and sanctioned with the IHRA
and later holding an IHRA National Event in September of ’94. By
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21
1995 Yeoman bought out Woods and operated the track until Bo
Roach bought the property from Kansas City Life Insurance (who
purchased the property from the Sanditon family in the late 90’s)
and began operating in mid-2001.
In late 2003 Roach sold the track to Dan Guterman. Guterman
would spend over 10 million on renovations and rename the track,
Tulsa Raceway Park. Improvements to the track and pit area,
concessions and a new tower brought TRP into the 21st century.
After eight years of operating the track, Guterman sells the property
to APAC in October of 2011. APAC ownership group consisting of
Todd Martin and Keith Haney have added multiple major events
including the ThrowDown in T-Town, the Nitro Nationals, AHDRA,
Hot Rod Magazine’s Power Tour and one of the best mud drag
tracks in the country.
The future of the track is always dependant on guys like Todd
Martin and Keith Haney stepping up, finding sponsors and giving
the racing community one of the best tracks to call home in the
country. “Osage Casino has secured the naming rights of the track
until 2017 and our lease with the land owner is good till then.
The land owner has already asked several times for us to extend
out for another 10 years. Keith and I are in agreeance, as long
as we continue to get a naming right sponsor and support from
the community, racers and it’s somewhat self-sufficient we will
continue to keep it open,” said Martin.
TODD MARTIN TAKES OVER
Hundreds of people hated to hear Tulsa International Raceway
was going to be added to a long list of closed tracks, but one guy
recognized the importance of keeping it open and before he knew it
Todd Martin was a track owner.
AR: Todd, tells us how you became one of the owners of TRP.
22
Martin: How I became a partner of Tulsa Raceway Park. Now that’s
a crazy story. I just started racing Tulsa in early 2000 and over
time became friends with Dan Guterman. Several years later I told
my wife, “someday I am going to own a race track when I retire.”
I am one that believes in you make your own luck and if you want
something bad enough it will happen. Many years go by and Dan
and I become better friends. His brother is no longer interested in
the track and Dan knew how much I loved racing and loved Tulsa
Raceway Park. One day he asked if I want to buy his brothers part
of the track. I said yes before even asking how much or my wife.
I do not know which one was more dangerous. I looked at it as a
long-term investment and something I said I always wanted to do.
Then 22 months later the rock quarry made an offer that we could
not pass up. So it was sold, but I could not be done. I was told to
take my money and run, I had hit a home run and don’t be stupid.
I had made money being a track owner. But all I could think was
how many memories I had here and I was not ready for it to be
over. I have all this race car stuff, I did not want to drive to Texas all
the time to race. I started a plan, I did not have long to do this so
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I worked on it about 20 hours a day for a week and came up with
an idea on how to keep the track open. I knew I only had one shot
at my proposal to this Fortune 500 company. So off I go, make the
offer, the entire time thinking I live in Mustang two hours away,
this is going to be tough to do, but it will work. I get the call back
the accepted the offer. Now I am in panic mode. I call the biggest
sponsor of the bracket program, Keith Haney and tell him I have
a lease on the track and have bought all the assets and equipment
from our former company and I had the backing of a few of the
previous staff that said they would stay and do anything they
could to help keep TRP open. I asked him if he would still sponsor
the brackets and he said yes. We hung up the phone and about 30
minutes later he called me back and said, “would you be interested
in a partner?” I said, “who?” He said, “me!” I was astonished because
Keith and I only knew of each other and never had any other
dealings. In forty minutes we worked a deal and that is how Tulsa
Raceway Park has been able stay open to see its 50th Birthday.
Many, many others before us have paved the way to this point in
time, Keith and I are just happy to be a part of this historic part in
time and to be involved in the sport of drag racing.
KEITH HANEY BECOMES PART OWNER OF TRP
Longtime drag racer and fan of drag racing in Tulsa, Keith Haney,
becomes part owner after phone call to Todd Martin. Tulsa Raceway
Park has seen immense growth since the two racers took over.
AR: Keith what is your history with Tulsa Raceway Park?
Haney: I’ve been going to Tulsa since the days when I borrowed a
vehicle from the Mars family and raced out there when I was 14 or
15 years old, I’m 43 now so I’ve been going out there forever. The
main reason for keeping the track open is the history of the track
and Todd and I just enjoy drag racing. People around here needed
something. They needed somebody to save it.
AR: What’s your favorite memory at TRP? Is it the Spring
Nationals that brought in so many big names or just coming out
to bracket race?
Haney: Mine was always the midnight drags. It was just fun to hang
out. Kind of like it is today. We’ve brought it back to the way it used
to be. Back then I just loved watching. You had all the muscle cars
come out. It was mainly muscle cars and now you have all of the
import bad boys. The other part of it was having family at the track.
Spent a lot of time around family.
AR: So how did you get involved with the ownership group?
Haney: He called me because I was a major sponsor and had been
for eight or nine years. He called and said, “we’re thinking about
leasing the track and keeping it open, would you consider staying
on board as a sponsor of the bracket races?” I had been doing it for
eight or nine years, why the hell wouldn’t I still want to do it? So
the next morning I got up and said I’m going to give Todd a call. So
I did and asked him if he wanted a partner on this deal and he said,
“would you please.” (laughs). So ever since then it’s been going the
way its been going.
AR: Dealerships, pro race team, track owner…how long can you
continue this pace?
Haney: It’s hard for me to say. As long as the track continues to
prosper, I have no problem staying in it. If it started costing me
money, then I would make a decision to not keep it open. Eventually
I do want out. Eventually I would like to see someone come in and
buy us out. I don’t want to continue doing it forever, but everyone
knows that. I haven’t held that back from anyone. But as long as
I am a part of it, I’m going to make the best out of it. I’m going to
make sure everyone has a good time and I’m going to make sure
I take care of the sponsors. I think that’s the big thing. We’ve got
people that are coming to us asking to advertise with us, because
of the differences that we’ve made with the track. As long as we
have the support of the sponsors and the support of the fans and
the track keeps going the way it has, then we’ll keep it open. But
eventually I want out and let someone else take the reigns. Maybe
they can take it to the next level.
AR: How important have the sponsors been in helping keep the
track running?
Haney: Without Osage Casino it would be tough to even have the
track. Their support has been astronomical. We’ve had three years
with them and they signed on for three more. We’ll have six years
with Osage Casino because they see the value in the track. As much
as some people may not like casinos, they do support so many
things outside the casino. I like the fact that they give back more
than any other casino in town. It’s impressive how much they give
to our community.
AR: It’s the 50th Anniversary. Did you ever take a moment after
becoming part owner, part of the history of this track, and
realize that you’re now part of that storied history?
Haney: Yes and I have thought that. To be a part of the 50th
anniversary alone with what the NHRA is doing for us is a big deal.
We have a big announcement with the Nitro Nationals coming up
that’s going to surprise everyone in Oklahoma, probably people
all over the country. We’re always looking to make a splash for
ourselves and sometimes it costs to do it, but we’re not in it for the
money. We make no money at the track. Whatever dollar comes in
we just keep putting it right back in the track.
AR: Some of the improvements include a new mud racing facility,
which has hosted some big events. Just another page in the
history of TRP. Tell us about the mud facility.
Haney: Our mud facility is considered the state-of-the-art mud
facility in the country. We’re starting to make a statement on the
mud side of the track. We love that side of the track too. It’s an
awesome site.
AR: Keith, thanks for the time and thanks for playing such a big
role in saving this historic track.
Haney: Well, thank you and we hope to see everyone at the track!
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23
MY TIME AT TULSA INTERNATIONALS RACEWAY.
I went to my first drag race at Tulsa in October of 1969. I
was 12 years old and it was the AHRA World Finals. For
the next 30 years I was deeply involved with the track as
a spectator, racer, announcer, reporter, photographer and
promoter.
Form 1974 until 1989 I raced a variety of cars at Tulsa,
mostly AHRA style “Top Comp” dragsters and altereds.
I won several local races and also won the 1981 AHRA
Spring Nationals Top Comp title.
In 1990 I started a track newsletter and began taking
photos at the track. The newsletter, “Tulsa Drag News”
eventually turned into a regional drag racing publication,
“American Drag News”, although I continued to have close
ties to the Tulsa track. In 1993 I headed up a group of
racers that bought and installed a modern timing system
at Tulsa.
By 1996 we were
promoting a bracket
racing series around
the area, The ADN
Championship Series,
and in 1998 we brought
what I believe is the
largest race ever, entry
wise, to Tulsa with the
ADN Bracket Finals.
There were over 550
entries at that race.
In 1999 I took over
operation of Mo-Kan
Dragway in Joplin,
Missouri, and have not
had the close ties with
Tulsa since then. Although I did continue to promote races
there with our CDRA Series.
24
There is so much drag racing history at Tulsa, on a local
and national level. In my opinion, the best and most
important race that ever happened at this track was the
1972 AHRA National Challenge. Six days of racing over
Labor Day weekend that year, with the first three, Tuesday
thru Thursday, devoted to AHRA Sportsman classes and
the final three, Friday thru Sunday, being the first all
Professional Drag race in history. There were Thirty two
car fields in Top Fuel, Funny car and Pro Stock, including
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every big name in professional drag racing at the time.
Many, many people over the years have given a lot of
themselves to bring Tulsa’s drag racing facility to this
important anniversary. To them, and all who have
participated at this facility for the right reasons, I’d like to
say congratulations on fifty years!
- Carl Blanton
FAN FAVORITES
IN MEMORIAM
No matter what you called the track,
Southwest Raceway, Tulsa International, or
Tulsa Raceway Park, there were always fan
favorites everyone looked forward to seeing
when they came to Tulsa. Here are a few fan
favorites that topped our list.
The drag racing family supports one another
in the good times and the tough times.
We remember those who are not here to
celebrate the 50th anniversary of Tulsa
Raceway Park. God speed friends.
Bob Alberty Sr.
Shelly Howard
Benny Osborn
Vicki Farr
Gene Carter
Butch Hale
Bob Creitz
Mike Edwards
Jon Brook
John Collins
Tom Conway
Jack Kirksey
Mike Cotton
David Giles
Roy Kempe
Dick Moritz
James Lee
John Polk
Steve Carbone
Gary Wheeler Sr.
Jerry Yeoman
Shelly Howard
Brian Howard
Gene Coleman
Bob Crews
John Martin
Delmar Wood
Scotty Matthews
Ron Goodell
Johnny “Goat” Osborn
Dick Moritz
Martha Moritz
Jimmy Nix
Paul Rider
Steve Fletcher
Steve Carlow
Big John
Tommy Byers
Shakey Harris
Vernon Harris Jr.
Chris Wooten
Ty Denise
Owen Johnson
Rick Sherrell
Charlie McClintock
David Howell
Sean Hale
Chester “Sarge” Gariss
Robert Godby
Steve Carbone
Tony Keith
Bob Creitz
Gary Wheeler Sr.
T.C. Lemons
Jackie Wallace
Derrell Benett
Mike Jackson Sr.
Leon Frazier
Ronnie Tuell
Leonard Purcell
Larry Pittman
Bosco Smith
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25
Senior Dragster Racing Association
with told them they could not run their automatic
transmissions the following year.
“On our return trip to Tulsa we decided to start
our own group,” explain racer Larry Jones. Bob
Hindman volunteered to talk to Dan Guterman,
the owner of the Tulsa track at the time, and a
deal was struck.
“The way it worked is we would run our races on
Test/Tune night. We all pitted together and went
to the staging lanes in a group, and we took care
of pairing the cars, kept track of our own times,”
said Jones.
In February 2007, Gary Meadors of the Goodguys
was in Tulsa for the Chili Bowl race and was
touring the local shops. He stopped by Bob
Hindman’s shop and saw the car and was so
intrigued by the car, he invited them to the Indy
Goodguys event later that year. The Ramrods of
Owasso Ok, a flathead Ford V8 car club were all so
invited.
Senior Dragster refers to the type of car not the age of the person
racing these cars, although most of the members are retired. Hence
the nickname, Social Security Specials. The idea behind these cars
was to keep it simple, so a person working a 40-hour week or retired
could have a racecar. At this time the SDRA has nine cars actively
competing, with several in various stages of completion.
A little history lesson on the SDRA. They came into being because of
a rain out at MOKAN and the fact that the group they were affiliated
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The cars were so well received at Indy that
Meadors invited them to the Goodguys event at
Texas Motor Speedway later that year for a match
race. They raced on pit road with just a flagman
and a finish line judge. On the last run Hindman
decided to make a full lap of the Speedway at
speed, much to the delight of everyone but the
track manager and Meadors, who were very upset
to say the least. Never-the-less Hindman and the
Hornet are the only drag car to make a full lap at
Texas Motor Speedway.
The SDRA series mainly races at Tulsa Raceway
Park and MOKAN. A complete set of rules can be
found at Tulsaracewaypark.com under “rules.”
David Bridgewater is the President and you can
contact him by email at dbridgewater@acmetulsa.
com or call 918-706-6802 for more information.
In the next issue of American Racer we’ll break
down the cost of these dragsters and give you a
closer look at some of the racers in the SDRA.
S
D
R
A
The List: Tulsa Style
Typically, there are List Racers
facing off at almost every test and
tune, midnights, etc.
AR: Sponsors have stepped up and
provided a little incentive to win,
who are some of the businesses
that have gotten involved?
Bill and Wesley Lovelace
What do you get when a group of drag racers
come up with an idea for something new? Bill
Lovelace and a group of racers at Tulsa Raceway
Park, who loved heads-up racing and quarter
mile speed, started keeping a list for grudge race
purposes. That gave birth to, “The List-Tulsa
Style.”
AR: List racing has grown in popularity, but
you guys do it on the track. What got the Tulsa
List started?
Lovelace: There were several friends of mine
and some other guys with cars that were close
to the same ET and we had a little friendly
rivalry brewing. We all liked heads up racing so
I thought it would be cool to keep a list of cars
and their times and we could do a legal version
of Street Outlaws and set a good example
of taking it off the street to the race track. I
absolutely never thought it would grow to
the size it has, but it just proves people have a
passion for speed and competition.
AR: It’s our understanding that the list has
everything from daily drivers to pure drag
cars, was that the plan when it started?
Lovelace: Yes, one of the basic principles
of The List is to include cars and drivers of
every experience level and speed. A close
race is exciting no matter how fast it is and it
encourages the up and coming racers to get
involved. You must have a car or truck with
doors that function but it does not have to be
street legal. The motorcycle guys have started
their own List, which is awesome.
AR: You guys use facebook to communicate
race dates and make call-outs, does it stay
fairly civil with the chatter online?
Lovelace: The quality and character of the
Racers on The List keeps this fun and friendly.
You can have fun and stir the pot
a little bit with someone without
getting disrespectful. We’ve had
very little drama and the cars do the
talking at the track.
Lovelace: Our sponsors have
stepped up in a BIG way to the tune
of over $3,400 in cash and prizes for
our most recent List Top 8 Shootout
and Grudge Race! Business owners
and individuals started coming up to me last
year wanting to support List racing. I’ve never
had to go looking for sponsorship or ask for a
dime of this money, which is very cool.
AR: Where do you see this going?
Lovelace: The main goal is to have FUN and
there is really no other goal or motive other
than that. Close, heads up ¼ mile racing, on any
budget is our purpose!
AR: Have other tracks and racers contacted
you about helping start a list for them?
Lovelace: There is a Bike List in Tulsa and a
MOKAN List too that were started due to the
interest in “The List” – Tulsa Style. I am totally
open to helping anyone replicate what has been
done in Tulsa anywhere else. You can do it the
same or give it your own twist. The main point is
get out and race and have fun.
AR: The Street Outlaw crew was warned by
the NHRA that if they continued to street race
anyone with a competition license would be
revoked and not allowed to race in an NHRA
event. Do you agree with what the NHRA did?
Lovelace: I don’t think we know the whole
story. At face value, NHRA came off as heavy
handed and I personally didn’t care for them
trying to dictate what people do off NHRA
premises. I don’t agree with street racing AT ALL
so I’m not taking either side. Street Outlaws is
entertainment just like WWE. It is fun to watch,
but if you try it at home, you could get hurt. Real
drag racing is done at a sanctioned drag strip
and that’s the only place it needs to happen.
This one is with my Son, Wesley Lovelace,
driving. I have a hard time getting him out from
behind the wheel!
AR: How often do races occur and
can someone race without it being a
special event?
Lovelace: Another key principle of
The List is you do not have to wait for
an event to race. Any two racers can
get it on anytime the track is open.
Bill Lovelace
THE LIST – TULSA STYLE
1 Paul Witty 8.418 Falcon
2 Butch Hale 9.270 Mustang
3 Ron Alexander 8.700 Camaro
4 JP Garoutte 9.110 Falcon
5 Dale Gebhart 8.959 Gremlin
6 Dunn Henderson 9.500 Camaro
7 Mike Mayopoulos 9.470 Mustang
8 Robert Martin 9.570 Camaro
9 Jeff Hull 9.576 Camaro
10 Poppy Roark 9.273 Mustang
11 Alex Pagan 9.956 Honda
12 Anthony Rodgers 9.728 Chevelle
13 Dennis Spicer 8.770 Mustang
14 Bill Lovelace 10.080 Mustang
15 Kyle Bruce 8.107 Mustang
16 Ed Witty 10.080 Falcon
17 Robin Phelps 10.390 Nova
18 Devin Bruce 10.587 Camaro
19 Tom Smith 11.000 Mustang
20 Clint Bates 10.288 Mustang
21 Cody Smith 10.591 Duster
22 Sean Stearns 10.660 Malibu
23 Lyle Lashbrook 10.843 Mustang
24 Michael Wheelen 9.472 Mustang
25 Spencer White 9.669 S10
26 Sam Thompson 11.344 Mustang
27 Dave Shed 11.550 Nova
28 Kenny Williams 11.460 Nova
29 Randall Mink 11.170 F150
30 Tim Dodson 10.880 Regal
31 Cody Myers 11.090 Mustang
32 Landon Keech 11.937 Trans Am
33 Dustin Donnell 11.170 Mustang
34 Jonathan Stonecipher 11.528 Malibu “Flo”
35 Beau Denny 11.662 Chevy Truck
36 Anthony Huffmaster 11.480 Chevy II
37 Dawna Mason 11.964 Mustang
38 Kris Orman 12.864 Lightning
39 Jared Sharp 12.393 OHP Mustang
40 Jon Weichselbaum 11.897 Mustang
41 Mike DeSteiguer 12.466 SS Wagon
42 Frank Bean 12.150 El Camino
43 Gordon Laster 11.706 Mustang
44 Mike Day 14.434 Ram
45 Daryle Fox14.912 F150
46 Greg Tosto 13.543 Trailblazer SS
47 Shawna Brakhage 13.532 G8
48 Davina Tommerdahl 13.822 Trans Am
49 Bill Hughes 15.040 Mustang
50 Harry Barker 13.308 SSR
51 Shane Tommerdahl 15.262 Dodge Truck
52 Cheryl Barker 13.308 SSR
53 Brian Mason 15.403 F150
54 Robert Cowden 16.463 Buick Wildcat
55 Craig Shults 14.470 350 Z
56 Danny Honel 12.112 Mustang
57 Timmy Timmerman 16.596 Ram
58 Tom Smith 13.000 Mustang Genny
59 Chris Hoover 14.450 Mustang
60 Robert Cowden 18.266 F350
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27
Hot Rod
CHRIS GIBSON’S 1932 FORD ROADSTER
Engine: 350 Chevy, 422 hp
Transmission: 350 Turbo
Performer High Rise Manifold
Ford 9” (373 gears) w/Adjustable Coil Springs
Stainless Headers
Front & Rear Disc Brakes
Cal Custom Drilled Dropped I Beam
Stewart Warner Gauges
Claremore, OK – The custom orange 1932 Ford Roadster
owned by Chris Gibson is the definition of a head turner.
Gibson purchased the Roadster in 2013 from Flying A
Motorsports in Cuba, Missouri.
“The car was built by Rod Highfill from St. Charles, Missouri.
Rod and Berry Lobeck are long time friends and collaborators.
Rod has built many cars over the years and has it figured out.
This car has good proportions, fit and finish,” said Gibson.
Under the hood is a solid Chevrolet 350 motor with a 350
turbo transmission putting 422 horsepower to the rear tires.
The rearend is a Ford 9” with 373 gears.
“The car is driven, not trailered to the meets and shows. Plans
are that it will be entered in a meet or show somewhere every
weekend throughout the season,” said Gibson. That means
the ’32 will be cruising down Oklahoma highways all summer
with the Cal Custom full size ’32 Ford headlights with turn
signals leading the way.
Another great feature is the custom removable top, making
going topless a must. Built by Rod Tops in Ellsworth,
Michigan, the top perfectly matches the tan ultra leather
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APRIL 2015
interior.
Steel wheels from The WheelSmith (15” front, 16” rear) give
the ’32 a great look, and match perfectly with the Firestone
Tires.
Gibson has entered the orange ’32 in several shows including
Darryl Starbird’s Rod and Custom Car Show.
“It has been entered in the NSRA Nationals in Oklahoma City
(last 3 years) winning most recently the NSRA Streets of Rods
Award in the Highboy Highway category. It has been in the
NSRA Nationals in Springfield two years in a row. The car
also won the Baby Blue Eyes Award in the 2014 Stray Kat 500
meet in Dewey, Ok,” said Gibson.
Special thanks to model and car lover Mable Mischief for
lending her talents to American Racer Magazine. Find and
like Miss Mable on facebook and look for her passing out
magazines at an event near you!
MODEL - MABLE MISCHIEF
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29
Remember in your younger days
when jumping in a go-kart and
making a few laps was a summer
highlight? What if I told you that
feeling is obtainable year-round?
Pole Position can bring that feeling
back with a shot of adrenaline
your old kart never had.
events, company parties, family reunions, and large groups
who want a completely private racing experience. Pole
Position Raceway also offers special monthly events that
are open to the public. The events include Ironman Races,
Team Endurance Races, Youth Racing Camps and Driving
Clinics.
Pole Position Raceway also offers gift cards, which make
great gifts for birthdays and Christmas and daily All-YouCan-Drive-Passes. Become a member and take even more
off the price of your next trip!
For more information on Pole Position Raceway, visit their
website at www.polepositionraceway.com and find them on
facebook at Pole Position Raceway OKC. Call 405-942-2292
2905 NW 36th St. OKC, OK.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK: People who visit Pole Position
Raceway for the first time are in for a fun, yet challenging
experience. Pole Position Raceway is the largest indoor
kart chain in America. The half-mile track is designed to
be challenging for the experienced racer, yet relatively easy
to run for the novice driver. The torque of the karts electric
motors are very impressive and give a huge adrenaline rush
on the twisty layout. Arrive & Drive racing allows customers
to show up individually or in small groups and race in
standard races. These races last approximately 10 minutes
and drivers are separated into three categories.
Pole Position Raceway offers racers 48” tall and above a
safe racing experience like no other. The karts used are
state-of-the-art Formula EK20 karts for adults and EK10
karts for junior racers. The karts can reach speeds up to
45 mph for adults and 20 mph for kids. Any type of racing
comes with risks, however Pole Position Raceway has
special barrier systems and requires racers to wear closed
toed shoes, helmet and eye protection. You can bring your
own helmet or use one of theirs!
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Pole Position can host your next birthday party, fundraiser,
school field trip, team party or corporate event. They
offer group events and party packages that provide
private racing and reserved time slots. These packages are
available in two, three and four-race formats and include
items to make the occasion extra special. For larger groups,
Pole Position Raceway also offers full facility rentals. This
has become a popular option for corporate team building
AMERICAN RACER
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APRIL 2015
AMERICAN RACER
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AMERICAN RACER
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APRIL 2015