SpeedBlitz Revamped

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

-Ernest Hemmingway

By Jake Croxton - jake@speedblitz.net

Bushnell, IL (October 11, 2010) – As I reflect on the events of this past weekend, I’ve found myself asking some very basic questions of why it is that humans are intrinsically attracted to our sport.

I say it like that because when you strip it down to its mere core beyond even the most cynical and uninformed euphemism of “just a bunch of guys going around in circles,” it is our sport. Everyone involved can lay at least some claim to their part of motor racing. It’s man versus machine. The controller at the wheel has his or her own mortality at hand as s/he presses the limits of the machine, the track, and personal aptitude.

Soon after the birth of the automobile, the first speed trial inevitably followed; it was man versus machine and the elements of the open road. As technology improved, speeds increased. As speeds increased, the level of danger increased. When the speeds reached terminal velocity for the technology available, technology increased further. The competitors did and continue to take the ultimate risk in search of prize money, fame, and one-upmanship. Fans continue to file through the turnstiles to watch their heroes do battle, ponying up hard-earned discretionary income, to seek out the thrill of competition and escaping of danger while embracing the camaraderie of those entertaining the common goal.

One such hero is Herschel Roberts. About five years ago, Herschel Roberts would have been one of those weekend warriors familiar only to his region. He was by no means a dominant driver. He never had a dream season. He would have faded away as the new crop of young guns takes over, likely never receiving full credit for his vast contributions and life-long investment to the local speedways.

In the present, he is the feel-good story that continues to drum up interest at the local and national levels. While Herschel had taken a back seat to Midwestern Late Model legend Ray Guss, Jr. behind the wheel, it was Herschel’s night to shine at his home track on the last night of 2010 at the revived Quad City Speedway.

Late in the year, the team debuted a new white and black-trimmed #58 – a brand new Stuckey Mastersbilt – to complement the red car that Ray spent most of the summer driving into victory lane (just in case you don’t remember – five (5) championships – IMCA National, Deery Bros. Summer Series, Davenport Speedway, Jackson County Speedway, and Quad City Speedway). During qualifying night for the Pepsi USA Late Model Nationals, Herschel shook the car down. While he didn’t actually enter the race, it was a chance for Herschel to return to the driver’s seat and continue to defy his doctor-given three-month cancer-related death sentence that seems like it expired an eternity ago.

In true Herschel Roberts style, one of the nicest guys in the pit area loaned their new mount to another Midwestern legend as Jeff Aikey blew a motor in hot laps. Aikey qualified the 58 with a duct-tape 77 on the door was given a shot to qualify. I maintain that few if any would offer their newest best piece to a fellow competitor – especially one that they would have to beat to take home the win.

Fast forward to the 100-lap finale at Herschel’s hometown Quad City Speedway. For the record, the fans in attendance saw a pretty good race. Brian Harris took home the big check ahead of Terry Neal, Guss, and Aikey. As good as the battle was up front including the challenge from early contender Rob Toland, there was still one eye toward the tail end of the field. Herschel Roberts conquered the 100-lapper himself, finishing a couple laps off the pace. Finishing position didn’t matter.

Herschel continues to beat the odds and conquer challenges that he wasn’t supposed to conquer. He is an inspiration. The ovation that he received during driver introductions was topped only by the standing ovation after holding off veteran Boone McLaughlin to win his B-Main. I am not ashamed to say that put a little lump in my throat and I used some of the positive energy to rebound after the horrific events at Terre Haute the night previous.

The Terre Haute Action Track served up everything promised. The powers that be took a chance on a late fall rain date so we could enjoy the magic of watching the big cars run on the hallowed Vigo County Fairgrounds. The Action Track is another one of those places that you wished the dirt could talk of years past and tell stories of the legendary sport-shaping figures – AJ, Parneli, and the heroes of yesteryear.

The race was spectacular. Dave Darland and Levi Jones put on an Ali-Frazier slide-job exchange on an expertly prepared racing surface; a welcome change from years past. Darland ended up on his head, Jones ended up in victory lane, and Terry Babb put on a driving clinic from the rear twice.

Everybody’s thoughts were elsewhere. Everybody’s thoughts continue to be with one of our own as Shane Hmiel begins the long road to recovery.

It serves no purpose to sensationalize the accident and its aftermath. Shane was doing what he does best. After all, this is the fastest man in the world in a sprint car – sans his qualifying effort at Iowa Speedway earlier this May. It happened. The set of circumstances was just right to cause the inflicted injury. It could happen anywhere any night in any form of racing. It just wasn’t Shane’s night on 10/9/10.

It also serves no purpose for the uninformed to criticize and somehow justify that Shane deserved this fate for his not-so-checkered past. If you strip it down to the core, he’s a racer. He’s one of us. He might be shunned in a world of corporate suck-asses but his talent speaks for itself. Personally, he’s down again fighting for small victories. Small victories are starting to come in as he completes a second round of surgery. Continue to keep Shane in your thoughts.

Lost in the peak and valley was the other end of the peak. The conclusion of Bobby Hawks’ initial season at Jacksonville Speedway was yet another success. It was a nice solid night with a great finish between race-winner Tommy Worley and runner-up Jimmy Hurley. With a twinkle in his eye, Bobby pledged that the banquet food would be left-over hot dogs from the last night of racing.

What a weekend. After the high of Rockford last week, it was truly a roller coaster. Off to West Liberty for the Liberty 100 and a year-end trip to the World Finals in Charlotte. The season is winding down and there are a few unknowns for 2011. We’ll explore some of the lessons learned in 2010 and continue to unearth some ancient history as we continue through the winter months.

Thanks for reading,

Jake Croxton

“There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.”

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