Dirt From the Stands" by Greg Cybulski
SLINGING DIRT IN 2005
Well race fans, we're only a matter of days from dropping the green flag on another season of racing and I for one am looking forward to it. The best part about starting anew is you get to use your imagination to do a little dreaming and think about what might be in 2005. I like to dream, perhaps too much in the wrong places, but I always find it fun to think about the possibilities in racing.
So without further adieu, I would like to present to you some things in racing that I will be watching for in 2005 and perhaps a few predictions too.
Locally, I can't think of a rivalry that is building up more heat than Wissota Modified racers Kevin Sexton and track champion Nolan Olmstead of Badger, MN. Problems early in the season for Kevin gave Nolan all the space he needed to capture the 2004 Victory Lane Speedway Modified track championship. Although Sexton had a strong second half, the damage had been done and he was unable to catch up to the aggressive Olmstead. This will not be a match up to miss in 2005.
Can anyone really challenge NOPA/Wissota Super Stock points champion Bill Mooney in 2005? The last person to do it was Tom Balcaen. Tom has since moved on to the NLRA Late Model Tour. Unless another team mounts a quick start out of the gates and stays consistent all season, this one could be over by Mid-Season. Best bet for a rival at Victory Lane, Mike McCaughan.
Speaking of the Balcaens, I'll be curious to see how George Balcaen does in his sophomore year behind the wheel of his #14 Super Stock. Want to bet it's not too long before he is in the hunt for a points championship?
In the NOPA Street Stock class, all I have to say is two words, Steffan Snare. Watching this young driver is a treat. Smooth driving style, good equipment and a good head on his shoulders. Can you really ask for anything more in a racer? If he ever moves out of the Street Stock class, I wonder what he'll do for an encore?
I'm really a NOPA Super Truck fan. There I said it. No wings, no open wheels, but mud slinging, wide open, no fear racing. Anyone who's seen Stu Fraser run from the tail to the front knows exactly what I'm talking about. I'm glad this class is in the middle of the program at Victory Lane Speedway. It gets me tuned up for the rest of the night.
River Cities Speedway will be the place to be if you want to see the most intense rivalry of the year in Sprint Car racing. Not too long ago people were talking about Wade Nygaard and Brad Pake as the show stoppers. Now in 2005, "The Sheriff", Wade Nygaard is returning to race full time in Grand Forks and with the NOSA Tour. Although Mark Dobmeier is the man to beat, don't be surprised if this rivalry turns into one of the hottest points races in years.
With Nodak Speedway holding a big money sprint car race in mid-June, is anyone going to bet against Minot's native son, Greg Nikitenko? I wouldn't.
Expect to see team Dobmeier making some early Knoxville and Huset's dates this season. It'll be fun to see what the Grand Forks native can do against some of the toughest competition anywhere in the US. If Mark gets off to a good start in the points race at Huset's, you know where I would want him to be on Sunday nights.
My top three races from 2004 goes like this:
3. Lou Kennedy Jr's win at Estevan Motor Speedway, SK. This is not Greg the promoter talking now, but Greg the race fan. You could not have scripted the finish any better. Lou held off charges by Chris Shirek and Mark Dobmeier to capture the checkered flag that night. This race had everyone on the edge of their seats.
2. Loren Langerud's second place finish to Joey Saldana at last year's World of Outlaws sanctioned "Duel in the Dakotas". Having one of the local good guys come within a few laps of beating the Outlaws just got everyone whipped into a frenzy. I can't remember when I've yelled so much. I can't imagine what would have happened if Loren had won the feature.
1. I didn't have to look very hard to find my number one race in 2004. The event was the "Canadian Classic" and a special night that belonged to Kevin Sexton. Kevin pulled off the double by winning not only the Wissota Modified feature but then buckled into his Late Model and captured the checkered flag for his first NLRA win in front of his home town fans. It looked like second was Kevin's fate until John Seitz lost his motor and pulled off giving Sexton the lead. Despite intense pressure from the NLRA veterans including Mike Balcaen, Kevin maintained his lead and went on to win his second feature of the evening.
Have you noticed that I haven't mentioned anything about the "Mid Canada Sprint Car Challenge" on July 14th at Victory Lane Speedway in this column? Until now.
Stay tuned for some big announcements coming in the next issue of "Dirt from the Stands".
Take care and good racing,
Greg Cybulski
