Well race fans, the 2008 racing season is getting closer and with it will
be a different look. Some new, some old and some missing but definitely
always interesting.
In the new department, Red River Co-op Speedway, Winnipeg has a new track
manager/promoter. Derek Pollock takes over the driver's seat with a sense
of energy and excitement that should make for a great season of racing in
Winnipeg. Prairie Dirt wishes Derek all the best in his new role.
Winnipeg race fans will see their share of special races again in
2008. The annual Mid-Canada Sprint Car Challenge takes place on Thursday,
July 10. Last year's event drew 21 Sprint Cars, the highest count in the
event's short history. Late Models will be in the spotlight again as
Winnipeg hosts 4 race nights, including a two night event featuring the
Rumble Series Late Models on June 18 and 19. This series will be worth
checking out.
To the west, exciting rumors are still swirling about possible big Sprint
Car and Late Model shows in the Estevan/Williston/Minot region. More to
follow...
Winnipeg's Sprint Car scene just got a little lighter as two of our racers
have packed up their tents and moved on. Dave Sobczak has retired from the
open wheel ranks following a stellar 2007 season which included his first
feature win aboard his #17 sprinter. His win came the the Devil's Run
Sprint Car Classic on June 2nd at Devil's Lake Speedway, ND. Prairie Dirt
wishes Dave well in his future plans.
After 7 years of racing, Richard Rogers has called it a career following an
unfortunate turn of events early in the 2007 racing season. On a personal
note, Richie was my hero for many reasons. Of all the racers in our region,
it was a low budget race team from Winnipeg who lived the dream that most
people romanticize about when they think of old school racing
travels. Unlike some "home-based" teams, he left his comfort zone and
dared to travel and experience new places (tracks) that he had never tried
before and raced against people he had never previously met. In 2005, when
a proposal was presented for teams in the Upper Midwest to travel to
Castrol Raceway in Edmonton for the Gold Cup weekend, it was Richard Rogers
who answered the call. He and his team traveled an incredible distance,
racing in Winnipeg on a Thursday to Edmonton on Friday to race that
night. He made the tow in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, when the call was made
to participate with the Alberta Sprint Tour in the inaugural "Prairie Dirt
Classic" in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Richie answered instantly, without
hesitation. My only regret is that the #RX sprinter never got there to see
it. Richard has always been a big supporter of Prairie Dirt and what I was
trying to achieve. You will be missed my friend. Thank you just never
seems enough.
Until next time...
Take care and good racing,
Greg Cybulski
Prairie Dirt: http://ca.geocities.com/prairiedirt/home.html
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