Local racing

Eaton driver on fast track for Kings Royal

Up-and-coming Myers chasing Outlaws, points title at K-C Raceway.

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By Greg Billing, Staff Writer 11:35 PM Saturday, July 17, 2010

ROSSBURG — Unlike the Tony Stewart Racing and Kasey Kahne Racing pit areas necessarily cordoned off by yellow caution tape, Eaton’s Ryan Myers needed no such protection from autograph seekers and well-wishers at Eldora Speedway.

Yet.

“We had a couple fans come up and say it was nice to be able to walk up and talk to some down to earth people,” Myers said during prerace activity for the Kings Royal on Saturday, July 17.

Myers, though, wouldn’t mind seeing his sprint racing career follow the same path as those NASCAR Sprint Cup drivers.

For now, though, the 23-year-old driver is content battling for the points lead during Saturday night shows at K-C Raceway in Chillicothe — he’s currently fourth — and challenging the World of Outlaws as he was doing Saturday at Eldora.

“It’s definitely a challenge. We don’t have the budget some of these guys do. Just out here giving it our best,” said Myers, driver of the No. 56R 410 winged sprint car.

On Saturday, Myers was attempting to qualify for his second Kings Royal. He finished 17th in the $50,000-to-win feature in 2008.

“It’s an adrenaline rush. You get the four wide going (on the parade lap) and you see all the flash bulbs going off,” said Myers, a nine-year sprint car veteran. “You get just as much of a rush from the fans as you do the car.”

THE EARL: It’s Tony Stewart’s track, but Eldora founder Earl Baltes still reigns with the fans ... and one-liners. As a fan tapped on the lower-level window of the scoring tower and gave a thumbs up to Baltes, the legendary promotor quipped, “I’ll be damned. It’s the first fan I ever had.”

FRIDAY RECAP: Joey Saldana raced to his 18th career victory at Eldora in the $10,000-to-win Knight Before The Kings Royal. It was his series-leading ninth WoO win and put him on top of the points standings. Tony Stewart ran away from the field for the National Racing Alliance (NRA) Sprint Invaders win.

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