Local racing schedule
KIL-KARE SPEEDWAY
Today: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late models, modifieds, street stocks, compacts; double features; custom car show. Gates open at 6 p.m., racing at 8.
ELDORA SPEEDWAY
Saturday: Family Fun Night. Modifieds, stocks, compacts, Legends. Gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps at 6, racing at 7:30.
SHADYBOWL SPEEDWAY
Saturday: Bobby Korn Memorial for late models, modifieds, tuners, compacts. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 7.
WAYNESFIELD RACEWAY PARK
Saturday: Nonwing sprints, modifieds, mini-sprints, stock cars, trucks, compacts. Gates open at 5 p.m., racing at 7.
EDGEWATER SPORTS PARK
Saturday: United Manual Transmission Racers (UMTR), NHRA-sanctioned drag racing. Gates open at 2 p.m., racing at 7.
KIL-KARE DRAGWAY
Saturday: Xtreme Outlaw Series, NHRA-sanctioned drag racing. Gates open at 10 a.m., time trials at 12:30 p.m.
TRI-STATE DRAGWAY
Sunday: NHRA-sanctioned drag racing. Gates open at 9:30 a.m., eliminations at noon.
WINCHESTER SPEEDWAY
Sunday: Xtreme Speed Challenge, super modifieds, compacts. Gates open at 10 a.m., racing at 2 p.m.
The racing career of Xenia’s Clarence “Mutt” Anderson is long and storied, but in his research for a movie on the late Anderson, Mike Thompson learned a thing or two about the legendary car builder and mechanic.
“When he would go out to dinner, Mutt would order french fries and he would pitch a fit that he didn’t want any salt — absolutely no salt on his french fries,” said Thompson, who also runs the website Dayton Speedway Lives. “When they would bring the french fries out Mutt would immediately salt them. People would ask why. Mutt said it was the only way you could be absolutely sure you got fresh french fries.”
Thompson’s movie on Anderson — “Faded Thunder: The Mutt Anderson Story” — will appear on cable access in Xenia and on Time Warner Dayton in the near future after a few tweaks are made to the production.
Among those interviewed for the “Mutt Anderson Story” were Bobby Unser, Johnny Rutherford, Bruce Walkup and Roger McCluskey Jr., son of the USAC driver and Indianapolis 500 participant.
Thompson hopes it is the first of a series of movies on racing legends. He plans to feature Fairborn’s Jim Welty next.
“I went to Mutt’s funeral (in June 2010) and I told his sons their father lived a unique life and someone should do a film,” Thompson said. “And then I heard somebody say, ‘Maybe I could do it.’ It turned out it was me. ... It’s taken about a year. I have no video experience so it’s taken me a year to put it together.
“It’s sort of the responsibility of the elders in this sport to keep the history alive because the young race fans are too busy going to races. My thought is I’m going to continue to try to shine a light on the men and the machines that helped build the sport of auto racing.”
Eldora hosts Schrader, Wallace: Prelude to the Dream participants and veteran NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace and Kenny Schrader will participate in A Night With The Kennys in the Eldora Ballroom 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5.
The duo will share racing stories from their careers and proceeds benefit Darke County’s Fish Choice Pantry and Mercer County’s CALL Food Pantry.
Advance tickets are $10 and include a special meet-and-greet with Wallace and Schrader from 7:30 to 8 p.m.
Same-day tickets are $12. Tickets can be purchased at (937) 338-3815 or at www.EldoraSpeedway.com.
Shady Bowl honors Korn: Car owner and mechanic Bobby Korn will be honored at Shady Bowl Speedway with a special 72-lap race for late models. Korn’s cars raced in the Daytona 500 and across the midwest.
Korn was also named NASCAR Mechanic of the Year twice in the Whelen All-American Series at Kil-Kare Speedway.
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