Kil-Kare closes out season with Lee Raymond tribute race

As the points leader entering the final race, New Bremen’s Drew Charlson has enjoyed a great run at Kil-Kare Speedway this season. But a win Friday would make it, well, legendary.

Charlson won the 94-lap Robbie Dean Memorial on June 4. Friday he attempts to win the $5,000-to-win Lee Raymond Dayton 100, a 100-lap race for late models around Kil-Kare’s 3/8th-mile, modified-D track. A field of about 25 late models is anticipated for the Kil-Kare’s final race of the 2017 season.

»RELATED: Restoring the roar at Kil-Kare

Raymond was a two-time ARCA series champion (1985, 1986) and was named rookie of the year in 1982. The Dayton native won seven ARCA features in a career that spanned 1979 to 199 Raymond died in 2013 at the age of 59.

“All I’ve ever done is I’ve heard stories of Lee,” Charlson said. “There are some guys from Fort Loramie that worked with his ARCA team. Knowing some of those guys I’ve heard stories from them. He’s done quite a bit with racing. The Robbie Dean this summer, I never crossed paths with him. But I sure learned a lot about him after winning that race talking to some of his family and the racing community in general. These races here, it’s really what it’s all about. It’s remembering these legends.

“In my mind I think we can win it. I guess we’ll see if we’re the favorite come Friday.”

A strong field is again expected for the Lee Raymond Dayton 100. Kil-Kare regulars Ryan Fleming, Cody Robinson Chad Pendleton, Donnie Hill and Charlson along with Brandon Oakley, Don Mahaffey Jr. and Justin Alsip just to name a few.

Robinson, Fleming and Charlson and Drew Carter Jr. all have late model feature wins at Kil-Kare this season. That experience, especially around Kil-Kare’s tricky modified-D that drivers say feels like it has as many as a dozen turns, could provide an advantage. Racing at night adds another wrinkle as Kil-Kare shifts from its normal Sunday afternoon slot.

In addition to the late model feature, a $2,500-to-win modified feature. The always popular school buses also return for a Figure-8 Race of Destruction. Spectators will also receive a coupon for $5 off to Land of Illusion Haunted Scream Park in Middletown.

Gates open at 6 p.m. with qualifying at 7 p.m. and racing at 8:30 p.m.

Prior to this year Charlson’s last full season of racing came in 2014. He did a few dirt modified races in 2015 before getting back into it this season. His crew consists of crew chief Anthony Taylor, Josh Niekamp and Charlson’s wife, Leann.

“I bet the average age of our team is 22. Just a bunch of young guys going racing,” Charlson said. “This year we jumped back into it with this car. It’s an old Travis Braden car and he won the Winchester 400 with it last year. It’s a pretty good car. It’s been good for us.”

And tonight Charlson hopes it’s legendary.

“I’m not racing to be the next Tony Stewart or Jeff Gordon. I’m just racing for trophies,” said Charlson, who is sponsored by J&M Manufacturing, Mid-America Properties, Heitkamp Crop Insurance and D&L Property Management. “I want to go places where I know I can win races. If we feel good enough we can win the Winchester 400 we’ll go there. I don’t feel we’re quite there yet. I think we can get us a win at Kil-Kare this weekend and get us a championship. The main goal is to win that championship.”

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