WEEKEND SCHEDULE
TODAY
Kil-Kare Speedway: NASCAR Whelen All-American Series late models, modifieds, sport stocks, compacts. Gates open at 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
Edgewater Sports Park: NHRA National Dragster Challenge for Super Pro, Pro, Sportsman; Summit Racing for Jr. Dragster, Motorcycle, Trophy. Gates open at 2 p.m., racing at 7.
Eldora Speedway: Family Fun Night; UMP DIRTcar modifieds, stock cars. Gates open at 4 p.m., hot laps at 6:15, racing at 7:30.
Shadybowl Speedway: Robbie Dean Memorial Series for late models, modifieds, sport stocks, tuners. Gates open at 4 p.m., racing at 7.
Waynesfield Raceway Park: Non-wing sprints, mini sprints, trucks, compacts (double features for non-wing sprints & trucks). Gates open at 5 p.m., hot laps at 6, racing at 7.
SUNDAY
Edgewater Sports Park: Day racing. Gates open at 9:30 a.m.., racing at 1 p.m.
Eldora Speedway: Little Eldora go-kart racing. Racing starts at 12:30 p.m.
Winchester Speedway: Must See super modifieds & sprints. Gates open at 10 a.m., hot laps at 11, qualifying at 12:30 p.m., racing at 2.
In the twilight of Robbie Dean’s racing career at Columbus Motor Speedway, Nathan Herron had the chance to compete against the popular driver known as Big Bird for both his physical presence and the yellow and black late model Dean drove.
Herron said he beat Dean a few times, and got beat by him a few more.
Saturday at Shadybowl Speedway, the North Lewisburg driver can think of nothing better than sharing victory lane with Dean’s memory with a win in the Robbie Dean Memorial Series. Shadybowl hosts the first of three races in cooperation with Columbus (July 6) and Kil-Kare Speedway (Aug. 2). All three races are 94 laps, a tribute to Dean’s car number.
Grove City’s Dean, who stood 6-foot-4 and weighed 250 pounds, died in 2008 after a battle with cancer. He was 55.
“It’d mean a lot. Robbie Dean won a lot of races at all three tracks. He was tough to beat every time he showed up,” Herron said. “As I driver myself, I kinda wanna follow in his footsteps the older I get. He was a guy you had to beat.”
Herron has proven difficult to get around this season at Shadybowl. He has finished second in both late model features making him one of the drivers to watch Saturday on Shadybowl’s 3/10th-mile paved oval. The 2009 track champion said he’s come from the back of the pack both times after a wreck the first race and the inversion the second race.
“There’s quite a few fast guys we’re expecting to come in but I think we have a car to beat them,” said Herron, who drives for Sidney’s Kevin Shatto. “Our ultimate goal when we built the car we’re running, we wanted to win the track championship at Shadybowl. Then this (series) came about so we’re definitely going to try and win all three of the Robbie Dean races and win that title as well.”
The event is expected to draw about 25-30 late models to Shadybowl. With a handful of those from other tracks, Herron and his fellow Shadybowl regulars are out to protect their turf.
“It kind of goes back to a high school football rivalry,” Herron said with a laugh. “You’re at their place and you want to beat them there. In the same sense, you want to have that pride to defend your home turf.”
Hot laps: Winchester Speedway kicks off its 100th season of racing Sunday with a visit from the Must See Super Modifieds and Sprints. JoJo Helberg returns to defend his track and world record time of 12.669 seconds around the half-mile, high-banked oval. … Coveted NHRA WALLY trophies are on the line Saturday at Edgewater Sports Park in the Super Pro, Pro and Sportsman divisions. … Eldora Speedway hosts Family Fun Night on Saturday capped by a fireworks display.
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