IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 19, 2006 Desoto Speedway Hits A Home Run With Race Of Champions by Bill Green -Special Report for KARNAC.com The autograph line filled up quickly for the NASCAR stars Bradenton, FL (March 18th, 2006) - The trip from Atlanta Motor Speedway for the NASCAR greats and one rising star, took only some 50 minutes thanks in part to Rusty Wallace's jet and piloting skills. Unfortunately, due to his new ABC contractual requirements, Rusty would have to sit out the on track competition. But, that actually added to the crowds enjoyment of the evening, as they were able to get an early listen to the new Rusty Wallace, ABC color commentator during this Race Of Champions event. Arriving stylishly late, the NASCAR stars first met with the media, for the traditional question and answer period. Media representation seemed to run to full spectrum of radio, TV and news print, with the national news identities like Short Track AMERICA and Karnac.com, mixed in with local news reporters like Keels-N-Wheels Magazine, the Bradenton Harold, Tampa Tribune, ABC Channel 7 News (the only network broadcast media present) and several local and state news printers. So access to the drivers was great and the short Q & A period had a down home flavor, with several informative and entertaining bright spots. The first question posed was to Rusty Wallace about his return to Desoto Speedway after a few wins in ASA visits some 10-15 years ago. "It's great to be back. I remember a little bit about my earlier visits with the old #66 ASA car." Rusty related, "Won a few races here and had a great time. Saw some of the old flags as I came in, they're kind'a fading in color, but that was real nice that people remember you like that." Click Here To Listen to Media Interviews! Next question was to Rusty's son Steven Wallace in regards to visiting a track like this that his father already had so many fans at and did that make it easier to convert them into Steven Wallace Fans. "I hope it does!" responded an excited Steven, "Getting to race with the likes of Bill Elliot, Sterlin Marlin and "Handsome" Harry Gant is really great. But, when people ask who they should pull for now that Dad has retired, I SAY ME!" Moving down the line to Harry Gant, his question was about the return to competition in an event like this and how did it feel to get back to the track, so-to-speak. "We'll I don't know yet," Harry related as he laughed, "...this is my first real return to the Champions race circuit, but I've been to Desoto before, years ago and I'm sure I'll enjoy it, if these boys well take it easy on the old-timer." Both, Bill Elliott and Sterlin Marlin used their first opportunity to talk, to remind us that it was about the fans and getting back to that up close and personal opportunity some fans don't have in today's NASCAR. "Not everyone can get to one of the NASCAR events," began Bill Elliott in his familiar southern drawl. "These events and those like it, afford lots of fans the chance to see some of their favorite drivers, where they otherwise would not be able to do so." Sterlin Marlin echoed those thoughts, saying, "The racing's always been about the fans and hopefully as the corporate images grow, the fences between the fans and the drives won't." Rusty Wallace and Sterling Marlin having fun at DeSoto Super Speedway Rusty got a chance to hit on the topic of moving from driver to commentator, when ask if the working day had gotten longer or shorter. "I'm not sure," Rusty started, "I've spent the last few days at ABC practicing for an upcoming race I'll call here in Florida and for my part in the Indy 500, but I've recently signed with the World Of Wheel Custom Car Shows to do 15 appearances this year. So I've already met a lot of fans across the country. Well just yesterday, I was in Kansas City and Connecticut both, then this morning I was in Atlanta, GA and now Florida. So that ole' airplane of mine has been running wide ass open, I mean wide open. Sorry about that." As the drivers and media around him burst into laughter. Complete audio of the Desoto Speedway Race of Champions media interviews can be found at www.ShortTrackAMERICA1.com shortly. And don't forget to check ABC 7 News out of Southwest Florida for video and audio footage. Running a Twin 8-lap Feature Format, the stars of NASCAR should the crowd that even in the substantially under powered Pure Stocks, professional drivers can really put on a show. In segment one Sterling Marlin used his outside pole position to out run Bill Elliott into turn-1. And then hold him off for the first 5 laps, but Elliott showed his ability to run what you hand him, as he passed Marlin for the segment win. Looking on, from their own battle would be Steven Wallace third and "Mr. September" Harry Gant fourth. Segment 2 saw the field inverted. So the younger Wallace lead 2 laps as Elliott and Marlin worked passed Gant in quick fashion. The new fan seeker Steven Wallace, showed he would not be intimidated by the wily veterans of the sport, as he traded paint with both Elliott and Marlin as they rubbed past. But to no avail as Bill Elliott took another very popular short track win. Followed by Marlin, Wallace and Gant. As for Desoto Super Speedway, owners John and Camille Sarppraicone, have worked hard to build Desoto's car count, media presents and fan count over the past few years. Events like this Race Of Champions, should show the fans and even a national audience, that their commitment to Saturday Night short track racing in Florida is real. Great job! After 3 years of traveling elsewhere across Florida and southern Georgia, I was afforded the opportunity to return to Desoto Super Speedway for the impressive lineup of this weeks Race Of Champions. With veteran drivers like Sterlin Marlin, Bill Elliot, Rusty Wallace, Harry Gant and young Steven Wallace on the program, the stands were bound to be packed and Short Track AMERICA was glad to be there for Karnac.com. Desoto returns to regular racing with a Limited Late Model 125 on March 25th, an AACS Late Model 125 on April 1st and the TBARA Winged Sprints return to Desoto for the Dick Friedley Memorial on April 8th. Desoto is easy to reach at www.desotosuperspeedway.com. - Bill Green - SHORT TRACK AMERICA Have an opinion on this story? 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