8-28-04

While there may have been controversy at the front in Saturday night’s Washington Area Dodge Dealers 100, there was something special going on a little farther back in the pack. 

As you are now probably aware, a post race inspection found the winning car illegal; it happens in this sport from time to time but that is not what I am writing about today.  I am not writing about championships or ‘big buck’ teams or the debate over the crate engine.  I am writing about Doug Libermann, Donnie Rodgers, Keith Carpenter and Bill Woodbury; there are others but let’s start with these four guys.

Doug Libermann (#56) has made the trip from Delaware about a half dozen times this year to race with us.  The car and team are as professional as they come and Doug is a solid competitor, a legitimate top 10 driver each time he comes to the speedway.  Doug came home 11^th on Saturday night.

Donnie Rodgers (#10) finished 15^th Saturday night in just the second race of his return to the speedway.  Donnie was a former top driver in the Grand Stock division but has been away form the sport for a decade.  Right now the main goal is to get reacquainted with the cars and the track and be ready for a full season in 2005.

Bill Woodbury (#20) was back Saturday night after a two-year absence.  The Catlett, VA driver was 19^th at the end of the race but seemed happy to be back in the game, still trying to figure out a few things on the car.  After the race, Bill was looking forward to returning to the speedway.

Keith Carpenter (#44) rolled in from Falls Church on Saturday for the first time in a long while and came home 20^th.  He may not have been thrilled with his finish but, it was good to see the bright yellow car in the field and Keith back at the speedway.

While we all watch to see who will win and then moan and groan over the outcome and talk about regional points and big money we can’t overlook the fact that it takes a field of cars to put on a race.  I’m not talking about field fillers, I’m talking about real race car drivers and there were 25 of them in the late model race on Saturday night; all of them driving their cars to the max.

There is something special about just getting in the car and doing it.  Being a part of the event and striving to improve your own performance is a challenge in itself.  It is something special indeed.

This Saturday night after the races, please go down into the pit area and find Doug, Donnie, Bill, Keith or David, Chris, Jimmy, Ricky, Bruce, Dave, Tom, Roger, Jack, Matt, Wayne, Mark or James and introduce yourself.  Ask how their night went, when will they be back to race again, and finally; say thanks.