RACIN AROUND TITLETOWN by Joe Verdegan

We met some of the friendliest folks in the racing business Monday, May 12 for the inaugural appearance of the Extreme DirtCar series at Superior Speedway. Most folks couldn't believe that 1) You'd attempt a financially risky, high dollar special that far north in May and 2) it would be the track's season opener. As it stood, there wasn't an empty seat to be had. 45 WISSOTA super stocks also were part of the show. The 28 late model drivers at the Superior event represented 13 different states and Canada. They included six each from Wisconsin and Minnesota, two each from North Dakota, Ohio and Georgia, and one each from West Virginia, Florida, Arkansas, Tennessee, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Iowa, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Canada.

Local heroe Brady Smith brought the fans to their feet. Smith shocked the series regulars with a second place qualifying effort. He backed that up with a smashing heat win, nipping none other than Scott Bloomquist at the line. Smith led much of the early going of the 50 lap main, only to drop out with three laps to go. "We broke a shock mount," a dejected Smith said. "I'd love to run with these guys full time. It takes money and help. A lot of it." Duluth's Darrell Nelson was the only cast iron motor powered car to crack the 24 car starting field. Four who failed to qualify for the main included ageless veteran Tom Nesbitt (who actually won a series race in Texas way back in 1991), Tony Bahr, Roger Paolo and Tom Waseleksi.

The track received a heavy soaking of rains in the days prior to the race. And as expected there were three different times the grader had to be brought out to smooth out the rough edges. The delays at times were lengthly. At eastern Wisconsin tracks the fans would have been ready to burn down the grandstands. But the Superior crowd had the patience of a saint. They expected it and it almost seemed as if they didn't mind the delays just so the big dogs would have the best surface possible.

Here are the stories behind some of the car numbers some of the late model drivers in attendance sport.

Donnie Moran, #99 - "When I started racing in Ohio back in 1979 it was one of the few numbers out there that weren't already taken by somebody."

Roger Paolo, #13 - "My great grandfather had 13 as his badge number when he was a police officer in Hibbing. My father raced and he kept that number, and that's why I carry it, too."

Tom Nesbitt, #1 - "It's the easiest one to paint! We painted the car overnight one year and we didn't have any sign companies when we started racing back in 1959."

Brad Seng, #12 - "I was the last guy on the bench when I played little league. They gave me number 12, and it's stuck with me ever since."

Darren Miller, #32 - "When I played football I played fullback and linebacker for Milligeville High school in Illinois. 32 was my number on my jersey as it is today."

Pat Doar, #11 - "When we started racing we didn't use any of the sign companies. 11 was an easy one to paint."

Jimmy Mars, #28 - "My brother and I both have our birthdates on the 28th. It's been good luck so far."

Rick Eckert, #24 - "When I started racing I carried the number 0. When I started racing full time my car owner had 24, so that's what I've had."

Mitch Johnson, #00 - "When I bought my first race car in 1973 the car owner had 00 on the car. I decided to keep it on and I've had it ever since." Johnson says he's not chasing points anywhere this year, opting instead for the "big money shows" if he can find any.

John Seitz, #92 - "My heroe when I was growing up was Gordie Lancaster. He ran number 29. Well when I started racing in 1993 he was still racing. So I just switched the number around."

Steve Francis, #M15 - "I started racing when I was 15 years old so that's why I have the number 15. The M part obviously comes from our corporate deal with Mopar. That's when they want and they're paying the bills."

Scott Bloomquist, #0 - "When I first raced I was 18 years old so I ran 18. I had that for 15 years. I worked with a lot of different people over the years. I split up with them a few years back. I moved everything back to my shops back home in Tennessee. I needed a fresh start and with 0 there is nowhere to go but up."

More excerpts from the Scott Bloomquist interview at Superior:

Q: If you weren't racing full time for a living what would you do?
A: I always get asked what you'd like to do. I'd surf if I could get paid enough. If I couldn't race I wouldn't do nothing at all.

Q: What kind of track conditions do you prefer?
A: I just want a track you can pass on. I don't care what the conditions are. If it's rough or wet it doesn't matter. I want two to three lanes of passing. That's when I'm at my happiest.

Q: Do you plan on running the UMP Summernationals tour again this summer?
A: You know with them not offering the $100,000 bonus to the winner of that deal this year I'd have to say right now it's doubtful. It's looking like we'll be running this Extreme DirtCar series full time this year.

Q: Do you think you'll make any of their bigger money shows that don't conflict with this series schedule-wise?
A: That remains to be seen. A lot factors come into play with that. We'll do it if it doesn't overstress us. I'd like to. It's difficult to see how you'll be sitting with cars, motors and equipment. If everybody's not too worn out and you come out of some of these deals in pretty decent shape we'd consider some of them.

Q: How many crew members are helping you this year?
A: I've got three absolute full time guys with me. I've also got some guys who volunteer both on the road and at the shop. It's tough for some of the guys to get off and hit the road with us.