A SUMMERNATIONAL "SO LONG"
by Jack Taylor

(7/6/04)About two months ago and after my final story on the Richardson Memorial, I said that would be my last article on racing for the fans to read about my adventures in the infield of VCS and other tracks in the Midwest of Illinois. I guess I lied to you , but this really is my last. That last race ended with no winner, because of rain and there was no closure to end my writing career (as it was) on. It will be finished and the race will be ran, but not by me.

  Now, stay with me on this while I bore you one last time, and we’ll end this story of years of covering the best of dirt track racing.

Of course it’s name dropping and you’ve probably seen them all yourself, but here goes. I don’t remember the first Summernational race I was at, but in 1988 there were only six races, when it began, so I missed one or two. Springfield, Illinois native, Dick Taylor, won 3 of them that first year. I’ve seen him race a lot. 1990 was the year that Scott Bloomquist decided to give the Summernationals a try and he won 10 of the14 shows and was the champion driver that year. I saw 2 of those wins. In 1992, I only saw Kevin Weavers win at Fairbury. In 1991 I went to my first big late model show at Vermilion County Speedway and have been fairly loyal to the track since then. I think it’s one of the best  modified tracks in the Midwest and late model drivers seem to take to the surface also. Bloomquist won that one.

When the Summernationals came around, I always wanted to be at Mighty Macon Speedway, Farmer City Raceway, Fairbury Speedway, and Vermilion County Speedway. Added on Spoon River, Benton County, and Kankakee later. Followed Bob Pierce and Roger Long, but Billy Moyer’s dominance was always a draw for everyone. Rick Aukland, Bill Frye, and John Gill, as well as Don O’Neal, came into prominence in the 90’s also. Maybe one of the youngest to make his mark on the Summernationals is Shannon Babb, who has numerous wins in his young career already. Have always been a fan and will always be. I will never forget his brilliant performance in the 1997 Macon Speedway Summernatonal, parking his car on the pace lap, borrowing another driver’s car, winning from the tail, and then losing because he was underweight on the scales. That was one of the best races I have ever seen.

A 1997 PHOTO BY GENE SOWERS DURING QUALIFYING AT FARMER CITY RACEWAY

Some Pictures from the past
Thanks to all the  photographers who have let me use their photos over the years

I'LL BET YOU KNOW THEM ALL -NEEDS NO IDENTIFYING

We camped at the Vermilion County Fair Grounds, arriving on Friday, the 2^nd of July and I celebrated my 69^th birthday on Saturday at the place I have called home for many years, preparing for the Summernational race on Sunday, the 4^th.

We visited with several drivers in the pits such as Kevin Weaver, Shannon Babb, Jamie Wilson, Mark Stetler, Rich Hedrick, Terry Duncan, Shorty Duncan, Roger Cary, and others. The racing was excellent from the infield and I’m sure the fans enjoyed it, too. Seen many old friends like Bill Nelson and his wife, Bill Marietta, Bob Sargent, Smash the Loud Pedal, Racenut and his wife, Kim and Donna Henderson, Namgalf, Duane Vogel, Wilson, Chuck, Larry and Donna Crowder, Dave Roush, and followed it up with a visit about racing around the campfire late that night.

 Watched 20 to 30 motor homes and campers leave Monday morning as they headed for Brownstown, Illinois to watch the next night of racing or head home. I took one more ride around the speedway, watched the cleaning crew pick up garbage on the grounds, and we pointed the trailer towards home.

And now we have another winner who is setting the standard for challenging drivers. Don O’Neal, who already has five wins on the 2004 tour, won at VCS on the Fourth of July to cap my career. He and others may continue on and will. I’ll stop now. 44 Summernationals in 15 years is enough, but it was great. This was based strictly on my memory and old notes. Sorry for any mistakes.