THE RICHARDSON REVISITED
By Jack Taylor



(5-31-06) This will be my story, not a recap of Chad Kinder's triumphant win just completed in the 13th Annual Richardson Memorial of 2006 after finishing second to Denny Schwartz in 2005. Chad became the 12th different winner of the historic Memorial Day weekend race for UMP Modified racers throughout the Midwest. Only Schwartz has won the classic two times, in 2001 and 2005. On the average, more than 100 cars and drivers have rolled into the pits each year to test their talents against the always tough to tame Vermilion County Speedway track on Memorial Day weekend. The record turnout was 141 cars in 2001. Mother Nature has been an enemy on several events, but this weekend was soaked in 90 degree heat with sunshine in abundance.

If you have followed my race reports and summaries over the past few years, you will have already formed an opinion on my loyalties to Vermilion County Speedway, a track I have never raced on or will, but it is my home track. Everybody has one. Sometimes I feel this special annual event has been left behind as other tracks attempt to duplicate the Richardson by offering sizeable incentives to modified drivers, even late model drivers who have their own special races for large purses, not needing to force out eligible, regular well deserving modified drivers. I suppose if the payout is high enough, late model drivers feel its open season whenever the money is available. Large corporate sponsors with money will attract many  drivers, even late models. Can't say I blame them. 

My point is, I feel it is time for a special race with the prominence that the Richardson has, to continue increasing the  winning purse each year until they reach a point  where the top modified drivers want to come and race against their best counterparts. The promoters in the past few years have added a "B" feature paying a $1,000 purse to help drivers unable to make the feature. That helps drivers to pay their expenses. The cost of fuel has left many to worry about traveling. Maybe the Richardson should be expanded to a two-day show. VCS needs to move into the future and generate more incentives to draw the top modified drivers who compete regularly at their home tracks. No late model drivers allowed without a Ump modified competitors card. And more additional races to draw more cars from farther away. I realize this all costs money to promote and I wish I had the right answers. VCS is a leader in modified racing and it should strive to remain as the track that belongs on top. 

UMP National Champions such as Jimmy Owens, Denny Schwartz, Jeff Leka, Mike Marlar, Dean Hoffman, Jeff Martin, Steve Hillard, and other greats have all displayed their talents to the fans over the years. The Richardson Memorial has always been the the place to be for the best modified drivers 


Over the past few years, I have arrived at the track a few days early with my understanding better half and our camper in tow to relax in the shade of  a large tree-line. A bonfire to sit around and tell racing stories with friends before and after race night is a priority.

I have felt the pain a promoter feels when there is a threatening rain approaching just as time trials are starting, or the tardiness of fans before race time when you know this is a break-even night at best,  or the exhilaration of looking at the stands and seeing a sold-out crowd still filing in. I worry if there is too much water or too little on the track to start hot laps. I wonder how the concessions will do on certain nights when I had it all figured out perfectly, then the crowd surprises me and I worry now if there is enough to compensate for a bigger crowd I see coming through the gate. Oh well, hopefully it will be enough. Maybe I'll concentrate on track preparation and not dwell on it for a while.

There have been three promoters who given their all to the continued success of the Richardson Memorial race and I am proud to say they are all very good friends whom I have watched on race nights as they strived to present the best show possible to fans and drivers. Phil Richardson, Bill Marietta, and Bill Nelson have all done their part in presenting this greatest Modified event every year for the fans and drivers. I visited with all three this past weekend and I am blessed to have them as friends. And the flagman, Rick Isaacson, has been flagging at VCS since the beginning of the Richardson. Pretty hard to find anyone knowing more about the drivers than he does. And he also is a very good friend, sharing with me his knowledge on the background of the Richardson. We met with everyone we could find and hope all the bases were covered. We were treated with respect and we really appreciate it. Here's to continued success for many years for the Richardson Memorial.