The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

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June 25, 2009

Smoother surface

Drivers can expect a smoother surface tonight

By Dan Stillwell

Jim Williams has to keep everyone happy at Beckley Motorsports Park.

Drivers want a smooth track surface.

Fans don’t want dust.

It’s not easy to do both. A smoother surface will often result in more dust.

So that’s been the challenge this week as Williams, the track promoter, track manager Ken Williams and their staff prepared for tonight’s races.

Williams said last week’s opening day at the 50-year-old track resulted in good — if not great — marks from both sides.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” Jim Williams said. “You have to please the crowd and you have to please the drivers.”

The track preparation expert, Jerry Collins, has used a Sheepsfoot roller throughout the week to smooth the three-eighths-mile oval.

“Last week was really good as far as dust for the spectators, but the track was a little too riply,” Williams said.

“The Sheepsfoot has big spikes that dig deep into the dirt so when you water, it holds the water. It also compacts and smoothes the surface at the same time.”

Last week saw good attendance by both drivers and fans. The popular Super Late Models class drew 18 competitors, as did the Modifieds.

Late Models featured 16 racers while Pure Stocks had 13 and Outlaw Streets four.

While the action started an hour late due to registration problems, the races were still completed by 11:45 p.m.

In recent years, races often started well past midnight.

“Once we got going, Ken was phenomenal getting the show run, and I think the fans would agree,” Jim Williams said. “I’ve not had one negative comment from the fans I’ve run into.”

He doesn’t expect a repeat of last week’s problems.

“We won’t have the registration backup that got us behind,” Williams said. “We’ll have a few new cars, for sure, but not 75 to get registered.”

The track has erected more sponsor signs, and a new phone system is being installed by Fibernet. Fans can call 304-929-2688 for information on the track.

Ernie Shelton, a longtime promoter, magazine publisher and member of the West Virginia Motorsports Hall of Fame, will return tonight as announcer.

Last week was the first time in 14 years he’d called races.

“We’re elated to have Ernie here,” Williams said. “We hope to have him for the remainder of the season.”

Action begins tonight with Miniwedges at 6:45 p.m. Hot laps for Street Stocks will start at 7:15 p.m., while Super Late Models will go at 9:30 p.m.

“We’ll do our best to be started on time and finished on time,” Williams said.

Last week’s winners included Rod Evans in AMRA Super Late Models, Jeremy Berwanger in AMRA Modifieds, Eddie Hambrick Jr. in AMRA KOM Late Models, Kevin Fitzwater in Outlaw Streets and Daniel Lowe in Pure Stocks.

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