Dirt Racing Blog

Karl Haglund's (and son) Trip to the Mason City Mall Car Show

Young Anders Haglund was afraid of the big cars. Chargin’ Charlie McKenna offered the young ladd a cookie, but the young Haglund boy would not sit in the brand new mastersbuilt deery lm. Mckenna even showed Anders the flashy dashboard lights. The skeptical ladd would not be bought or tricked.

(Karl Haglund is columnist for The National Hawkeye Racing News)

Fertilizer Equipment Specialists Re-Ink Title Sponsorship of Friday Trackside Live Show

KLGA Motorsports (Algona, Iowa) and DirtTrackRadio.com are pleased to announce that Fertilizer Equipment Specialists will return as title sponsor of 92.7 FM’s Trackside Live program. This marks the second consecutive year that the Friday night program will be title sponsored by Fertilizer Equipment Specialists.

Fertilizer Equipment Specialists are located in Garner, IA and specialize in the sale of quality used fertilizer application equipment. They are also cash buyers of good used application equipment.

Recently, FES added the high-quality line of eXmark mowers to their sales floor. EXmark manufactures world class zero-turn and walk behind mowers.

Fertilizer Equipment Specialists can be reached at 641-923-4893 and online at www.fes.net.

The Fertilizer Equipment Specialists Trackside Live Show is heard every Friday night from the Hancock County Speedway in Britt, IA at 6:15 p.m. during the racing season on KLGA 92.7FM, Algona, IA and live on the Internet at www.MyInfoCentral.com.

Monson Salvage Continues Title Sponsorship of Saturday Trackside Live Show

KLGA Motorsports (Algona, Iowa) and DirtTrackRadio.com are pleased to announce that Monson Salvage will return as title sponsor of 92.7 FM’s Trackside Live program. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Saturday night program will be title sponsored by Monson Salvage.

Monson Salvage is located in rural Lone Rock, IA and specializes in used auto parts and purchasing your salvage vehicles. Vehicle pickup is also available.

Monson Salvage can be reached at 515-925-3587.

The Monson Salvage Trackside Live Show is heard every Saturday night from the Algona Raceway at 5:45 p.m. during the racing season on KLGA 92.7FM, Algona, IA and live on the Internet at www.MyInfoCentral.com.

Schaeffer Oil Returns to Hour of Horsepower Show

KLGA Motorsports (Algona, Iowa) and DirtTrackRadio.com are pleased to announce that Schaeffer Oil will return as title sponsor of 92.7 FM’s popular Hour of Horsepower radio program. This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Thursday program will bear the title sponsorship from Schaeffer Oil.

Schaeffer Oil was founded in 1893 and is headquartered in St. Louis, MO.  The company has 10 warehouse facilities throughout the United States. Sales of Schaeffer lubricants are strong in the Midwest, including the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois and Ohio.

Most of its lubricants, 58%, go to heavy farm equipment, followed by industrial equipment. Schaeffer also has a long standing reputation as the lubricant of choice in auto racing.

Current chairman John Schaeffer Shields says, “We are a very progressive company. Among our products, we have a line of semi-synthetic oils that give our customers the benefits of a synthetic at a price just slightly above conventional petroleum based products. We provide soy-based fuel additives, oil analysis, and in-house seminars. We don’t just sell products, but go in partnership with our customers to provide Total Preventative Maintenance.”

To locate a Schaeffer Oil dealer in your area, contact Mark Olson, area representative for Schaeffer Oil at 515-889-2981 or 888-889-2982; email: olsonoil@netins.net.

The Schaeffer Oil Hour of Horsepower is heard every Friday afternoon at 4:10 p.m. during the racing season on KLGA 92.7FM, Algona, IA and live on the Internet at www.MyInfoCentral.com.

Jeff Feaster - IMCA Mod for 2008

Jeff Feaster, Dakota City, IA, sends word that he will be ready to defend his '07 season championship at the Hancock County Speedway in Britt. Look for the Skyrocket #3 at Algona Raceway as well.

Good luck in 2008!

Chad Palmer - 2008 Stock Car Ride

The Chad Palmer (Renwick, IA) race team sends this image to get our motors running and wishing that this confounded snow was gone.

It will warm up some day....

Good luck in 2008!!

2007 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame Inductee...Daryl Brayton

Our final trip down the 2007 Kossuth County Racing Hall of Fame memory lane includes inductee Daryl Brayton. There were many pivotal players in the Algona tracks promoter history...one that certainly included Brayton.

Daryl Brayton operated the racing facility at the Kossuth County Fairgrounds for five years, from 1989 – 1993.

The first year he operated the track, it was still in its smaller configuration, a ¼ mile. Prior to his second year of track operation, Brayton coordinated the reconstruction of this racing facility to its present configuration, measuring 4/10 of a mile in diameter.

Under Brayton’s leadership, the track was known at Fair Street Speedway.

Brayton has always been an individual to quickly give credit to the many businesses and individuals who helped with the reconfiguration. Many people collaborated, including the fair board, local businesses and community members to make this racing facility what it is today.

The person who helped bring them all together was Daryl Brayton. Much of what we have today for a great facility and racing surface was started years ago with a supportive fair board, many supporters and a great leader like Daryl Brayton to help pull it all together.

“Ethnocentrism”...

By Karl Haglund - Hawkeye Racing News Columnist

CHUCK CITY, Iowa – My word for the day is “ethnocentrism” which basically means “We’re better than you are.” Its actual meaning may be a bit more complex, but basically that’s the meat and potatoes of the word.

I have a professor this semester who makes offhand remarks about NASCAR every once in awhile. He questions its definition as a sport. It got me thinking. 
By definition, is auto racing a sport?

The American Century Dictionary, published in 1995, that I have on a bookshelf in my office defines sport as a “game or competitive activity usually played outside and involving physical skill, training, etc., eg., football, running.”

Where does that leave us? Well, auto racing is a competitive activity usually performed outdoors.
Does driving a race car require physical skill and training?

I once asked TJ Stalker about his switch from driving a B-mod to driving an A-mod. As some of you may know, TJ is a high school athlete. TJ plays basketball which requires a lot of running – up and down the court. If I had to pick a race car driver in excellent physical condition I could reasonably start with TJ Stalker.

Here is what TJ said about driving:
“You’re definitely working the wheel a hundred times more in a Modified compared to a B-Mod. In a B-Mod you get in the corner and you can almost just smash down the pedal and hold it right there and it will stick. Whereas in an IMCA Modified you’re feathering the gas and working the wheel, it’s definitely a lot more work. By the end of the race you’re pretty tired”.

Would TJ get tired if driving a race car required no physical skill at all? I doubt it.
I imagine I would get tired from driving as well. Of course, I cry myself to sleep at night if the TV remote goes missing. I like to think of the remote control as a magic, invisible bridge between the sofa and the TV. It’s a “uniter.”

Back to topic – Why would my professor bad mouth the sport of auto racing? He tossed in one comment and associated all fans of NASCAR with a heavy set fellow he saw in a restaurant who had “Dixie” as his cell-phone ring tone. This was only a few minutes after teaching us the word “ethnocentrism.”
Why do people bad mouth auto racing?

Is it because they see the sport as being filled with backwoods, beer drinking, pick-up driving, flag waiving, dog racing, dog kicking, marijuana growing, mullet wearing, fingernail non cleaning, park in the front lawn instead of the driveway, junk collecting, non bill paying, no shirt wearing, farmer-tan toting, five teeth saving, 3 kid having with 3 different wives, Ford/Chevy/Dodge loving, border patrolling, cat killing, no house painting rednecks with a pack of Pall Malls rolled in their sleeves?
It’s possible. I have seen a few of those. Writing about them is safe, they will set this issue of HRN down shortly after looking at the pictures.

However, just because you have “Taz” floor mats and the majority of your shirts were purchased with Marlboro-miles does not mean you are an ignorant hick. Being a “gear-head” or race fan/driver/worker does not make you anything less than being a doctor or art enthusiast. Anyone who is good at what they do should be rewarded and respected. Everyone should be able to enjoy exactly what they enjoy without worry of being looked down upon.

A good mechanic, carpenter or welder is equally valuable to society as a good doctor, dentist or college professor. Sometimes the most educated among us don’t get that. Salary does not always indicate worth. I just wish everyone would see things my way – it’s the right way. (Ethnocentrism)
On the home front - I am personally doing my part to keep the sport of auto racing alive for generations to come. Jenna and I just found out we will have another little race fan in the house sometime in November. The adventure continues.

Drop me a line at whatsyourstory@mchsi.com. I would love to hear what some north Iowans will be up to in the coming season. 

Night of Victory and "Hang with Herman" Details Announced

RLD Marketing and Night of Victory recently announced that NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace will be participating in five 2008 special evenings of "Hang with Herman" at Midwest dirt tracks.

The "Hang with Herman" events will be at USMTS stops at Park Jefferson Speedway, Huset's Speedway, The Murray County Speedway in Slayton, MN, Cresco Speedway and at SIS in Oskaloosa, IA. For full details, head to this link: Download hang_with_herman.pdf

This year's Night of Victory event will take place at the famed Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, MN on Wednesday September 17 to benefit the Victory Junction Gang Camp in North Carolina. For full details on the Night of Victory....Download night_of_victory.pdf

I also added a link to the Night of Victory website....at the left of this website. 

Roger Haupt - 2008 Mystery Chassis Hobby Stock

Hobby stock racer Roger Haupt provides a glimpse of his 2008 Mystery Chassis he will race weekly at the Hancock County Speedway in Britt. Haupt reports he will also race at Algona Raceway when time permits.

His hobby from last year will be wheeled by Tim Smith.

Good luck in 2008!