The bright race cars were staged two-by-two in the infield of O’Reilly Raceway Park, awaiting the USA Modified feature. As the cars rolled onto the track, the announcer began calling the lineup.
Most of the names were new to me, disappearing from my mind just as quickly as they entered. But suddenly two names struck like lightning, bringing a smile and a lot of familiar memories.
“In car 76, from Knightstown, Indiana, L.J. Lines…in the fifth row, from New Castle, Indiana, number 96, Harold Scott…”
For a moment I could pretend it was 1977, or even 1987, but the fantasy could only last a moment. No, there wasn’t any mistake; this was 2007, and the inaugural Circle Track Nationals at O’Reilly Raceway Park.
But hearing those familiar names in driver introductions gave far more meaning to this race, because those were two of the guys who were living large around central Indiana when I was a kid, longer ago than I like to admit.
I already knew another great veteran, Don Skaggs, was in tonight’s lineup; I’ve seen him race many times over the past few years, and it always makes me smile to know he’s still sitting up on the wheel. But I had no idea Lines and Scott were also still banging wheels with the kids.
The race took on a special meaning at that point. I would scan the field each lap, keeping tabs on my heroes. What was especially cool was that Scott and Lines were running up front, fighting in the top five all night, finishing the race side by side with Scott edging Lines for fourth. All three guys are surely 60-something at this point; their age isn’t as important as the fact that they’ve been racing for nearly 40 years.
What is it about yesterday’s heroes that make them so incredibly special? Whatever it is, it’s intense; I’ve seen the eyes of grown men brim with tears as they describe the racers who thrilled them all those years ago, and the moments that are now woven into their very soul.
Maybe it’s because yesterday seems so warm, and perfect. As the colorful cars circled the track, it was easy for me to remember the great times when I was just a boy, sitting on pine boards and allowing outrageous Chevelles and GTOs and Camaros and Torinos to float me to horsepower heaven.
I don’t know if life was better then, but I’m sure of one thing: It was simpler. And more fun. My world existed only within about a 30-mile radius of home; everything outside that circle didn’t seem to matter much. A job? House payments? Kids? Insurance? All were things I didn’t worry about.
But I did worry, just a bit. I worried that my dad might not take me to Sun Valley Speedway this weekend. Or that we wouldn’t make it over to Mt. Lawn. Or maybe it would rain. Those were things I worried about.
Otherwise, it was bliss. Sitting in the bleachers, listening to them introduce the drivers, already knowing each name, each number, each home town.
When I close my eyes, I can hear Dutch Hurst, his voice floating over Sun Valley, the lights bright on Saturday night, the wires stretching from pole to pole, the fence clinging to the posts, the popcorn and soda boys hawking down front, and the cars growling as they emerged from the narrow pit lane, now set free to wreak havoc on our minds and our spirit.
“Car 66, Gene Prosser, of New Castle…also from the Raintree city, it’s Don Higgins in car 69…from Willow Branch, it’s Bob Fields in 31…all the way from Columbus, Ohio, number 7, Don Gregory…from Cambridge City, number 7-11, Don Skaggs…from here in Anderson, Ray Fullen, car 42…from Muncie, it’s Dennis Miles in the 52…”
There were more, but it only makes the lump in my throat bigger when I keep listing them.
And among those names, there were two more: “From New Castle, Harold Scott in the 96…also from New Castle, L.J. Lines in the 76...”
A lot of years have passed since those glory days, and in many ways life is even better today. Personally and professionally, I have no complaints. Somehow I stumbled into a situation where I get to be a part of racing far beyond anything I could have imagined, and that’s been wonderful.
I’ve been allowed to meet and interview racing legends from around the world, and get to know some of the greatest racers in modern history. Many are bona fide legends by any measure.
But you know what? In my mind, none were greater or more important than the men who put stars in my eyes as a boy. Maybe that’s just me, or maybe you feel it, too. With all due respect to today’s stars, the men from yesterday will always have a special place in my heart.
Heroes? Every last one of them.