Head to Head Fantasy Dirt Track Racing

Photo by Mike Spieker 

Head to Head Fantasy Dirt Track Racing

This is a game I’ve been playing with friends for years. I doubt I created it and I am sure there are many variations of it. This is something I feel adds a little more fun and enjoyment to your average night of dirt track racing. The basic concept of this game is that two players pick the drivers they feel are most likely to win and at the end of the night, the player who makes the best picks will have most points and will win the game. What I enjoy most about the game is that it is fun for both those with years of racing knowledge and those who have none. It also gives you somebody to cheer for in every race. 

General Rules

-Played best with 2 people

-Coin flip or Rock-Paper-Scissors decides who starts games.

-Person with most points at the end of game wins.

-Side bets are encouraged

-No Picks to be made during Amateur races (ex: Trophy classes at Norman County Raceway or Buffalo River Race Park)

How to play

Heat Races – As soon as all the cars are believed to be on the track, whoever has first pick will choose the driver they believe will win the race. Once they made their pick, the next person playing can make theirs. Player with the last pick has until the green flag drops to make their pick. They may change their pick at any time until the green flag drops. If either one of the competitor’s picks are taken out during the first lap of a heat race, they may use a mulligan and may pick another driver. Only 1 mulligan is allowed per night. The person whose driver finishes the highest at the end of the heat race gets 1 point. If their driver wins their heat race, they get a bonus point. No points are awarded for the other player.

There are two way of deciding which player gets the first pick in the next heat race. A.) Alternating picks - If Player 1 picked first in heat 1, Player gets first pick in heat 2. B.) Street Rules – Whoever wins (or finished highest) in the previous heat, gets first pick in the next heat.

The person with the highest total points at the end of the Heat races will get first pick in the first feature.

Features – Feature races are played similarly to heat races. However, no mulligans are allowed. If your pick goes out of the race with no more than 1 lap completed, you may receive a courtesy last row pick, in which you are allowed to pick a driver in one of the last two spots on the race track. This rule only applies if there are 10 or more cars currently in the race. If there is not, no courtesy pick is granted.

Players will get two picks each in the features. Whoever has the most points after the heat races gets first pick in the first feature. The next player then picks. Whoever has first pick will also get 3^rd pick and the next player gets 4^th.  Whoever has the last pick has until the green flag drops to make their last pick. They may change their last pick as many times as they wish until the green flag is dropped. Whose ever pick finishes the highest gets 2 points and bonus point is awarded if their pick wins. No points awarded for the other player.

Feature Points Option #2 – Whose ever driver finishes highest will get 4 points (bonus point for winning race also), the next highest finisher will get 3 points, then 2 points for the next pick, and 1 point for the last finishing pick. Maximum amount of points one could receive for feature race is 8 points. Least amount of points is 3. I only recommend using this system if you are able to follow along on Race Monitor, where it is easier to track where your picks finished.

Street rules apply during picking in the Feature Events. Whichever player has the highest finishing pick in the previous feature will get first pick in the next feature.

Tie Breaker – If at the end of the night, both players are tied, the player who has the highest finishing pick in the final feature is the winner. 

Those are my rules. Feel free to amend and adjust as you so wish. If you have questions, please ask. Most importantly...Have fun! 

Track Review: River Cities Speedway

River Cities Speedway

Friday Nights, 7pm

www.rivercitiesspeedway.com 

Classes: NOSA 410 Sprints, NLRA Late Models, WISSOTA Midwest Mods, WISSOTA Street Stocks

Admission: $18 at the gate, $15 in advance. Worth every penny to see late models and sprints. Tickets for World of Outlaw shows are $35-$40, which is ridiculous if you ask me, especially if you are bringing your family. But the Grand Forks community has a lot of disposable income.

Concessions: Prices weren't ridiculously high, but $3.50 for a 20oz pop might be for some. If it is too high, just stop at Gateway Cenex, buy a pop for $2 and advance ticket, and sneak it in your sweatshirt like everyone else does. Boom I saved you $4.50,*** which is about the price of a 16oz beer.  For 5.25 you can get a Reds, summer shandy, or my favorite: Mikes Harder Lemonade. They have 8% alcohol so its gets you drunk for less. They’re great on a hot day too. Concession lines move quickly. Plenty of options.

Nacho factor: The Nacho Factor is strong with RCS. Cost is $4.25, but the quirky (and attractive) looking concession worker loaded, and I mean loaded, my tray with nacho cheese. I made sure to tell her how grateful I was. I debated asking her to marry me, but it seemed a bit too much. Also for a little over $7, you can have super nachos. Two words: Worth it. Tons of nachos, cheese, taco meat, salsa, and whatever the hell you want stuffed into a bucket. Is it healthy? Well does anything healthy ever come served in a bucket?  Do you feel like a man ordering it? Damn straight.

The facility: Johnny Gibson says it’s his favorite track in the world and for good reason. Old school covered grandstand in the center with large open bleachers on the wings. Lots of cool views too from the far bleachers. Kinda neat to mix up the perspective a little. The facility itself is old, but kept up. Could use a modern touch down the road, but the old school-ness kinda adds to the flavor. Also the archway at the main entrance to the fairgrounds is sooo badass. The track is a 1/3 mile high banked “bullring.” Billboards surround the entire track, which makes it feel more like an arena then a race track.

The Racing: Each class has always has 2-3 heats. On this particular night, the track got really slick and all the heat racing was down on the bottom line. However, by the time the features came around it started to open up, which made for some exciting late model and sprint car racing. As NLRA Late Model Champion Brad Seng says: “The racing is tight and the crashes are big.” I know too from previous experiences that most of the racing is pretty good on weekly basis. Show can go a little late sometimes though.

Other Notes: As a fellow track announcer, I really enjoy listening Bob Hultgren. His voice is as smooth and charming as Pat Doar's mustache.

***I do not actually condone sneaking items into any racetrack. Often time local groups and organizations work those concession stands with tips going back their group. Please Support them.

Racing on the Radio Track Review: Devils Lake Speedway

Devils Lake Speedway (1/4 miles dirt oval)
Saturday Night Racing, 6pm
www.dlspeedway.com 

Classes: WISSOTA Midwest Mod, WISSOTA Street Stock, Pure Stock, Mini Trucks, Hornets, Slingshots

Admission Price: $15. A bit high for the premiere class being a Midwest Modified, but you know…inflation I guess.

Concessions: Prices seemed pretty fair, and the food appeared to be good. Pop was served as fountain drinks which is unusual, but I personally prefer fountain soda.  My only concern was was that the line moved awfully slowly. But it was the first race of the season.

Nacho factor: Nachos were good. Chips weren’t stale. Cheese was hot. I felt I was given a proportionally adequate amount of cheese. Price was either $3 or $3.50.

The facility: The speedway has a really cool vibe to it. It’s set in sort of a bowl with the grandstands on top of the hill. There’s a beautiful grassy area in between the stands and the fence. Great for kids to play and run around on in-between races. Plus, the Speedway Bar and Grill is an awesome spot to watch the race. The facility as a whole, however, could use a face lift. All the paint is chipped off the fence poles and grandstands, plus the wood is in tough shape. Plus there’s still junk all around from when a tornado came through last summer. With a little work, it would be beautiful. Bathrooms appeared somewhat new and clean. Hope you’re not gun shy though. Troughs are still a thing.

The racing: I have a hard time going to race track that doesn’t have a premiere level class on a regular basis (Modifieds, Late Models, or Sprint Cars), But most the racing was pretty fun to watch. The truck class was a bit of let down with their only being a handful, but I like the concept of that class. Everything else was great. The pure stocks were rubbing and slamming into to each other like they should. The top hornet driver has some sort of “intentional” problem, faded to the back, and then tried make his way to the front. The street stocks and Midwest mods battled hard all night too. It was worth the $15 admission and the 2 hour drive to get there. Average car turnout for the time of year.

Other notes: Not the speedway’s fault, but a nearby farmer was spraying anhydrous ammonia, and the wind sent it right toward the track. Not a pleasant thing. Excuse me while I go check for cancer. Very relaxed atmosphere, which makes it perfect for a Saturday night track.

Corey Litton to join Racing on the Radio!

Racing on the Radio will be adding a new, but experienced voice to the Thursday night live racing broadcasts from Norman County Raceway in Ada. Corey Litton (Fargo, ND) will join the duo of NCR announcer Mark Askelson and color commentator Mike Spieker (Mike Spieker Speedway Shots/All the Dirt).

Litton will be running a majority of the racing broadcasts. Mark Askelson will take his spot for select dates when Jim Birkemeyer returns to the announcing booth. Corey will replace Jacob Anderson, who is leaving KRJB at the end of April.

"Corey adds years of racing experience and knowledge to the Racing on the Radio broadcasts to go along with a good voice and a fun personality. He knows the drivers as well as anyone in this area. Plus he knows a good story or two" says Mark Askelson.

Litton is the track announcer for the Red River Kart Club and is the victory lane reporter for Buffalo River Race Park in Glyndon and other dirt tracks in the area.

The Norman County Raceway Season Opener is Thursday, May 7th. Tune in to Racing on the Radio all season long  on Thursday nights on 106.5 KRJB and www.rjbroadcasting.com. PreRace Show begins at 6:45pm. 

Racing on the Radio 2014 Christmas Lists!

It's back!!! Actually I'm back. Life has been busy but I had to return from my blogging hiatus to write up the new Christmas lists for your favorite area drivers. So enjoy!

Katie Ahrndt: Katie just needs someone to race against this year at NCR...like literally anybody.

James Tandeski: James is seeking some protection this Xmas...FROM THE STREET STOCK MAFIA!

Travis Robertson: What he's getting this year is for me to stop making references to his dad being the legendary Barry Robertson. From now on, its only references to the legendary Kevin Robertson!

Donny Shatz: Donny would like for a change in the Late Model rules to allow for one big wing on the roof, one small wing on the nose, and for a considerably larger right rear tire

Dustin Strand: I believe Dustin would like for peace and harmony among everyone on the entire earth....except Cody Skytland.

Pat Doar: The double one express gets a mustache comb. Gotta keep that gorgeous lip sweater groomed for next season.

Rich Pavlicek: Rich gets an award (that he'll probably just give to Corey Litton) for always making the race season interesting.

Gannon Miller: Gannon would like for the midwest mod features to be about 5 laps shorter in hopes of winning more races.

Dale Kraling: The magic man from Mayville gets the bonus he should have won from winning all 3 nights of the John Seitz race.

Tyler Peterson: I think he got a couple of gifts this year already at the bull ring :)

Austin and Casey Arnenson: Winning a race without their cars being tore down would probably a nice gift.

Amber Balcaen: She is a gift. ;)

Mark Dobmeier. A TRIPLE SEATER SPRINT CAR! ...equipped with car seats. (congrats on the new kid Mark!)

And me....I'd like to thank all of you for listening to racing coverage on 106.5 KRJB. Racing on the Radio will be back again this season!

News and Notes from 8-6-14 NCR Test and Tune

Big race tonight with the Blaine Brothers WISSOTA Late Model Challenge. A few of the LM guys were on hand last night at the test and tune along with a ton of modified guys and even myself in a Crown Vic Trophy Car. Here's some interesting tidbits I picked up from the test and tune.

-Pat Doar will be driving Casey Arnenson's #2 Late Model tonight. Why? Because Arnenson runs a crate motor and Doar and his freakishly awesome mustache wanted to see what a crate motor was capable of doing. You'll notice the spoiler on that car is also about 2" larger than the non-crate cars. The track was very dry last night so Doar noted it was hard to notice power difference, but he said the larger spoiler did help a little.

-Many modified drivers are having a hard time on exit. So the mod guys had a very intense 3 hours constantly making changes to get that bite on exit. We haven't seen much lifting of the left front this year, but I have a feeling a couple of the guys will be going back to that set up to get that right rear to bite.

-A few of the Elite Chassis B-mod cars has been struggling with set ups so far this year. Looks like a couple poorly placed weights was the culprit. Because the chassis sits higher than most, the weight on the right rear would actually be over the tire in the corners, not allowing any weight transfer or load to the springs. The fix? Move the weights. Easy enough.

-Mike Balcaen does in fact use the word  "ayh" in his regular vocabulary.

-Travis Robertson put in a lot of laps in his street stock. He looked good and he should have a leg up on the competition tonight with a similar dry slick track.

-Corky Thomas's son took a few laps in his mod. I don't know how old he is, but I'm would imagine he won't even have a drivers license for a handful of years yet.

-And last but not least, I got to spend some track time in the Crown Vic Trophy Car. It was probably the most fun I've had in a long time. I made progress each session. I was pretty confident after my last session and hope to get to do it again sometime! Not gonna lie though, when Dave Shipley pulls up next to you in your first time ever on a track, you get a little nervous. Sorry Dave if I got in your way. I'm mostly glad I never spun out, but it was kind of enjoyable watching Robert Bladow spin out in front of me. Jake Bitker also tried to run me off the track in the 2-seater. Thanks Jake. I gave him a nice hand gesture to let him know how much I enjoyed it. ;) (There's me running the high side on the back straight in the photo below.)

Oh...and Bob Sagen was in the house ladies and gentleman. I love the "retro" bodies he always has on his car.

Also its School Night at NCR tonight as well. Bring in school supplies and save on admission! And area school Superintendents will be racing the school buses. Late Models, B-mods, Street Stocks, Mod-4s, Trophy Cars/Sport Compact, and School Buses all on the line up tonight.

Not only can you listen to the racing broadcast on 106.5 KRJB and krjbradio.com, but you can watch it in great quality on Speed Shift TV. You can order it here. They use our radio feed and I'm super glad to have Speed Shift on board once again. Racing begins at 7pm. Pre-Race show begins at 6:45.

2014 Fair Week at Norman County Raceway

Fair week is always something I look forward to every year at Norman County Raceway! This year it is bigger and badder then ever with 3 nights of dirt track racing that should fill the antique covered grandstands with excitement. 2014 feature's Back to Back NLRA Late Models, B-mod Blitz and IMCA Saturday night shootout with School Bus races. Here's the full run down

Wednesday June 25th:

Opening day of the fair and first night of racing action! Included in the racing lineup is NLRA Late Models, WISSOTA Midwest Mods, WISSOTA Mod 4's, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Compacts, and Trophy Cars. Race will be broadcast on 106.5 KRJB and krjbradio.com. Coverage begins at 6:45pm. Green Flag drops at 7pm. 

Also check out at the fair: Midway Opens at 5pm, Free Watermelon at 6pm near coliseum, and karaoke in the beer garden following the races.

Thursday June 26th:

Youth day at the fair and 2nd night of racing. NLRA Late Models and WISSOTA Midwest mods both return. The WISSOTA Mods come back into the line up along with WISSOTA Street Stocks and NCR Pure Stocks. Race will be broadcast on 106.5 KRJB and krjbradio.com. Coverage begins at 6:45pm. Green Flag drops at 7pm. 

Also check out at the fair: Free Root Beer floats at 2pm, Pinewood Derby at 5pm in Coliseum, dollar rides from 1-5pm, and the sweet sexy music of Mobster Lobster in the beer garden starting at 9pm.

Friday June 27th:
No racing on this day but make sure to check out the talent contest on the free stage at 7pm, mutton busting, Ultimate Kick Boxing in the grandstand, and Brother Jukebox in the beer garden at 9pm.

Saturday June 28th:
It's Super Saturday and an IMCA Saturday Night Shootout at NCR. IMCA Mods, IMCA Sport Mods, INEX Legends are all scheduled to race. Also back by popular demand: School Bus Racing!!!Race will be broadcast on 106.5 KRJB and krjbradio.com. Coverage begins at 6:45pm. Green Flag drops at 7pm.

Also check out at the fair: Valley Cruiser's Car Show from 9 until 3, kickball tournament at 11, Mudslinger's ATV Mud Run at 2pm,  Lion's Pork Chop Feed at 5pm, Music by Border Patrol in the beer garden, and fireworks following the races around 10pm.

Plus there's many, many, many, many more activities going on throughout the fair. Go to the fair website for a full list. Hope to see all of you there!

Photo: Zach Johnson, driver of the #73 Late Model, has a history of success at NCR and will be the driver to beat.