Speedway worker scraps mud from cars so they can go faster

HAUBSTADT, Ind. (AP) - "Attention in the pits. Attention in the pits. Modified drivers start making your way to the staging light," Tri-State Speedway's announcer told the drivers and their crews before each heat of the opening night of the race track.

"We've had some problems tonight with the cars," rookie pit crew member Drew Winters, 10, said. "This one got hit and you have to push-start this one. That's a beat-up car," Winters said of the #14 modified car with the sheet metal body crumpled with its rivets popped. "They won't fix that until tomorrow."

A little crushed metal wasn't going to keep his uncle, Shawn Cates, from getting back on the track for the B-Main Modified race.

"He's getting ready to go back out," Winters said. "He might be late. They called them already."

The youngster from Union County, Ky., kept busy by doing various jobs as he waited for the next race. Scraping mud from underside of the cars; hauling gas jugs out of the trailer; looking for a lug nut in the high grass of the pit area. Winters did whatever was asked to help out the team. His reward was a chance to sit in the pit seating area when the time came to race.

"This should be a good race," he said while sliding a pair of safety glasses onto his nose. His optimism faded a little as the announcer alerted the drivers to the stalled cars at Turn 1 and the second yellow flag of the race. A couple of more laps and the No. 14 car had missed the cut for the final race of the night.

"He looked good. He was doing really good," the youngster said shaking his head.

"Oh well. It happens," pit crew member Lowell Patterson told the boy.

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Source: Evansville Courier & Press, http://bit.ly/1SQw1su

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com