Walker, MI (TMWN) - "Arena Racing is real racing," one fan told me before
the race began. I went to the Delta Plex early to talk with the fans. To
my surprise, about half of the fans that night were women. Several fans
told me this was their first time. Mine too! Many were Berlin Raceway,
"old timers." Many came because the outside racing season was over, but
with Arena Racing, "the races are never rained out!" No one was concerned
about the fact that the cars were one-half-scale NASCAR stock cars or that
the track was 1/10 of a mile and could fit inside a hockey rink. To them,
it was about speed and competition. The cars averaged about 50 mph and can
complete a lap in under 10 seconds. Arena Racing season runs from
mid-October to mid-March.
Most had a favorite driver. The drivers are mostly local, beginning
at age 14, up-and-coming professionals, to weekend speed junkies looking to
live out a dream. I spoke with Kathey Niemeyer, age 18, she has been
driving car #19 for about a year. "Someone gave my father's business a car.
They need a driver, so I vonlunteered," she told me. Her father owns PerCon
Manufacturing and Kentwood Packaging, both sponsors of her car. The
Caladonia High School grad's advice to young girls is, "Follow you heart."
Another young driver was, 16 year old David Price. He has been
driving since age 11. The Battle Creek area Harber Creek High school
student drove at Berlin Raceway last summer and wants to be a NASCAR driver
one day. His #35 car is sponsored by Custom Logistics.
Fifteen year old, Kelsey Steele, told me Arena Racing, was, "Cool
Fun!" driving car # 16, sponsored by HS Die. She likes beating the boys! The
West Catholic student's advice for young girls is, "If you have a need for
speed, try racing!"
I spoke with the, "Old Man," (late 30's) among all the drivers that
night, Dave Sensiba, the current points leader this season. He drives car
#46, sponsored by Sensiba. He said its lots of fun. He races in the summer
and Arena Racing is a good way to keep his reflexes up. His home track is
Kalamazoo Speedway.
Fourteen drivers took part in the night's racing. There were two 15
lap races with four cars each. The third and forth races of the night were
50 lap races each and had seven cars participating in race. Each race had
it's crashes and flip overs, but due to the scale and speed and with the
safety precautions the league requires and the drivers take, no one was
hurt. During the time out the pit crews would duck tape the fiberglass
hoods and fenders back on. Racing would begin again after the race track
was cleaned up and swept.
The last race of the night was a 50 lap race. All 14 cars were
lined up according to the points they had earned that night. After a
thrilling race, Dave Sensiba in #46 came in first, Kelsey Steele in #16 was
second and Tim Phillips driving #34 was third.
Before the races, the concession stand sold $1 beer, sodas and hot
dogs.
The fans got to meet and greet the drivers and view their cars up close.
The PA system played Michael Jackson's, "Thriller," for it was Halloween
Night. Each and every turn really was a, "Thriller!"