Brown County Speedway got off to its earliest start ever Friday night and the season could not have come soon enough for many drivers.
The track, which has normally had to wait until June to get started, kicked off its season with competition in five divisions. Drivers were definitely excited to be back behind the wheel.
“By the end of racing season, you’re ready to go hunting or do something different,” said Late Model driver Chad Becker of Aberdeen, “but by the end of winter, you’re ready to go back racing.”
One of the exciting things about opening night is just the unknown of not having competed for months.
“You always have bugs to work out your first night at the track,” Becker said.
Nobody at the local track has experienced more opening nights than veteran Rich Thomas. The Aberdeen Late Model driver is in his 52nd year of racing.
Thomas said when things go well, racing provides an adrenaline rush like nothing else.
“It’s unbelievable,” Thomas said of the feeling. “There’s something it does to you. It’s hard to explain.”
In the past Thomas said he has raced about dozen nights before BCS would actually get started in June. However, because the track began in mid-May this year, that was not the case Friday night.
“Usually by the time Brown County started I’ve probably ran half a season. I probably had 10 nights in,” Thomas said. “This year it’s none.”
Both Becker and Thomas said they plan to have fun this season. The green flag dropped on that journey Friday night.
“Of course, you’d like to pick up where you left off, maybe winning a couple right away,” Becker said, “but it’s just kind of nice being back at the track.”
Feature winners on opening night included Blake Whitlock of Watertown in Super Stock, Jaden Christ of Jamestown, N.D. in Street Stock, Kent Arment of Aberdeen in Modified, Lucas Rodin of Marion, N.D., in Midwest Mod, and Josh Skorczewski of Aberdeen in Late Model.
Racing continues at 7 p.m. Friday.
To see complete results, click on the following link:
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