Rate this article:
Mickey Thompson: The Fast Life and Tragic Death of a Racing Legend
The complete story of this true American legend is one worth slowing down for.
Our Price: $25.00
Victory By Design: Ferrari DVD
Alain de Cadenet, a long-time Ferrari enthusiast and aficionado, drives some of the great sports racers and sports cars.
Our Price: $24.95
Red Hot Ringtone: Air Rachet Single Burst
Sound off with SPEED Ringtones!
Our Price: Only $1.99
Written by:
Sarah Jane Hunt
07/12/2008 - 03:32 PM
Charlotte, North Carolina
SPEED Reporter Sarah Jane Hunt enjoys her new role covering the World of Outlaws Series. (Photo: SPEED) ยป More Photos
While I have never been a Boy Scout (or a boy for that matter), life on the road continues to remind me of the Boy Scout motto: Be Prepared. The World of Outlaws Late Model Series hit the road this week for the Wild West Tour, nine races in 13 days. How do they prepare for such a trek? The haulers are stocked with 300 gallons of fuel, more than 90 tires and every bolt, belt and sock they can cram onboard... yup, socks. Driver Josh Richards says you can never have too many socks.
Most of haulers rolled out Tuesday, July 8th for the Tour’s first stop at Deer Creek Speedway in Spring Valley, Minnesota. Driver Steve Francis was more excited then others because it was the maiden voyage for his team’s brand-new tractor-trailer. For Francis and his four-man crew, the best news of the day was the rig’s television was finally working. As many World of Outlaws drivers travel across the country with their crew members, days can become long and as a result, onboard entertainment is the key.
Footwear aficionado Richards passed the time by watching movies on DVD and for the trip to Minnesota, he selected recent horror flicks Saw III and Saw IV. Driver Vic Coffey and his crew is a self-proclaimed simple bunch kept entertained by scanning CB radios for altercations between truckers. While taking a break from wheeling his team’s truck down the road, driver Shane Clanton was happy to catch a replay of the Prelude to the Dream on SPEED.
Fun on the road isn’t limited to in-truck entertainment as many teams get a kick out of the attractions available along the way. Francis and his crew tore themselves apart from that new rig smell long enough to race go-karts at Wisconsin Dells, where crew member Kevin Miller took the checkered over his boss after being blessed with the track’s fastest machine. Meanwhile, driver Clint Smith broke even at the blackjack table when the team stopped off at one of the casinos
It’s not just today’s teens who can’t live without their cell phones – today’s dirt slingin’ Outlaws are no exception. With many drivers and crew members leaving spouses and children behind when out on road, today’s technology keeps the communication flowing between team members and home. Driver Chub Frank has a different approach and says he can’t leave home without his wife... so he brings her with him! Of course, it probably helps that she’s also the chef for his team’s traveling gang. Driver Rick Eckert is also lucky enough to have his wife, Crystal, and daughter, Courtney, along with him on the road. The Eckert family shares living quarters with the team all get along quite well. “It’s better then the alternative, being stuck at home,” says Crystal.
Fans were treated to some trademark World of Outlaws Late Model Series action the first stop of the Wild West Tour. Brian Birkhoffer got the jump on polesitter Steve Francis at Deer Creek Speedway and powered into the lead. Charging from 10th, Darrell Lanigan caught up to Birkhoffer’s rear bumper in the late stages, putting on quite a show for the southern Minnesota crowd. But in the end, Birkhoffer proved to be too tough and captured his second series victory of the season.
Like a traveling circus, the charismatic cast of characters of the World of Outlaws Late Model Series departs Deer Creek Speedway and moseys down the highway to their next big show. Running on such fuels as Clint Smith’s Louisiana Boil and Shane Clanton’s Megaburgers, this bunch is sure to generate more stories for fans and crews alike. While some of these tales may later be exaggerated at the expense of others, it certainly won’t take away from their fun.
Check out World of Outlaws from Deer Creek Speedway August 16th at 4 p.m. ET on SPEED.
View All Comments
- Press Releases | Advertising | Jobs | Feedback | Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Site Map
Fox Sports | FUEL TV | FX Network | FOXReality | National Geographic - © Copyright 2008 Speed Channel, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
