OAKS, Pa. — A cold wind swirled outside, bringing a bitter chill over the nearby ridge they call Valley Forge. People hurried from their cars, slipping on the ice and snow, trying to get inside the sprawling Greater Philadelphia Expo Center to take in the Motorsports 2012 show. The cold and snow, along with the shining race cars parked throughout the show, made it seem as though racing season is ages away.

But in just a few weeks Florida will beckon, drawing racers and fans to a fresh new MORE

It seems as though my column has become self-serving for the most part. That has troubled me quite a bit recently. I have utilized my space here to talk about my departure from my former position with Southern All Stars, and then wrote further how my career evolved.

Fortunately, at least some of you good people have found what I have to say somewhat interesting, and for that I am grateful. I find myself this month feeling that I again need to explain what is going on with my racing career. I hope MORE

TUCSON, Ariz. — Superlatives from the sixth annual Wild West Shootout, where more than 80 drivers competed in the six-race miniseries at USA Raceway:

Best race: Don O’Neal’s midweek victory in holding off Billy Moyer for $3,000. O’Neal’s high-to-low diamonding tactics in turns one and two barely kept Moyer from ducking underneath in the closing laps of the 30-lapper.

Best overall driver: If it’s Tucson, do we even have to ask? Billy Moyer was in a class of his own most of the week, MORE

I’m girding myself for the litany of complaints from drivers at the sixth annual Wild West Shootout, the six-race miniseries that begins Saturday in Tucson, Ariz.

“Passing points aren’t fair.”

“I never draw a good starting spot.”

“Why can’t we just use time trials?”

In the interest of maintaining a positive attitude toward the 2012 racing season (at least until March), I’ll just smile and nod my head while listening to beefs about USA Raceway’s method of lining up cars and MORE

During the last 20 years, the Ice Bowl at Talladega Short Track has earned the reputation of Dirt Late Model racing’s annual national season opener.

There have been a handful of races held on New Year’s Day through the years, most notably in Georgia; and this season there was the Hangover 100 for limited Late Models at 411 Speedway in Seymour, Tenn. But for the most part, the Alabama track's Ice Bowl is the official kickoff of the dirt Late Model season.

The January special at Talladega, a MORE