A few Saturday nights ago, I made my way to another racetrack that I had not previously attended. As I arrived at 441 Speedway just outside of Dublin, Ga., I was brimming with new-track excitement. I had anticipated the event all week long and I had high expectations for the event based on my prerace contact and promotion.

The track is extremely nice. It is laid out well and has ample parking and pit areas. The lighting and sound system were also top notch. Every single staff member was nicer MORE

Brian Birkhofer rolls down the highway, eyes front. I-80 Speedway in Nebraska is the destination, with his Muscatine, Iowa shop growing steadily smaller in the rear-view mirror. It’s another racing weekend, another road trip, another chance for Birky to ply his trade as a professional race driver.

It’s been an unusual season thus far for the 40-year-old racer, at least by his standards. The man with over 170 career victories has this year triumphed only twice in 22 starts, an uncharacteristic MORE

Sponsors are hard to come by in this sport. When you get one, you should cherish it.

I’ve always thought that when it comes to sponsoring a dirt Late Model race team, a sponsor had to have at least two of three very key characteristics. Obviously they had to have plenty of money. Deep pockets are a must in this sport.

Second, they have to love dirt racing. This is a big one.

Let’s face it, for those on the outside, if you don’t understand this sport, you simply don’t get it. If you don’t MORE