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Elkin, NC – Last time I was at Friendship Speedway in Elkin, NC, I had some official screaming over the Raceceiver, “Get that guy off the track! That’s three spinouts in the same corner. He’s holding up the show.”
Unfortunately, that guy was me.
Push Truck Pro Marvin would straighten my car out one more time, lean into the cockpit, inform me of everyone’s decision, and to the applause of a packed grandstand, I would slowly steer my car into the infield. As the green flag would drop a fourth time, I slowly took off my helmet hoping everyone forgot of my existence that particular evening and sat on the tail-tank all by my lonesome self to watch the remaining laps.
I only had a clear shot of turn three as I was surrounded by unfamiliar trailers at an unfamiliar track. But if my view was any indication to the entire race, I’m pretty sure the fans left there happy. The odd laps would find Johnny Rocket rim riding around the outside of the Midnight Rider and the even laps would find the Midnight Rider catfishing by Johnny Rocket.
Not sure who had won, but that familiar white push truck showed up again, barking instructions to get in the car. Its time to head back to the trailer. He slowly pushed me across the track and I glanced one more time around the speed palace only to see Johnny Petrozelle doing his signature wing dance on the front stretch. I guess he finally got the Midnight Rider this time.
Three years later, or it might have been four… Maybe five, I don’t really feel like doing the research, Johnny and Jacob would renew their rivalry last night starting on the front row for the inaugural visit to Friendship Speedway of Carolina’s newest winged sprint car series, the Carolina No Bull Sprints.
Johnny Rocket would find that familiar line around the high side on the initial laps as Jacob would keep him honest throughout the entire race just waiting for one tiny slip up to occur. That one tiny slip up never happened as both cars masterfully navigated their way through lapped traffic.
The real racing would occur one car back as third through seventh were playing games like “Who can hit the most ruts without slamming into the car next to you?” and “Can I truly pass three cars on the outside who are already on the outside?” And my personal favorite, “I ain’t letting off till you let off.”
It turned out to be a pretty successful night for Gary Troutman’s Carolina No Bull Series. I’m pretty sure the packed grandstands left pretty happy as well.
As I was shutting down my Facebook Live video feed from outside turn two before heading back to the truck, I glanced one more time around the speed palace only to see Johnny Petrozelle doing his signature wing dance on the front stretch.
I guess he finally got the Midnight Rider again.
Brandon McLain
United Sprint Car Series Driver
2014 Season
National Rookie of the Year!
National Points - 8th
Southern Points - 3rd
Asphalt Points - 3rd
18 Races, 3 Top 5's, 14 Top 10's
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