By Jessica Groover (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Show respect for other drivers and pay attention to what your car is doing were two tips that drivers received before taking the track at Concord Speedway’s Rookie Day on Sunday.
Seven drivers, numerous crew members and about 15 onlookers attended the event for rookie drivers to have a chance to test the track and learn tips from past champions.
The rookies were those new to the speedway or those who moved to a new division like Tracy Kinser, of Salisbury.
Kinser has raced for 10 years and used to race in the limited division, with cars that have eight-cylinder engines. Now, he’s starting to race four-cylinder cars in the Fast and Furious Fours division.
“The economy has brought me down to the Fast and Furious car,” Kinser said. “It’s a lot of money in that eight-cylinder class.”
Kinser said the Fast and Furious cars cost about one-third of the price for the eight-cylinder engine cars.
Even though Kinser had been to the track for the last 10 years, he felt he needed the practice in his new car.
Barry Canter, of Charlotte, was another driver who came to practice after years of racing in other divisions.
Canter raced for 15 years before taking off for eight years. It is his first year back and his first time in the Fast and Furious division.
Canter, who will race a 1988 Honda Prelude, came to Rookie Day to listen to past champions, including Tracy Mullis, the 2007 Fast and Furious Fours Champion , give tips about the track.
After the drivers and past champions walked a lap around the track to hear tips, they drove 10 laps with Mullis leading them.
The 2008 Fast and Furious Fours Champion Chad Miller, of Concord, looked on this year as a crew chief and team owner.
“I wanted to come out and enjoy being at the track without the pressures of having to drive,” Miller said. “If I can get the guys to have as much fun as I’ve had, that’s better than having fun yourself.”
Miller said he felt a little nervous about watching his drivers but was positive that nothing went wrong with the cars and everybody was smiling.
“It’s successful if you can load (the car) on the trailer the way it came off,” Miller said.
After the first 10 laps, Mullis also felt positive.
“Nobody wrecked,” Mullis said. “That’s what we tried to encourage them to do, to get some seat time and not try and race.”
Mullis in his 1987 Honda Prelude and the rookie drivers started at slower speeds, but he guessed that he and others probably reached 100 mph. The goal of the experience was for the rookie drivers to learn the track and take it slowly.
“The most important thing I can tell a rookie is to take their time and never drive faster than a guardian angel can fly,” Mullis said.
Next Sunday, the rookies will be joined by the experienced drivers to practice again before the first race on March 21.
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