Because it's my blog...(June 22)

Cedar Rapids, Iowa - While I didn't have the opportunity to make it to races this weekend, I have some observations to share anyway. Why? Because it's my blog...

1. It's freakin hot out. This past week it really started feeling more like summer out there. This is when drivers (and some fans) tempers start to rise. Let's keep it cool boys and girls...

2. The World Dirt Racing League made their annual trek north to Minnesota and Wisconsin this past weekend. Just thinking ahead, but wouldn't it be easier for everyone involved to just sign the checks over to Jimmy Mars to save a lot of time? If memory serves me correct, Mars has popped the tab on cans of whoop ass the past 3 or 4 WDRL swings up there.

3. Stuart Speedway, one of the raciest little 1/4-mile tracks around held the 1st Annual John Wetzel Memorial Hobby Stock Challenge this past Sunday night. The winner received a generous $1,000 paycheck. Kudos to promoter Bill Davis (one of the nice guys in the business) for putting the hobby stocks in the spotlight. The late models, modifieds and stock cars are always getting the headlines but hobby stock drivers pour their heart and soul into what they do just as much as the others. Forty-four hobbies showed up for what I hope will be an annual event.

Andy Boeckman of Lakeview, Iowa; Winning is his business and business is good.

4. Keeping with this race, the winner, Andy Boeckman of Lakeview, Iowa, is a four-time IMCA Super Nationals champ and has won every major hobby stock main event that he's entered the past few years. What is amazing about this guy is he doesn't race weekly; he races maybe a dozen times a year. I wonder how it feels for a driver who competes weekly to have some guy who has to knock the dust off his car because it's been sitting so long, show up and take the big money every time?

5. The Hogan Memorial at Benton County Speedway in Vinton, Iowa pulled in 48 modifieds for their event Sunday night. Despite the threat of rain and tornado warnings, the show went on as planned. Michael Long of Quincy, Ill., fought off an impressive field of cars to post the victory. It's nice to see an guy like Long, who races primarily at Burlington, Donnellson and Quincy come face off with the big guns of central and eastern Iowa and go home with the win.

6. Good luck to Cam Granger and Mike O'Conner this Wednesday as they launch the new Cornbelt Clash for late models at the Fayette County Fairgrounds in West Union this Wednesday. This series will be similar to the old Indee Open Series that experienced much success. Top notch late model pilots like Jeff Aikey, Brian Harris, Curt Martin, the Simpson and Eckrich boys are expected to compete. If you never had the opportunity to see the Indee Open Series, it was some of the best racing I witnessed.

I'll be at Donnellson this Wednesday for the 360 sprint car show and then I'm heading to Vermilion County Speedway in Danville, Ill., on Saturday for the $2,000 to win MSCS "Sprint Legends of Danville" non-wing sprint car event.

Thanks for reading. See you at the races...