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Joining us at the roundtable today we have three classes of 2008 Dixie Motor Speedway Champions; Modifieds Champion Chuck Silva, Sportsman Champ Kevin Harder, and Figure 8’s Champion Jordan Lechota.

All three drivers bring experience and excitement to racing at Dixie. Chuck Silva’s career began in a Super Late Model in 1974 at Flat Rock Speedway, racing for his dad. Kevin started in 1997 with Pure Stocks at Tri-City and made the switch to Sportsman in 2005. Jordan Lechota started in the crazy 8’s, I mean figure 8’s, at the age of 14 and has racked up four years of experience and his first Championship last year. These Champs are looking forward to another great season of fast, competitive racing and roaring crowds.

“2009 is going to bring choices,” Chuck said. “Each racing team and fan will go to the best ran track.”

“I agree,” Kevin said. “2009 should be pretty exciting. Dixie’s new owners, Jeff and Pam Parish, have a good schedule lined up.”

Most successful drivers will tell you that you have to have respect for the competition. I asked Chuck, Kevin and Jordan which current competitor they most admire.

“Tim Felver is someone that I have a lot of respect for,” Chuck said. “He races very clean and is a real good shoe!”

“Chet Allen drives clean and is pretty good competition,” Kevin said.

Jordan couldn’t name just one driver he respects.

“I’ve learned a lot from racing with all of them. I admire the competition on the track. There’s not just one good guy. There are at least 15 guys that have a chance of winning every night.”

“Part of racing is helping each other and teaching the new guys,” I said. “Who helped each of you in the beginning?”

“Joy Fair,” Chuck answered. “He was a very clean driver and was always very competitive.”

“My dad, Ken Harder, got me started,” Kevin said. “He taught to me to ‘race to win every week’ and be aggressive.”

“I couldn’t do it without my family,” Jordan said. “I’ve learned a lot from my brother Nick and my parents help a lot, too.”

“Racing is never just about racing,” I said. “The roaring crowds and smiling faces are a huge part of it, for most drivers. Tell me about your most memorable moments with the fans.”

“That’s easy,” Chuck said. “Autograph sessions. Every one of them.”

“It’s the crowd cheering when you win, for me,” Kevin said. “It feels great to hear them cheering for you.”

“My most memorable moments have been with my nephew, Dylan. He’s my biggest fan. He’s six years old and has never missed one of my races. He comes down and holds the flag for me every time I win. That’s our thing.”

“I’ve never met a driver who didn’t have a Big Fish story,” I said. “Tell me about the one that got away.”

“I had a very good Super Late Model run at Lorain Speedway and I was working towards the lead,” Chuck said. “When I was taken out by a car that I was lapping.”

“Tough break!” Kevin said. “One night at Dixie I was fast qualifier and had to start in back after the invert. I got to second with the leader a half-track ahead of me. Just when I was coming up on him…” Kevin paused, remembering the moment. “My ignition wire broke and the car just died.”

“No, way!” Jordan said. “The biggest fish I’ve landed so far was last year’s Championship. But it almost got away from me. We started out the year with a big point lead, but, after a couple of spin-outs and no points given, I won the Championship by only one point.”

“Looking into the future,” I said. “Tell me how your 2009 season will end.”

“If we finish every race like we did last year we should end pretty good,” Kevin said.

“Hopefully we learned a lot from last year,” Jordan said. “We’re not going to chase the points this year. We’ve decided to travel, see more tracks and have fun. If we get a good start, with the way the car’s looking right now, we should have a really good 2009.”

“A chance at a Championship and a few features would be good for me!” Chuck said.

I’m sure we’ll be hearing a lot more from these three Champs, and many others.

Chuck, Kevin and Jordan, thank you for joining the roundtable. We’ll see you at the track!