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Bobby Metheny is not a name heard a lot around the Galesburg Speedway on Saturday night.  However in his rookie campaign in the Late Models, the name " Rookie " is.  Neither hold up against the self proclaimed " Stinky ".  Yes, Stinky is known throughout the racing community at the Galesburg Speedway.

In his fifth year of racing, Bob " Stinky " Metheny has made a lot of friends.  Bob is running for the Rookie of the Year in the Late Models, after running in the Street Stock division for the last four seasons.

Metheny ran with the No. 12 on his Street Stock.  " Its my grand babies...one was born on the twelfth day, and the other two were born in the twelfth month ", said Metheny.

Metheny now drives with the No.15 on his Late Model, as he now drives for the Gollaway Racing Team ( Jim and Pam Gollaway ).

Bob has enjoyed success in both divisions that he has run.  " Winning the Street Stock 50 lapper in "07 was awesome ", said Metheny.  At the time, Metheny was driving as part of the VanAvery Racing Team.  This was a big moment for Bob as Brad VanAvery is someone Bob has always looked up to.

" Brad's never had the best of anything, and yet, he always seems to win and knows how to win.  He always gives excellent advice ", said Metheny.

Metheny made the move to Gollaway Racing in '08.  " Brad told me if I can get a chance to do something bigger and better, he would help set-up the car, he couldn't help money wise, but if something big comes along ... do it, and so I jumped at the opportunity ", said Metheny.

Metheny ran one season in the Street Stock division at Gollaway Racing before jumping into a vacated Late Model seat at the end of the '08 season.  " I love driving Barney ( the Late Model ), Barney gets nut and bolted, cleaned inside and out, and all around, a little bit everyday.  You can go out on the track and win, but it all has to start here in the garage ", said Metheny.

Metheny has made his mark already this season, stunning the Galesburg Speedway crowd on Spring Championship Night. Bob went out in the feature, and held off some of the veteran drivers to win his first ever Late Model feature, and a huge trophy to go with it.  " This was huge for not only me, but Papa ( Jim ) as well.  This was the first Late Model feature win for both of us ", said an excited Metheny.

The race team has alot of dash and heat wins in the past, but coming into the season nobody expected them to shine like they have.  Metheny knows that winning his first feature was a huge feat.

" Well, you respect all the late Model drivers, guys like  John " Torch " Osterhouse, and Scott Rugg.  It was always Bobby Garrett in the Street Stocks ", said Metheny.

One of the worst moments in racing for Metheny came in '07.  " Me and Bob ( Garrett ) got tangled in the Street Stock division, Bob Repuert come around and hit the two of us, it was a nasty crash ", Bob recalled.

Metheny has since bounced back and continues to make strive toward being a top notch driver at Galesburg.  " Its not a hard track to learn, its competitive, and its close to home.  I have fun just being there ... I grew up out there ", said Bob.  He went on to say, " My brothers all raced out there, we were always at the track watching them.  Watching 'Torch', and Brad ( VanAvery ) growing up, who wouldn't want to race ".

Bobby knows a lot of his success is thanks to Brad VanAvery, and Jim Gollaway.  " When I got into racing five years ago, Brad took me under his wing, and set-up the my car.  After Brad helped me, along came Jim ... these two guys went out of their way to help me succeed ", said Metheny.  He continued on, " Brad played a big part.  Papa last year with the Steet Stock, he put a lot of money in it, plus confidence in me.  A lot of people doubted me, they got on his behind and said I would tear up his stuff. We made a lot of doubters believers Spring Championship Night ".

Bobby plans on running the Call of the Wild, at Kalamazoo Speedway at seasons end, as well as the Super Shoe.  " We finished eighth place at the Call of the Wild last year, first time in a Late Model ", said Metheny.

Metheny plans on running for Gollaway Racing for as long as he can race.  " Hopefully I can stick with Papa and win him a championship.  We got the Late Model feature under our belt already ", said a confident Metheny.  " When I'm not having fun anymore, I will hang it up.  When I'm not having fun, I'm done ", adds Metheny.

Metheny wishes he could change just one thing about the sport of racing.  " All the negativity.  When racing accidents happen, there's always a blame on somebody.  It gets blown out of proportion.  The hoopla, all that stuff needs to go ", said Metheny.

His advice for the young guns out there, " Be patient, what ever you do, don't say sorry to nobody.  Everyone has the right to be out there even if it was your fault, don't apologize.  Mistakes happen, and that's just racing ... have fun ".

Come see Bob " Stinky " Metheny at the Galesburg Speedway every Saturday Night as he does battle in the Late Model division to see if he has what it takes to be the next Rookie of the Year, and possibly the next Galesburg Speedway Late Model Points Champion.

You can visit " Stinky " and the Gollaway Racing Team on the web at GRRacingTeam.com