On May 2nd 2009, Owosso Speedway will be open for racing and that means the point race is on for the season and racers are battling for the title of 2009 Champions.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word Champion as a winner of the first prize or first place in competition also one who shows marked superiority. Wow, week after week of fast side by side competition in five different classes and on one driver in each class prevails as Champion.
So, I had to find out some information on the Champions of 2008. I was privileged to be able to sit down with all five Champions from Owosso Speedway.
I was worried about walking up to a table with five Champions sitting at it. But, as I approached, I heard laughing and it was very relaxing. So I sat down an unknown person to these men and said “let’s get to know each other”.
So, I sat down with Dave Bigos the 2008 Pro Late Model Champion, Bill Luckhurst the 2008 Modified Champion, Leo Smith the 2008 Pro (Street) Stock Champion, Kevin Atkins the 2008 Pure Stock Champion, and Dan Gokee the 2008 Mini (Street) Stock Champion.
I asked Dave Bigos the first question. What do you think the 2009 season is going to bring to your track? Dave stated that he is "excited" about the upcoming year and believes the new owners The Parish's and The Miracle's of Fast Track Promotions have done a wonderful job promoting the track this year and Dave is "pumped up".
I have seen the familiar green No. 33 modified on racetracks in Michigan before so I thought I would ask Bill Luckhurst “When his racing career started” Bill started laughing and said “oh man it has to be at least 20 years”. He stated that he started racing at Owosso when it was dirt. It was Bill's first year and the track became asphalt half way through the year. Bill told me he looks up to some drivers that have been around awhile like Chris Paterson and Bob Flynn.
I gave the next question to Kevin Atkins. Tell me about your favorite or most memorable fan interaction? Kevin gleamed when he said “Little B”! Kevin has known the family for years. “Little B” is a kid that is pretty sick and most of the drivers of Owosso Speedway love to do things for. This actually was so sweet, and from a Champion?
Kevin continued “Little B” had a remote controlled dune buggy. The Adkins, another reminder that racing is a “family” sport, took the dune buggy to surprise “Little B”. They made the dune buggy look just like The Adkins race team and gave it back to him. Kevin also told me that he put a passenger seat in his racecar with all the safety equipment and on a Wednesday test and tune Kevin gave “Little B” the ride of his life. I heard a couple of the “Champions” laugh and say yep we all need to wave to “Little B” in turn four.
So I shot the next question to Leo Smith. What current competitor of yours do you most admire? Leo thought for a second and said “Russ Cords”. “He is a good guy and genuine”.
I started thinking differently about the meaning of “Champion” at this point. Leo continued speaking of Russ saying “he helps out everyone and gives them anything they need if he has it”.
Dan Gokee looked around and knew he was next with the questions. So, I asked everyone has a "big fish" story... the one that got away. What is your big fish story? Dan stated that he was driving his dad’s pure stock in Kinross, and he had made a ton of passes and had a huge lead when the caution came out with a few laps to go. Dan looked down a little and said that a couple cars got by him on the restart and ended up finishing 3rd. He wanted to make his Dad proud and take the car to voc
Dan stated that he was driving his dad’s pure stock at Kinross, and he had made a ton of passes and had a huge lead when the caution came out with just a few laps to go. Dan looked down a little and said that on the restart a couple cars got by him and he ended up finishing 3rd. Dan wanted to make his father proud and take the car to victory lane. (Again, racing is a family sport) Barry Gokee, Dan's dad, was proud that day and every day he watches his son race.
I thanked the gentlemen for their time and told them that it was an honor to meet them and was excited about the upcoming season at The Big “O”.
I thought that yes these champions are the strongest men of the sport of racing. After talking to these five men I realized that the word “Champion” to me means an honor to carry over into the next season a giving heart, a heavy foot, and wings on their backs just like angles.
