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Keeping family on track
Track is home away from home for Boulder City drivers
By Ray Brewer
Nothing beats a day at the race track for the Henderson family of Boulder City.
Siblings Meaghan and DJ compete on NHRA junior drag racing circuits, following in the footsteps of their father, Don Henderson, who raced dragsters during his childhood.
Whether it's locally at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway or traveling to regional events on the West Coast, the family can't wait to get to the track for a weekend of races.
"When I was younger, I was raised with racing, too," Don Henderson said. "It's definitely a family sport. It keeps our family together."
It was a right of passage of sorts for Meaghan Henderson, 16, to start racing. Her history in motor sports dates back to her childhood, when she would watch her father work on cars in their garage.
Both Henderson children have enjoyed moderate success — DJ ranks second out of 21 drivers in the Jr. Dragster-Lightning Division at the speedway — but they truly believe winning is a secondary goal to having a good time. (...)
COMPLETE STORY AND PHOTOS: Las Vegas Sun
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Need for speed
Brothers keep family tradition of racing alive
By Matt Gerstner
The Examiner
Posted Jun 08, 2009 @ 11:22 PM
Independence, MO —
When John McEntire retired from drag racing in 1996, he hoped one day he could come back to the sport.
“I had two kids at the time, so it was getting pretty expensive,” he said. “I’ve been trying to find an excuse to get back into it.”
Little did he know, John, father of three now, would soon have his entire family following in his footsteps.
First, it was his daughter, Marissa, who started in 2002 when she was 10.
“The minimum age to start racing is 8,” John said. “But she didn’t ask about it until a few years after.”
Then came his first son, Connor, and his last child, Gavin, both starting when they were 8.
“Once they were able to race, they were on,” John said. “They’ve taken over.”
Connor, 14, and Gavin, 12, have since raced at venues across the Midwest, from Kansas City International Raceway to Gateway International Raceway in St. Louis, Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan., to Bandimere Speedway in Denver, Colo.
The events are set up as a head-to-head bracket, competitors racing against each other until a winner is determined, in their respective age divisions. The boys race in two points series, the Vamp Series and the Kleen Chain Series.
Currently, it is the “warm months” of the racing season. The boys have participated in four races this season, the most recent a Vamp Series event at KCIR this past weekend.
Connor finished in the semifinals, his third semis finish this year, while Gavin ended his weekend in second place, his second runner-up finish this year.
The boys will race at KCIR again this weekend, this time, in the Kleen Chain Series.
Connor loves the opportunity to be a big brother in an unconventional way.
“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I like being able to be looked up to. He can see me and improve or adjust.”
Gavin is taking advantage of the opportunity.
“I learn a few things from [my brother], like how to cut a better light (have a better start), stuff like that,” Gavin said.
Connor will get out of the Junior racing division when he’s 17. He’s considering “going on and racing in a bigger car.”
The boys race mainly at KCIR, however their favorite race was in St. Louis, the Halloween Drag. Unfortunately, the event was moved two years ago to Cordova, Ill. and to Iowa last year.
“[In St. Louis], there would be around 500 cars that would show up,” John said. “It would be an all-day thing with activities for the kids and everything. It was unlike anything I had ever seen before.
“When they moved it, they didn’t have nearly as many people show up. We’ve been hoping they’ll move it back to St. Louis. It’d be much better for the race.”
The last time the boys raced in the tournament, it was an event to remember. “The semifinal trophies were, like, three-feet tall. The boys were dying to get one of them,” John said. “Both of them made it to the quarterfinals, which would have won any other race. But they fell just short of getting those trophies. They still had a lot of fun though. We miss that race.”
Another big race is in Denver, where the winner receives a $5,000 scholarship. It is one of the few races that gives out money to the winners.
Although the boys have their favorites, every racing event is a family outing, according to Gavin. “It’s a lot of fun to go down there and have fun with the family and meet new friends,” he said.
Even the boys’ mother, Deana, comes to help with the event, cooking and helping the boys with their fire suits.
“She always says, ‘I’m always the cook,’ but she’s really a big help with the whole thing,” John said of his wife.
Deana has raced in a few parents races, completing the full-racing family.
“She’s known around her family as a lead-foot, so it’s no surprise she races,” John said. The two started dating in high school. At that time, most of John’s family was racing. “I just kinda went with the flow and everything,” Deana laughed.
The family is joined at most races by their grandfather, the kids’ lucky charm, and their aunt, according to Deana.
“He has a home in Colorado, but he tries to make it to most of the races,” John said of the boys’ grandfather.
While good luck in racing helps, Connor and Gavin know they wouldn’t be where they are without their dad. “He’s been a real big impact,” Connor said. “Without him there would be no way to figure out how to do everything. He’s really been a big help teaching us and making us better.”
The boys have recently been sponsored by Mac2 Racing and Kleen Chain, a company out of Blue Springs. The companies pay the boys a certain amount of money depending on how they finish.
“The sponsorship was a big deal,” John said.
The boys have always thought about their community first, practicing the pay-it-forward principle. Their new sponsorship gave the family an opportunity to employ that principle in a new way. “We decided that any money that the boys get this year,” John said, “we would donate to a local charity.
“We wanted a local charity, one that focused on kids. And we found Operation Breakthrough.”
Operation Breakthrough, located off Troost in downtown Kansas City, is a school/daycare program. Currently, they have 760 kids in their enrollment. Of that number, one in four is homeless. “They’re a Catholic charity, and we’re Catholic, and we had donated toys and clothing to them before. They’re a good charity,” Gavin said. The family had done some research on the charity prior to selecting them. “We had read about them, and we had talked about it,” John said. “In the end, they were the best choice for us.”
FULL STORY AT: The Examiner
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Deadlines Fast Approaching for Tracks to Register for All Junior Dragster Team Finals
Deadlines for tracks to inform IHRA of their intent to send teams to the All Junior Dragster Team Finals in fast approaching.
Each participating 2009 track may send up to three teams of 10 junior racers to represent their facility, based on the track’s participation level and ability to fill the team. During Sunday’s featured event teams will earn points to determine the track championship, the same format used at the team finals. Racers will also compete for individual championships
“We are convinced the improved format will create new excitement in our junior program,” IHRA Special Programs Director Sherrie Barbour said. “More juniors will sign up for track points, knowing they will be able to qualify for a custom designed junior team finals “”
This new format will not affect the Summit Team Finals junior format. The same number of juniors will still participate with the big cars at Summit Team Finals events.
“One our goals at IHRA is to promote the future of drag racing; we know we have to start by growing junior programs at our local tracks,” Barbour said. “This is a great platform for track operators to get the kids involved.”
One unique All-Junior Nationals feature invites and encourages NHRA tracks and junior racers to join the fun.
“The concept of IHRA and NHRA tracks and junior racers at the same event is a great way to teach the junior competitors about sportsmanship,” states Senior Director of Competition and Racing Operations Mike Baker.
Other highlights of the program:
*There will not be a team entry charge to the tracks to participate in this program. Each racer will be responsible for their car & driver entry as well as their crew member’s entries.
*There will be bonus events Saturday and the main team competition will be contested on Sunday.
*Awards will be issued for Best Appearing Team, Best Team Spirit, Best Engineered and Best Appearing. The winning track will also receive an Ironman and Team Champion bragging rights.
Tracks will submit rosters prior to the event just like the Summit Team Finals.
“Last year we changed the format from the Junior Nationals to the Team Finals format and everyone had a blast,” added Barbour. “This year we are going to double the fun by having 4 Four All-Junior Dragster Team Finals. With the addition of Osceola Dragway in Division 5 and Dallas Raceway in Division 4, we have the opportunity to offer the junior competitors more events for family fun. Pittsburgh Raceway Park returns to the schedule July 18-19 with Maryland International presenting a three day event on August 31-September 2.”
Royce Miller, owner/operator of Maryland International Raceway, looks forward to a huge weekend.
“Last year’s Jr. Dragster Team Final event was the most fun and exciting Junior race ever at MIR. The new team concept brought out track banners, mascots, teams cheering in the stands, it was just like an all Jr. Dragster bracket finals,” said Miller. “The Team Final idea was from IHRA’s Sherrie Barbour and she hit a home run. Since we had such a great time we have expanded the race to a 3-day event for 2009 (July 31-Aug 2). So get with your track operator and start putting your teams together. We look forward to seeing everyone again and some new folks as well and don’t forget the water guns!!!”
Frank Tedesco, the track operator at Pittsburgh Raceway Park, can’t wait to get the party started.
“We're looking forward to getting some payback to the very talented and classy MIR Team,” Tedesco said. “They came in last year and had to wait for us to fight some demons related to weather, then proceeded to kick butt. Being the Official 4th, Black and Gold team in Pittsburgh we will be looking to keep pace with our other Black and Gold Teams and bring the Championship to the city of champions, PITTSBURGH.”
Any IHRA, NHRA or independent sanctioned track can participate in the Junior Dragster Team Finals by contacting Sherrie Barbour at (419) 660-4209
MORE INFO:
http://ihra.com/article/4629.html
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Moms make things go at race tracks
Adams and Ellison do much to help, support competitive drivers in family
By Greg Billing
Staff Writer 12:54 AM Sunday, May 10, 2009
XENIA — Sheila Adams has never taken a run down Kil-Kare Dragway’s quarter-mile strip. But every Saturday, and sometimes on Sunday, you can find her at the Greene County track right in the middle of the action. This Mother’s Day weekend is no exception.
“A lot of people don’t always consider this as a family sport, but it’s a really good place for your family to grow up,” said Adams, adding that she’s somewhat of a track mom with kids hanging out at her family’s hauler.
That’s why this Mother’s Day she knows exactly what she wants from her husband Dale, a Super Pro driver, or daughter Brooke, a Junior Dragster competitor.
“A win would be great,” Adams said.
But on this day just being together is prize enough. Adams isn’t alone in that thought.
“The best Mother’s Day gift to me is spending time with my family, and maybe having a few hours of quiet time to myself to do whatever I want to do,” said Beavercreek’s Sherri Ellison, whose 10-year-old son Caleb, 13-year-old son Edmond and husband, Boomer, run at Kil-Kare.
Track time
Race tracks not only keep the Adamses together, it brought them together. Sheila and Dale’s first date was to watch Sheila’s late father, Homer Stacy, run in the Buckeye Nationals. They’ll have been married 25 years on Oct. 6.
“It’s fun. It’s safe doing it out here rather than doing it on the street,” Sheila Adams said of the kids’ racing under supervision. “It teaches them good lessons on that.”
“She’s pretty helpful with everything, and I appreciate all she’s done,” Brooke said.
... story continues at Dayton Daily News
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