Now that we've put that long ugly winter behind us, it's time to get back to racing action. We finally got to put the #53 ride of Mike Miller on the track for a much needed test and tune day this weekend. Even without making any major changes to the car it was clear in the early laps just how bad we needed a test day. Not only did the lap times suck, but the car was looking just plain evil getting into turn 3. We got to see both sides of the car more than once when it jumped out from under him before getting to turn 4. Maybe he was just showing off that fancy new lettering job, but I doubt it. When Mike can't hang onto a car there's gotta be a problem, and we got busy chasing it down. Each session got a little better and before long things were looking good. The grin on Pappy Miller's face told the story though on the last set of laps when Miller not only turned the fastest laps of any car all day, but he did it consistently. It was time to load it up and fine tune it for opening day. Next Saturday will be opening day at the much improved Midvale Speedway. You can bet we'll be there to put on a great show.

Racing action has already started at Hilltop and Lakeville of course, and folks have been treated to some kick-ass racing. I know I'm not the only one that chuckled a little when Hilltop posted their schedule with such an early starting date. Well, they got the last chuckle though and have already logged 3 great nights of door to door action. Opening night was a bitter cold one but it didn't stop the fans from packing the stands. It didn't even keep me from filling in on the flagstand beside Ed Fredricks. I never thought I'd be hit by snowballs on the flagstand but Hilltop is just full of surprises I guess. ;-) Car counts have increased since that first night and the crowd is very impressive so these new owners must be doing something right. I finally got to spend some time talking with these folks today and I'm confident that their main goal is to make Hilltop the talk of the racing community once again in a big way. Their focus is clearly on making racers and fans feel right at home each and every night, and also reward them for their support every chance they get. When the $100 registration deal was announced I said it would be up to the racers to do their part to make Hilltop a success and it looks like that's exactly what's happening. Of course it's too early to predict how the entire season will turn out, but I have no doubt The Wardell family will do their part to make Hilltop the track it deserves to be. My Saturday nights are pretty much dedicated to that "other kind of racing" but I will sure as hell make the trip to the Hill any chance I get. You might have noticed that advertising for Hilltop has returned to this website once again. Damn, it's nice to feel good about Hilltop again! Now that Hilltop and Lakeville are working together let's hope racers and fans work together to make both of these tracks stronger than ever in 2010.