|
Corey Stamper talks decision to move forward with King of the South despite rainy forecast By Craig Cook
In the week leading up to the 9th annual Strange Engineering Ronnie Buff Memorial featuring King of the South, weather forecasts up and down the entire East Coast looked formidable. A number of large events were in limbo, with IHRA postponing their first Triple Crown Race at Maple Grove, and PDRA following suit a couple days later at Virginia Motorsports Park. However, King of the South promoter Corey Stamper and the team at Shadyside Dragway( led by owners Seth and Zach Buff) weren’ t going to let the weather dampen their spirits. Determined to get the race off, they pushed forward to put on the biggest small-tire event in the country, paying $ 75,000 to win the 64-car invitational field. And while Mother Nature eventually won out, Stamper stands by the decision to try and get the race in over Memorial Day weekend.
“ It might be part craziness; it might just be our love for the sport,” says Stamper.“ We knew the racers and fans were still coming. If you looked at one forecast it had this percentage, and you look at another forecast it had a different percentage. I’ ve always been the type of person that says,‘ You know, let’ s go for it.’ It’ s just one of those moments where you take the risk. I’ m a‘ no risk, no reward’ person, so I wanted to go for it and see who the baddest on a 28-inch tire was.”
|
Last year, a sold-out crowd that forced the fire marshal to close the gates on Saturday saw Larry Larson edge out Lyle Barnett in a final round that was decided by just. 004. This year’ s edition looked to be even bigger before the weather set in. As it stands, Larson will technically still retain his title of King of the South, as he was one of the 16 remaining drivers when heavy rain Sunday night ultimately canceled the rest of the event, with the prize money being distributed evenly between them.
Up until that point, however, Stamper truly believed they would get the race in. As Sunday afternoon
|
rolled around, the weather looked beautiful and after a complete washout on Saturday, things were looking as positive as they had all weekend.
“ Going into Sunday, when that first round hit, I don’ t think anybody can describe that feeling when you heard those cars fire up and go down the track,” Stamper says.“ We’ d been fighting a war the whole week with the weather, and we were finally there. I’ m in tunnel vision and all I can see is that winner’ s circle at the end. Honestly, the first round pretty much sells itself for the whole event. If you weren’ t stoked watching that first round, I don’ t even know if you’ re a racing fan.”
|
PHOTOGRAPHS BY DANNY STOGNER |