Street Stocks are fan favorites on asphalt and dirt
All of the racing divisions at Motordrome, Jennerstown and Roaring Knob speedways are exciting and fun to watch. Competition at its best abounds from the high-dollar Super Late Models, to the entry-level Chargers, American Flyers, and Hobby Stocks.
A division racing fans really enjoy at all three racing facilities is the Street Stock class, a mid-level category.
Spectators can easily relate to the Street Stocks because they mainly consist of passenger cars from the 1970’s to the present.
On the asphalt at Motordrome and Jennerstown, Street Stocks rules specify that the vehicles used in competition had to be produced from 1970 to 1990. Roaring Knob rules are a little more lenient, as the track will allow any North American car from 1975 to the present to compete, including Camaros and Firebirds.
Those cars are not permitted to race on the asphalt. Racers have to meet other specifications regarding engines, transmissions, suspension components, etc., to make a Street Stock legal at their respective track.
The most common automobile brand used in Street Stock competition is the Chevrolet Monte Carlo. The reasons vary from one racer to another. However, many drivers indicate that Chevy parts, including bodies, hoods and fenders, are easier to find and more affordable than Ford or Mopar parts.
Since the Chevy usually dominates racing, die-hard Ford fans are ecstatic when a Ford graces victory lane. Plymouths and Dodges are rarely built as Street Stocks, as they traditionally don’t perform well.
The Street Stock class is also known as the “Black and Blue” division, because most drivers aren’t shy about rubbing doors and fenders with each other.
“Rubbin’s racin” as the old saying goes.
Talk to any Street Stock driver, and he or she will tell you how tough it is to win a race or even do well in the division.
“This division is really competitive,” stated Shawn Phillips, the driver of the No. 31 Street Stock at Motordrome Speedway. “There are no field fillers anymore. Everybody’s fast, and anybody can win.”
Phillips, of Jefferson in Greene County, started his Street Stock career at Motordrome in 1994 on a part-time basis.
He drove a big Ford Thunderbird for an owner who was looking for a driver. Phillips gained experience, but like any newcomer to the sport, struggled early on. He finished 15th overall in 1995, and slipped back to 17th in 1996.
n 1997, Shawn became an owner-driver as he switched brands and built his own racecar, a 1977 Monte Carlo. It’s the same car he currently races every Friday night at Motordrome.
His racing career really turned around that year as he garnered five top five finishes, along with 15 top-10 finishes, and was credited with 7th place in the overall point standings.
In 1998, he won his first career feature early in the season, and later added another win to his racing resume. He finished 5th in the Street Stock point standings.
In 1999, after doing so well the previous season, Phillips surprisingly was no longer part of the Motordrome racing scene.
He recalls, “I got burned out. I didn’t have my own garage and had to travel an hour each way every night to work on the racecar. Besides, I wanted to take some time off to spend with my wife Debbie and our children.”
Phillips made a comeback in 2003, again running part-time. This season he’s racing full time and is in the hunt for the Motordrome Street Stock championship.
He’s won a feature event and presently sits in 3rd place in the point standings. With nine races left at Motordrome, he trails Street Stock point leader Adam Kostelnik by 26 digits, but remains optimistic about his chances.
“I still think it’s possible to catch Adam,” said Phillips. “I was 20 points behind him earlier in the year and caught him. I respect Adam. He’s the champion. He’s an awesome driver who’s tough to beat.”
Phillips is up to the challenge. He commented, “Adam and I have a rivalry. I’m going to make it tough on him. I want to make him earn the championship. I’m going to race hard and not give anybody anything. The way I look at it, I never lost a race. I just ran out of laps. I have to have some good runs to win the championship, and he has to have a couple of bad nights. And I have to have luck go my way.”
Roaring Knob Street Stock driver Bob Nelson, of Bittner, can verify that Street Stock competition at the Markleysburg area facility is tough as well.
“There are a lot of good cars out there,” he said. “The cars are so close, it’s tough getting through the pack, especially when you start in the back.”
At Roaring Knob, as well as Motordrome and Jennerstown, drivers who win a feature in any division have to start in the 12th position the following week. They also draw pills to determine starting positions. Nelson, who has won three features at Roaring Knob this year, said, “Since I won the feature last week, I’m going to have to start 12th on Saturday. The last time I started back there, the best I could do was sixth. It’s hard to pass cars in just 15 laps.”
Nelson, who races a 1982 Chevy Monte Carlo, also stated, “A good starting spot is really important. Last Saturday, I had the luck of the draw, and got to start up front. The track was slick in the heat race. We made some adjustments to the racecar before the feature, and I didn’t know how it was going to act. My tires got hotter and hotter during the feature. All of those cautions helped cool them off, and I was able to win.”
Bob started racing Street Stocks in 1999. That’s how he picked the number on his racecar, No. 99. The 38-year-old driver is employed by a local construction company, and currently works on a paving crew.
He sits in second place in the Roaring Knob Street Stock point standings, only 12 points behind leader Todd Dennis of Markleysburg.
Nelson has won a total of eight features through the years. He gives two family members a lot of credit. “My Dad and brother really help me out a lot,” he stated. ” Without them, I wouldn’t be racing.”
Motordrome Speedway, rained out for the fifth time this season. It will be back in action at 7:30 Friday evening with five-division racing.
The Modifieds will run an extended lap feature. Also on tap is a driver autograph session. Every racecar will line up on the front straightaway, enabling fans, especially the kids, to view the racecars, touch them, and possibly sit in them. They’ll have a chance to meet their favorite racecar drivers, to receive an autographed picture, and come home with lots of goodies. Kids age 12 and under will receive a free checkered flag.
Roaring Knob will present racing for the Super Late Models, Late Models, Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Chargers, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday.
It’ll be Scout Night and four-division racing at Jennerstown Speedway on Saturday night. Action for the Super Late Models, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and Motordrome Modifieds, starts at 7:30 p.m..
Dave Dragovich is a freelance motorsports journalist for the Herald Standard. A former competitor at Motordrome Speedway (1992-1998), Dragovich can be heard on Mike Lysakowski’s “Motordrome Live” broadcast on WMBS Radio 590AM, Fridays from 6p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Don Gamble’s “Rappin’ On Racin'” radio show on WEDO 810AM, Monday evenings from 6 p.m. until 8:45 p.m. Dragovich may also be contacted via e-mail at somersetdave@comcast.net.