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Columbus… Why this Bullring is so bad
Late Model Mark
PINSON, Ala. (July 14) - From Dirt Late Model headquarters, Southern command, another Red Clay Report is throwing red clay your way. Dirt Late Model racing around the state of Alabama is very good and competitive. It has been hard to pick a show to go to as there are so many good events. When I moved from California to Alabama, I knew I was going to check off a few on the "bucket list." That I have done and then some. However, the one date I made was for July 12th. I have read about this track, and how racy it was. This place was within a nights drive and would have the "voodoo child" as the star driver. My first trip to Mississippi and Columbus Speedway. Indeed, the "baddest bullring in the south."
The weather was shaky on the 12th.. It poured rain here for hours, yet the radar showed Columbus was good. We left at 2:00 in the afternoon with grey clouds. Going South we had two big gulleywashers on the way yet in the direction of the track, the sun was out. The drive was easy and right after 4:00pm. we were there. The track is around one mile from the Alabama state line. 130 miles from driveway to the track. Exiting off Hwy 82, you head North into a small neighborhood, then a turn and there it is, Columbus Speedway! A new track,Scott Bloomquist racing, and the Lucas Oil Series!
Parking was close, and easy, all on a large well groomed grass area. Gates opened at 4:00pm officially, but the grandstands were open to put down your seat at 1:00pm. Always something really neat when you walk into a new track for the first time. This time I "really" was excited. The ticket line was long, yet it moved real quick, good job. After paying $25.00 for the ticket, I walked in, and when I saw the track, I think my knee buckled! I was with my boy who is now a Dirt Late Model fan, I looked at him, then looked at the track, and said, "thank you." This place is special. Real special.The track is a 4/10mi. red clay,high-banked oval. Wide straights, and super wide corners. This joint has very steep banking. Steel grandstands, I had top row near the aisle seats, great full track view. Above us to the rear, there are skyboxes. Turns 1 thru 3 have skyboxes as well. People buy the space, build their own deal. The tower is in the center of the two main grandstands with the concessions underneith. Everything is "easy" at Columbus. The place was packed!! Had the chance to meet many new fans. Sat around some folks from many states that drove many miles to see "this" show. You can bring in coolers with food and frostys.
Things here in the South start later. The air was electric even in wheel packing as many fans were cheering when their favorite driver came out. Bloomquist did 2 laps then pulled off, more on that later. Lucas Oil hot laps started at 8:05pm. The first lap of practice I knew, right then, that this place may be the perfect Dirt Late Model track. The wide turns and high banking make this place incredble. 3 hot lap sessions for the 32 cars, Bloomquist skips hot laps. Billy Moyer nearly breaks the track record, and it may have been the most spectacular one lap I have ever seen. It was that good. Bloomquist comes out near the tail end of time trials, throws away the first lap by starting to gas it just out of turn 4. He has a full head of steam and has one lap to get it done, all with no hot laps. Timed in well. Time trials started at 9:10pm. The heats, starting at10:10pm., all were really fun to watch, action everywhere. By the time the main started at 11:25pm., the track had at least two excellent grooves. I was wrong, the whole track was racy! What a exciting race! The action thruout the pack was the best! Even though Bloomquist won from up front, the side by side action all thru the pack, was the most exciting in my history. The race ended at 11:55pm. On the road at midnite. Felt like I had 20 cups of Starbucks coffee, I was so pumped up!
The only thing that was rough at Columbus was the heat. It was 95 and very, very humid. Better than rain though. The track is well run. The fans are great and they know Dirt Late Model racing well. It was great being in a packed house. It had a big race feel to hit because it is a big race. This race in my view, is one of the top 10 races of the year. In September, the track will host the $25,000 dollars to win, Magnolia State 100. I'll be there! This track lived up to all the hype. This may be the best racetrack in the country for Dirt Late Models. This place does it right. The star on this night was the track, just great! If you want to see incredible racing, go to Columbus Speedway in Mississippi. It truly is the "baddest bullring in the south." It may be the best in the nation. See ya next lap!
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