HallmarksIt was the last race of the season a few years ago, and Doug Hurley was racing for a championship. It had been a tough battle and the points race was close, so it was do-or-die night for the driver. But Hurley blew an engine during practice. His championship, of course, depended on him racing that night.
"I was in about my second year of racing," says McDaniel, the former association president. "I had a pretty good car, but was way down in points. During the drivers meeting, I asked about Doug driving my car so he could win the championship. The guy had really worked hard all season long and I hated to see him lose it like that."But rules are rules, and the ones governing the class say Hurley had to drive his own car.
"We're walking away from the meeting and I'm feeling pretty bad for Doug, so I ask my crew chief about us letting Doug use our engine," he says. "Next thing you know, Doug's car is parked next to mine and we've got people swarming all over them. All you could see is feet sticking out the bottom and backsides surrounding the engine bay." "The wrecker pulled up and hauled Doug's engine out and dropped ours in. I think just about every team at the track-a lot of them would be racing against Doug-was turning wrenches. The whole swap took less than 40 minutes. We were hoping to get him ready for the main event, but he actually made it out for the dash."
The story from River City Speedway is typical of what draws many people to motorsports in the first place. It's the competition, camaraderie, and compassion that are the hallmarks of short-track racing."I spent the rest of the night as a spectator," McDaniel says. "And you know what? In all the years I've raced, it was my best night ever. To sit in the grandstands and watch Doug win the championship . . . well, I still get goosebumps." "I was just so thrilled to be part of it."
Jerry F. Boone can be reached at jfboone@aol.com.
To learn more about this track, visit www.rivercityspeedway.net.