Reader's Racing Rides

A Familiar Look
Gordon Anderson of Canada competes in the Claimer Class at Edmonton International Raceway in Wetaskiwin, Alberta. He's been competing in the class since it began at the quarter-mile asphalt oval in 2000. Anderson calls his four-cylinder, "Wrangler Chevy," the best car he's campaigned. He finished Third in the track's King of the Claimers race on July 26. We're guessing that Anderson's favorite driver might have driven a Wrangler Chevy bearing a yellow and blue paint scheme and the No. 3 a few years ago.

Standing By Her Man Patricia McVay of Samson, Alabama, is proud of her husband, Stacey McVay, who just completed his third season at South Alabama Speedway in Kinston. After two years competing in the Super Stock Division, Stacey moved up to race in the Modified Division. In his first Modified race on May 10, he finished Fifth after his car suffered carburetor problems. Stacey hopes to eventually compete in the Late Model Division. Patricia says she supports her husband "110 percent" and expects his dreams to come true because he has the heart of a champion and never gives up.

Family Affair Two brothers, Scott S. Cook (left) and Jim Cook, shown with 5-year-old Chase Cook, have operated Cook Bros. Racing Team for the past 12 years. The Uncasville, Connecticut, residents compete at tracks in their state-Waterford Speedbowl, Thompson International Speedway, and Stafford Motor Speedway. After falling two points shy of winning a championship at Thompson International in 2000, the team captured the '01 Limited Sportsman title at the 51/48-mile asphalt oval. That same season, Scott was Rookie of the Year in Late Models at Stafford. This past season, after three years of racing at both Stafford and Thompson International, the Cooks curtailed their schedule to concentrate on competing at Stafford.

Young Gun In South Dakota Lane Brenden, 14, raced this year in the Hobby Stock Division at Lake County Speedway in Madison, South Dakota, and at Huset's Speedway in Brandon. This was his first year competing in stock cars after racing go-carts the previous three years. In the first half of the season, young Hurricane Lane won two B features at Lake County and had several Top Fives at both tracks. He's supported by a pit crew consisting of Rocky Brenden, Pete Brenden, Ty Hanten, Bill Marken, Steve Borkowski, and Scott Borkowski. One of his sponsors, Ricky "Rudd" Atkinson, has every issue of Stock Car Racing since its inception in 1966. Go Lane! And thank you, Ricky!

Racing And Loving It Jon Heidenthal, 43, of Myakka City, Florida, has been racing since he was 11, beginning with dirt bikes in Ohio. Jon, shown in Victory Lane with two of his three sons, competes in the Street Stock class at Desoto Speedway in Bradenton, Florida. He just completed his second full season as a Stock car racer. In 2002, he captured three feature wins and finished Third in points. Jon's wife, Stefani, says the whole family has a love of racing and they all enjoy the show every Saturday night. She says Jon gets as excited about getting his issue of Stock Car Racing each month as he does about racing.

Looking Good Scott Bowersock earns his living by painting race cars, helmets, motorcycles, and anything else needing a professional look. In his spare time, he races a Late Model-which, of course, sports a paint job by Bowersock Signs & Lines. In 2000 Scott won the Stock Car title at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio. He raced Late Models in 2001 and captured a feature win at Montpelier (Indiana) Motor Speedway before a crash totaled his car and ended his season prematurely. He bounced back this season with a car bearing his motorsports art business as the primary sponsor. Scott's brother, Jerry Bowersock, competes in the No. 23J Late Model. We have a hunch Jerry's paint job is just as spiffy as Scott's.