A pretty inspiring tale from the weekly tracks beat about a guy who couldn't afford a burnout after his 200th win:
MOTORSPORTS NOTEBOOK: Roger Neece crafts more history at LPR
Credit: PHOTO COURTESY OF RANDALL PERRY
Roger Neece plans to run three more races this season.
By: Allen Gregory
Bristol Herald Courier
August 21, 2012
COEBURN, Va . --
Fireworks lit up the sky as Roger Neece pulled into Victory Lane late Saturday night at Lonesome Pine Raceway.
After a season of bad luck and physical pain, the beloved Trammel,Va., resident stormed to his 200th career win in the 30-lap Street Stock class.
I didnt know if we were going to get this or not, but Im happy, said Neece who has been slowed by health issues in recent weeks. It feels just as good as my first win.
For competitors, officials and fans in the Mountain Empire, Neece is a genuine hometown hero who has earned every victory the hard way. The 56-year-old former mine foreman has battled black lung and cancer, but somehow he keeps beating drivers half his age.
I hope the fans have enjoyed all this as much as I have, Neece said.
Emotions run high and rivalries linger in weekly short track racing. Yet the scene at LPR Saturday harkened back to the timeless day in 1998 when the late Dale Earnhardt was swarmed by admirers on pit road after finally winning the Daytona 500.
Neece, who did not begin racing until he was around 36, has won seven track titles while bouncing between LPR and Kingsport Speedway with his familiar black No. 22.
The latest conquest offered another textbook performance. Neece started from the pole and held off all challengers with flawless laps around the high-banked track.
My car tightened up a little more than what I wanted after the second caution, but we were able to hold on, Neece said.
As fans stood to salute and fellow racers rushed over to shake hands, Neece explained his key to success while being serenaded by the 1980s rock and roll standard Back in Black over the track public address system.
Theres been a lot of luck and a lot of hard work along the way, Neece said. I appreciate all the drivers who raced me clean and I thank all the fans who paid their hard-earned money every week to watch us race and put on a show.
The 2012 season began in nightmarish fashion for Neece with a vicious crash at LPR. Neece now ambles slowly around the pits, but he races as hard as ever.
Its hard to accomplish something like this, but each win feels special, Neece said. This night is something Ill never forget.
Neece said he plans to run three more races this season, including one at Kingsport.
Thats why I didnt do a burnout for the fans, Neece said.
Saturdays program at LPR also featured a pair of 35-lap Limited races won by Keith Stiltner (Buchanan County) and first-time victor Ronnie McCarty of Kingsport.
Seconds after his victory, the colorful Stiltner sprinted through the pits to compete in the Renegades division where he went from last to first with a fearless charge on the opening lap. Stiltner punctuated his Renegades victory with a wild circular burnout which left the track blanketed in smoke.
NASCAR legend Jack Ingram, a three-time national Late Model Sportsman champion from Asheville,N.C., drove his iconic brown No. 11 in both the Limited features.
Saturdays other winners included John Ketron (Pure 4), Rannie Breeding (Iron Warriors) and Kirby Gobble in Mod 4.
agregory@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Greg_BHCSports | (276) 645-2544
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:09:31PM