World Finals 2017: My First Impressions

Column By: JOHN ZACHARY / RPW – CONCORD, NC – Thursday was my first visit to The Dirt Track in Charlotte for the World Finals. First off the place is amazing. Nothing against our local tracks up north, but, this place rocks.

For most of the night, the track was pretty heavy making for some fast time trial runs. As far as side-by-side racing, there wasn’t much of that going on.

Mike Mahaney looked great in his beautiful Buzz Chew #88, setting fast time for both Friday and Saturday nights Big Block races.

It has been a few years since I have seen a Late Model race, so I was excited to see these monsters turn left at Charlotte. Let me tell you something; some people do not like these big-bodied machines, but holy cow do they get around in a hurry. These guys drive deep into the corner and turn the wheel a tad, and the car turns “right now.”

I am looking forward to seeing a full field of these beasts the rest of the weekend!

Last but not least, the World Of Outlaw Sprint Cars. Yup, they are quick! Twelve-second laps…are you kidding me?

Not only are the WoO regulars on hand, but some PA Posse guys made their way south for the season finale. I will be cheering for one of my boyhood favorites this weekend. Sammy Swindell; love him or hate him, he can still wheel a 410 Sprint Car.

We all know the racing will be spectacular and the weather looks like it is going to be almost perfect for this weekend’s shows.

OK, let me tell you a cool story from my first day at the World Finals.

So I was walking back to my car to get a bottle of water, and a golf kart pulled up be side me and the driver said get in. I stopped walking and said well thank you. As I was getting into the kart I recognized the driver.

“Randy LaJoie?,” I said.

“Yup,” he replied.

“Really?,” I said again. “Is this happening?”

There I am riding with a former NASCAR Busch Series (now XFINITY) Champion to my car.

“This place is awesome and the weather is perfect.,” I told him.

“It’s better then you Yankees are used to,” he said with a chuckle.

I told him it’s rainy and cold back home so he was probably right.

Randy then asked me who I thought was going to win this weekend.

My pick was Billy Decker over Matt Sheppard, and he kind of he laughed at my statement.

“Billy’s not one of my customers, but Matt is, so I ‘m pulling for him,” he said.

He stopped the kart. I stepped out and said thank you and take care Randy. He winked and drove off.

Well I guess that’s it for now. I will be back with again soon with some exciting fun satirizes from the 2017 World Finals.

John