RPW Exclusive: 2018; A Different Kind Of Season For Me

Column By: TOBY LAGRANGE / RPW – GLOVESRVILLE, NY – The 2018 racing season has been a different type of season for yours truly. As we approach the month of August my race count is usually around 40 however this season it stands at ten. The 75 percent drop in racing action is the direct result of refocusing my interests. Instead of trying to build my race count numbers and pen article after article with an announcing opportunity mixed in, I decided it was time to focus on what I love – family, family and announcing…in that order.

My last non-press release article appeared in the pages of Race Pro Weekly on March 8th as I ranked my ten best drivers at the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park. Since then I really haven’t had the itch to pick up the pen again. In doing so I have been able to spend more time with my lovely wife Kirstin, amazing son Sammy and our beautiful dog Shiloh. The biggest of the big thank yous to all three for letting me further my announcing passion.

I have also been able to do one other thing – concentrate on becoming a better announcer. The last I spoke of my announcing plans in the pages of Race Pro Weekly I was slated to travel with the Wing Champ Racing Series (WCRS) and the Empire Lightning Sprints as their series announcer. However, that all changed in early April when I received the call and the offer to become the voice of the SuperGen Products with Champion Power Equipment CRSA Sprint Car Series.

Since then my focus has been on the CRSA. So far in 2018 I have announced nine of the ten CRSA events and one WCRS event. I am still helping the WCRS when my CRSA schedule allows. In all I will be calling three WCRS events this season, all of which are local to me.

I have found a home with the CRSA. Announcing their events and being a part of the Mike Emhof Motorsports family is not only fun but gives me the feeling of being appreciated, something I haven’t felt in a while.

So far in 2018 I have called events at the Land of Legends Raceway (four), Orange County Fair Speedway (two), Afton Motorsports Park (one), Woodhull Raceway (one) and my former Friday night home, the Albany-Saratoga Speedway (one). We currently have seven events remaining on our schedule.

The remainder of the 2018 season will see me at the Dodge City Speedway (July 27th) and Glen Ridge Motorsports Park (August 12th) with the WCRS (the CRSA has these weeks off) and August 3rd with the CRSA at Afton. From my CRSA family and I travel to the Land of Legends Raceway on August 18th and Orange County Fair Speedway on August 25th.

On June 12th I received an offer to go home again, sort of. I was asked by the Fonda Fair Board to serve as the Motorsports Announcer for the 177th Fonda Fair. I was beyond excited to accept the offer. I will be announcing the Out of Field Tractor Pulls on Wednesday August 29th, the Demo Derby on Thursday night August 30th, the Truck Pulls on Friday August 31st (Afternoon and Night), the Demo Derby on Saturday September 1st, the Convoy for A Cause, Fireman’s Competition and Big Rig Truck Pulls on Sunday September 2nd and the Demo Derby finale on Labor Day – Monday September 3rd. A huge thank you to the Fonda Fair Board for the opportunity.

Following the fair, I will be back behind the microphone for the CRSA at the Albany-Saratoga Speedway on Friday September 14th and then again with the CRSA at the Afton Motorsports Park on Friday October 5th, a part of Brett Deyo’s Short Track Super Nationals.

I will move to in front of the camera as I join my Race Pro Weekly family for Super DIRT Week at the Oswego Speedway. While I will have to head to Afton on Friday night, I will be there on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday as we once again provide professional video and on-air coverage of Super DIRT Week.

My season is scheduled to end at the Orange County Fair Speedway on Saturday October 20th. This will be the season finale for the CRSA and will take place during the annual Eastern States Weekend.

As always, I am interested in any announcing opportunity that may present itself during my off weeks. If you need a fill in announcer or someone to help during a bigger event, please let me know.

In addition to my announcing schedule I have added one more project to my schedule. About a month ago I was approached by Butch Hazzard from the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park. He was interested in starting a Hall of Fame for the nearly 20-year-old facility. The goal is to honor those who have played an irreplaceable roll in the history of The Ridge and those who are the best of the best both on and off the quarter mile. I happily accepted a position on the Hall of Fame Committee.

In 2015, while serving as an announcer at the Fonda Speedway I brought the dormant Hall of Fame back to life through reorganization. Hall of Fames serve a special purpose in not only racing but all avenues of life and they hold a special place in my heart. I was honored to be asked to join the Glen Ridge Motorsports Park Hall of Fame Committee. We will be meeting for the first time this weekend.

Throughout the remainder of this season and the off season keep your eyes out as I will be penning a column here and there. You will meet some of the stars and rising stars of the CRSA Sprint Car Series and the Sprint Car world in general and learn more about my travels around the Empire State.