Dirt-track racing: Fast and forgiving

Dover may be Delaware's best known stock car venue but it's not the only place to watch action-packed racing. Indeed, Georgetown Speedway in Sussex County has hosted weekly dirt track stock car races since it was built in 1949.

And, while NASCAR racing only happens at Dover Speedway twice a year, the track in Georgetown has racing every Friday night from May through September, weather permitting. And fans and drivers alike love the half-mile clay oval just south of Georgetown on Route 113.

"I do enjoy it and that's why I have been coming here since 1974," said Ronny Minner of Georgetown.

Gary Langenstein of Smyrna started coming to Georgetown Speedway in 1982 — as a driver. Now, he comes to watch and occasionally help out other drivers. "I think I started coming here when I was knee-high to a grasshopper," he said with a chuckle.

While the Dover track is longer — one mile — and the racing surface is concrete, the oval in Georgetown is half the size and made of clay. Both tracks have banked turns, which means faster speeds through the corners. And both feature competitive action-packed racing.

Each week prior to a race, track workers at Georgetown spend hours loosening the clay with heavy equipment. They then flood the surface, using a tank truck to distribute the water. Prior to the race, race cars will make multiple trips around the oval to compress the clay and reduce the amount of moisture to create an ideal racing surface.

Reasons for the track preparation are two-fold. First, the damp, compacted clay provides better traction for the race cars. And, normally, better traction means closer, more exciting racing. The second reason is for the benefit of the fans sitting in the grandstand: moisture minimizes the amount of dust during each race.

"The racing is pretty exciting," said Kristina Thompson of Laurel.

The other noticeable difference between Dover and the grass-roots racing at Georgetown would be the number of different classes that compete. At Dover, each day is usually devoted to a single class of race vehicles: Camping World trucks, Nationwide and Sprint Cup stock cars. There is another difference: drivers at Dover are professional while most competitors at Georgetown consider racing a hobby.

At Georgetown, as many as six different classes may compete on a given Friday evening. Each class has different requirements based on car design and engine size. Some, like the entry level truck and charger classes are based on production vehicles that are modified for racing and fitted with safety equipment to protect the driver.

Other classes, notably a group called "modifieds" are purpose built race cars with professionally constructed frames and high horsepower engines.

All race cars are equipped with roll bars to protect the driver in the event of a rollover or crash and all use tires and suspensions designed for better traction and handling on dirt. All drivers are required to wear fireproof racing suits and the cars are equipped with heavy-duty lap and shoulder belts. Though crashes are relatively common, serious injuries are rare, mostly because of the safety equipment.

And each class takes a skilled driver to navigate a relatively slippery racing surface, with the best drivers using a controlled slide to get through the turns quickly.

Though many of the drivers are from Delaware or northern Maryland, some like Neal Williams of Pittsgrove, New Jersey, drive several hours to compete at Georgetown. Williams races in one of the modified classes, using a car with a custom chassis and a modified Chevrolet engine with more than 460 cubic inches. The car was built over the winter and competed at Georgetown for the first time this season.

"We usually do okay when we come here," said crew chief Jack Helget. A short time later on a recent Friday night, Williams won his first race at Georgetown.

And not all of the competitors are male.

"I've wanted to race stock cars since I was little," said Ashley Merritt of Dagsboro. And race she does. Merritt, a six-year Georgetown veteran, has won five races this year in her Chevy Cavalier, which competes in the charger class.

Sonny Zonnack of Willards, Maryland, just bought an entry level Ford Ranger for the truck class. He paid $1,500 for a truck that was already modified and ready to race. "We got into it pretty cheap because it's good way to get into dirt racing," he said.

At 19, Jordan Justice of Laurel is in his first year of dirt track racing, competing in one of the faster modified classes with a car that has a custom chassis and a 350 cubic inch General Motors engine. "It's fast and I love it," he said.

He's already won at another track and says he hopes to win at Georgetown this season although, on this night, he finished third.

"I am doing pretty well for a rookie," he said.

Billy Thompson of Georgetown races in the late model class with a car that was built about eight years ago. So far, he's had several top 10 finishes, finished third on this particular Friday. He said he is enjoying every minute of racing on dirt.

"I really like this track," he said. "It is very fast but very forgiving."

Though many drivers, particularly in the late model and modified classes. have invested a considerable amount of money in their race cars, travel expenses and entry fees, they probably won't be able to retire on their earnings. Winners are paid between $100 and $4,000 for a victory, with lower placing cars receiving less. The context: Some competitors have well over $100,000 invested in the race car, spare tires and other parts, tools and a truck and trailer to get to the race.

"We do it because we love it," said Jordan Justice.

"It is just a hobby," said Ashley Merritt.

So, if you enjoy motor sports and are in search of dirt track stock car racing in close proximity to the Delaware coast, check out Georgetown Speedway (www.georgetownspeedway.com).

"I just love it here," said Kristina Thompson.