On this sunny Friday afternoon, the Tony Smiley cars, one driven by Rickie Gaunt and the other driven by brother-in-law
Charlie Davis, Jr. (after he crashed his own car on Thursday night) sit side by side on a bed of hay. “Hay,” what’s up with that?
Are we in a barnyard or a racing pit?

“Hollywood” Evelyn Pratt shares a laugh with Nelson Stewart in the Mopar pit.

“Honey, did I mention I won’t be home for a few days?” Norm looks pretty serious as
he negotiates his “kitchen pass” with wife, Pat! Of course, I’m just guessing…he could
be talking to his broker, or his bookie!

Levi Jones gets some assistance on the #38 Crossno car from Buzz Shoemaker.

Where’s a microphone when it’s needed? Wouldn’t you love to know what Eric is describing to Fran and Jim?

Lance Gremett and his helper, John Baumann, work on the #85 car. Great to see them back
after a break to take care of lots of things – like work, work, and more work!

Adam Mitchell paused a moment to pose for Mrs. Wag’s roving camera.

Mark Succi and Josh Ford were so engrossed, they never knew the roving camera passed through their pit!

A.J. “S” and Mark Priestly work on the Priestly #7 driven by Troy Rutherford.

Danny Sheridan was in Ron Didonato’s “other” #57.

“Ok boys, listen up…” High schoolers, Darren Hagen, driver of the orange #11 car, and Buddy Wise,
brother of up-and-coming driver, Josh Wise, pay rapt attention (or are their eyes just glazing over…) as Bruce Fischer talks!

Mike Sala gets down to serious business as he readies his #19S car for Josh Wise, who gave it a 7th place finish on Friday night.

“Pappa” Hillberg (Ken) does whatever you do to tires before a race.

Ernie Ballard works on his # 97 car, which is driven by this year’s Wagsdash
winner Alan Ballard. Where’s Alan while dad does all the work?

Wags visits with Brent Kaeding, who put on a slide job clinic during Friday night’s Main!

Always nice to have an extra motor just sitting around!

Mel Murphy’s probably calling the “Good Fairy” to see if he can get a new motor, too!

Here’s a few guys that have been around the pits for a while! Bubby Jones, Don Turl and Gale Forrester go way back…

Terri Bliss is on her way to Danny Sheridan’s pit, where hubby Russ is helping out.
She’s got plenty to carry, but most important of all is in the black case hanging on her left arm!
That would be “Chili” her little Chihuahua!

Rip works on the Jory #3. If it wasn’t for bad luck, Rip would not have had any luck at all on this weekend.

The #50 car owned by Ron Chaffin and driven by SCRA Champion, Richard Griffin was shined to perfection by
Eric Kaufman, who details cars for a living.

The “mighty Mopar” is ready for action and Nelson, Bobby and Cory enjoy a little downtime before the night’s action.

Mike Kirby listens when Danny “P” talks!

Tracy Hines, Bill and Chastity Rose and Super Rickie Gaunt chat following the drivers’ meeting.

It’s time to get serious about who will be in what starting spot! Sylvia Watkins, Anne Wilkerson, Janie
Wilkerson, Julie Tanaka and official, Don Read, compare notes and check out the starting grid on Lois’ whiteboard.

Jonathan Vennard (accent on the “ven”) prepares to take his turn at hotlapping in the #91 Lowell Carsten car from Arizona.

Different spelling, different pronunciation, Steve Venard (accent on the “ard”), is strapped into George
Glover’s #49 car and ready to hit the track!

Meanwhile, brother, Brian, is ready to be pushed off at the opposite end of the track for hotlaps.

2003 VRA Champ, Tom Stansberry, straps into his car, ready for an action-packed night.

Steve Ostling adjusts his arm straps as he gets ready to climb into the #29 car.

Seth Wilson looks pretty happy to be strapped in and ready to race!

Bobby Cody better hurry! He’s still working on the car and everyone is heading to the push off area!

Ronnie Case gets a push in his bright #8 car!

Destiny Hays gets a push toward the “starting gate” in the sharp looking #20D Hays car. The Hays’ hail
from Orovile, and Destiny is a twenty year old young lady with both wing and non wing experience, in both 360’s and 410’s.

Tony Smiley’s #2 car with Rickie Gaunt behind the wheel gets pushed to the staging area.

Greg Bragg is in the #12 Pratt-mobile.

Danny Sheridan brings the Ron Didonato’s SpinTech car back into the push off area
after wheel-packing, and waits to be pushed off for his turn at hot laps.

Richard Harvey waits his turn.

JJ waits patiently in the Mopar-mobile…

while, Lance waits to give Verne a push.

The “Demon” is ready to roll!

While all the madness is going on in the pits, Terri Bliss holds “Chili” on her lap in Didonato’s trailer to comfort
her, as the loud motors roar on the track nearby!

Jeremy’s car gets weighed following his qualifying laps, a procedure which applied to all cars.

“Okie” and Pappa Hillberg greet Dan Hillberg as he wheels the #82 back into the his pit following hot laps.

Ronnie Knerr and John Scott thrash on the #83 car – something just not quite right, and it’s almost time to qualify!

By this time, this weary photographer doesn’t know if Bud Kaeding is getting
pushed to the turn three and four push off area for hotlaps, or the turn one and two push off area for qualifying! But, he is getting pushed!

Bobby Graham drove Nadine Kellar’s #6 car on this night. Nadine is a VRA driver (one of the two females
who participated in the Sexiest Driver Contest on Wagsdash day!) Bobby crashed hard later on, and was taken
to the hospital. Apparently, he will be fine, but has lingering sight problems that will clear up, but when?

Jack Gardner, Sr. was meticulous in his detailing efforts as he spit shined Nadine’s car during qualifying!

Dan Tedrick waits in the push off area in his #88 car for his qualifying run.

While things were heating up in the pits, they were cooling down in the grandstands!
Sonia, Krista and Lauren are all bundled up against the cold wind blowing on our top row seats.

“Arizona” Mark Thrasher says “aw, you guys are a bunch of sissies!” He eats ice cream while we all shiver!

Norm is surrounded by “racing journalist,” Tim Kennedy, and “book connoisseur,”
Carey Davis of Prescott, Arizona. Carey may be from Arizona, but he seems to know it’s coat weather!

Back to the pits again, where winner of the Friday night Main Event, Bud Kaeding, shares
the podium with JJ Yeley and his dad, Brent Kaeding. Neat the way the camera picks up the trim on Bud’s uniform!

With battery fading fast, one last picture for the night is of Destiny Hays. Jennifer Harvey introduced
Destiny to me, and she was kind enough to pose for this picture in front of her car. Rumor has it Destiny will
be with us again next weekend! Stay tuned for Saturday and Sunday pics!

All photos © 2003 Mrs. Wags Photos