With Thanksgiving over, and the next major killer holiday coming on, it is very little quiet today before the storm brewing. I am in my basketball travlin' shoes most of the time now as the local high school games are heating up. In the last 8 days I have been to 11 high school basketball games, plus the USC/ Notre Dame football romp (for confusing BCS wizardry), and the Wooden Classic where the Pac 10 sucked as Georgia beat Cal and USC lost to Mizzou in two close ones. The high school games will get my attendance as the Xmas season rolls on. There are a ton of tournaments and I aim to see plenty of games. But for racing, what's up?

The annual National Hall of Fame awards from Knoxville, Iowa, under Tom Schmeh's guidance, have been posted. There is great news in it for current and one former SCRA driver. The big winner, one time SCRA hero, J J Yeley, was voted the top Non-wing driver of the year just ahead of SCRA champion Richard Griffin. He had an outstanding year almost wining the triple crown of USAC. Cory Kruseman, Damion Gardner, Tony Jones and Rip Williams were also in the top 10 for a strong showing by the west coast guys. Rickie Gaunt, Mike Kirby, Troy Rutherford and Steve Ostling also garnered votes in the rankings for the 2002 season.

In special awards by the NHOF, Bob Price and Dave Waltemath were honored as recipients of the "Team of the Year" award for the year as owners of J J Yeley's successful ABC Sand & Rock # 76 sprinter. SCRA's Ron Chaffin owned team was also nominated for this award. Ron Shuman was the promoter of the year for his NWWC tour work as it was a good year nationally for many. Damion Gardner was selected the Wild card award winner for his exciting crowd-pleasing antics during the season.

With all that said it was a big surprise to me that J J Yeley would walk away from his current good ride to take a new offer to drive for Tony Stewart in 2003. No offense to "our guy" Tony, as Danny Lasoski's team did pretty well in the WOO this past year in his colors, but J J had what I thought was as good a deal as it gets in sprint car racing. He had strong supporting owners with a healthy checkbook with the desire to do what it takes to win. The highly rewarding three years in 76 blue were great as J J ran Bob Price/Dave Waltemath's colors. J J was supplied his own race shop and total control of the six or so racecars in it, and all this has now ended with the surprise announcement.

Running the blue # 76, Yeley's already terrific talent grew in those ABC Sand & Rock sponsored years, so much so that he was not a welcome sight by the competition when he pulled into USAC racetracks. The Indiana bunch would rather he stay in Arizona, yet still he fought tough odds to win USAC Sprint Car and Silver Crown titles in their back yard. Although it looked like he had his plans already set for 2003 with Dave & Bob's "handshake deal", they were caught unaware by Tony Stewart's announcement on national TV last week with the news that their driver had moved on. J J wasn't lacking anything in his old deal, but the grass is always greener on the other side in racing, just like many pro athlete's that often take the best paying deal without looking back in today's world. I know liberals will say you gotta take a good deal when the iron is hot, but J J's iron was already red hot and many of his fans will miss the blue # 76 with the ABC logo! Good luck to J J in his new deal, I am sure he and his partner will be a big success.

Unfortunately, the ABC Sand and Rock car and race shop will be closed until further notice, with all equipment up for sale. Dave and Bob will lay low for now while looking for something else to do, after this short notice change. They are not looking for another driver at this time and have declined to race against J J, or even join forces with an SCRA driver. It is a shame to see the gregarious Dave and mild mannered Bob close down their race team, but who knows what might spark their interest in the future.

The short off-season has already brought some surprises like the one above and some scheduling news as we wait for the SCRA season opener at The PAS on Feb15th. I think we are in for a few shocks in SCRAland as it won't look quite like last year form the grandstands. Concerning team news, I don't have a lot of info that is not already posted somewhere else, but here are some tidbits. For many it will be the same old thing, just refresh what they have and get at it again. I'll add any news as the holidays continue on in future reports after I do a little checking around.

Cory Kruseman will no longer drive for Harlan Wills as he sets out to get more pavement experience in a move up to the big buck racing. Plans are for him to do some NASCAR truck races as well as a full USAC slate, but don't know who he will be driving for. He will continue his sprint car school and travel a lot. Harlan's plans are up in the air at this point. He hasn't committed to anything yet, and could either do nothing or start over with a new driver, depending on his getting some new sponsorship. It would be a crying shame to lose both of them for the 2003 season.

Super Rickie Gaunt and the Alexander Racing team will be back together next year as announced recently. Mike Kirby is still looking for a sponsor to continue his career in the manner he is accustomed to, as the big sponsor with the promised money dropped out. He needs a good ride or a replacement checkbook for the retired in-law's, Brad & Nancy Guerin. No word on his plans, but until someone with buck's steps up, he will probably be figure 8'ting and stock car racing to his hearts delight. Don't let that happen!

Damion Gardner is not signed by anyone as yet, and has indicated he can't do it on last year's budget anymore, so we will wait to hear where he lands, whether in CA or maybe Indiana. It looks like he has a midget ride for the Chili Bowl, so rumor is to look for him there as a teammate to a former winner of that race. John Scott has begun his USAC experience, already having started to put together his race shop back East with some new cars and direction as he prepares to move his operation to Indiana. He plans to run USAC and looks forward to doing well. I am personally looking forward to the return of the Gardner Motorsports team and await the announcement of their driver with anxious optimism.

Tony Jones will stay with the Vermeer team for 2003, but with one significant change. His dad, legendary Hall of Famer Bubby Jones, will not be with the team. Bubby will probably continue to make racing parts like always, help teams with their car set-ups and other race stuff, but he might be taking a real job somewhere else. Bubby has always wanted his own racetrack and who knows what the future holds for him. Tony will try to get back to the top where he was the first half of the season, and forget about last year's tour and what followed as it went south as soon as August started for him and his team. 2003 will definitely have a different look to it!

The schedule hasn't been published for the SCRA yet, but the vision of the tour is shaping up. It looks like Oskaloosa starts it off with the $30,000 adventure on August 12th with Wilmot Speedway in Wisconsin a new entry, and the possibility of some USAC events in Indiana and Illinois, and a return to Lakeside for another $10,000 to win payday. More as it becomes ink and not mere rumor/talk.

Ventura has escaped the evil doers closing, this year, as Jim Naylor gets a one year contract that includes some new rules, like 10 pm curfews, higher rent and no night time "tune and test" events? Hard work by Jim Naylor and the "Save Ventura" bunch has slowed the political machine for now, but more must be done in the coming year for us to continue to enjoy the great racing facility. Bigger crowds will be needed to offset the higher fee's promoter Jim will have to pay for the privilege to work his tail off and bring us great action on the small well loved bullring. If asked, get involved. On Saturday night's, go to the races at Seaside Park, the best little racetrack by the sea!

Wagtimes news comes in many flavors as the year ends. It was another successful year as the Wagtimes efforts collected from fans and distributed to the racers over $30,000, bringing the total to nearly $350,000 since we started this Wagtimes thing. It was less than the last few years as the economic times slowed the regular weekly Wagsbucks collections considerably, and that decline included the Wagsdash and tour money as well this season. This has forced me to consider some subtle changes to my quest to help the SCRA racers. In 2003 we will not actively collect tow money for the NWWC tour. There are a number of reasons for this with the obvious that collecting for it thru August leaves little time to plan for the annual Wagsdash for the little guy. As the Wagtimers who voiced their objections over us doing tour money another year said, we need to concentrate on "our" race and let the promoter's involved kick in more money for the travelers. I personally will be glad to collect any donations along the way and will pass it on back there, but I won't be doing weekly fundraisers for the tour like in the past.

Wagsbucks has dwindled enough this past year that a new plan is in order. In the last 13 years I have averaged over $200 a race collected for the racers from fans in the grandstands. That number is much higher, almost $500 per recipient, if you include the Wagsdash events, but this year it has dropped to around $65. I will continue to carry my clipboard with me at the SCRA races and collect like usual, but won't award it until I have reached at least $100 or more. During the recent season ending three race days, Wagsbucks collections were $30 total, and that might say a lot about the times and perhaps an end to this 13 year effort that may have seen it's best days. Economic times have changed the way people spend their money. Add the fact that most fans at The PAS don't have a clue to what I am doing, and that says a lot about the low numbers of today and why. Add in all the serious injury fundraisers after crashes, and perhaps we have bled that proverbial turnip dry! I won't abandon the Wagsbucks, but won't worry about how much we collect nay more. Only the fans can make a difference in the Wagsbucks program, as it is their contribution to the racers channeled thru the Wagtimes. Those who believe in what we do, will continue to donate to the Wagsbucks. Is it true one of the car owners who received $350 from Wagtimes while on tour this past year, made caustic comments when asked to donate to the Wagsdash? Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

The annual Wagtimes Awards were not presented the last race like normal this year, in part because I didn't get them ready until it was too late. It is always a pleasure to present in front of the fans, but most don't understand, so a private presentation and public announcement will be enough this year. This season two new recipients will be honored at our annual Wagsbash to which both will be invited. Rip Williams was voted the Wagtimes Most Popular Driver in 2002 and Tony Jones # 87 sprinter will be awarded the Wagtimes Best Appearing Car Award. Congratulations to the winners and thanks to all those who participated by giving Wagsbucks throughout the season. Last season Cory Kruseman was the most popular driver and John Scott had the best appearing car.

The annual Wagtimes "Wags Workers" Xmas dinner was held this week and fun was had by all as the future plus many "Wagsbiz items" were discussed. Joe Ellis' umpteenth over the hill birthday was also celebrated by the prime rib eating crowd as he and wife Ellen drove the 400 miles for the abuse, some B-Day cake and my singing of my own version of the birthday song. We talked of what we did this year, what we will do next year and how satisfied we were about the year. Although I have ruled out "work days" like in the past several times a month, there will be a few scheduled for the coming season. It is partially because the ever-changing crowds aren't educated as to what we do, that we will only work on special occasions. We need the fans to get involved on those work days, and will be looking for ways to enlighten them to get them involved. Maybe we could get a Bud Girl to encourage them?

One of the many racing subjects at the dinner was about our lost Wagtimer Willie Bandy, who passed away in October. "Backstretch" Willie became part of the PAS racetrack. After the last race, a small group including his wife Sonia Bandy and some of her family spread some of Willie's ashes along the backstretch in his honor and at his request. Willie will always be with us at the races and that emotional ceremony was a fitting tribute to our lost friend.

Don't forget several upcoming events: The annual Ventura Swap meet for racecars and parts this coming weekend at Ventura click here for info. For those who haven't got their shopping done, Xmas day is on December 25th. The Chili Bowl in Tulsa is around the corner on January 8 thru 11th, where both Terry and I will be. The SCRA Banquet is on January 18 in Las Vegas with reservations due this coming week. And before you know it, the SCRA opener on February 15th gets us started for another year right after the 28th wedding anniversary of me and my bride the day before! You can bet I have something special in mind for her and I that night! Have a great holiday season and I'll be back at ya when I get home from the hoops!