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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend August 11, 2006 Alfrey pilots 'Old Reliable' to another win Some drivers at the Southern Oregon Speedway buy or build a new race car every year. Brad Alfrey has guided what he calls "Old Reliable" around the dirt oval in White City for six years now. He — and it — are faring quite nicely, thank you. "It's like wearing an old pair of shoes," says Alfrey, who drove his 2000 Dirt Works chassis to a main event victory last Saturday. "You get super comfortable with it. I'm familiar with every square inch of that car." With little fanfare, Alfrey has emerged as one of the premier modified drivers at the local track. He won the points title in 2004 and finished runner-up to Mark Wauge last summer. This year, Alfrey's job as a wholesale car parts dealer caused him to miss a handful of races and effectively took him out of the points race. But he bagged a "clean sweep" his first time out on May 6 — winning his heat, the trophy dash and the main event — and followed up with a hard-earned win last Saturday that required holding off nationally acclaimed driver Jon DeBenedetti. Advertisement "I enjoy racing so much," Alfrey, 45, says. "Just being able to participate is a great feeling to me. And when you're at or near the top, the feeling is even greater." Unlike many motor heads who grow up in a racing family, Alfrey was raised in a household that favored more traditional sports like baseball. His father worked as a banker and part-time sports writer at the Oregonian in Portland. "He liked sports that involved a ball," Alfrey says. "He was never into racing, but for some reason I was born with a racing gene." Medford racing legend Dane Smith took Alfrey to his first race in Klamath Falls in 1975 when he was 14. "I watched Dane slug it out with Tom Wyatt," Alfrey says, "and I was hooked." Alfrey began attending races at the old Medford Raceway and finally climbed into his first race car in 1988. The Medford track closed a year later, but Alfrey was quick to sign up and race at the Southern Oregon Speedway when it opened in 1996. "I think I was the first car to pack the track when they opened it with a test-and-tune session," he says. "There weren't any stands and it was dusty, but people were thrilled to have a place to race." u A WORK ACCIDENT relegated Albert Gill to the pits last Saturday, but the veteran pro stocks driver remained third in the point standings. Gill, who works for Colvin Oil, underwent surgery on his left hand after cutting a tendon while working on a gas tank. "I could have raced one-handed, but for the safety of the other drivers I thought it was best that I didn't," Gill said. Gill thought about racing conservatively along the top of the track, where he could pick up a fair amount of points, but knew he couldn't stay off the accelerator. "Once a couple guys pass you, that competitive urge kicks in," he said. Gill vows to return to the track Saturday. u MODIFIED POINTS leader Brian Poppa was in danger of missing last Saturday's main event after blowing a head gasket in the trophy dash. But Dan Estremado bailed out Poppa by lending him his car. Poppa finished 10th in the main event and maintained a 56-point lead over two-time defending points champion Mark Wauge. "Dan told me I could have the points if he could have the money," Poppa said. "Unfortunately, 10th-place wasn't worth very much money." Poppa also leads the pro stock division and is bidding to become the first driver to win the track's top two divisions since it opened in 1996. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems California Casinos Men's Clothing Southern Oregon Loans --> GMAT Prep Fundraisers Send Flowers Entertainment Guide --> Casinos Canada Trunks, Footlocker Online Casino Reviews Advertisement s