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SUNNY Temp: 70 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Wednesday, July 9, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend July 4, 2003 Glover goes for quality, not quantity In The Pits Commentary By DON HUNT Mail Tribune With just two appearances at the race track this summer, Tom Glover will be at a disadvantage when the late-model open-competition cars begin roaring around the Southern Oregon Speedway tonight in the Firecracker 100. Glover is no stranger to stock car racing, having spent many years at the old Medford Raceway and winning the modified points title in 1996 — the year the Southern Oregon Speedway opened. But Glover drastically cut back his racing schedule after taking over a custom chroming business in 2001 following the death of his father-in-law, Clancy Johnson. Glover has run just a handful of races over the past 2½ years. Advertisement "The commitment to the business is just too much of a grind to allow me to race every week," Glover says. "And the truth is, I just don’t have the desire to race that I once did. "I like to spend time with my family. My priorities have changed." That doesn’t mean Glover has been completely cleansed of the racing bug, however. His adrenaline will be pumping as hard as ever when he climbs into his high-powered 2003 C.J. Rayburn chassis for the first time tonight. Between 40 and 50 late-model racers from around the Pacific Northwest are expected to compete in the $2,000-to-winner race. The spiffy open-competition cars come equipped with 600-plus horsepower, 62-inch sideboards that help hold them to the track and are capable of reaching speeds of 100 mph on the straight- aways. The cars compete regularly at the Willamette Speedway in Lebanon. Tonight’s race is part of a series known as the Budweiser I-5 Challenge Series. Drivers to watch include Darren Coffell, Bob Boyd, Greg Walters, Trevor Glaser and Tim Goodwin, the top five point-getters in the I-5 Series. Glover competed in last year’s Firecracker 100 with a modified car. He qualified eighth and finished 13th in the main event — a respectable showing considering the shortcomings of his car in that race. Tonight, Glover’s car shouldn’t have any problem matching up with his rivals. The question will be whether he can knock off the rust. Glover has driven the late-model car just once this summer — at a race in Yreka, Calif., six weeks ago in which he finished sixth despite engine problems. His only other race this season came in a modified event at the Southern Oregon Speedway. "It’s going to be interesting," Glover says. "My main goal is to get into the A main. If I can do that, then anything can happen." A BIG FIREWORKS SHOW will follow tonight’s races. Promoter John Skinner spent $7,000 on the explosives. The show is expected to last 20 to 30 minutes. JEREMY RICHEY HAS quietly moved into the modified points lead. Richey, who races a home-built car, moved past defending champion Jon DeBenedetti this week. Richey has only one victory at the Southern Oregon Speedway this year — the season-opener on April 19 — but has consistently finished in the top five. He also has a main event win in Cottage Grove. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times