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April 30, 2009

Brennaman — Enjoying the fast lane

By Chris Brennaman / Assistant Sports Editor The Meridian Star Thu Apr 30, 2009, 11:15 PM CDT

"I wanna go fast." — Ricky Bobby, "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby"

There are some assignments that a sports reporter comes across that just bring certain movies to mind.

I couldn't help but think about "Talladega Nights" after finding out I would be spending a couple of hours at Whynot Motorsports Park Thursday. As part of a press conference regarding both of this weekend's slate of races and a Relay for Life fundraiser, I had the opportunity to take a few laps around the three-eighths-mile clay oval in a car with track owner and driver Rodney Wing.

Whynot Motorsports Park is offering four people the same opportunity that was afforded to myself and four other media members Thursday.

This coming Saturday — during intermission breaks between races — those lucky race fans will get to climb in the car with either Wing, Jim McDuffie, Mike Boland or Larry Murphy and take the "Ride for Life."

"Once people experience riding in here," Wing said, "they can imagine doing it with 20 other cars and doing it three-wide. You get a different perspective of what the drivers go through and you just about have to appreciate it. Then when you come out and watch the races, you can relate to what's going on."

Three of the four rides will come as a result of auctions. Anyone who wishes to get into the car with a driver and experience what it is like to be in a race car will have the opportunity to place a bid Saturday at the race track.

The "Ride for Life" has been a way for the track to help raise money for Relay for Life. In each of the last three years, about $5,000 has been collected through these rides, with as much as $1,000 being raised for a single ride.

"Race fans are the best," said Lynn Irby, community representative for the American Cancer Society. "They give and they bid and really enjoy their rides. It's something that they can have a lot of fun and also support a good cause."

A fourth race fan will also get to ride as a drawing will be held Saturday night. A $5 donation to Relay for Life will get your name in that drawing.

The car, which is provided by Crate Racin' USA, is a two-seat late model with a 400-horsepower GM Performance Crate engine and will be on display at tonight's Relay for Life, which will take place at the soccer fields of Northeast Park.

The goal for this year's event has been set at $320,000, more than half of which has already been raised.

In my nearly decade-long work in the media I have had the opportunity to cover more than a few events at Whynot Motorsports Park and felt like I knew what to expect climbing through the passenger-side window of the "Ride for Life" car. I can tell you that the experience of making those turns at what feels like full-speed and sliding ever-so-close to the retaining wall is one that I won't soon forget.

It is without hesitation that I would recommend taking part in either the auction or drawing for a ride around the track. The purpose of the experience is two-fold as the money raised is going to help find a cure for cancer.

After the ride, I can say that I am grateful that I was able to avoid the "invisible fire," but there was one disappointment with the ride. Rodney, how about letting me drive next time?

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