Gordon Conquers The Monster, Now There Are Twelve
NASCAR BTS: MRN Senior Writer Dustin Long Shares Hidden Writing Talent
Most race fans who follow Dustin Long know him as a NASCAR beat reporter and Senior Writer for Motor Racing Network. But what they may not know is that he has another behind the scenes talent, children’s book author.
This week’s NASCAR Behind the Scenes focuses on Dustin Long’s newest children’s book, one that focuses on NASCAR racing.
“It’s about NASCAR and it is the third children’s book for this group,” Long said. “I did a couple a year or two ago. One was on the Daytona 500 and the other was on greatest sports comebacks.”
“This one is about NASCAR and it’s basically geared for third to sixth grade and those young readers,” Long continued. “It’s just a way to introduce them to the sport, to give them more understanding and knowledge. I talk about the different drivers and how they started at an early age and how athletic they are and the things that they do. The book talks about the cars through the years and gives them a history lesson of NASCAR, starting with Big Bill France and how the sport has grown over the years.”
“It’s not a real long book so you’re hitting the highlights.”
“These books, especially the NASCAR book, introduces the sport to young people, to students,” Long said. “It teaches them about the sport and if they are fans, it gives them a little bit more knowledge and if they are not, it gives them a better understanding that this is more than cars going around in circles.”
Long started his children’s book authoring at a time when he was impacted by the downsizing that was going on in the sport and with the media covering the sport.
“It started after I had been laid off and I got the book assignment for a couple books,” Long said. “I had the free time and I was doing all sorts of free-lance stuff. Somebody suggested me as they were doing a series of racing books.”
“I said I could do the NASCAR books,” Long continued. “I feel it’s something to help the younger generation to explain things to them about sports and racing.”
Although Long has an incredible amount of racing knowledge in his head, he also had to do quite a bit of research for his most recent book.
“Some of the things I knew but I had to research to make sure I had everything right and also get the sourcing right,” Long said. “I may know it, but for a book, you have to know the sourcing. So, it was as much work because I knew things but I had to go find where it was to validate it. There were a lot of notes to keep up with that.”
Was Long challenged by writing for elementary school aged children when he usually writes for adults?
“I used to say when I was working for newspapers that you would write for sixth grade level,” Long said. “So, you just keep it simple. You try not to make too many compound sentences or make them too convoluted. I try to keep the points simple and the structure simple. I keep it easy to read because if you make it too complicated, no one will read it and you’re not doing anyone any favors.”
“Kids won’t pick it up.”
Long said that he will not be doing a book tour or signings and fans may just have to search online for his latest work instead of heading to the nearest book store.
“I do some interviews from time to time,” Long said. “The funny thing is that I turn the book in and I don’t even know when it’s coming out. When the greatest sports book came out, like in August of last year, it was really funny because I was online one day and I googled it. Then I found out it was out for the last couple of weeks. I googled the NASCAR book and it said it was coming out in September.”
“I haven’t been out to the classroom yet to talk to the kids about the book,” Long continued. “I think that Texas Motor Speedway saw the books and they did something with the Daytona 500 book with some student reading group that they had. Hopefully they will do something again with the NASCAR book.”
“Although it will be on sale, you won’t find it in stores,” Long said. “You’ll find it online because more of the focus is getting the book in school libraries and things like that. It’s more of an education kind of thing, teaching kids about the sport.”
Now that Long is immersed in covering the NASCAR Championship Chase, he may have less time to concentrate on authoring any other books, including his next children’s book venture. But he is more than willing to consider it if asked.
“I did the Petty Family album years ago, the coffee table book and then these three books,” Long said. “If somebody asks, and I’ve got the time, sure I’ll write more.”
“It’s just a neat way to pass on knowledge and history and to help others understand the sport.”
Jamie Bound picks up Hurricane Midget feature win at Sunset Speedway
This year it seems each time that the Hurricane Midgets have been to Sunset Speedway, Jamie Bound has been flawless. That continued this weekend as he would pick up the feature victory at the Velocity 250.
The night started off with a caution on lap five of the first heat for the 37 spinning in turn four. Then on the restart, Ryan Brown would stall in turn three. Mack DeMan would pick up the win ahead of Lorne Van Dusen, Mike McLaughlin, David Gallinger, Shawn Gardner, Brad Holmes, Jaike Haywood, Austin Wadham, Blake Wadham and the 37.
The second heat would see Brian Woodland pull off on the second lap with front suspension issues, while the caution flew on lap four for Owen Elliott spinning off turn four. Then with three laps to go, Robin Mclean would spin off of turn two as Corey Whittam headed down pit road. Bound picked up the win ahead of Jessica James, Richard Woodland, Paul Draganac, Shawn Stones, James Rodgers, James Stanley, Mclean, Elliott, Larry Lawson and Randy Hiusser.
With so many cars on the property, the Hurricane Midgets would get to run a b-main. The b-main didn’t go so well, however. On the second lap, Mike Bradley would make contact with Randy Hiusser, sending Hiusser around. As they got together, Larry Lawson would come into the picture, driving over top of Bradley’s rear-wheel and catching air. From there, he would make flip in the air, making contact with the outside wall before landing. The good news is that Lawson was awake and alert, talking to the medical personnel. Per precaution, he was taken to hospital to be checked over so from myself and everybody at OnPitRoad.com, hope Lawson has a speedy recovery. As a result of the incident and delay, the b-main would be scrubbed and the a-main line-up would set based on how they qualified in their heats.
Come feature time, it’d be Lorne Van Dusen jumping out to the early lead ahead of Paul Draganac. Dragnac would then take the lead on lap two ahead of Dusen and Jessica James. James would move into second on lap three, passing Dusen as Jamie Bound was now up to fourth ahead of James Rodgers and Richard Woodland. Bound would continue to move up through the field, moving into third at lap six with Rodgers in tow, kicking Dusen back as the caution flew for Mack DeMan going around in turn two. With 24 laps to go, Dragnac led James, Bound, Rodgers, Richard Woodland, Dusen, Shawn Stones, Brian Woodland, Corey Whittam, Robin McLean, Jaike Haywood and James Stanley.
The restart would bring a battle for the lead between Dragnac and James. However, neither would be left with it as Jamie Bound would take the top spot on lap eight ahead of James and Richard Woodland. Rodgers moved up to into fourth ahead of Dragnac, Brian Woodland, Stones, McLean, Whittam and Dusen. Mack Deman would then get by Dusen for 10th, bringing Mike Bradley through with him. Dusen now ran 12th ahead of Own Elliott and Stanley. DeMan would then move by Whittam for ninth, with Bradley trying to follow suit. However, that wouldn’t go as planned as the caution would fly for Whittam going for the spin. With 13 laps to go, Jamie Bound led Jessica James, Richard Woodland, James Rodgers, Paul Draganac, Brian Woodland, Shawn Stones, Robin McLean, Mack DeMan, Mike Bradley, Lorne Van Dusen and Jaike Haywood.
Bound would get a good restart to keep the lead ahead of James, Richard Woodland, Rodgers, Dragnac, Brian Woodland, McLean, DeMan, Bradley, Elliott and Stones. However, the lead wouldn’t last for long as the caution flew once again, this time for Elliott as he went around in turn four. With 10 laps to go, Jamie Bound led Jessica James, Richard Woodland, James Rodgers, Paul Draganac, Brian Woodland, Robin McLean, Mack DeMan, Mike Bradley, Shawn Stones, Lorne Van Dusen, James Stanley, Corey Wittnam, Ryan Brown and Shawn Gardner.
Bound got another good restart as the top-four remained the same as Brian Woodland got around Paul Draganac to move into the fifth spot before the caution flew for Wittnam going around in turn two.
Jamie Bound would get a good restart with two laps to go to take the victory ahead of Jessica James, Richard Woodland, Brian Woodland, James Rodgers, Paul Draganac, Brian McLean, Mike Bradley, Mack DeMan, Shawn Stones, Lorne Van Dusen, Shawn Gardner, James Stanley, Owen Elliott, Ryan Brown, Jaike Haywood, Brad Holmes, Randy Hiusser, Robert Summers, David Gallinger and Shawn Stanley.
Michael Williams scores second straight Canadian Vintage Modified victory at Sunset Speedway
After scoring his first career Canadian Vintage Modified victory at Sauble Speedway, Michael Williams carried that momentum straight to victory lane at Sunset Speedway as he scored the victory in the Velocity 250 Canadian Vintage Modified feature.
The first heat didn’t go so well for Jason Keen as he pulled off with issues with two laps to go. Steve Trendell scored the victory ahead of T.J. Marshall, Williams, Adrian Donkers, Darren Dryden, Dustin Hood and Jerrid Morphy.
The second heat featured a quick caution as Ron Easton stopped in turn two with problems. John Karley picked up the win ahead of Chris Milwain, Brian Atkinson, Easton, Mike Podd, Rick Schurr, Patrick Rulens, Al Shepstone and Ian Burney.
Come feature time, Schurr would grab the early advantage ahead of Williams as Atkinson and Hood battled for third. Williams would then get alongside Schurr for the lead at lap three, taking the spot a lap later as Atkinson grabbed third with Donkers in tow. Easton moved into fifth ahead of Trendell and Keen. Keen would get alongside Trendell for sixth at lap six, completing the pass a lap later.
Further up towards the front, Atkinson moved into second on lap eight as Schurr and Donkers battled for third. Donkers would grab the spot on lap 10, bringing Keen, Easton and Trendell in tow. The caution would then fly as Marshall and Hood tangled in turn one, with Karley also going for a spin.
The restart would bring another caution with Schurr going for the spin in turn two. With 20 laps to go, Williams led Atkinson, Donkers, Keen, Easton, Trendell, Milwain, Dryden, Karley, Rulens, Shepstone and Morphy.
The second restart went much smoother with Williams holding serve ahead of Atkinson and Donkers. Keen would then continue to move up through the field, passing Donkers to move into third. Trendell then got alongside Easton for fifth and the pair battled back and forth for three laps before Easton got the spot. Dryden would then get alongside Trendell and they’d battle back and forth till the caution flew once again, this time for Shepstone spinning.
Williams would get a good restart – but it’d be all for not as the caution waved for the fourth time as Burney and Trendell both went around in separate spots. Williams became the master of restarts on the night as he held serve, again, ahead of Atkinson, Keen, Donkers and Easton. Easton would get alongside Donkers for fourth, grabbing the spot with one laps to go.
At the front, it was all Michael Williams as he picked up the victory ahead of Brian Atkinson, Jason Keen, Ron Easton, Adrian Donkers, Darren Dryden, Chris Milwain, Mike Podd, Patrick Rulens, Steve Trendell, John Karley, Rick Schurr and Al Shepstone.
Josh Nicholson scores Pro Challenge victory and championship at Sunset Speedway
Josh Nicholson would hold off Dennis Thomson in the closing laps at Sunset Speedway to score the feature victory at the Velocity 250 to secure his first career Ontario Pro Challenge Series Championship.
Peter Hattin would score the victory in the first heat ahead of Dan Alder, Owen Smith, Rick Seeley, Bud Racing and Tim Shanahan.
Tim Norris won the second heat ahead of Thomson, Mike Westwood, Nicholson, Kyle Batty and Robin McLean.
Come feature time, Hattin would jump out to the early lead ahead of Smith, Norris, Westwood and Nicholson as Batty and Bud Racing battled for sixth. Norris would get along Smith for second at lap two, completing the pass a lap later and bringing Westwood through with him. However, the good news wouldn’t last much longer for Norris and Westwood as contact between the pair would result in Norris going for the spin.
Hattin would get a good restart to hold the lead, now ahead of Nicholson as Smith battled Batty for third. Batty would grab the spot on lap six, bringing Thompson through with him. Smith now ran fifth ahead of Shanahan, Bud Racing and Norris.
On lap eight, Nicholson would get alongside Hattin for the lead, completing the pass a lap later. Thomson would quickly move into second with Batty in tow, as Hattin slipped back to fourth ahead of Smith, Shanahan, Bud Racing and Norris. Norris would continue his climb back to the front, passing Bud Racing for seventh at lap 11. He would then pass Shanahan to move into the sixth spot at lap 12, while Bud Racing, Seeley, Alder and McLean rounded out the field.
Norris’ climb continued as he would get alongside Shanahan for fifth at lap 14, completing the pass a lap later. At the front of the field, Nicholson continued to hold a slim advantage over Thomson as Thomson kept searching both high and low for a way by. Batty solidly rode in third ahead of Hattin and Norris. Norris would get alongside Hattin for fourth at lap 18, completing the pass a lap later. Smith would try to follow Norris through, but wasn’t able to complete the pass on Hattin.
Darting by a couple lap cars, Josh Nicholson held control of the field all the way to the checkered to grab the victory and the championship. Dennis Thomson finished second, followed by Kyle Batty, Tim Norris, Peter Hattin, Owen Smith, Tim Shanahan, Bud Racing, Seeley, Alder and McLean.
