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Butts in the Bleachers

by Rusty Rogerson

January 21, 2010

I thought it was about time that I set some goals for myself for 2010:

· Never miss the Chili Bowl again. I decided not to go in 2009 for work and personal reasons. I have decided that was a mistake and I won’t repeat it.

· Support Bobby & Cathy Hawks in their efforts to restore 410 winged sprint cars racing in Jacksonville, Illinois. Good Luck!!

· Go to the Kings Royal, I missed last year for business reasons and I have rearranged my schedule so I can attend. Someone please inform the Slippery Noodle in Indy that I will return.

· Give support to the Sprint Invaders; let the past not influence me.

· Help Josh Schneiderman in the car #49 celebrate Deuce Racings 25^th Anniversary.

· Go to all the tracks I love: Devils Bowl, Spoon River and Eldora.

· Renew old friendships

· Go to Ohio Speedweek

· Seek every opportunity to announce sprint car racing

· Celebrate a milestone Birthday with my family in Vegas

· Promote at least 1 410 race in Iowa

· Throw the green flag at a Sprint Car A-Main

· Tell my friends and family that I LOVE them…Forgive and Forget

· Become the Mayor of Waresville

· Exercise so that I can honestly tell t-shirt buyers I wear a medium

· Pray everyday that there is no rain at the Front Row Challenge

· Drive a motor home for a NASCAR driver for 1 weekend.

· Learn how to Bar-B-Que and enter the Knoxville Challenge…

· Organize the Knoxville National Bar-B-Que Challenge.

· Accept the fact that I have been to 50 Knoxville Nationals even though I am only 30+

· Consider taking my Dad to the Bellville Nationals… (Note I said consider)

· Take Kevin Doty Jr to a Sprint Car race

· Master the game of Beer Bong….I have butt darts figured out

· Enjoy every minute of the summer..hire someone to mow my yard

· Continue to have Kevin Eckert and Rob McCuen be my heroes

· Tell Terry and Jenny Hoenig I appreciate them working with the SPRINT INVADERS and return the association to Lee County Speedway.

· Go to St François County in Farmington, Missouri

· Take my grandsons on a “Poppa Road Trip”

Best of LUCK to everyone in 2010. I hope to see old friends, make new friends and generally “JUST DO IT IN THE DIRT”

Annual Soul Searching 2009

Well, I have finished my annual soul searching about my involvement in Sprint Car Racing. It all began when I was 10 years old at the Iowa State Fair. My parents were officials with the International Motor Contest Association (IMCA). We traveled the Midwest to every county fairgrounds that was willing to host a show. I sold programs and yearbooks and really lead the life of a “carnie” as my Grandma Rogerson called it. My Dad was the announcer and my Mom did the scoring. I can remember standing at the bottom of Larry Shipley’s flag stand and telling him to motion to my father that he needed to pitch the programs or the yearbooks. I made 5 cents for each program that sold for 25 cents and made 25 cents on yearbooks that sold for $1.00, of course I never had any changes. My brother David and I also worked for 21^st Century Carnival which was the main attraction at places like the Iowa State Fair. We carried around BIG stuffed animals told people where we won them. We would play the “live mouse” game, where you won a prize if the mouse ran into the colored hole you picked and of course we always won.

In the late 60’s my parents became car owners and my role changed. I changed gears, lifted those heavy steel wheels and always thought our car was the best. In the early 70’s we stepped up the program and bought a car from Lenard McCarl. We had motors from the Olson Brothers Custom shop in Burlington and we always had a good time. We camped behind the Main grandstand at Knoxville during the Nationals and kept our car in the “Arizona Barn” I learned how to play craps, drink beers and how to recognize State Law Enforcement Officers that would try to mix in the crowd at the Nationals. I remember telling my Dad we should go, as I saw a DCI agent enter the barn. I wouldn’t have known him, except he had spoke to my college criminal justice class. Sure enough we went out the back door of the barn and the Marion County Deputies came in the front door. We laughed all the way back to the school bus made into a camper that we had borrowed from a friend of mine.

After college my career took me away from racing, as I opened prisons across the State of Iowa. I missed the sounds, the smell and the FUN I had come to know as Sprint Car Racing. In 1986 I returned to Eastern Iowa and was actively involved in the beginning of my brother Matt’s racing years. We had both a Sprint Car and a Midget thanks to our parents and friends. We traveled to Jacksonville, IL and Farmington, Mo every weekend for many years. We raced at the Chili Bowl and turned every outing into a family reunion. We had a lot of FUN and met a lot of FUN people. I have very fond memories of those years. Should we have done this? Probably not, but we LOVED the sport. Eventually everyone’s life takes a different course, kids are born and priorities change. I then met a special person, who included me in his family and with his racing operation. He quickly became my BEST Friend and his family was my family. This individual was Bart Schneiderman. He and his wife Suzie and their kids Josh, Jared and Janelle still call me Uncle Rusty. We went to Bristol when they laid down the DIRT and the Outlaws showed up. We went to the Kings Royal, the Historical BIG ONE and of course Knoxville. I watched the boys as they grew up and wanted to race. Sister Janelle played softball and I always enjoyed going to her games.

As the years past, Bart and I realized that if we didn’t do something to support Sprint Car Racing it might disappear. As we sat in lawn chairs watching the pit gate at Knoxville, we decided to form the Sprint Invaders. Bart’s racing experience, my passion for making each event a SHOW we set out to change the world. With a lot of support and commitment we made it happen. Sprint Invaders is alive and a viable option for 360 Sprint Cars in our part of the country. Unfortunately, I couldn’t continue my involvement as my career took a turn and I was lost for about a year. As I was attempting to figure out what I should do, in steps Lori and Terry McCarl. They asked me to work in the souvenir business and in reality that more than likely kept me involved in the sport I have always loved. Terry is an awesome listener as we shared our frustrations with racing, with family and with life in general. We have so much in common it is like we were one in the same. He wants every event to be a show, as evidenced by the Front Row and Ultimate Challenge. I am proud of my involvement with these 2 events. I haul those BIG Eagles to Osky every August and I am proud that some deserving driver will take one home. Terry has recognized my involvement by putting my name somewhere on the T-Shirt. Minor detail to most of you, but a major deal to me. In my working with Terry and Lori I had the pleasure of getting to know the Pittmans. Special THANKS to Daryn and Mandi for including me in their efforts.

So what does all this mean? It means I have had a BLAST!!! I have had the opportunity to help several young drivers in the early stages of their careers. I have had the opportunity to meet hundreds of people who love Sprint Car Racing like I do. Will I ever be in the Hall of Fame, absolutely not, but who cares? I am a SPRINT CAR FANATIC and instead of walking away like I have considered several times, I have decided the sport needs people like me.

To everyone have a safe and Happy Holiday and I will see you in 2010

Just a few EDITORIAL COMMENTS: I don’t care who drives the TSR 20, I just

hope Tony keeps the team going. If someone does not sign Daryn Pittman they are crazy, you couldn’t ask for a more committed individual or family. Jac will always be one of my favorites. I knew Terry Hoenig and Sprint Invaders could work it out, THANK YOU from all the fans. All the forum “rumors” are from folks without a life. Non-Wing is still COOL. Lori McCarl and Mandi Pittman are the QUEENS of Sprint Car Racing. Dingus ROCKS! Eldora is dirty/dusty and I LOVE it. The Slippery Noodle is the BEST blues bar in the Midwest. Spoon River needs a promoter who cares about Sprint Cars. The Dude and Lonny Parsons are a match made in heaven/hell..u pick. Austin McCarl needs a decent ride. Josh Schneiderman needs a money man. Manny Rockhold builds a great 410. Matt Rogerson retired? My Dad belongs in the Hall of Fame. Why are there no programs at Sprint Car Races? Jordan Goldsberry deserves a great 2010. Bobby Hawks will be an awesome promoter at Jacksonville, IL.

Rusty Rogerson (racingwarden)

As always you can contact me at gorusty@aol.com.

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