34racrs_wife
08-09-2007, 11:34 AM
From The Bureau County Republican:
Simply put, when it comes down to ... “What are we going to do Friday night?” ... the answer is very simple for the Lucas family. We’re going racing at the Bureau County Speedway in Princeton.
Keith Lucas is a race car driver, along with Marty Thompson, who has the most experience at the Bureau County Speedway and is also one of the original members of the speedway.
“Yeah, me and Marty (Thompson), I think, have been racing the longest, and we were here since the Speedway started up,” Lucas said. “I think, after all this time racing on Fridays at the Bureau County Speedway, [it] has just become a habit more than anything, and it’s still fun. I’m just a big kid out there.”
Over the past 26 years a lot has changed on the track, and to keep up with the young guys, Lucas says the knowledge of the track and his experience can really pay off at times.
“It certainly helps having the experience,” Lucas said. “The technology and the cars has just improved a lot over the years. My son, Randy, who also races, has the same set-up on his car as I do. The other racers do also, but when it comes down to it, being able to drive the car will make the difference at the end of the night.”
Despite racing his son for so many years, Lucas says there is really no friendly rivalry or bumping that goes on during the races.
“No, there is really no bumping at all out there. At least not intentionally, anyway,” Lucas said. “One of the biggest reasons is simply the cost of things, especially now of days. Everybody out there is gunning for the same thing, and that is a feature race victory and the points championship. The more you stay out of trouble the better your chances are of reaching those goals.”
Winning is something that Lucas has seen a lot of over the past 26 years as he has seen victory lane more times than he can count.
“If you came down to Hap’s you can see all the trophy’s,” Lucas said. “My son probably has just as many as I do.”
Lucas has raced at the LaSalle Speedway as well as the Canton race track, but his favorite track is still at home in Princeton.
“The Princeton track is just so fast,” Lucas said. “You really have to know this track. LaSalle is more racing corner to corner, but in Princeton, it’s more about speed and knowing the track, I think.”
The many feature wins has led to two championships at Bureau County, and last week Lucas picked up his first feature race of the season.
“These race car drivers just keep getting better each year, it seems like,” Lucas said. “I think as I get older I lose some of the sharpness, but also these guys drive better, and the cars just keep getting better, like I said, also.”
Simply put, when it comes down to ... “What are we going to do Friday night?” ... the answer is very simple for the Lucas family. We’re going racing at the Bureau County Speedway in Princeton.
Keith Lucas is a race car driver, along with Marty Thompson, who has the most experience at the Bureau County Speedway and is also one of the original members of the speedway.
“Yeah, me and Marty (Thompson), I think, have been racing the longest, and we were here since the Speedway started up,” Lucas said. “I think, after all this time racing on Fridays at the Bureau County Speedway, [it] has just become a habit more than anything, and it’s still fun. I’m just a big kid out there.”
Over the past 26 years a lot has changed on the track, and to keep up with the young guys, Lucas says the knowledge of the track and his experience can really pay off at times.
“It certainly helps having the experience,” Lucas said. “The technology and the cars has just improved a lot over the years. My son, Randy, who also races, has the same set-up on his car as I do. The other racers do also, but when it comes down to it, being able to drive the car will make the difference at the end of the night.”
Despite racing his son for so many years, Lucas says there is really no friendly rivalry or bumping that goes on during the races.
“No, there is really no bumping at all out there. At least not intentionally, anyway,” Lucas said. “One of the biggest reasons is simply the cost of things, especially now of days. Everybody out there is gunning for the same thing, and that is a feature race victory and the points championship. The more you stay out of trouble the better your chances are of reaching those goals.”
Winning is something that Lucas has seen a lot of over the past 26 years as he has seen victory lane more times than he can count.
“If you came down to Hap’s you can see all the trophy’s,” Lucas said. “My son probably has just as many as I do.”
Lucas has raced at the LaSalle Speedway as well as the Canton race track, but his favorite track is still at home in Princeton.
“The Princeton track is just so fast,” Lucas said. “You really have to know this track. LaSalle is more racing corner to corner, but in Princeton, it’s more about speed and knowing the track, I think.”
The many feature wins has led to two championships at Bureau County, and last week Lucas picked up his first feature race of the season.
“These race car drivers just keep getting better each year, it seems like,” Lucas said. “I think as I get older I lose some of the sharpness, but also these guys drive better, and the cars just keep getting better, like I said, also.”