Racing
When Gary and I met in 1993, racing was his thing. He loved NASCAR. I remember memorizing the drivers, their numbers and their sponsors to impress him. We went to a NASCAR race once in Dover, Delaware.
When we first met I was bartending Friday nights but that didn't last long. We were soon going to Big Diamond and Grandview every Friday and Saturday night. This was dirt track racing. A little track (less than ½ a mile). Back then we took a cooler full of beer and just passed the night away in the stands cheering on our favorite driver. I always picked the pretty car and it always lost.
We even went once a year to Maple Grove RaceWay for the NHRA. That's drag cars. The biggest loudest fastest things on wheels. Back then you could spend the entire day, walk the pits, meet the drivers. This was one of my favorite days of the year.
Then we got married and started a family and all that ended. Even when the kids got big enough to go, who could afford to take an entire family! I think he took the boys to Maple Grove. Sara has always hated loud noises and her youth group worked a food stand at Maple Grove a few years and I don't think she left the confines of the kitchen.
We talked about it tonight. I have a memory of us going once after we were empty nesters and before we moved to Alabama.
Then we moved South. There was a dirt track near us in Phenix City. He went twice. The race track was poorly run and an event went on and on for forever...like all night.
There are different kinds of cars that race on dirt. A lot of different kinds. Racing is still his thing. He follows it on YouTube. He listens to his racing guys nightly with their updates and has the RacePass app to track standings.
So coming to Pa, I suspected we would go to the races. What else is retirement about but doing the things you love? Finally we made it. We went to BAPS motor speedway in York Haven, PA. It did not break the bank, which is not typical of the sport anymore. It was ladies night and ladies got in for $5.00 and he got the senior discount. Admittance: $17.00... total!!!
BAPS Motor Speedway
Gate Fees at BAPS Motor Speedway, July 25, 2026
He had visions of sausage sandwiches and French fries. This is apparently a track side staple. Unfortunately the concession stand did not have that on the menu. We did, however have steak sandwiches and they were stuffed full of steakUmms. The fries were good too. Two cheese steaks, two fries and two Turkey Hill lemonades all for $30!!!
Cheesesteak and fries, BAPS Motor Speedway, York Haven, PA
There were three classes racing this evening. The first had only six cars they were called Limited Stocks. These cars looked like a car off the street with all of the glass removed. They each had four cylinder engines and made a lot of high pitched racket.
The second class was Super Sportmans. They are little cars with wings on top. There were 22 of these. The last class was Limited Late Models. These cars look wide and flat, like a giant stepped in the roof. There were 28 in this class tonight, one of which is a young man Zach works with!
Limited Late Model Driver Devon Frey BAPS Motor Speedway
The cool deal about this race track is, on this particular evening, they guaranteed you would be out of there by 9:00pm or else you get a wrist band to return another night. Not all evenings does BAPS run this special. But it is appealing to us, we are old people and can't stay out too late. It was also great to see so many families with little children there.
The track starts out very very wet. When we went to races decades ago, they would come out and fix the track (rewet, etc) often. That did not happen this evening, which does make for a speedier process. However, by the end of the evening the dust cloud was formidable.
Limited Late Model Feature July 25, 2026
Not a lot has changed. There are still metal bleachers, fans still wear their favorite driver’s merch, there is still a flag stand and a flag man. And I still pick the pretty cars and they still lose! These days we don't pack a cooler with beer and I take along a sweatshirt. Old people get cold quicker. 🤣
We had a really good time. It was a lovely evening. I might still find dirt for a few days in my eyes and ears. But, it reminded me of our younger days....two young people having an evening out without a care in the world.
When is the last time you did something fun? Maybe recreate a date from your early years? We have been married 31 years. That doesn't happen by accident. Be intentional. Hold her hand. Thank him for changing the oil. Compliment her cooking. Tell each other you would still pick them.
us♥
And now these three things remain, Faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13
I love you deeply and I am praying for you! ♥