Racing Easy as A-B-C

Turn 5
Season 1
Lap 9

"Jackson Racing Adds Three Drivers"

by Phillip Gasstank
Chouteau Morning Tribune
Saturday, July 29, 2006

CHOUTEAU- Car owner Joe "Big Papa" Jackson announced plans to expand his racing team following Friday night's action at Salina Highbanks Speedway.

The team will feature three more pure stock drivers. More importantly, for the Jacksons, racing remains a family affair. Big Papa Jackson says the decision to put more of his children behind the wheel stems from the success of son J.D. and daughter Emily.

"J.D. and Emily are both real smooth drivers, and they make it look easy as A-B-C, one-two-three," Big Papa Jackson said. "So I'm really excited about the idea of launching three more of my kids in some Motown racing machines."

Jackson family members Tito, Jermaine, and Marlon will join siblings J.D. and Emily in the pure stock division at Salina Highbanks. The family of drivers will compete under the banner of the newly formed Jackson Five Racing Team.

"I'd walked away from racing cars after our fallout in the 80's," said Tito, "but J.D. came to me and was all quoting our 1969 hit 'I want you back.' So now I'm back and ready to bring the funky sounds back to stock car racing."

The Jacksons announced the formation of the new racing team at a press conference in front of their Chouteau, Oklahoma garage.

"You won't be able to find a prouder papa on this earth right now," Big Papa Jackson said. "I'm very glad to expand the racing team and make our sound at Salina louder and funkier."

J.D. Jackson, currently ninth in Salina's pure stock points battle, echoed his father's enthusiasm for the new team.

"We're gonna hit that track and just beat it," J.D. said. "We're not gonna stop 'til we get enough, and hopefully it will just be a thriller for all the fans."

Emily Jackson, who currently occupies fourth place in the pure stock division, and is the only female member of the Jackson Five racing team, was unavailable for comment due to a wardrobe malfunction.

Pure stock competitor Russell McLain (currently 5th in point standings) remains unphased by the thought of three more Jacksons on the race track.

"They can send out all of the kids, their daddy, mom, even grandma. I don't really care. My jet powered Lincoln is ready to take on all of 'em," McLain said.

According to Big Papa Jackson, all five members of his newly formed team will be in action on Friday, August 4, at the Highbanks.

Hops and Barley

Turn 5
Season 1
Lap 8

"Beer Sales Projected to Plummet"
by Oliver Suds
Green Country Beer Enthusiast Magazine
July 20, 2006

SALINA- Racing fans at Salina Highbanks Speedway are expected to "feel the thunder" without feeling a buzz when MLRA late model drivers roll into town this weekend. Concession officials say beer sales are generally lower on special nights of racing.

"We don't usually sell less beer on nights when a touring series comes to the track," Herb "Skunky" Lager, manager of Salina Highbanks' Beer Shack said. "I guess all the fans want to be a little more level headed for the special races."

Some race fans offer an explanation contrasting that of Lager.

"After I buy a ticket, I don't have money left over to afford beer," race fan Benny Hudson said. "Usually, it costs eight bucks to see the races on Friday, but on these special nights, they jack up admission prices to fifteen bucks. On a normal night, I'd use $8 to get in and then buy $8 worth of beer."

Hudson went on to add that he does not drink all of the beer by himself, but that he gets some help from his wife, Jenn.

"It's just our usual Friday night at the races," Jenn Hudson said. "We get something to eat over at Dairy Deal, then we drink a couple of beers each during the heat races. By the time the features are over, one of us will be okay to drive home."

"We won't have to worry about getting home safely this weekend," Benny added. "We're only going to be able to afford one beer. I guess we'll split it."

Despite the projected decrease, Beer Shack manager Lager remains optimistic. "I hate that ticket prices have to come between race fans and the crisp, clean, refreshing taste of an ice cold beer from the Highbanks' Beer Shack, but we're going to take extra special care of the fans who decide to buy a beer anyway," Lager said.

MLRA points leader Al Purkey hoped the bonus races would help fans forget their sobriety.

"We're going to put on a great show, there's no doubt in my mind," the Coffeyville, Kansas native said.

Fans, drunk and sober, can catch Purkey and the rest of MLRA late model drivers Friday night at Salina Highbanks Speedway.

Time Trials Speed Along

Turn 5

Season 1

Lap 7

"Driver Free to Race"
by Lug Turner
Locust Grove Sunday democrat

PRYOR- Race car driver Mike Collins stood trial today following his arrest for an incident one week ago at Salina Highbanks Speedway. Judge David Justice found Collins not guilty of speeding, reckless driving, evading an officer, and resisting arrest. Justice upheld littering charges against the economy modified racer.

"We're just very relieved right now," said Collins' attorney C. William Crook. "We now hope that we won't have to deal with these type of shenanigans from Trooper Roger Starling again."

Starling, also an E-Mod driver at Salina Highbanks, charged Collins and three other race car drivers with a laundry list of crimes following last Friday night's race. Drivers Jeremy Ross, Mike Northrup, and Travis Montgomery all accepted plea bargains in order to continue their respective racing careers.

"I'm glad that I was able to prove in court that the 'ol Outlaw Mike Collins is not actually an outlaw. He's a really nice guy. He owes me a lot of money, but he's a nice guy," Crook said.

Despite Justice's ruling, Starling remains optimistic about his plan to "clean up the dirt" at the Salina race track.

"I stand by the decisions I made last week. At least the judge upheld the littering charge," Starling said.

Justice sentenced Collins to 50 hours of community service for littering, as the driver threw a handful of citation papers out the window of his car in what Starling called "the gesture of a true outlaw." Collins says he will serve his sentence at the very place of his arrest.

"I'm going to help people out at the track," Collins said.

Collins plans to meet with fans before and after the races to hand out pamphlets explaining the benefits of regular visits to a licensed dentist.

"The fans have given a lot to me over the years, so I'm ready to give back," Collins said.

(File photo of Collins' arrest courtesy of Bigmaceo, Locust Grove Sunday Democrat.)

Law & Order

Turn 5
Season 1
Lap 6

“Collins' Lawyer Announces Defense Plan”

By Lug Turner
Locust Grove Sunday Democrat
Monday, July 10, 2006

PEGGS- Attorney C. William Crook announced his plan to acquit race car driver Mike Collins of five different charges relating to an incident at Salina Highbanks Speedway Friday night.

Crook says Oklahoma Highway Patrolman Roger Starling unfairly targeted Collins in a sting operation based upon Collins’ success as a race car driver. Both Starling and Collins are regular competitors in the race track’s economy modified division.

Collins is charged with speeding, reckless driving, evading an officer, resisting arrest, and littering. If convicted on all counts, he could face up to 90 days in jail and up to $1,000 in fines.

“These charges are just outrageous,” Crook said at a press conference in front of Collins’ garage. “We plan to fight this thing all the way, and I won’t rest until my client is cleared of all charges.”

Crook went on to explain the basis for his “unfair targeting” defense.

“My client is a very successful driver in the E-Mod division. He is the current points leader at Salina. That must anger Trooper Starling,” Crook said.

“Mr. Collins is also known as ‘the ol’ outlaw’ to some racing fans. It is our opinion that this nickname made him a target of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. We intend to prove, in court, that the ‘outlaw’ nickname has nothing to do with Mr. Collins’ respect for state and federal laws. He’s not really an outlaw,” Crook said.

“If you ask me, it seems kind of fishy that the Trooper [Starling] would arrest the top four finishers of a feature race in which [Starling] also competed. I think he is just upset that their cars were faster,” Crook noted.

Starling ticketed three other economy modified drivers on Friday, July 7. Winner Jeremy Ross, runner up Mike Northrup, and fourth place driver Travis Montgomery were also ticked. According to Starling, the citations were all part of his, “clean up the dirt” campaign at the high-banked race track.

Collins declined to comment on the situation. For now, he is letting his lawyer do the talking. Starling remained optimistic about future arrests in Salina.

“Lots of guys drive way too fast in that area all the time. And I heard that one of the drivers is on steroids. That’s got to be illegal. I’m committed to cleaning up the trash,” Starling said.

Collins, who is free on bond, and Starling are both expected to compete in next Friday’s evening of racing at Salina. The futures of Ross, Northrup, and Montgomery are unknown at this time.

Stay with the LG Sunday Democrat as the story develops…

Photo Credit: bigmaceo of the Locust Grove Sunday Democrat (taken Friday, July 7, 2006)

Bad Boys, Bad Boys

Turn 5
Season 1
Lap 5

"Four Drivers Handed Citations"

by Lug Turner
Locust Grove Sunday Democrat
Saturday, July 8, 2006

SALINA- Four economy modified drivers received citations for moving violations following Friday night's races at Salina Highbanks Speedway. Mike Collins, Travis Montgomery, Jeremy Ross, and Mike Northrup all received tickets for speeding, reckless driving, and evading an officer.

Collins, known as "the 'ol outlaw" in some racing circles, also received citations for littering and resisting arrest after he threw his first set of tickets out the window of his #2 economy modified car.

Oklahoma Highway Patrolman Roger Starling issued the citations as part of what he calls his "clean up the dirt" campaign.

"These guys come out here, week in and week out, and show no regard for traffic laws or respect for authority," Trooper Staring said.

"You have got to be kidding me!" Ross exclaimed. "I was in a great mood, I won the race, the car ran great. Then I pull off the track and 'boom' there's Starling blocking the road, and he gives me $423 worth of tickets."

Ross says he had to swerve to avoid the spike strips Starling had set up at the entrance to the pit area.

"I can't believe this," E-Mod points leader Mike Collins said. "I always thought we were allowed to drive fast as long as we're on the track, but then Rog' gives me a crapload of tickets."

Collins went on to explain his alleged littering violation.

"I thought Rog' was joking with me, so I crumpled the papers up and threw them out the window. Then he makes me get out of the car and pick them up, and then he writes me two more tickets. Unbelievable!"

“We were out there at the start of the feature, and I noticed that Starling had flashing lights and a siren on his car. I thought he was playing a prank on everybody. I am gonna lose my drivers license,” Montgomery said.

“I’m just trying to restore a little order to the E-mod division. It’s something I should have done a long time ago,” Starling said.

Starling says he will continue stopping speeders during next Friday’s race at Salina. The fate of the other four drivers now rests in the hands of the Oklahoma justice system.