b'TRACKSPOTLIGHTHISTORIC ELK CREEK DRAGWAYFEATURES GREAT COMPETITIONThere are many ways to describe ElkThe main reason I got involved Creek Dragway including historic,with the track is my father-in-lawThat everybody includes a core group competitive and certainly picturesquewas involved for many years untilof racers who loyally support the with its location in the Southwesthe passed away. I wanted to see ittrack. Shinault described the family-Virginia countryside. keep going, he said. This tracklike atmosphere they bring to the has been going 51 years and is onefacility, right outside the Jefferson From April to October, the word whichof the oldest, continually operatingNational Forest.best describes the 1/8-mile drag stripdrag strips in the country. I wanted is busy. to get involved and help, but all theWe average probably 120-130 racers changes you cant do in a year. Its aper week. We have a good core group Track operator Tony Shinault talkslong process. of racers like any successful race about the tracks commitment totrack, he said. They will have their strong commitment to the sport andHis father-in-law was Bud Crowe, aspats and that type of thing, but its racers. longtime Super Stock competitorwhen it comes down to it, nobody and a top engine builder in the area.else better mess with them. Thats Were one of the few tracks that stillCrowe and others involved withthe way it works. Weve had a good run a Saturday program, ShinaultElk Creek kept the track steadyturnout from the core group of racers said. We run the bracket programduring the turbulent times of thefor a long time.every Saturday and test and tunelast decade when the economy was Friday night. The biggest challengestruggling. They are huge supporters of the is sometimes having to go so late atIHRA Summit SuperSeries, the night to get a race in, but its alsoThe previous management did alargest and most prestigious national worked out well. good job keeping things going andchampionship in bracket racing. They surviving the tough times, Shinaulthave participated in the IHRA Division Realize one of the reasons that thesaid. Now, were trying to build back9 (Raiders) Summit Team Finals and track is so busy, the people truly wantand improve the facilities. Wevethe IHRA Summit SuperSeries World to be there. There is a strong coreapplied a lot of paint, worked onFinals.group of racers and for Shinault, itsthe bathroom facilities, concession personal. He explained how he felt astands and things like that to makeFor many years, weve tried to give sense of obligation to step in and fillit better for the racers and theour racers the opportunity to go his current role with the track. spectators. Were just trying to getcompete at the (IHRA Summit) World the facility upgraded and nicer Finals, he said. Weve added the for everybody.6'