Fellowship to highlight Huffman race

Audrey Huffman says that, perhaps for the first time, she is really looking forward to the Dwight Huffman Memorial race at Hickory Motor Speedway.

“Since we've done (the race) a few years, I’m looking forward to it this time,” she said Wednesday.

The reason is a get-together planned shortly after racing on Saturday, Oct. 15. She’s invited former racing people – drivers, car owners, crewmen and more – as well as current race people to Red Baron Race Car and Parts, across the street from the speedway.

“We can sit down and talk racing; we’ll do that on Saturday,” she said. “Normally on race day, we don't get a chance to talk and have fellowship, and this means a whole lot to me. Racing people have come together and supported us and been there for us at times when we really needed it.”

And she wants to get together with them.

Dwight Arnold Huffman, who died in February of 2008, was a winning car owner whose accomplishments included, among others, track championships at Hickory, Tri-County and Greenville-Pickens speedways, plus a national championship with Dexter Canipe Sr. in 1997.

Audrey Huffman says a NASCAR spokesman once called her husband “the Jack Roush of Late Model,” referring to the long-time, championship-winning Cup car owner who still fields cars on the NASCAR Sprint Cup circuit.

Dwight Huffman Racing began fielding cars for the Huffmans’ son Ashley in 1998 and continues to do so. Ashley finished 15^th in HMS Late Model points this past season.

“If my son's running, I don't miss one,” she said. “I’ve been very fortunate in that I’ve always been able to attend his races.”

On Saturday, Oct. 15, practice starts at 10 a.m., with qualifying at 3 and racing (U-Cars, Street Stocks and Renegades) at 4. On Sunday, pit sign-in starts at 10, with grandstands opening at noon. There will be an autograph session at 1:15, pre-race at 2:15 and the 4^th Dwight Huffman Memorial race for Charity at 2:35.

Audrey Huffman will be there for her son on Sunday, but her other big event will be the day before.

“At the track, you don't get to know the other racers,” she said. “But away from the track, we’re like family and friends. I’ve always wanted to be able to do that, and this is my best opportunity.”

The weekend is also important to her because money will be raised for eye charities, with the Lions Club and the N.C. Eye Bank involved. Dwight Huffman was an eye donor, and you can read Audrey Huffman’s words here on the N.C. Eye Bank web site.

“(The weekend) not only honors my husband’s accomplishments in the Late Model racing world, it also helps to give back to our community by sharing profits with three local charities,” Audrey Huffman said.

• BIG RACE: Ashley Huffman is also among the 47 entrants for Martinsville Speedway’s big Late Model race, the Virginia is for Racing Lovers 300. Also entered are fellow HMS drivers Dexter Canipe Jr., Austin McDaniel and Matt Piercy.

Qualifying is set for Saturday, Oct. 8 (practice at 9 a.m., qualifying at 2), with the race on Sunday (first qualifying heat at 12:30 p.m.; race at 3).

• THIS WEEK: Hickory Motor Speedway will feature the CARS Pro Cup series this Saturday, with practice at 11:30 a.m., qualifying at 5, pre-race at 7 and the Catawba County United Way 200 presented by Pizza Hut at 7:15.

• UPCOMING: PASS South has two more races remaining, Oct. 29 at Hickory and its national championship Super Late Model event on Nov. 25-26 at Orange County Speedway in Rougemont.

• BANQUET: HMS will have its championship banquet on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2011, at the Newton Expo at the Pin Station in Newton.

“This is going to be a great opportunity for everyone to get together to celebrate another exciting year of racing at Hickory Motor Speedway,” track promoter Kevin Piercy said. “It should be a fun and entertaining night, and I look forward to the chance to celebrate with everyone who has helped make this season memorable.”

Champions in each division will be honored, as well as the top-five drivers in each division. Also, awards for rookie of year, mechanic of the year, most popular driver, most improved driver and the Spirit of Racing Award will be handed out.

There will be a reception and cocktail hour at 6 p.m., with dinner and a season-in-review video montage at 7. The awards ceremony will begin at 8, and the evening will end with a Cosmic Bowling Tournament for Charity.

Tickets will be on sale at the speedway office week days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning Nov. 4. The phone number is 828-464-3655.

• CONTACT: Tom Gillispie, the author of “Angel in Black: Remembering Dale Earnhardt Sr.,” can be reached at nc3022@yahoo.com.