Wanted To Race

Thirty-year-old Rick Schmelyun Jr. of Silver Run has been going to the races ever since he was 6 weeks old."Racing has been my whole life. Every weekend I go to the races either to watch or to race," said the son of local racing legend, Rick Schmelyun Sr.Schmelyun, one of many second-generation racers on the area dirt track circuit, wants to become a full-time sprint car driver on the World of Outlaws Circuit.He has the needed determination and confidence and, after his first full season, his accomplishments show he has his father's ability and talent.

Gov. Martin O'Malley really doesn't want the federal Race to the Top money, he wants the teachers' votes ("Not No. 1 in reform," Dec. 22). After all, they already endorsed him months ago, and he hasn't even kicked-off his re-election campaign. That's why he wants to submit a lame application for the federal pot of gold that's intended to focus on critical reform issues like teacher tenure and evaluations. By the time decisions are made in the first round of the Race to the Top competition in April (and Maryland gets turned down because its application didn't address these issues)

Like many Carroll Countians who enjoy motor sports, Todd Snyder loves the competition and speed that racing provides. The Frizzleburg resident has been drag racing for three years, but it wasn't his first choice.Snyder started racing dirt bikes on the motocross course at the Antietam race track near Hagerstown when he was 18. He had wanted to race motorcycles since being given one when he was 8 years old.Racing every week had made Snyder a good rider. He improved each year, working his way up through the classes.

DOVER, Del. -- Jeremy Mayfield has boyish good looks. He's the kind of guy you might picture as the boy next door. He could be Wally Cleaver, the Beav's older brother.Mayfield finds that his teammate, veteran driver Rusty Wallace, treats him like a younger brother. And in Winston Cup racing, that's not a bad thing."Two years ago, Rusty didn't want a teammate," said Mayfield, 29. "But the timing was right [at the end of last year], and when I went to talk to him about how he felt about it, he was excited.

Jim Crocker always had wanted to race cars since the first time his father took him to the races at Lincoln and Dorsey speedways. After settling down and having a family, the 30-year-old Finksburg resident began to think about fulfilling his dreams.About three years ago Crocker decided to get started by entering demolition derbies at Arcadia carnival grounds. After three events, he met the legendary "Dizzy" Dean Renfro, a former driver now an official at Trail-Way Speedway in Hanover, Pa.Renfro learned about Crocker's interest in racing and told him that he should look into the junk-car races at Trail-Way.

They say that when racing gets in your blood, it never leaves. Mark Royston is proof of that. After a long absence from racing, the 32-year old Hampstead native jumped at the chance to get back in the sport six years ago.Royston races four-wheel ATVs in the outlaw quad division. The division is a fairly new class that does not have a lot of rules, hence the outlaw label. They race at Trail-Way once a month and are racing at other tracks including Challenger Speedway in Indiana, Pa. The quads, another name for four-wheelers, race on the same oval as the cars, but there is a difference -- the cars have roll cages and the quads don't.

It is no surprise that Wayne Dillman is involved in auto racing. His uncle, Denzil Dillman and his dad, Leon, were household names on the local dirt tracks of Dorsey and Westport Speedways during the '50s and '60s.While the Sykesville resident never had the opportunity to watch his uncle, racing was in his blood. As soon as Dillman was old enough he wanted to race, but he knew it was something he couldn't do overnight.Dillman started racing with a plan, a plan that would gradually take him to the fast and competitive sprint car circuit.

Mike Stull of Westminster has always enjoyed racing.He started going to races with his best friend, Brad McClelland, to watch Brad's father race stock cars at Lincoln Speedway in Hanover, Pa.It wasn't long before Stull wanted to race himself. He began racing motorcycles in the 125-B class motorcross at Trail-Way Speedway inHanover.Four years ago, Stull injured his knee while riding his motorcycle near his house. Realizing the injury could have been worse, Stull decided it would be in his best interest to give up riding bikes in competition.

Michele Keefer of Sykesville keeps a busy schedule.The 19-year-old is working toward an associate of arts degree in mathematics at Carroll County Community College, is a job supervisor at Roy Rogers restaurant in Eldersburg, and plays piano and teaches Sunday school at the Gaither United Methodist Church.In between, she races a 1972 Chevrolet Nova at the 75-80 Dragway in Monrovia.It's not any accident that she is into racing. Racing has been a part of her family's life for some time. Her father Mike attended Dorsey Speedway in Howard County regularly until it closed, then Hagerstown Speedway and other oval tracks.

If there was ever anyone in motor sports who is following in his father's footsteps, it is Al Shawver Jr.The 22-year-old Finksburg native began racing midway through the 1992 season in the semi-late division at the Hagerstown Speedway. In his sixth race, he won his first feature, and two weeks later he proved he was for real by winning again.Although he only ran 10 races, less than half the season, Shawver still finished 13th in the point standings.The young Westminster High graduate quickly caught the attention of many racing veterans.

It is no surprise that Wayne Dillman is involved in auto racing. His uncle, Denzil Dillman and his dad, Leon, were household names on the local dirt tracks of Dorsey and Westport Speedways during the '50s and '60s.While the Sykesville resident never had the opportunity to watch his uncle, racing was in his blood. As soon as Dillman was old enough he wanted to race, but he knew it was something he couldn't do overnight.Dillman started racing with a plan, a plan that would gradually take him to the fast and competitive sprint car circuit.

Like many Carroll Countians who enjoy motor sports, Todd Snyder loves the competition and speed that racing provides. The Frizzleburg resident has been drag racing for three years, but it wasn't his first choice.Snyder started racing dirt bikes on the motocross course at the Antietam race track near Hagerstown when he was 18. He had wanted to race motorcycles since being given one when he was 8 years old.Racing every week had made Snyder a good rider. He improved each year, working his way up through the classes.

Jim Crocker always had wanted to race cars since the first time his father took him to the races at Lincoln and Dorsey speedways. After settling down and having a family, the 30-year-old Finksburg resident began to think about fulfilling his dreams.About three years ago Crocker decided to get started by entering demolition derbies at Arcadia carnival grounds. After three events, he met the legendary "Dizzy" Dean Renfro, a former driver now an official at Trail-Way Speedway in Hanover, Pa.Renfro learned about Crocker's interest in racing and told him that he should look into the junk-car races at Trail-Way.

They say that when racing gets in your blood, it never leaves. Mark Royston is proof of that. After a long absence from racing, the 32-year old Hampstead native jumped at the chance to get back in the sport six years ago.Royston races four-wheel ATVs in the outlaw quad division. The division is a fairly new class that does not have a lot of rules, hence the outlaw label. They race at Trail-Way once a month and are racing at other tracks including Challenger Speedway in Indiana, Pa. The quads, another name for four-wheelers, race on the same oval as the cars, but there is a difference -- the cars have roll cages and the quads don't.

Two years ago, the National Hot Rod Association started the Jr. Dragster Program for youths 8 to 16. Thousands of youths throughout the country have joined the program, which is equivalent to recreation baseball or football.Two Mount Airy brothers, David and Joey Smith, race in the Jr. Dragster program at 75-80 Dragway in Monrovia and at Mason-Dixon Dragway in Hagerstown.Next weekend, they will attend the Mason-Dixon Dragway Banquet, where they finished in the top eight in the point standings.

Michele Keefer of Sykesville keeps a busy schedule.The 19-year-old is working toward an associate of arts degree in mathematics at Carroll County Community College, is a job supervisor at Roy Rogers restaurant in Eldersburg, and plays piano and teaches Sunday school at the Gaither United Methodist Church.In between, she races a 1972 Chevrolet Nova at the 75-80 Dragway in Monrovia.It's not any accident that she is into racing. Racing has been a part of her family's life for some time. Her father Mike attended Dorsey Speedway in Howard County regularly until it closed, then Hagerstown Speedway and other oval tracks.

Two years ago, the National Hot Rod Association started the Jr. Dragster Program for youths 8 to 16. Thousands of youths throughout the country have joined the program, which is equivalent to recreation baseball or football.Two Mount Airy brothers, David and Joey Smith, race in the Jr. Dragster program at 75-80 Dragway in Monrovia and at Mason-Dixon Dragway in Hagerstown.Next weekend, they will attend the Mason-Dixon Dragway Banquet, where they finished in the top eight in the point standings.

DOVER, Del. -- Jeremy Mayfield has boyish good looks. He's the kind of guy you might picture as the boy next door. He could be Wally Cleaver, the Beav's older brother.Mayfield finds that his teammate, veteran driver Rusty Wallace, treats him like a younger brother. And in Winston Cup racing, that's not a bad thing."Two years ago, Rusty didn't want a teammate," said Mayfield, 29. "But the timing was right [at the end of last year], and when I went to talk to him about how he felt about it, he was excited.

If there was ever anyone in motor sports who is following in his father's footsteps, it is Al Shawver Jr.The 22-year-old Finksburg native began racing midway through the 1992 season in the semi-late division at the Hagerstown Speedway. In his sixth race, he won his first feature, and two weeks later he proved he was for real by winning again.Although he only ran 10 races, less than half the season, Shawver still finished 13th in the point standings.The young Westminster High graduate quickly caught the attention of many racing veterans.

Mike Stull of Westminster has always enjoyed racing.He started going to races with his best friend, Brad McClelland, to watch Brad's father race stock cars at Lincoln Speedway in Hanover, Pa.It wasn't long before Stull wanted to race himself. He began racing motorcycles in the 125-B class motorcross at Trail-Way Speedway inHanover.Four years ago, Stull injured his knee while riding his motorcycle near his house. Realizing the injury could have been worse, Stull decided it would be in his best interest to give up riding bikes in competition.