Winter race offers some relief to fans hungry for action

Die-hard fans who struggle to make it through the winter months without a dose of in-your-face, short-track racing got their annual fix Sunday with the 2002 Winternationals.

The day's main course consisted of the "Wild Bill" Revard Memorial Figure 8 Race. The competition is named after Revard, a Figure 8 driver who, while in the lead on the last lap of the final race in 1999, was killed in a crash.

Revard's nickname came from his untamed hair, not his personality. He was kind and soft-spoken, even when angry.

If Revard's personal reputation is remembered fondly, then his racing reputation carries with it something that borders on awe.

Shane Grigsby, second in points in 2001 and among Revard's many friends, told the story of a race begun in a light rain.

"It was sprinkling a little bit, so Wild Bill yanked out one of his spark plugs so he couldn't spin his tires," Grigsby said.

With less power, Revard would have less chance of over-accelerating and losing traction, but he also would have less power.

"He still beat me," Grigsby said.

This year's 50-lap event began with two of last season's top three points finishers nestled uncomfortably in the middle of the pack.

Grigsby, No. 28, of Pinellas Park, was a little better off than peers Ron Davis, No. 89, of Pinellas Park, and Art Calkins, No. 11, of St. Petersburg. Grigsby drew a fifth-place start. Davis and Calkins had eighth and 10th, respectively.

Cars exploded out of the first turn and promptly spun out before the end of the first lap. By the end of the race, only five cars were on the lead lap when the first crossed the finish line. That first car was driven by Calkins.

As a result of all the confusion at the start, Calkins, Davis and Grigsby had found positions in the top five by the sixth lap.

Grigsby, in second, challenged leader Rick Botts (No. 70) of Pinellas Park, but had not managed to to get anywhere by the 10th lap. Calkins and Davis, however, had secured third and fourth -- right on Grigsby's tail.

A yellow flag in the 10th slowed everything to a simmer, while the ensuing restart brought the action to a boil.

Grigsby and Calkins shot past Botts almost simultaneously with the throwing of the green flag, and Davis had joined the top three by the 12th lap.

Lap 13 saw Davis pass Calkins, and the top three began a steady drive that put considerable distance between themselves and the rest of the pack.

Calkins reclaimed second in Lap 32, and five laps later, the three were bunched together.

Each challenged the other for position. The competition became so close that there no longer were separate fights for first and second. First was in everybody's grasp.

The duel continued during the final four laps, with Calkins finally holding off the other two to win his second Revard Memorial.

NOTES: The Figure 8 class will be getting a makeover in 2002, thanks to a last-minute decision by track promoter Frank Hill. All Figure 8s will have the option of putting wings and sideboards on their cars, and the name of the class will be changed to Extreme Figure 8s. ... Grigsby, two-time runner-up in the division, will be making the leap to Open Wheel Modifieds. He plans to compete in the bigger Figure 8 races, however. ... Open Wheel Modified features will be 25 laps, up from the 20 that have been standard in previous seasons.

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