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No roadblocks to racing

For a time cancer dampened Larry Harris' desire for time on the track, but his passion for the sport is now fully recovered.

By BRIAN SUMERS
Published August 2, 2006

CRYSTAL RIVER - The chemotherapy came a few years ago, and since then, Larry Harris has gained more than a few pounds and lost much of his hair, but his child-like enthusiasm for car racing has not waned.

Simply put, he loves speed.

"Racing is worse than a drug or alcohol," said Harris, 46. "It will take hold of you. You can't imagine it."

The bug got him early.

Racing first attracted Harris about four decades ago when he joined his father at the track and rode around with the race winner on the victory lap. He held the checkered flag - something he's done many times since as a driver.

These days, you'll find him some weekends in the No. 95 car at Bronson Motor Speedway, exciting fans with his jovial nature and the occasional strong finish.

Though he has raced for decades, Harris wondered not long ago if he ever would enter a car again.

Cancer got in his way.

He awoke one day in the fall of 2000 and noticed one testicle had swelled.

He remembers feeling anger when his doctor told him the news - testicular cancer. Harris, a winner all his life, did not know how to respond.

He considered not letting doctors remove the testicle, even though it might mean he would live fewer than eight months.

After crying and praying and wondering whether he would die, Harris relented, going to Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa for six months of therapy, which sapped his energy.

"For him to be so down, it was scary," said Monica Harris, his wife of 11 years.

Doctors have pronounced Harris cancer-free, and he again is the overly-excited man Monica married.

"There's never a dull moment," she said "He's always up to something."

The couple married at Sunshine Speedway in Pinellas County. He wore jeans and a polo shirt. She wore a white dress.

Afterward, he raced and finished third.

"A 46-year-old kid," his wife said, "That's what he is."

But for two years, Harris was not interested in racing.

After the cancer, Harris sold his car and pondered retirement. Then a friend asked him to drive his car, and Harris was hooked - again.

"I was like, 'I haven't had that much fun in two or three years,' " he said.

Racing is just a hobby now - he drives a dump truck full time for the business he owns.

But once, at least according to pictures he shows a visitor, he raced full time in lower-level series throughout the country.

The highlight, he said, was racing against future NASCAR drivers Kenny and Rusty Wallace.

He also drove on figure 8 tracks in Indiana, where he grew up.

Harris enjoyed the professional life, though he filed for bankruptcy in the mid 1980s. Not even his outgoing personality could help him retain sponsors, so he switched to driving commercial trucks.

He moved to Citrus County about 13 years ago and racing has gradually become less of a part of his life.

Still, because of connections built through his career, Harris said he sometimes drives a hauler for a friend who still races professionally in the ARCA Series.

And earlier in his career, Harris said he drove Mark Martin's test car for Roush Racing. He also said he drove Rusty Wallace's motor home, earning $1,000 per week, plus expenses.

It was less exciting than he expected. Harris called himself a "little do-boy" who would do laundry and make dinner.

For now, though, he enjoys driving his dump truck and racing on occasional Saturdays.

"Believe it or not, this is the most relaxing," he said standing in front of the blue dump truck with his initials painted on it. "I'm my own boss."

He's also a bit of a ham. Harris co-hosts a weekly television show on KEY-TV in Citrus County. Locals can call in to ask questions about all levels of racing.

"He's kind of a hoot, really," said Larry MacMillan, the announcer at Citrus County Speedway. "He knows what he's talking about and he's pretty knowledgeable."

Whatever Harris does, he knows racing must be part of his life.

"I've drunk," he said. "I've smoked dope. But let me tell you, I've never had a rush like 10 laps in a race car."

Citrus County Speedway

Saturday's Results

Hobby Stock Special (50 Laps, 26 Cars (36 Qualified): 1. Mike Wilson, 2. Jason Witfoth, 3. Clint Foley, 4. David Kingsbury, 5. Curtis Flanagan, 6. Danny Hage, 7. Don Paugh, 8. Artie Hewitt, 9. Tim Alexander, 10. Dave Maddox

Late Model Feature (35 Laps, 21 Cars): 1. Herb Neumann Jr., 2. Mike Bresnahan, 3. Herb Hoefler, 4. Raymond Lovelady, 5. Wayne Anderson. First Heat Winner - Lovelady. Second Heat Winner - Keith Zavrel. Third Heat Winner - Neumann Jr.

Limited Sportsman Feature (20 Laps, 24 Cars): 1. D.J. Macklin, 2. Fred Tuski, 3. Tom Posavec, 4. Craig Robinson, 5. Maloy Kelly. First Heat Winner - Kelly. Second Heat Winner - Ernie Reed. Third Heat Winner - Posavec.

Mini Stock Feature (20 Laps, 14 Cars): 1. Johnny Siner, 2. Chris Hooker, 3. George Neumann, 4. Johnathon Camp, 5. Clint Foley. First Heat Winner - Jesse Henley. Second Heat Winner - Foley

4-Cylinder Bomber Feature (20 Laps, 15 Cars): 1. Jeremy Root, 2. Marlon Durbin, 3. Terry Dunbar, 4. Peter Nelson, 5. Jon Doucette. First Heat Winner - Justin Durbin. Second Heat Winner - Marlon Durbin.

Figure 8 Feature (20 Laps, 15 Cars): 1. Daryl Hage, 2. Robbie Hage, 3. Joey Catterelli, 4. Zach Perry, 5. Clifford Rousseau.

Points Race

Mini Stocks

1. George Neumann 1378

2. Johnathan Camp 1362

3. Johnny Siner 1328

4. Clint Foley 1293

5. Michael Lawhorn 1285

Hobby Stocks

1. John Makula 1330

2. Bobby Taylor 1290

3. James Batson 1192

4. Tim Alexander 1165

5. Larry Triana 1144

Thunder Stocks

1. Louie Cioe 1229

2. Glen Colyer 1165

3. Kristine Henick 1100

4. Mike Dubbs 1090

5. Victor Shahid 1075

4 Cylinder Bombers

1. Justin Durbin 1483

2. Kevin Stone 1407

3. Jon Doucette 1339

4. Tim Nocella 1321

5. Phil Edwards 1284

Late Models

1. Herb Neumann 708

2. Herb Hoefler 693

3. Raymond Lovelady 676

4. Scott Grossenbacker 671

5. Danny Johnson 654

Limited Sportsman

1. Jim Altobelli 1452

2. Edward Allen 1416

3. Ernie Reed 1408

4. Tom Posavec 1402

5. Maloy Kelly 1401

Modifieds

1. Billy Bechtelheimer 729

2. Jimmy Wagner 706

3. Kyle Bookmiller 666

4. Bobby Blake 657

5. Stephen Harbuck 612

Figure Eights

1. Joey Catterli 834

2. Robbie Hage 824

3. John Thomas 824

4. Darryl Hage 804

5. Clifford Rousseau 788

CRANK UP THE ENGINES

Get ready for some fast-moving pick-up trucks.

The Fastruck Series, a feeder for NASCAR's Craftsman Truck Series, will make a cameo Saturday at Citrus County Speedway.

"They put on a pretty good show," said Larry MacMillan, the track announcer.

The series will feature three events - the Pros, the Kids and the Late Models.

Racing starts at 5:30 p.m. Modified, Limited Sportsman, Mini Stock, Thunder Stock, and 4-Cylinder Bombers also will compete.

[Last modified August 1, 2006, 22:33:17]