MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- (Editor's note: This is the third story in a three-part series on the Electric City Speedway and Team Malmstrom's community involvement and participation in race track driving.)
The races start with the National Anthem and if Canadian drivers are in town, two anthems play over the loud speaker. After that, a miniature cannon sounds an astonishingly loud boom from the pit area.
The race drivers and their crews make last-minute adjustments in the hopes of gaining victory and taking the checkered flag through a swirl of dust.
The track is composed of clay and its condition changes throughout the night. At the beginning of the night, the track is soaked with water making the surface of the track muddy and slick. As the night progresses, the cars pack the wet clay and its characteristics change dramatically.
"By intermission the track is super tacky; you can put your foot down on it and try to move it side to side and you can't," said Joe Bradley 341st Civil Engineer Squadron mechanical engineer and car owner.
The drivers and their crews seem eager and charged with energy throughout the evening as they double-check tire pressures, fill the cars with fuel and adjust suspension to change the way the cars handle on the three-tenth of a mile track, which is almost 100 yards longer than a quarter mile running track.
Cars in the modified class reach speeds of 80 to 90 mph.
"It's addicting, and it's an adrenaline rush," said Master Sgt. Russell Wolfe, 341st Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle fleet manager and racer at the track.
Sergeant Wolfe's first night back at the track after returning from a deployment was plagued by mechanical problems.
"I had three or four other [racers] helping me with my car [in the pits], trying to figure out what was wrong," Sergeant Wolfe said. "Everybody wants to see you race and [the racers] help each other out."
Sergeant Wolfe drives the number 00 car in the modified class, this type of car is custom built around a tube chassis and wrapped with sheet metal body work. The 500 to 600 horsepower cars must weigh a minimum of 2,450 pounds.
The sergeant started racing when he was eleven years old on snowmobiles, he started racing cars at the Electric City Speedway in 1995 and went home with two trophies his first night racing.
"[The Electric City Speedway] is the fastest track I've ever been on," Sergeant Wolfe said. "I've raced in Belgrade and Billings, Mont., as well as Sheridan, Wyo., and Aberdene, S.D."
Kevin Rinehart, 341st Security Support Squadron combat arms instructor drives the number 11 modified car.
"It's my rookie season, and I'm trying to improve every week," Mr. Rinehart said. Mr. Bradley bought the number 11 modified car and put Mr. Rinehart in the driver's seat.
"Kevin's a good guy; I can't think of anyone I'd rather have driving my car. He has improved since day one and he is a real fast learner," Mr. Bradley said.
Mr. Rinehart attributes his success to the guidance of his friend. Mr. Bradley who raced for several years in the stock classes, winning two track championships, one in pure-stock and one in street stock.
Pure-stock is the entry-level class of cars that are close to a regular street car, except the doors and trunk are welded shut and the car is fitted with a roll cage and other mandatory safety equipment. Street stocks are similar, but faster.
Most racers do not start out in the modified class, but Mr. Rinehart seems to be progressing well.
"I wouldn't be as far along as I am without him showing me everything he has," Mr. Rinehart said. "It's awesome to learn how to do something like this at this stage in my life ... it's phenomenal."
Unlike a smooth-paved track, the drivers must endure the jolts and shakes delivered by the uneven dirt-track surface.
"It's physically demanding because the car is constantly going over the dips and bumps in the track, it really shakes you around," Mr. Rinehart said.
The cars also go through the turns differently, they appear to sling around the turns nearly sideways, with the left-rear tire slightly off the ground and the right-front of the car hugging the ground.
"It's strange how the car handles, sometimes you have to turn right to go left and left to go right while steering the car with the throttle as well," Mr. Rinehart said.
The racing continues after the race in the form of time spent making adjustments and repairs in the garage.
"The amount of fun you have at the track is proportional to the amount of time you spend in the garage," said Mr. Bradley.
The latest addition from Team Malmstrom to hit the race track is Janet Tucker, one of only a handful of women driver's at the track.
Mrs. Tucker originally came to the track with her husband Maj. Matt Tucker, 341st Space Wing plans chief, to watch Sergeant Wolfe race after he and Major Tucker returned from a 411-day deployment to Afghanistan.
"We came out and watched [Sergeant Wolfe] race, because we wanted to show our support. He was doing everything all by himself [in the pits], so I called him and asked if he wanted some help," Major Tucker said.
After helping Sergeant Wolfe in the pits, the couple decided they wanted to join-in on the fun, and bought a pure-stock.
"I wanted to race, and [Major Tucker] wanted to build a car, so we bought one," Mrs. Tucker said.
Janet's father raced in the pure-stock class in Illinois, and now she has picked up the sport.
Ms. Tucker finished ninth out of 16 other racers in the pure-stock class during her first night of racing.
"The more I race, the more I know what I can do. I wanted to race because it looked like fun and I don't want to wonder 'what if'," Mrs. Tucker said. "All the other driver's are encouraging and supportive."
"She's doing very well for a rookie," Major Tucker said. "I anticipate some significant improvement."
Mrs. Tucker seems to be thinking about racing when she isn't at the track as well.
"All she has talked about for the last two weeks is racing. She goes out every night after work and tinkers with the car a little," Major Tucker said. "I think she is completely hooked."
The wafting smell of race fuel and the sound of churning tires, cheering fans and internal-combustion engines fade as the night ends. The energy of the race leaves its awe and spectacle in the memories of the drivers as they congratulate one-another and load their dirt-covered cars onto trailers. They will be back to plug into the excitement again.
For more information about the speedway, go to
www.electriccityspeedway.com or call the track office at 406-727-4884.