World Of Outlaw Late Models Debut A Success

By Doc Lehman

One cannot dispute facts, and the facts are that the new Boundless
Motorsports, Inc., backed-World of Outlaws Late Model Series was
officially `born' on Tuesday February 3 at Volusia Speedway Park to
great fanfare, trepidation and anxiousness. The result was a huge
success for the newly formed dirt Late Model powerhouse that has
come into existence only within the past couple months.

A week or so ago this reporter wrote an essay (`Let The Games
Begin') about the two national dirt Late Model sanctioning
organizations that basically welcomed the two series and their
management into the sport but however cautioned them not to take
advantage of the people of the sport. Basically, it stated that if
you talk the talk, then you must walk the walk.

From all indications from the new World of Outlaws Late Model
Series' debut in Florida and the resultant accolades it appears that
Boundless/WoO chief Bobby Hartslief is walking the walk….briskly, I
might add.

Basically, Hartslief and associates `put up'. They definitely
delivered what was promised on all fronts.

"The Outlaws performed remarkably and the track was in great shape,"
stated Hartslief Wednesday morning. "I must compliment Dean Miracle
and the guys at Volusia, the track was really phenomenal. And it was
a very, very good show which we were all very happy with."

It has been an intense couple months for Hartslief and crew and it
all came together Tuesday evening for their debut. After many long
hours, planning, staging and taking care of details, the
protagonists of the new series surely had to feel a sense of
accomplishment and vindication after the first two nights.


Bobby Hartslief & Steve Francis

"What it really did was brought home to me was how much faith people
actually put into me, personally, because there were so many forces
which I wasn't aware of working behind the scenes to prevent this
World of Outlaws Late Model Series from getting off the ground,"
commented Hartslief. "So credit to Dickie Murphy and Volusia for
having the courage of their convictions to agree to put on a show
that before didn't exist. I don't have a track record in this
business and they put their faith in me, believed in what I said I
could do and I think it's a vindication of all of that and I am just
very grateful that all of those guys have faith in our ability to
put on a race and more power to the 12 Outlaws."

"They went far beyond proving they could do it and they are all a
good bunch of race car drivers."

Hartslief is not alone in his appreciation and sense of vindication.

"I had a lot of people come up and thank me and congratulate us
after the first race and I said tell me that in 12 months when we
accomplish something," informed Bobby Jackson, Race Director for the
WoO LM series. "All we did was just get started and we understand we
have along way to go. But we have a good base to operate with, we
have good procedures with our rules and we're absolutely comfortable
with the talent that has committed to race with us. And the fans,
they are the show, they are the whole show and we're going to
promote them and the World of Outlaws. This isn't about Bobby
Jackson or Boundless, it's about the World of Outlaws and those
drivers."

For Jackson, he is no stranger to high-profile racing events as he
has spent many years in the same position with the World of Outlaw
Sprint Cars.

"I think it's just like I stated in the original drivers meeting
we've got a background," said Jackson. "I've managed 1600 races for
the World of Outlaws and it's not like we don't have an idea of what
needs to be done. We're doing things and maybe taking a little
different approach then anybody else and it's going to take a little
bit of time. There will be some bumps in the road but what it comes
down to is the package that we are going to present these race fans
and they're coming to see all the racers and that's what we're going
to deliver."

Apparently all reports indicate that the first two nights of
existence for the new series has been more successful than anyone
hoped or dared think could happen. With so many variables to
consider the first tow nights can be considered home runs by the new
group.

"I think it came off great," stated Mark Richards Wednesday morning
after good friend and former Rocket house car driver Steve Francis
won the inaugural event. Richards is the owner of Rocket Chassis and
the #75 driven by Bart Hartman, who won Wednesday night's
event. "The fans got to see a good show, they got to see not only 12
of the best drivers but there were probably 30 or 40 of the best
drivers in the country there. There were 50 some cars, I don't know
the exact number, but 30 or 40 of them were capable of winning that
first race Tuesday night."

"It came off great, the fans got to see wide open racing, the track
was great and truthfully I hope the track stays that way the next
couple nights. Dickie Murphy and his crew did a great job of
preparing the track. From past years at Volusia County this year
sure was a change. For the 25 years that I have been coming to
Volusia I have never seen that kind of racing there. It was some of
the best cars in the country. The competition in the dash was like
the WORLD 100 or the DREAM, it was eight of the best guys in the
country."

Richards was confident in his answering that he, too, felt the debut
of the series hit a home run. "I think it was," said Richards. "This
group offers some of the best drivers competing in open competition.
Obviously there are restrictions as far as the bodies on the cars
go, it's not `outlaw' racing like some people have said. You have
choices here and it proves you they can put on some of the best
racing in the country."


The ribbon cutting ceremony to debut the World of Outlaw Late
Model Series & the Dirty Dozen

With the attention of the dirt racing world paying close attention
to the new series they were under close and tight scrutiny to
perform as with a professional cohesiveness. Never mind the fact
that this is a brand new organization, let alone far less than 90
days old, it was apparent throughout the industry that there would
be little room for error allotted by a critical crowd of onlookers.
Basically it went back to seeing if the new series could `walk the
walk'.

The general, and immediate consensus is that Hartsleif and
associates came through with pretty much flying colors, especially
given the fact that they had a minimal amount of time to prepare.
Without `cutting slack', it's hard to deny that the debut was
anything but a success. If anything, it appeared they had a complete
and viable package.

"As I said, the racing has been great," offered Hartslief. "I
thought they called Late Models, Late Models because the races
started at twelve o'clock (laughs)! But last night's race was
astounding and the amount of passing that took place and all the
jockeying for position, it was really just a really genuine exciting
race. The organization, Bobby Jackson has a wealth of experience in
putting on these things and the tech inspections have gone well. We
even have our own announcer and media liaison and it's really been a
very good effort by all involved."

Hartslief, when asked, was also more than willing to talk about the
immediate response he has received from promoters, teams and fans
during the first two days of `road work'.

"That's an interesting question and we'll take them one at a time,"
responded Hartslief. "Promoters, they are now saying send a sanction
agreement because what was an idea has now become a reality. There
is a particular promoter who flew in yesterday from up in the snow
part of the world and he wants to sign up four dates. So because
it's now a reality the promoters are now saying they want to have
one of these Late Model series dates."

"The teams, the enthusiasm has been as good as anything I have
experienced in Formula One. They've turned out and the cars have
been in immaculate condition, (they're) following instructions and
as a result have put on good races, and as for the fans, when you
get a standing ovation at the end of a race, you know you have done
something for the fans."

"Last night's race, the race for the lead between Bart Hartman and
Scott Bloomquist went right down to the very last lap and it looked
like in turn three on that last lap that Scott would pass him, it
was that close. It was really good."

One supposed concern of a few industry observers was the Dirty Dozen
themselves. How would they relate and work together as a whole?
Could these high-profile and highly accomplished racers get on the
same page?


The DIRTY DOZEN

"As a group this deal is more than full speed ahead," declared Steve
Francis, who now holds the distinction of being the very first
winner of the new series. "From everybody I've talked to, no one has
anything bad to say. We all know that we're all going to have good
nights and bad nights but we're all also smart enough to know that
we need to stay together and everyone is staying together as far as
P.R. stuff and things like that. We're doing a lot of things like
that together. It helps everybody involved. There is not even a
doubt about what it is doing for the sport."

And management has made a concerted effort to commit to a strong and
working relationship with the teams, and Jackson stresses that the
series is looking for input and involvement as well from those not
classified as the Dirty Dozen.

"They are a pleasure to be around," commented Jackson about his
first two nights on the road with the Dirty Dozen and several other
dozen teams. "All they ever looked for was someone to just listen
and they understand they have a voice in this and like I told them,
they have a voice, maybe not necessarily a vote, but they have a
voice and I think that is important and I think people just want to
be able to feel like they can contribute and that's all they want to
do, is be able to contribute and have a say in their destiny and at
least in the direction its heading and that's what we have provided.
And it doesn't matter if its one of the Dozen or not."

Solidarity, at least for now as readily apparent, has perhaps come
to the sport.

"It's a good concept as I have said all along and it's a good
concept having 12 of the top Late Model drivers in the world racing
against each other and the great thing is the locals or lesser known
guys have done remarkably well," added Hartslief. "They have done
very well."

So with two grade-A nights of racing in the books the fledging new
series appears to have taken a giant first step. A rock has been
thrown in the pond and the ripples are now starting to project
outward and the effects, good, bad or indifferent, will be felt for
the next several weeks and beyond. But at this point in time, for
the World of Outlaws Late Model Series and the Dirty Dozen, the vibe
is positive and resonating.

"I think there is a lot of excitement," said Richards. "Promoters
really seem to be swaying this direction because the series offers
some of the top drivers in the country. I think Bobby Hartslief has
done a good job. Him, Paul Kruger and Bobby Jackson, they've done a
great job in bringing this series to where it has gotten in the last
sixty days."

"More has been accomplished than I have ever seen in that amount of
time (laughs)!"

So with two months or more of long days, longer nights, intense
hours, negotiating, planning, meeting, traveling and implanting, the
result of tense and tedious hours have been birthed.

Has it been worth it?

"I'll tell you that on Sunday night (laughs)!" chuckled Hartslief,
the COO of a new force in dirt Late Model racing.

©2004 Doc Lehman/Dirt America