LIMA — There are some races on the schedule that mean more to the drivers. Friday night’s race is definitely one that drivers love competing in. Run for the Rabbit XVII kicks off Friday night at Limaland Motorsports Park. The pit gate opens at 4:30 p.m. and racing begins at 7:30 p.m.
Run for the Rabbit is a memorial race that honors Travis “the Rabbit” Miller, who competed at a high level on the sprint car circuit at Limaland.
Tim Allison is one of the drivers who takes this race to heart. Allison, who competed against Miller at Limaland, is a close friend of the Miller family. Allison has made his sprint car look like Miller’s in years past and tries to honor him in some way each year.
“I’ve known the Miller family for years,” Allison said. “I know his father, Keith, very well. There are so many memories. Travis was such a likeable young man and a great racer.”
Even though Allison and Miller competed against each other at a high level, they remained close off of the track.
“We were rivals on the track but best friends behind the scenes,” Allison said. “He ran the bottom (of the track) and I ran the top. I think fans thrived on that. They loved seeing the competition. I still have Travis’s wings that I’ve put on my car. I might put them on (Friday night) if the weather permits, in memory of him. Local people seem to enjoy it.”
One of the greatest stories that Allison remembers, isn’t one that happened on the track.
“My fondest memory is when Travis got married,” Allison said. “That was a fun ordeal. We got a bus for his bachelor party and went to Fort Wayne for the party. We still talk about that to this day. That was a lot of fun.”
Allison is also happy to be racing on the Limaland track again after a prolonged absence.
“There is a limited 360 (sprint car) race schedule at Limaland this year,” Allison said. “I believe that Limaland was built on sprint car racing. They (Limaland) just don’t have that many dates for the 360s. It’s pretty much local people who compete in it. When Limaland does have 360 racing, it’s the best of the best.”
Even though there haven’t been as many races, big names are still making headlines on the sprint car circuit.
“There is a group of us who have kept the 360s going,” Allison said. “It’s a good group of guys who all have fast stuff. Every driver has their era. I had my era in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Jared Horstman is on a tear right now. He’s doing a great job and he also comes from a great family. We all like to have fun and it’s close racing.”
Being the first winner in Travis Miller’s memorial race, Allison always remembers how important this race is for people around this area.
“It’s a big memorial race that honors a great young man and a great family,” Allison said. “It doesn’t seem that long ago. We were just reminiscing about Travis and talking about all of the fun times we had. When I won that first memorial race, I knew I had to drive a little harder. The good Lord was looking over me. It’s a race that I’ll never forget. I took the lead on the very last lap and won.”
For complete results of Run for the Rabbit XVII, pick up the Sunday edition of The Lima News.
‘Sprint Sizzler’ at Waynesfield
WAYNESFIELD — The “Summer Sprint Sizzler” sprint car event takes place Monday night at Waynesfield Raceway Park.
It will be the grand finale of a four-day weekend with stops across Ohio. The program will be headlined by the NRA Sprint Invaders joining forces with the Great Lakes Super Sprints running for a $4,000 to win payday. The F.A.S.T 410 and 305 sprints will also be on the program running for $3,000 and $1,000 respectfully. Drivers of “The Working Man’s Series,” Ohio Sprint Car Series, will join the F.A.S.T 410’s for the first time in Waynesfield history. Waynesfield’s Performance Powder Coating AMSA Mini Sprints will be on the program running for a $600 payday.
Adult general admission is $20. Those ages 11-15 years old are admitted for $15 with everyone under the age of 10 admitted for free. Pit passes for the race are available for $30.
Pit side gates open at 3 p.m., grandstands at 4 p.m. Hot laps get underway at 6 p.m. with the first green flag of the night flying at 7 p.m. For more information on Waynesfield Raceway Park go to waynesfieldracewaypark.net.
