The race cars had fallen silent, and a gentle night breeze wafted across the Lucas Oil Speedway pit area. The Dart Show-Me 100 had concluded, and fans mingled with drivers and crews as they loaded their gear.

Two pre-teen girls had arrived at Austin Hubbard’s pit as he stood alongside his race car. One of the girls chattered at a rapid-fire pace, while the other stared at Hubbard and occasionally nodded. The girl was explaining something in great detail, and Hubbard listened patiently. Suddenly MORE

The haulers are loaded, fans are packing their bags, and the TV production truck is on the way. In a few days the tiny Missouri town of Wheatland will swell with pride and anticipation as the 20th annual Dart Show-Me 100 takes place at Lucas Oil Speedway.

It’s the first traditional crown jewel event of the season, with lots of money and prestige on the line. The Show-Me needs very little hype, because the name and the tradition give it an elevated stature. With certain events nobody has to tell MORE

It’s probably an injustice to point out that Dale McDowell is one of the nicest guys in racing, because that statement might imply that he’s been anything less than a stellar racer for nearly 30 years.

Being nice, goes some theories, is not necessarily a good trait for a racer. It’s more important to be blood-and-guts aggressive, ceaselessly hungry, and ruthless in your pursuit of victory. That’s one of the reasons McDowell remains a compelling character; he has achieved success at the MORE