Making the show at the Cotton Pickin’ 100 hasn’t been a problem for Super Late Model driver Rick Rickman.
Finishing the grueling 100-lap feature has proven to be the biggest challenge for the New Hope native.
But Rickman, who finished second in the Mississippi State Challenge Championship Series this year, will have an extra set of eyes and ears and unofficial crewman when he arrives at Magnolia Motor Speedway for this year’s edition of the $20,000-to-win Cotton Pickin’ 100. Chassis builder Bob Pierce, who designed Rickman’s chassis, will be at Magnolia this weekend and will assist Rickman with day-of setup.
Rickman switched from a MasterSbilt chassis to a Bob Pierce chassis earlier this season.
“He’ll help if we need to change certain things,” Rickman said. “Also, he can watch how we drive the cars and maybe give pointers based off that. He’s gonna have a spot right beside us, and he agreed to help us and all that. He’s a good guy, and he’s been talking to us throughout the year about changes on a shock or spring here or there. That’s really helpful.”
Rickman still will have an uphill battle if he hopes to win. First, he has to finish the race. In the past, he either has had mechanical issues or poor runs that forced him to pull off early, he said. Second, Magnolia Speedway isn’t one of Rickman’s “better tracks.”
“The track gets slick and it’s hard to get a hold of against guys who race these kinds of tracks all the time, running this many laps (100),” Rickman said. “We’ve had a good year, but preparing the car for this race has been a problem.”
Area drivers Brian Rickman, Chad Thrash, and David Breazeale will join Rickman with national drivers like Scott Bloomquist, Billy Moyer Jr., and last year’s winner, Jimmy Owens.
Open practice begins at 7 tonight. Heat races begin today, and the race weekend runs through Saturday. More than $90,000 will be distributed between divisions and drivers from as many as 12 states.
“This race and the Lucas Oil race that comes here, those are two biggest around here,” Rickman said. “I’d say the Lucas Oil race is probably a bit bigger because it’s televised, but this is a non-sanctioned race, so you’ll have guys from Lucas Oil, World Outlaw Series, and stuff, so it’ll be tougher.”
Shaw looking to repeat
Kyle Shaw remembers the chain of events that led to the biggest win of his career like they happened yesterday.
He was running third at the NeSmith Late Model feature at the 2013 Cotton Pickin’ 100. Twenty laps in, he caught the two leaders and passed them. But teammate Jeremy Shaw was on his tail and passed him when he took a higher line. But fortune found Kyle when the caution flag dropped before the completion of the lap, helping him retain the lead position. He’d go on to lead the remaining 25-plus laps and claim the $3,000 prize.
“Jeremy was about a car length behind me for the rest of the race,” Kyle said. “It was close. It was a great moment because it was only my third year of racing. Up to that point, I’d learned so much from my partner. And for the race to finish 1-2 like that was really special.”
Kyle had a successful 2014 campaign, winning three races at Magnolia and finishing second in track points. Kyle said despite the arrival of several out-of-towners, the usual suspects like Evan Ellis and Shay Knight are capable of winning anywhere in the country.
“The same eight to 10 guys every weekend are going to be the eight to 10 who are going to be favorites this weekend,” Kyle said. “And Magnolia, that’s our home track. I run there more than anywhere. Up to this point, you take away some bad luck in a few spots and we’ve been in the hunt to win every race out there. Everything’s kind of clicked for us this year. With a little luck, I feel like we’ll be right there this weekend.”
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