There’s a good chance a blue Chevrolet Malibu wagon will finish in the top three if it is competing in a Street Stock race.
At driver Jay Burchfield’s current pace, his odds of landing in victory lane are even better.
Burchfield, 43, of Columbus, has raced a limited schedule in the past year, targeting big payout races over weekly shows — and to great success. Burchfield earned $2,500 by winning the 25th-annual “Ice Bowl” in January at Talladega, Alabama. He won his previous race at Columbus Speedway in November and earned $2,000. Before that, he competed at Magnolia Motor Speedway and missed out on a $5,000 win, finishing second to Calvin Cook after leading 19 straight green-flag laps.
“I have two daughters, 9 and 5, and a wife who likes to ride horses and compete,” Burchfield said, “so I try to keep my family happy and still race. It’s working out good.”
Burchfield will compete this weekend in the second-annual Golden Egg Classic, which will include a $1,000-to-win Street Stock feature tonight and a $2,000-to-win Street Stock feature Saturday. NeSmith Late Models, 602 Late Models, and Factory Stocks also will compete.
Burchfield expects 45-50 cars to enter this weekend. More than 60 entered the Ice Bowl in January.
“That’s easily the biggest win of my career,” Burchfield said. “It’s a race with a lot of prestige.”
While the Ice Bowl victory was memorable for Burchfield, his unique car always has placed him on “front street.” His Malibu wagon is essentially the same car as a Monte Carlo, a common Street Stock car. It’s the same length and frame, but the wagon’s top is longer. That extra roof length has been a point of contention, Burchfield said.
“I’ve heard a lot of people say that it makes the car faster by putting a lot of down-force on the rear of the car,” he said. “I don’t think any of that’s helping, but there’s been a lot of people complaining.”
Regardless, Burchfield is achieving multiple goals. Besides winning races, he likes being the “different” car on the track. His No. 25 car isn’t his first wagon. He traded a Late Model car for a Street Stock car, won a race, stripped it down, and built a wagon. He built his current wagon from the ground up, he said.
“I did it so everyone could talk about a station wagon outrunning them,” Burchfield said. “I just wanted to go with a different look than the other Monte Carlos or Camaros running around the track, just for attention. People get a kick out of it, talk about it, then some guys go home and hear, ‘Man, a station wagon outran you.’ ”
Two station wagons likely will compete this weekend at Magnolia. Rusty Duncan, who competed at Magnolia two weeks ago, likely will enter his ’57 Chevy Nomad. Tony Silvestri and Scooter Ware also have pickups.
“I’ve seen some El Caminos over the years, but we’re really the only guys who have different-looking cars,” Burchfield said. “It’s fun, and the fans like it.”
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