Lonesome Pine Raceway Features A Diverse Cast Of Characters

COEBURN, Va. – The cast of characters has become familiar.

There are rising stars, proven veterans and even a fun-loving, fast-driving guy named Nasty.
Welcome to Lonesome Pine Raceway, a scenic 3/8-mile high-banked oval tucked in the coalfields where the emphasis is more on fun than flashy personalities and big money.

“We’re all about the grassroots of racing,” said track co-owner Jeff Roark, who is assisted by congenial general manager Harold Crook.

Those grassroots run deep at LPR. The roster of former track greats includes 2006 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Danny O’Quinn, Jr., NASCAR Cup Rookie of the Year Ronnie Thomas, Jeff Agnew and Johnny Rumley.

While star-struck NASCAR fans may not recognize the local legends, their tales of toil and success provide incentive for the gang at Coeburn.

Bill Hale can relate. The Honaker resident competed in the Late Model division at LPR in the 1990s, and now helps guide his 23-year-old son, Josh.

“We’ve traveled to a lot of tracks, and Lonesome Pine is hard to beat,” Bill Hale said. “It’s comparable to a Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, or even a small Bristol Motor Speedway.”
Thanks to soaring gas prices and Saturday night NASCAR events on television, short track operators and competitors are in peril.

Josh Hale has competed in several touring events with the UARA (United Auto Racing Association) Late Model series, including a pair of races at Bristol Motor Speedway last year where he posted a best finish of 14th.

“You are competing against so much money at the UARA level, including NASCAR developmental teams,” Hale said. “We figured things up and discovered that we were operating on eight cents on the dollar compared to what the big teams spent in UARA.”

While their dreams are still big, the Hales are focused on the fundamentals. A graduate of Emory & Henry, Josh Hale is enrolled in the motorsports program at Virginia Highlands Community College in Abingdon.

“I can pull our rig down from home to Coeburn for $50,” Bill Hale said. “For UARA events, we usually spent at least $300-500 just on fuel, then you had to factor in motel rooms and other expenses.”

As prices climb and the on-track competition increases, Hale feels the potential exists for resurgence at Lonesome Pine.

“People are just now getting the word that this track is back up and running,” Hale said. “We’ve been working on getting the word out to folks around the region, and we talked to some folks during the recent UARA race at Bristol.

“People in this region really need to come out and support this track along with the drivers. We’ve got a pretty neat deal right here at home.”

Nasty Jones certainly agrees.

The 54-year-old Chilhowie resident caught the racing bug in 1992 while competing in the Enduro division at LPR. He’s been feeding his passion ever since.

“Those Enduro races were just 100 laps of pure excitement,” Jones said.

Jones went on to win entry-level track titles at Lonesome Pine, now-defunct Kingsport Speedway and Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat.

When the new owners of LPR decided to introduce a new division called Chargers this season, Jones returned to the mountains. A Charger is basically a Late Model car with a crate motor.
“I had a car that I hadn’t been raced for about six years,” Jones said. “When I heard they were creating a division here for crate motors, I knew that that would be perfect for me.”

Jones appreciates the cost-effective form of racing with the Chargers.

“The motor and carburetor only run about $4,000, and the tires that we use come off Late Model cars,” Jones said. “Once you get past that initital
Investment, it’s relatively cheap to race in this division.’’

Whether he’s powersliding on the dirt in Rural Retreat or charging to the front in Coeburn, Jones knows racing. It’s a release from his job of as a forest technician with the Virginia Department of Forestry.

“I love this form of racing, that’s why I’m here at the track every week,” Jones said. “I have a great time competing, plus I get to put on a show.
“It’s going to take a while to get things again here and gas prices don’t help, but the new track owners really know what they’re doing.”

As for his nickname, Jones just goes with the flow.

“Nasty, that’s just what everybody calls me,” Jones said.

Shane Higgins has heard the good word about the new-look LPR. The Weaverville, N.C. resident has made the two-hour tow to Coeburn often this season to compete on the Street Stock division.

“After the track in Asheville closed down, it was just hit and miss for us with races in Newport (Tennessee) and Tri-County (Hudson, N.C.),” Higgins said. “Another driver from the (Asheville) area came to Lonesome Pine and he told us what a nice place it was. This is a nice place…it’s what a race track should be.”

Bristol Motor Speedway vice-president of events Wayne Estes is another fan of Lonesome Pine. Estes attended a recent race at Coeburn, and thanked the LPR regulars for loaning their cars for the recent National Hot Rod Association Circle Track Challenge at BMS.

“We have great partnership between our track and Lonesome Pine. We want to make sure all the racers have a place to compete,” Estes said.

Another UARA event will be held July 5th at Bristol Motor Speedway, with ASA Late Model and Hooter’s Pro Cup shows to follow in August.

Jeff Bobo, a 39-year-old competitor in Pure 4 division, pointed to the basics of grassroots racing.

“Obviously, NASCAR kills us with these Saturday night shows,” Bobo said. “I like to watch NASCAR too, but I also like to compete.”

Bobo, who works full-time as a journalist, has won four races since 2001. He has worked on his own to promote LPR, even installing a small camera inside his car to record programming for a local cable access show.

“The new track owners have said they have good financial backing and a three-year plan,” Bobo said.

“After what happened last year with the track owner last year, I think a lot of people are cautious.
“We’re getting paid now. That always a good thing.”

And Hale is among those eager to keep a good thing going in the coalfields.

“The expense of competing in a touring series has become almost impossible for a family team,” Hale said. “We like racing here at home and we’ve heard that more race cars are being built in the area.
“I think things will work out pretty good for Lonesome Pine despite the economy. If anybody can get this track up and going again, Harold Crook and his group can do it.”
agregory@bristolnews.com (276) 669-2544
What: Lonesome Pine Raceway

Where: Coeburn, Va.

Next Race: June 28

Fast Facts: A facility for ATV dirt drag racing is located just outside the LPR oval, with action on most Saturday nights.

More information: Call 276-698-8834 or go to info@lpraceway.net