Reading Eagle correspondent
Craig Von Dohren traded the spotlight for garage lights this offseason.
The circuit's all-time 358-modified winner didn't issue a press release outlining his plans for 2010. He opted not to display a car in any of the recent car shows.
Craig Von Dohren, right, will run in a self-owned car this season for the first time since the late 1980s.
Questions surrounding Von Dohren's future lingered on racing Internet message boards.
Von Dohren's low profile, however, shouldn't be received as a harbinger of a dismal season to come.
When Big Diamond Raceway (April 2) and Grandview Speedway (April 3) open their 358-mod point seasons, Von Dohren will be a force, as he has been for the last 30 years.
The driver known as "CVD" has worked hard to assemble a formidable team, albeit under the radar, this offseason.
A professional dirt modified racer by trade, Von Dohren was brimming with enthusiasm last autumn when Bob Greene of PPB Racing offered him a ride with his top-shelf team for 2010.
Less than a month after their deal went public in September, a sagging economy forced Greene to shut down his racing efforts to focus on business.
Von Dohren, who had already bid adieu to '09 team owners Chad Sinon and Mike Harvey, was on the outside looking in.
"It was an unfortunate turn of events," Von Dohren reflected. "I understand Bob's point of view. We're still friends, and we all talk."
As for his situation, Von Dohren was looking at desperate times. "I was kind of left high and dry," he said.
Fortunately for Von Dohren, he has a strong circle of support in the racing community - a group that was willing to step up to the plate when he needed it.
For the first time since the late 1980s, Von Dohren will strap into a self-owned car regularly on Saturday nights this season in Grandview's NASCAR Whelen All-American Series 358-modified division.
Von Dohren will be listed as the sole owner of the No. 1c. However, he won't be going at it alone. Businessmen Carl Felty, John Sharman and Scott Kauffman offered financial sponsorship assistance should Von Dohren make a go of it on his own. So he took the leap.
"They made it possible," Von Dohren said. "They stepped up to do this for me, so I decided to give it a try."
The 46-year-old has a new Teo-Pro car set to go in search of a seventh Grandview title.
Critics say paying the bills may take its toll on Von Dohren's driving. He disagrees.
"It's all the same when you're on the track," he said. "It's not going to matter."
For Friday racing at Big Diamond, Von Dohren finds himself in a familiar seat: aboard a car owned by Harvey of Millville, N.J. A law enforcement officer in his hometown, Harvey has backed Von Dohren's racing efforts in varying degrees since 2006.
Harvey was willing to get back involved when Greene's opportunity fell through.
Harvey's car, the same Teo-built machine run at Big D last year, will be maintained in Von Dohren's Oley race shop alongside his own.
"Mike has been with me for a while now, and he's always there when I need him," Von Dohren said. "I appreciate him helping out with Fridays this year."
Jason Bashore returns to provide at-the-track consultation for both nights.
A select schedule of big-block events is a possibility for the team later in the year.
Von Dohren plans to enter the 358-mod event at Selinsgrove Speedway March 19 and will run his small-block with the big-block teams at Big D March 28 to get the year started early.
"We've been quiet this winter, mainly because we got a late start," Von Dohren said. "We've got to come out strong and get this thing off on the right foot."
(Brent Smith Photo)
No comments:
Post a Comment