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PRP STAFF!!!
Head Flagman Bob Smith
I became interested in Dirt Track Racing in 1969 when I ran into a friend I had graduated with. He and two of his friends owned a racecar and I became involved with them working on the car, and going to the races. When they decided to quit, I started working on another car owned by Dave Bailey and driven by JR Spencer and Charlie Swartz. I also worked on a car owned and driven by Jim Patrick who was Track Champion in 1972, 1973 and 1974 at a local track. In 1975, I became a track official in the pits at that same track.
During the 1977 season, I was talking to the promoter on the phone and that was when he told me I was the new flagman starting that night because the regular flagman had quit. I remember being very nervous that night, but when that first Saturday on the stand was over I knew that was what I wanted to do. From 1977 through 1984 I was head flagman at Southern Ohio Raceway, Atomic Speedway and Checkered Flag Raceway. I also flagged races at KC Raceway, Mountain Motor Speedway and Perry County Speedway.
In September 1984, I received a call from Robert Smalley, Proomter of the National Dirt Racing Association (NDRA) to flag the season finale at Smokey Mountain Raceway in Maryville, TN. After the four-day event, I was hired for the 1985 season. We traveled to several states putting on twenty-two races at different tracks. When the season was over, the series came to an end after thirteen years.
Exposure from N.D.R.A. got me a lot of flagging jobs for special events from 1986 through 1990. I flagged several races at Crossville Raceway, Crossville, TN, Atomic Speedway, Knoxville, TN, Georgia International Speedway, Jefferson, GA, which hosted a four crown event in four days, including NASCAR, All-Pro, ASA and N.D.R.A. for the first time on asphalt.
For the past five years I have worked for Phil and Missey Coleman at Wheelersburg Raceway, one the finest go-cart tracks in the country. We race Friday nights and run seven classes of carts.
In 1991, I spoke to Max Warnock, Promoter of Portsmouth Raceway Park about working for the Colemans. Since then I have been surrounded by a lot of people that are special to me. We have an exceptional crew here and they make my job easy. I have never worked for a better-prepared and organized racetrack since I started flagging in 1977.
I supposed I have flagged about everything, bob tail trucks, truck and tractor pulls, All Star Sprints, STARS Late Models, Mini Sprints, Modifieds, Street Stocks, Bombers, East Coast Modifieds, CRA Sprints, Six Cylinders and even a benefit lawn mower race for some friends. (The mowers were Max's favorite)
I would like to thank the fans for supporting this sport and all the drivers for respecting me for what I do. I want to thank Boone, Joyce, Tim and Jenny Coleman and Max Warnock for allowing me to be a part of this premier racing facility.
Most of all, I would like to thank my wife of thirty-three years, Lenna, who works in the tower and my daughter Tracey Dyer for allowing me to do what I dearly love for the past twenty-three years.
Thank you all, Bob Smith
Asst. Flagman Randy Campbell
In the summer of the '60's', the late Paul C. Campbell and his wife Joyce (my mother and father) took me and my sister Terri to Lucasville Fair Grounds to watch the motorcycle flat track races. To my surprise the man flagging was my dad. I watched in amazement at what he was doing. I looked up at mom and said, "Mom, would you get me some of those flags?" Well, within the next year I had a full set from green to checkered. Boy! I had my own flags, and my mom made every one. I even had a blue one with the stripe, back then I had no clue what it was for.
I would go to my cousins house on the weekends and we'd head for the calf barns, wet down the floors, get out the bicycles and my set of flags and race around in circles all day long. We'd take turns flagging and racing--What a Blast!!
In 1978 I got a job at Southern Ohio Raceway. I was maintanence man working on everything from grading the track to hanging guard rail. I enjoyed working for my uncle, he taught me a lot about racing and just taking care of the track. Then my break came, he asked me if I would like to 'flag'--It didn't take me long to reply. The next weekend I started flagging with today's Flagman Bob Smith. He and I have always had a good time working together. When you're doing this job and you're doing it with a man of Bob's experience, it makes things go so smooth. I've always told him 'Whow' If my Dad could see me now!
Ya see, I lost my dad in 1976 to a terrible accident at the old Detroit Steel mill. It was a real bad time in our lives. Dad flagged at a few tracks in his time, Lucasville flat-track, Moorehead, KY, Allegheny Hill track where Southern had it's beginning and then at Southern as well as a few others. This was always a family event. Every weekend we would all load up in the old car and off we'd go, somewhere to the races.
A few years later, I met the prettiest woman I know, my wife Sherri. She puts up with a lot for we still go racing every weekend. I raced Moto-X for twenty years and she has always supported me. I love her for the dedication. We'd take our children and my sister, you see, my sister Terri and my son raced with me, yes I said my sister. Talk about fun and family times, we had 'um.
After working with Bob at Southern, we worked together at Checkered Flag Raceway in Ashland, KY, then K C Raceway above Waverly, and I've even scored lawn-mower races. After I tore up the ACL's in both knees on the racetrack, I decided to give it up. Next thing I knew the old Southern Raceway was opening again so I applied for the flagging job. It was a week before the opening, I thought perhaps I wasn't going to get the job. Then came the phone call. I began as starting flagman with my brother Rick Goddard assisting.
I've always wanted to work at Portsmouth Raceway Park, but I had to wait my turn. Then out of nowhere, one day 'Flagman' called and asked if I was 'ready to work' at PRP. Without a breath I said 'yes'. Here I am again, doing just what I love. Flagging is next best to being in the drivers seat. If you don't believe me, just get on the flag stand one time with a green flag in your hand and watch twenty-four screaming race cars come out of turn four. You'll see what I'm talking about.
I would like to thank the Coleman's for giving me the opportunity to work at this great race track. I would like to thank Flagman Bob Smith for his help in getting me this position. I appreciate the chance to follow in the footsteps of the man called 'Dad'. My plans are to be here for many years to come and I hope the fans will have as much fun as I do.
So, if you need a family thing to do, 'Go to the Races', It's a great family thing.
HAVE FUN RACE FANS!!
Flagman, Randy Campbell
Track Announcer Chuck Greenslate
Auto racing has always been something which has intrigued me.
It's a subject which has circulated around my household for as long as I can remember, and over the years, I've had plenty of opportunities to soak up numberous dirt-track stories.
I supposed it all started in the 1950's when my uncle, Ted James, was a driver and car owner at the old Portsmouth Speedway, which once existed in Friendship. My father, Joe Greenslate, eventually became one of his drivers, piloting the No. 2 "Flying Deuce."
After hanging up his helmet for a few years, Dad bounced back on the scene to claim the 1971 Late Model track championship at the old Southern Ohio Speedway in South Webster and a fifth-place finish in the very first World 100 at El Dora Speedway in Rossburg, OH.
By the time I came around, his racing days were long gone, but the stories persist and so does our love of the sport.
Dad and I have been to a lot of race tracks over the years, seen a bunch of good races and ate quite a few hot dogs as well. However, of the all the racing we've seen, we both agree that no better action can be found that what's right here at Portsmouth Raceway Park.
That's why it's truly an honor for me to become the third announcer in the 11-year history of a track where I have regularly been attending races since I was 15 years old.
I know my predecessors, Don Radabaugh and Frank Lewis, have left some pretty big shoes to fill, but I look forward to the challenge.
I hope to be able to take the positives from every announcer I've heard from El Dora to The Dirt Track at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC and put them all to good use here at PRP, because for me, this really is a dream come true.
It's my goal to keep everyone in the stands and in the pits as informed as I possibly can over the duration of a racing program.
I guess I'm a nosy person by nature, and I never like to be left out in the dark when it comes to being aware of the dirvers I'm watching, the sponsors who help them and what's at stake in the race they're participating in.
I look foward to an outstanding 2001 season here at PRP, which will hopefully be filled with a lot of competitive racing and a great deal of fun.
See you at the track,
PRP Announcer Chuck Greenslate.
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