The week in review:

It was rain, banjo music and reminders of home for the Western Flyer Xpress crew as they continued their quest for the 2008 O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series championship. This week took the team to Champion Park Speedway in Minden, La., for a Friday night show -- just a short six and a half hours from home. But with Timms “still on the clock” for work at his family-owned Western Flyer Xxpress out of Oklahoma City, the team took to the road Thursday evening in order to be at his job via laptop Friday morning. Now, with technology, there is no excuse to miss work to go racing.

The weather was good and all systems seemed “green” for Friday night’s encounter at the quarter-mile, semi-banked oval just 30 minutes east of Shreveport. But “The promoter tried to rain out the event with the water truck,” explained Timms. “I kept looking for the track operator from Oklahoma City but I didn't see him.”

Racing, or some form of, did take place as heat races took place as scheduled. Randy started ninth in the fifth heat in his Shaw by Taylor and quickly slopped his way to a third-place finish after the 10 laps were complete. However, after the sixth and final heat race was complete, the rest of the night’s program was postponed. Randy did accumulate enough passing points to put him 11th and lock himself into the make’up Holley “A” Main, which will take place Thursday night, May 8.

After the race was declared a rain-out, Randy, not one to shy away from saying what he really thinks, asked USMTS president Todd Staley,”"Do you realize what just happened?” When Todd replied “no” Randy quipped, “It was God’s way of saying, ‘Here is how you rain-out a race track, you didn't quite get it done with that water truck!’”

The next day it was just a short 150 miles south of Shreveport to Glenmora and the 3/8-mile, semi-banked oval of Thunder Valley Speedway. Now, history of this track tells us this track puts out some of the best late model racing to be found in Cajun country. Be it the World of Outlaws or the defunct Hav-a-Tampa late model series, people would come from everywhere to fill the seats.

But, as Randy would put it, “The track is in the middle of the sticks, you couldn't even imagine a race track being where it is located!”

With Randy being in virgin territory, familiarity with the area is non-existant. So, when directions that Randy and the rest of the USMTS regulars were given as “head west off the highway ‘til you hear banjo music,” Randy thought they were kidding.

“They weren’t.”

After being at the track for 30 minutes, the skies opened up and the race was a rain-out and postponed with a make-up date to be announced. Timms and the rest of the Western Flyer Xpress crew then had to backtrack that 150 miles PLUS the other 400 more to his Wheatland, Okla., home. But experiences and memories remained as the team now knows what to expect on their return trip to The Bayou State the weekend of May 8-10.

A weekend preview:

This weekend there are no lap tops, no unchartered territories and no banjo music as Randy and the rest of the O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series regulars head to Lake Country Speedway in Ardmore, Okla., this Friday night, May 2. He will head two hours south on I-35,  coming into the weekend second in series points -- just a mere 19 points behind current points leader Jason Hughes.

The 2007 LCS Winter Nationals champion has amassed nine feature victories at the 3/8- mile track over the last three years and thinks “It's awesome” that the USMTS is making their first ever visit there.

The next night will be another first for the series, heading to the fast little quarter-mile bullring of Cowtown Speedway in Kennedale, Texas. It should be a bit of a test for Randy as he hasn't raced at the track for about four or five years.

In closing:

Randy wants people to realize that his racing dreams would not be possible if not for the following sponsors: Western Flyer Xpress, Childhelp USA, Stacy's Custom Stripes, Bell Racing, Kent Automotive, Duralite Wheel Covers, Jeff Taylor Motorsports and Wells Race Engines.

For all you apparel-buying Randy Timms fans, new merchandise is now available at each and every O’Reilly USMTS Southern Series event, or you can purchase online at the official Randy Timms website at www.randytimms.com.

Also on the site you can find out more about Randy, his schedule, all his sponsors, a kids corner and a photo gallery.