‘U-Cars are nothing but fun’ for ODS’ Scotty Gore this season

By Ed Turner For the News & Messenger
Published: September 19, 2008

Scotty Gore has been impressive in Mini Stocks this season at Old Dominion Speedway.  Gore, who is 10 points out of first, has collected 10 top threes, including three wins, and has an average finish of third.
“It’s been a good year,” said Gore, who was U-Car champion in 2006 and 2007.  “I’ve learned a tremendous amount.”
Gore had his best race of the season two weeks ago after he went head-to-head with points’ leader Bobby Able and won his third contest.
“To get up and run door-to-door with Bobby, that was a good feeling,” Gore said.  “It was also the first time I had a chance to run against Davey [Callihan], but I think they were off that night.  It was fun to be that competitive again.”
Gore’s car was impressive as he barreled to the lead and the win from his sixth place starting spot.  It was Gore’s first run in a car he’d just bought from former Mini-stock frontrunner Ken Datesman.
“Ken worked with the car last year and got it all sorted out with shocks and springs and all that stuff,” Gore said.  “And the car is phenomenal.  I don’t think it’s any faster down the straightway than the Toyota was.  It just goes through the corner so much better.”
In fact, before last Saturday’s rainout at ODS, Gore had grabbed his second fast time in a row and was only two tenths off the track record.  With his second fast time in hand, Gore was disappointed that the race was rained out. 
“The car’s fast and it handles so well,” Gore said.  “The key to it is that the car wants to turn.”
Gore is also appreciative of the help he’s gotten this season.  Early in the year, Gore had motor issues and he enlisted Jim Dean to help him out both in terms of money and advice. 
“He’s been a great help,” Gore said. “Steve Purks has also been a big help, as well as Billy Ingle.  Billy spent the whole winter re-doing the body on the Toyota.  He also helped on the Thunderbird.”
Gore’s main crew guy, David Simpson, has also been helpful. 
“Without those guys, there’s no way I could even get to the track,” Gore said.
With one race left in Mini Stocks, only an outside shot will allow Gore to win the championship. 
“That disappoints me,” Gore said.  “Bobby’s got me by 10 points and unfortunately, unless something happens, it’ll be tough to catch him.  That rainout hurt.”
Gore, however, said that he wouldn’t be in second if it hadn’t been for Able.  When Gore’s Toyota motor blew, Able loaned him his spare motor. 
From the end of June, Gore has collected seven top threes out of nine races, including two wins.  In the last six races, he has four top twos.
“The last half of the season, I’ve been coming on and Bobby was just kind of maintaining,” Gore said.  “So that helped me a lot.  I was also really lucky because in one race five cars wrecked together.  But I was able to get back on the track when some people weren’t able to.”
Gore said Mini Mods are more serious than running U-Cars.
“The U-Cars are nothing but fun,” he said.  “Minis are a lot more work, but also a lot more rewarding.”