"More than just rednecks turning left,"

To some, the Deming Speedway could be considered a hole-in-the-wall racetrack in the back woods of western Washington.  But to the people who invest their money, time and lives into the sport of sprint car racing, it's much more than that.  Steeped in family tradition and fast cars, the track is owned by Paul and Bev Lemley who have tried to keep the track a family oriented center of entertainment for more than 30 years.

more to come

Flames erupt from the engine of car 42 driven by 27 year-old Derek Roberts seconds after taking the checkered flag. Fires are very rare Roberts said.

Sometimes drawing crowds of more than 1,000 people, the Deming Speedway holds sprint car races with drivers as young as 7.

 The Pits

Randall Johnson, 60, is a dental technician who has watched his 25-year-old son, Kyle, race for 10 years.

Sean Ramey (left) and John Samuelson (right) help 12-year-old Cory Samuelson, John's son, get his helmet on for the 600cc restricted race. Restrictors limit the amount of fuel that is injected into the engine, keeping acceleration and speed down.

Skyler Pawlowicz, 12, poses for a portrait in his car. Pawlowicz has been racing for three years, and recently moved up from the 410cc races where he won a championship at Skagit Speedway

The view from the cockpit