“The competition is a lot tougher this season,” Mike Haggenbottom told me the other day as he talked about the United Racing Club sprint cars. “The competition is a lot more equal. A lot more car owners have money. Everybody seems to have the latest technologies.”

            The Levittown, PA racer, going after his second United Racing Club driving title, lead the point standings early, missed qualifying for a feature race in Delaware, is still in the top ten in the point chase.

            Haggenbottom was racing at one of his hometown tracks this past Saturday when the URC sprinters invaded the popular New Egypt, NJ Speedway. “It is one of my favorite tracks. It is small and close to home and we go good there,” commented Haggenbottom. He also considers Grandview and Bridgeport Speedways hometown tracks.

            Money means a lot in URC sprint car racing. Actually it means a like in all auto racing. A sprint car, ready to go racing with the traveling organization, goes for about $45,000 ( figure $25,000 for a motor and $20,000 for the actual race car). A shock absorber will cost you $250 and a tire goes for about $165. Mike tells us that most teams use three tires a night. The list of expenses for a race night can be staggering and the return on investment is virtually nonexistent.

            “I am very fortunate in that I have a very good car owner. He provides me with the very best,” said the former sprint car champion. The car owner is Bill Gallagher who operates Valley Forge Inc., a landfill business. The company name is on the sprint car as is GEI Contracting, Richboro Lawn and Garden, WDB Landscaping and Johnson Chiropractic (Mike makes use of the Yardley based chiropractic service often. It is part of being an auto racer)

            Sprint car racing is just a part of what he has on his plate for this season though he will be running all the scheduled URC events including Canada. He missed one last year because he had the opportunity to race in an ARCA RE/MAX Series stock car race at Pocono Raceway.

            Haggenbottom has promised his car owner that he will not miss a sprint car race this season but he will get to run an ARCA race at Pocono again. “Andy Belmont and I just agreed to a deal last night. I will be driving one of his cars in the June race at Pocono,” said the popular racer. It is part of the NASCAR Nextel Cup weekend. “And I might get to drive another ARCA race later in the season on the dirt track in Duquoin, Illinois.”

            And Mike still continues to work on his main goal which is to put together a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series team. To finance such an effort will talk a bunch of money. He has been talking with some sponsors and has a couple meetings set for early June that just may help him reach him make his dream come true.

            Haggenbottom would like to be able to race in the Truck Series (seen on SPEED Channel) and then move on to the NASCAR Busch Series and who knows after that.

            But this past Saturday Mike had all his thoughts centered on racing a sprint car at New Egypt Speedway and taking home a feature win and moving up in the chase for the lucrative URC point title.

            Mike will also be at other local tracks during May including Big Diamond Raceway on May 21st and Bridgeport Speedway on May 22.

            PIT NOTES: For the third consecutive year, Robby Gordon will attempt the “Double” racing in both the Indianapolis 500 and NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway in Charlotte on the same day. Gordon will drive his own No. 70 Meijer/Coca-Cola Dallara- Chevrolet at Indy and Richard Childress Racing’s No. 31 Cingular Wireless Chevrolet at Charlotte.

            Gordon may be the busiest driver in racing during the month of May as he participates in the practice and time trials that lead up to the running of the 88th annual Indy 500 on May 30th. And he will continue to run all the Nextel Cup races and all the NASCAR Busch Series races scheduled during the month.

            And should there be a few free moments he will be writing a series of five exclusive columns for the Associated Press during May dealing with insights into his racing both at Indy and Charlotte.

            Fans have the opportunity to join Gordon for the two race trip on May 30th. Details on the tip are available at 704.949.1255.

            GOOD NEWS for fans with huge RV’s going to Pocono Raceway. The turn two tunnel has been reconstructed to accommodate vehicles up to 13 feet 6 inches tall. The new tunnel will be in use for the June 13th Pocono 500 and the August 1st Pennsylvania 500.

            WE CONTINUE to piece together a story on the Langhorne Speedway. It will relive some of the great memories of what was one of the greatest dirt track racing facilities in the nation. For those who may not know the one-mile-dirt oval was located on Route 1 in Langhorne, PA where now sits a Sam’s Club, Kmart and Levitz Furniture store.

            DEMOLITION DERBY NEXT AT HAGERSTOWN. Promoter Frank Plessinger has scheduled a real bang up night for the Hagerstown Speedway on Saturday, May 15th. In addition to a full program of stock car racing, a Free-for-all Demolition Derby will round out the night’s activities. Registration is now being accepted for the Derby.

            Gates open for the night of live action at 5 P.M. with racing beginning at 7 P.M. Admission is only $9.00 for adults and children under 12 are FREE.