thanks steve and everyone we really appriciate it.
I'm personally really happy to know that in rough times the whole racing community is a good group of people and its not just all about racing, sometimes we do have some fun.

I want people to know even if you just knew dave and not the rest of the crew or me and my family no one is ever not welcome in the BT pit we always like meeting and chatting with fans and competitors ech night. We try to keep his memory strong

Thanks again everyone

[That is SUPER cool, anybody that got to run with Dave in S.S. has great memories of the guy, we always ran eachother hard, but he was always there to lend a helping hand...wish I had gotten to know him better, but still have some great memories from hanging out at the shop.

And you still paint that rear bumper green, I know you do.  🙂

Here is a free PC Puzzle we did last year to remember Dave Lawrence

Click Here to download the free puzzle

I'm late in the thread, but I've been ruminating all night on just what to write. I've read through al the tributes from just after he passed, and it's occurred to me that he'd probably think its pretty cool what has come to pass since his death.

If you follow those tributes from back then, so many of our top SS runners were just wet-behind-the-ears kids at the time, and I think of how proud he'd likely be today to be rubbing fenders with the likes of Darrell, Andrew, Stephen, not to mention his own son Kris....and pretty soon Jo too I'd imagine. Just the fact that all those kids, and now young men, that he helped out from Jrs to full size cars are now doing so well, is perhaps the greatest tribute of all.

I always wished, maybe even more so now than before, that I had gotten involved with the racing community a little sooner and would have actually had the chance to meet him. The closest I ever came was a brief howdy out beside his place while he was putting his kids on my school bus one day. But...I'm betting he'd be one of those guys that I make sure to get around to every night before the races.

And I bet I'd fight him over the last of the black ju-jubes too.  😉

One of the things I remember most was when Kevin Bulmer addressd the crowd the week after his passing. The very first thing he said was "Last week when we all went home, the Delaware Speedway Family was whole...and this week it is not"  It summed it up so bluntly, yet so eloquently, and I wonder if the Speedway Family here 5 years later can say the same thing. I think it can.

But it's important with any famly to remember those that have passed...that on those special occasions we set an extra place at the table for one who could not be here, because he was yanked away from us too soon.

I've always kind of sat on the fence as far as things like naming grandstands or even advertising something as a "Memorial Race".  I can understand a track shying away from that, just on the basis of "if you do it for one, then you have to do it for another", and understanding as well that they probably want to avoid starting that particular snowball rolling.

But you know, I've come to realize that in the case of Dave Lawrence, some sort of recognition is warranted. He was just so damned influential. Look around the SS pits. His mark is everywhere. I'd be willing to bet that most of those cars...especially the Novas, have had his hand in there somewhere. But also, (and more importantly) he left his mark on the people too. All those guys I mentioned earlier, Darrell, Andrew, Stephen, Kris...all of them, and their teams, have one thing in common - friendliness and a willingness to help. You know that if you go to the Perkins hauler, or the Lake hauler, or any of those guys, and you're looking for help or advice...you're likely gonna get some. And that also snowballs.

That is Dave Lawrence's legacy right there. And it should be noted. Somehow.

I'd propose the Dave Lawrence Memorial SS race...28 laps, every year on the anniversary of his passing, and that it be billed as such on the schedule. I know its not terribly original...we mostly do that anyway, but I'd like to see it as an annual event and listed on the schedule. (The Lawrence/Harborne Award is great...but only the guys in the pits really know about it) Kudos to Delaware staff for going along with the 28 lapper this week. That's great, but let's do it every year.

In closing, just wanted to shout out to Kris, Jo, and Heather. Remember well, and I know that you do.

To everyone else, let Dave's passing be a reminder to hold the ones you love close to you and let them know how you feel now, because life is fragile and you never can truly know if they'll be there tomorrow.

I'll leave off with a video, yoinked off the historical thread. This is Duane's big win in Dave's 28 exactly 1 year after Dave's death...possibly the greatest SS race I've ever witnessed.

This, to my mind, is still the race that defines Super Stock racing to me.

In June of 2006 we lost Dave Lawrence, who'd pretty much been the Street Stock division's elder statesman and most successful driver. The next year, Duane Manning took the helm of the 28 car, and went back to Dave's very first paint scheme.

This evening was a race that went 28 laps instead of the usual 25, in honor of Dave. If I recall correctly, it was exactly a year after his passing. We take up with about ten laps to go. Manning's actually well out in front, but he bobbles slightly in turn 2, allowing 87-Jeremy Ouellette to catch him.

Manning isn't behind the wheel any more, but is still helping out the BT Racing team, and also fields a Krown Jr car driven by his son Lucas. I have no idea what's become of Ouellete.

If this isn't an example of a guy racing his heart out, then I don't know what is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lv1AgdYAZw&feature=channel_page#normal ]Delaware Speedway Peterbilt Super Stock Final Laps June 15[/url]  

I was never fortunate enough to run with Dave in the ss class, but he did help me with parts and advice.  The only time I ran with him was in an enduro race a while back (story time with Rabideau coming).  I was coming off turn two and was passing a new red camaro that I didn't know (Dave had put it together in practically one night, ask Matt Lake).  As I was beside him he gave me a little side bump, I was thinking what is this guy doing, so I proceeded to return the favour.  I then felt another little side bump and I looked over ready to give a possible one finger salute, and there is Dave with a smile on his face from ear to ear.  I knew he was just jerking me around then, and I couldn't help but laugh, and we proceeded to race hard for the position.  I clear case of someone who just loves to be on the track.

I think the 28 lap race is very classy, and should be an annual thing.