Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sports. Show all posts

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Close To Home Tie To Super Bowl






"Not only is Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn an alum of

Salisbury University, he is one of the more accomplished

athletes in Sea Gulls football history. Quinn was a four-year

starter from 1990-93 and two-year captain. He also ran track

and field, representing then-Salisbury State in the hammer

throw at the 1994 NCAA championships." 

Read more: https://www.pressboxonline.com/2017/01/25/falcons-head-coach-salisbury-alum-dan-quinn-makes-university-proud

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Gumboro~Crisfield Mudbogs 2012 Season Banquet

GUMBORO-CRISFIELD MUDBOGS
2012 AWARDS

Saturday, March 23, 2013
Crisfield Elks Lodge-
4410 Crisfield Hwy.,
Crisfield, MD.
 

 
Banquet begins @6:30 PM
 
Tickets: $15.00 per person
Awards and trophies for the 2012 mudbog season will be presented.


Contact Charlie Price for tickets
410-330-6571
** Please Note:
If you haven't contacted Charlie for your banquet tickets and plan to attend PLEASE do so ASAP!  Monies for the tickets should be mailed to Charlie Price- 1205 Boundary Road, Cambridge, Maryland 21613 by March 8, 2013.  Monies can be also taken to Wright Townsend.

Sunday, August 19, 2012

What Happens At Friday Night Football Practice When Chief Sewell Shows Up!

Football Season Begins.....
Salvation Army football teams practiced  their skills Friday night on the corner of Clarke and Willow.  These little guys were really into the game.

This is what happens when Pocomoke City Police Chief Kelvin Sewell walks up to show his support for football season and all  the teams! 

He reallied this team around and on the count of three.....
GO RED LIONS!!
#25- Ready to get the game going.......

Note: In case you football lovers didn't know.... Chief Sewell is very much a Ravens fan! 

GOOD LUCK TO ALL THE TEAMS THIS SEASON !!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Johnnie Edwards Mixes It Up With "In The Mix"

First run of the 2011 mudbogging season. 

Some of you may not know but the driver of "In The Mix" is no stranger to driving this jeep through any kind of mud.  Johnnie drove this same jeep years ago in Crisfield during the mud hop days.





With a new engine this year and new tires Johnnie and his jeep set out for their first run.  These guys that support this sport have a true love for mud.  That's just  my opinion, however.  Making mudpies is more my speed.

Mud conditions don't matter to this racer and his jeep.  And this isn't a complete pass.  But it is a taste of what will happen when he does.......and I'll probably mess my pants!

 

Johnnie Edwards - "In The Mix" 
MINI OPEN Class


GOOD JOB, JOHNNIE!!
Next time's the charm.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Mudbogging Goes Indoors

MudBogging, for the first time, was taken inside the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in January, through the efforts of Checkered Flag Productions.

Some of the regular drivers from the Gumboro Mudbog were on hand to put their trucks through the last tracks of thick mud before settling down and concentrating on the upcoming season of racing which is just now a few weeks away.

Jared Collins (no photo) driving Orange Crush, in the Modified Class, took first place in the Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening shows.


Kelly Hubbard driving High Voltage, in Modified Class, took fourth place Friday night, first place Saturday afternoon and second place Saturday night.
Lee Sturgis who drives Grey Ghost and

Patrick Long the driver of All Night Soldier finished somewhere in the mix of it all but had a great time participating. This put an end to the mudbogging for a few weeks for these guys. The new racing season in Gumboro begins in April and since the first of February the drivers have been busy preparing for the summer of mudbogging.

More stories and photos on mudbogging in our archives........please feel free to browse.

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Parents Asking For Jr. Varsity Football At Pocomoke High School

February 18, 2011
Written By: Staff Writer, Travis Brown
A group of concerned individuals petitioned the Worcester County Board of Education Tuesday to bring junior varsity football to Pocomoke High School (PHS).

While many board members openly supported the idea, they also cautioned the group that the process of bringing a football team to PHS would likely be long and have to take place in degrees.

“They [the kids] all want to play,” said Howard Wilkinson parent of two children currently at Pocomoke Middle School.

Wilkinson explained to the assembly that his kids deserved the opportunity to play football on a school team once they reached PHS.

As of now, the only options for Pocomoke area students who wish to play football are programs like the Salvation Army Youth Club. Or, if a student is determined to play on a school team, Worcester County allows youths to attend any public school they wish, regardless of residence, as long as the individual can provide their own transportation.

This policy has resulted in many students transferring to nearby Snow Hill High School, just to take advantage of that school’s football program.

However, the process can be trying on families who have to transport the student to and from school every day. Additionally, the transfer means having to adjust to a new school and new people, an experience which is often difficult to manage for students at that age.

While Worcester used to allow temporary, one semester transfers to students wishing to participate in other schools’ sporting seasons, a relatively recent state athletic law has changed the rules.

“The school you play for, you have to graduate from,” Superintendent Dr. Jon Andes explained to the assembly, meaning that students who transfer to Show Hill High School to play football are implying the intent to graduate from that school. If they were to return to PHS at any point, they would not be allowed to play on the Show Hill High football team again.

Such rules were cited by the group asking for a football program at PHS, including Salvation Army Youth Club Director Harvey Davis, who told the Board of Education that he saw more than enough commitment and dedication from Pocomoke players on his club team to justify giving the school its own program.

The board heard what the advocates were saying and seemed engaged in the discussion and exploring all options.

Several members shared their own memories of playing high school football and agreed that it was an opportunity for growth that all youths should have the chance to experience. However, the realities of bringing football to PHS, even just junior varsity, will be difficult to surmount.

“Football is a very expensive undertaking,” said Andes. “It’s probably one of the most expensive programs.”

Board of Education President Bob Hulburd agreed, saying, “There are a lot of nuts and bolts and details that need to be worked out.”

The board suggested taking the Stephen Decatur High School swim team as something of a model for what would need to be done at PHS. That team began at the club level after receiving a lot of support from students and parents and eventually evolved into a fully Decatur-endorsed program.

“You need to show the intent and commitment of the community,” Board of Education Vice President Bob Rothermel said.

Rothermel recommended getting in touch with PHS administration, the PTA, and the community at large and coming back at the board’s next meeting.

Wilkinson and his group got a head start on Rothermel’s proposal when PHS Principal Tyrone Mills, who was in the audience, lent his support to the petition.

“I’d love to have football at Pocomoke High School,” he said.

From: www.mdcoastdispatch.com

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Baltimore Ravens Hire Eastern Shore Native Todd Washington

The Baltimore Ravens have hired Eastern Shore native Todd Washington as their new assistant offensive line coach. Washington has been working with them for about two weeks.

Washington is a 1994 graduate of Nandua High School and he attended and played football for Virginia Tech as a guard and center. Washington also played for 8 years in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buchaneers and the Houston Texans.

Washington is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Tony Washington of Melfa.

According to an article in the Baltimore Sun, Washington fills the position left by Andy Moeller, who was promoted to offensive line coach after John Matsko was fired. Last season, Washington coached the offensive line for the UFL's Hartford Colonials.

"We researched Todds career and know hes a demanding coach who builds very good relationships with the players," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "Todd will work well with Andy and our players to make the offensive line the best it can possibly be."

Washington started his coaching career as the offensive line coach at the University of San Diego in 2007. He was promoted to offensive coordinator for the 2009 season.

Shoredailynews

Friday, January 28, 2011

MUD BOG Added To the Monster Truck Show

"Can you picture this - Mud flying 30 feet in the air, tires spinning, and engines screaming with the driver’s foot standing on the gas, well from the Bad Boys of Racing it is HOT ROD MUD BOG DRAG RACING ACTION! " (from Wicomicociviccenter.org.)


On the minds of the fans of Monster Trucks shows is the show this weekend at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center sponsored by Checkkered Flag Productions. These Monster Trucks have won the hearts of fans of all ages and beginning Friday night, then Saturday afternoon and ending Saturday evening these monstrous trucks will keep all their fans on their feet yelling and begging for MORE!

This year it won't just be the Monster Trucks they're screaming MORE for!!
The MUD BOG has been added.

Hooray!!!!
span >
Mud Bog Racers are excited about this!

So, of course when certain people from the 123 East Performance/Bowden Racing Team heard about it they just had to jump on board.

If you are a follower of the Gumboro Mudbog you will recognize the names Laurie Ann (Long) Sturgis and now husband Lee. They each drive the Grey Ghost. They will be competing and I can't wait to see who will drive the Grey Ghost through the mud since only one trip through the mud is allowed. Good luck, guys. The Grey Ghost participated in several classes during the season of the Gumboro Mudbog. It's a fast truck and one to watch as it hits the mud!
Another Gumboro Mudbog participator is Patrick Long driving his All Night Soldier. During the season Patrick participated in different classes of mudracing and was the 1st place winner in the Prostock class plus the 2nd place winner in Big-tire Prostock. Keep your eyes wide open on All Night Soldier. Keep your eyes on him.

Then last but never least is Kelly Hubbard. It saddens me that I don't have a photo of his truck High Voltage. I can tell you that Kelly drove High Voltage at both Crisfield and Gumboro during the past season and ended with a 2nd place win in Small-tire modified. In this class ending the season with a second place win was NOT an easy feat for this guy. So pay attention when he makes his attempt to glide through the mud.

If you have never seen mudbogging before you are in for a surprise IF indoor mudbogging is anything like it is outside.

And I'm quite sure there will be others from the surrounding area waiting to throw mud 30 feet or more in the air.

Good luck to all of you and be safe.<>

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

What Can Happen When Your Boss Is Not A Good Sport

With Chicago reeling from Sunday’s painful playoff loss, Monday morning probably wasn’t the best time for car salesman John Stone to share his love for the Green Bay Packers with co-workers and customers.

But Stone, 34, proudly showed up for work at Webb Chevrolet in south suburban Oak Lawn wearing his green-and-yellow Packers necktie anyway.

Now he’s former car salesman John Stone.

The morning after the Chicago Bears’ hated rivals beat them at Soldier Field to advance to the Super Bowl, Webb’s general manager Jerry Roberts says he fired Stone for refusing to remove the Packers-branded tie.

The facts aren’t in dispute, only the appropriateness of the novelty neckwear.

“He said, ‘You have two options,’ ” a furious Stone said later Monday. “Remove the tie, or you’re fired.”

“When I didn’t, he said, ‘You can leave, you’re fired.’ Does that sound fair to you?”

Stone, a father of two who had worked at Webb Chevrolet for a month-and-a-half, grew up in Chicago’s Roseland community but said he’s supported the Packers since he first saw former running back Ahman Green play.

“I liked the way he played, and I liked Brett Favre before he left, and I love Aaron Rodgers, the coaching staff — the whole organization,” he said.

“I was just showing my love for my team and it was a nice, smart tie that matched my clothes — none of the customers minded: they had a sense of humor about it.”

Roberts agreed that no customers had complained about the tie when Stone was asked to remove it at 10:30 a.m., and that Stone was a good salesman who sold 14 cars last month.

But he said the tie was “salting the wounds” of Bears fans including himself and that it “makes it harder to sell cars in what’s already a competitive sales environment.”

“We spend $20,000 a month on advertising with the Bears on WBBM during the season, and we have Bears players including Corey Wootten driving loaner vehicles, and here was a salesman openly undoing that work.”

The deals with the Bears include Webb sponsoring the “Most Valuable Bear” award handed out after every game and a loaner vehicle for announcer Jeff Joniak, Roberts said.

Stone was offered five chances to take off the tie, but chose not to, he said, adding “If he loves the tie more than his job, he’s welcome to keep wearing it — elsewhere.”

For his part, Stone complains that he often wore the tie, which he bought three years ago at Wal-Mart, in his former job at a Dodge dealership.

But, said Roberts, context is everything. “If he’d worn the tie on Saturday I wouldn’t have minded.”

And what if the Bears had won?

“I suspect he wouldn’t have worn the tie.”

www.suntimes.com

Friday, January 21, 2011

Increase In Ticket Prices For Orioles Games

For the first time since after the 2006 season, the Orioles are raising single game ticket price the s at Camden Yards.

All tickets -- except for the cheapest, left-field, upper reserve seats which will remain at $8 and $9 -- will increase in cost for 2011, ranging from $1 to $7 extra depending on the game desired and when the tickets are purchased.

Greg Bader, the club’s director of communications, said non-prime, advance tickets will increase on average $3, which would make the average price for those tickets roughly $28. The average season-ticket price remains at about $23, below the 2010 Major League Baseball average of $27, according to Bader.

“We believe that the average increase of $3 per ticket is not going to negatively impact someone’s decision to buy, although we recognize no one ever wants to pay more for anything. We certainly understand that point,” Bader said.

Season ticket prices did not go up for 2011 and this is the first, full seat hike for advance tickets since after the 2003 season, Bader said. The increase after 2006 affected some but not all of the tickets sold.

However, this increase comes after the Orioles lost 96 games in 2010, their 13th consecutive losing season. Fans who have not seen an increase of production on the field are being asked to pay more for that product.

“I understand that reaction, but the reality is that there are other factors that are part of that decision-making process,” Bader said.

The Orioles will also continue to implement higher prime-game prices – for all contests against the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox as well as Opening Day on April 4 against the Detroit Tigers – and an extra charge for walk-up ticket purchases the day of the game.

Gameday charges were implemented last season and Bader said it had little to no effect on the number of walkups in 2010. The drop in attendance to an all-time low at Camden Yards last season had more to do with a drop in advance sales after the Orioles began the year 2-16 and 9-24, he said.

“The 2010 walkup figures were essentially unchanged from previous seasons. The difference in attendance from 2009 to 2010 was directly attributable to the lack of advanced sales, which was directly attributable to the team performance during the first two weeks of the season,” Bader said. “So from early April until July, we simply were not selling tickets in advance at the rate we did in previous years. But game day sales were practically identical. And we do not believe that the average $2 difference (for walkups) is going to prevent most fans from making a game-day purchase.”

www.baltimoresun.com

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Pocomoke High School Hockey Team

Pocomoke High School Field Hockey Team ~ Going for their 8th straight title of East region 1A State Champion. Pocomoke Warriors field hockey team beat the Manchester Valley Mavericks 2-1 on Monday.

Today the Pocomoke High School Girls field hockey travels to Washington College to play Patterson Mill. Game starts at 4:00 PM.



GOOD LUCK PHS FIELD HOCKEY TEAM!!

GO WARRIORS!!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Virginia Deer Hunting Season

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries says it's trying to lure former hunters back to the deer woods.

The agency says it's started sending postcards to former hunting license holders. The message encourages them to return to the sport and to share the experience with others.

The recruitment drive comes as Virginia's main deer season approaches. The gun season is scheduled to open Saturday.

While hunters kill about 250,000 deer a year in Virginia, the Game and Inland Fisheries Department says it needs hunters to keep the 1 million-strong population in check.


www.wtop.com

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Pocomoke Hockey Team Wins State Semifinal

Monday, November 8, 2010 - Annapolis, Maryland

The Pocomoke field hockey team celebrates its 2-1 victory against Manchester Valley in a Class 1A state semifinal.



Way to go PHS Hockey Team !!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Prostock First Place Winner 2010 At Gumboro

The season of mud racing at the Gumboro Mudbog has now come to an end. Hopefully, within a few days all the points will be added and we will know who all the winners are in all classes that have raced throughout the season.


Points are very important to the drivers of these trucks because caring for one can be quite overwhelming at times and at the end of the year one really needs to know where one stands for the season.

It kind of helps a driver put into perspective all of the hard work, time and expense he or she has put into the machine throughout the year. It doesn't matter if you win or lose...... the time and frustration seems worth it.

For the drivers of the 187 East Performance team no one has to tell them and they don't need to know the numbers to know who the 1st place winner is in Prostock this year.

The first place honor goes to Patrick Long and his truck "All Night Soldier" of the 187 East Performance team.


Here's the video of Patrick's last run for the season this past Saturday.

A very well deserved and well earned win!
Congratulations Patrick!!

More on the Gumboro Mudbog soon...........

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Ravens Coach Charged With DUI

State police say a Ravens assistant coach was arrested and charged Saturday with driving while under the influence of alcohol.

Andy Moeller, 46, an assistant offensive line coach, was stopped by a trooper for speeding just before 1 a.m. Saturday on the outer loop of the beltway at Greenspring Ave., according to state police spokesman Greg Shipley.

Moeller showed signs of being impaired and was charged with seven traffic violations, including driving while under the influence. Shipley said Moeller signed the citations and was released to a sober driver.

Moeller will enter a not guilty plea, attorney Andrew I. Alperstein said Monday.

"We'll deal with this [case] as it comes My client's position is that we're going to review the evidence and decide how to proceed," Alperstein said.

Court records show Moeller, of Owings Mills, was charged in May with four counts, including driving while under the influence and negligent driving, and was acquitted in late August.

The Ravens said they knew about the arrest but would not comment further.

"We're aware of the situation," said Kevin Byrne, the Ravens' senior vice president of public relations.
Moeller is in his third season with the Ravens after joining the team from the University of Michigan.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Cal Ripkin, Jr. And Orioles Celebrate Anniversary

Cal Ripken Jr. was never big on self-promotion as a Hall of Fame player for the Orioles and though his name is now attached to a stadium in Aberdeen, a street outside of Camden Yards and a youth baseball league, he is still not one to remind anyone of his greatest career achievement.

The 15th anniversary of that achievement — breaking Lou Gehrig's legendary streak of 2,130 straight games — was marked before Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays with Ripken, who recently turned 50, throwing a perfect strike from the pitcher's mound to Orioles utility player Jake Fox.

It was 15 years ago Monday that Ripken broke Gehrig's streak, Baltimore's Iron Man passing New York's Iron Horse.
"It seems like time has gone by really, really fast," Ripken told reporters in the press box after Sunday's ceremony. "I only realize it when I look at the age of my kids. In many other ways, it seems like the whole night that happened out here is just a couple of years ago. But 15 years? We all get old. Time goes by much faster when you leave the game then when you play it."

But the memories of that night against the California Angels , highlighted by Ripken's impromptu victory lap around the stadium high-fiving with fans, remain.

"I have a special memory, a special feel of it from inside my spikes," Ripken said. "It was a wonderful human moment, a wonderful family moment, a great baseball moment. But I guess the farther you get removed from it, in some ways it feels like maybe it wasn't you who did.
Though it seems doubtful that anyone will ever break Ripken's record, the man who played every game for 16 straight seasons in a 21-year career thinks it can be done.

"I sit inside my own shoes and say, 'If I can do it, certainly somebody else can'," Ripken said. "Somebody else can come along with grit and determination to go out and play every day. It's not much different playing 162 or playing 158 or 155. Looking back on it, the years went by fast and it was pretty remarkable that I was able to stay healthy."

What was also remarkable was how far Gehrig's record Ripken wound up going, playing in an additional 502 straight before stopping late in the 1998 season. Ripken retired in 2001.

"I think it was important for me to keep playing with the same attitude that I did coming into that record-breaking night," Ripken said. "I never set out to break the record. It wasn't my goal. I wasn't hopeful that it would be my identity. I thought it was the right way to approach the game. My Dad was there to enforce that sort of approach; you come to the ballpark; you're an everyday player and if the manager wants you to play, you play."

The late Cal Ripken Sr. remains very much a part of his son's life. As the famous son sat in the dugout with Orioles coach John Shelby before Sunday's game, an image of his father flashed on the big screen in centerfield, looking down as he did from a private box the night Gehrig's record was broken.

"I got a great charge of seeing him today," Ripken said.

Ripken admits that Buck Showalter's hiring as Orioles manager has strengthened his interest in his old team – and the possibility of becoming involved in an official capacity once the younger of his two children goes off to college. Ryan Ripken is a junior at Gilman. "Buck turns on my baseball brain," Ripken said. "I had a chance to sit and talk with him when he came up to Aberdeen to watch [Manny] Machado up there perform. Our conversations wouldn't be that interesting to other people. I always thought Buck was one of the best baseball guys I ever had a chance to talk to. I still have my timetable… and I still value the flexibility and the time that I have now, and you wouldn't have that if you came back to the big-league scene."

As befitting Ripken's style, Sunday's ceremony was brief, though he received a warm ovation from the crowd.

There was no victory lap this time.

"You can't recreate that moment that happened," Ripken said. "I was embarrassed to take the lap that night. I'd be extra embarrassed to take it even now."
www.baltimoresun.com

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Spike Express Youth Volleyball Offered

SNOW HILL -- Worcester County Recreation & Parks is currently offers Spike Express youth volleyball for those ages 9 to 14 at the Worcester County Recreation Center in Snow Hill.

This program provides an arena for young players to learn and practice skills needed to play the game of volleyball. Time will be allotted during each session for instruction, practice and game play. Teams will be formed based on age and skill level.

Beginners are welcome.

Practices take place on Tuesdays from 5:30-6:30 p.m. from Sept. 7 through Nov. 23. Knee pads are recommended for this program.

The cost is $20. Financial aid is available to those who show a demonstrated need, and proof of eligibility is required.

For more information, contact Daryl Gross at 410-632-2144 ext. 106 or dgross@co.worcester.md.us.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Baseball Birthday Today

HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY "IRON MAN" CAL RIPKIN, JR.

Cal Ripken Jr. played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1981-2001 and was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 2007. From May 30, 1982, through Sept. 19, 1998, Ripken played in a string of 2,632 consecutive games, a major league record that is known as "The Streak." On Sept. 6, 1995, he played in his 2,131st straight game, breaking Lou Gehrig's record and becoming baseball's Iron Man. Ripken was a 19-time All Star and two-time Most Valuable Player. He finished his career with 3,184 hits and 431 home runs. Ripken was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1982 after hitting 28 home runs. "The Streak" began on May 30, 1982, when manager Earl Weaver started him at third base. The next season, he earned his first All-Star berth and was named the AL MVP, hitting .318 with 27 homers and 102 RBIs. The Orioles won the World Series that season, beating the Philadelphia Phillies in five games.
Ripken played every inning of every game in 1983. In 1987, Ripken's dad Cal Ripken Sr. became manager of the Orioles, and his brother Bill was called up from Triple-A Rochester. In 1990, Ripken began his major-league record streak of 95 straight games without an error. Ripken won his second AL MVP in 1991.
He also won a Gold Glove, was named MVP of the All-Star Game and won the All-Star home run contest that year. On Sept. 6, 1995, he broke Gehrig's streak and hit a home run against the California Angels. Ripken received a long standing ovation at Oriole Park at Camden Yards while he took a lap around the stadium, high-fiving fans. On July 15, 1996, Ripken started at third base for the first time since 1982. Ripken ended "The Streak" on Sept. 20, 1998, against the New York Yankees. Rookie Ryan Minor took his place at third base.


On June 19, 2001, Ripken announced his retirement.
Ripken was born in Havre de Grace, Md., on Aug. 24, 1960. The Orioles selected him in the second round of the 1978 draft. After retiring, he began Ripken Baseball, a sales and marketing company based in Baltimore that represents his business and philanthropic efforts, along with his brother Bill.

He is married to wife Kelly and has two kids -- a daughter, Rachel, born in 1989, and a son, Ryan, born in 1993.



http://www.chicagotribune.com/
photos BaltimoreSun

This one's for you, Missy.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Off-road Truck Racing Accident In Mojave Desert - 8 Killed

LUCERNE VALLEY, Calif. — Zachary Freeman loved to fish, dirt bike and camp — but most of all, he loved to watch off-road truck racing in the vast Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles.

That love would cost the 24-year-old pipe welder and seven other off-road enthusiasts their lives when a truck competing in the annual California 200 careened off the sand track Saturday and into the crowd, instantly killing Freeman and his best friend.

On Sunday, his girlfriend and his stepfather mourned at a simple cross-and-stone memorial set in the thick sand and waited in the blistering heat for a locksmith to arrive to change the ignition lock in Freeman's truck so they could take it home. His keys had been lost in the chaos; the coroner found only a lighter in his pocket.

"I'm just in shock. It's not real yet, it hasn't soaked in," said Randall Peterson, his grieving stepfather.

Freeman's girlfriend, Nicky Carmikle, sobbed as she knelt down and placed her boyfriend's camouflage baseball hat in the center of the stone circle surrounding the wooden cross.

Carmikle recalled how she had stepped away from the race for a few minutes to use the bathroom and returned to find the truck upside down, bodies everywhere and people screaming in panic.

"His shoes are still over there. I can't even look," she said, gesturing to a bag full of abandoned clothing, shoes and blankets, some stained with blood. "It just isn't fair, it isn't right."

Those who witnessed the accident said the crowd pressed close to the track and could almost touch the trucks as they hurtled and bounced over the desert sand.

Shortly after the race began, one driver took a jump at high speed, hit his brakes on landing and rolled his truck sideways into spectators, sending bodies flying on a section of track that had no guardrails or anything else to keep the crowd back. Eight people were killed and 12 were injured. "You could touch it if you wanted to. It's part of the excitement," Carmikle said. "There's always that risk factor, but you just don't expect that it will happen to you."

California Highway Patrol Officer Joaquin Zubieta said Brett M. Sloppy, 28, of San Marcos, was behind the wheel of the truck involved in the crash. Zubieta said alcohol was not a factor in the crash and there were no plans to arrest Sloppy, who the CHP estimates was going 45 to 50 mph at the time of the crash. Zubieta said state vehicle codes don't apply because the race was a sanctioned event held with the approval of the federal Bureau of Land Management, which owns the land used for the race.

The BLM issued a statement saying safety was the responsibility of the race organizer, South El Monte-based Mojave Desert Racing. MDR's permit required racers to travel 15 mph or less when they were within 50 feet of fans, and allowed no more than 300 spectators for the event, the agency said.

BLM spokesman David Briery said the agency would cooperate with the CHP's investigation.

"We followed all our rules," he said by phone. "We don't think we did anything wrong."

Phone and e-mail messages left for MDR were not immediately returned.

Tens of thousands of people were spread out along the 50-mile track, but the site of the crash, a stretch known as the "rockpile," is one of the most popular areas to gather because the trucks become airborne, witnesses said. Some said they got within 4 feet of the unmarked track, watching trucks fly over a series of jumps. Several jagged rocks jut from the rutted dirt track at the bottom of the hill.

The driver "hit the rock and just lost control and tumbled," said Matt March, 24, of Wildomar, who was standing next to the jump. "Bodies went everywhere."

Derek Cox, a friend of victim Andrew Therrien, told KABC-TV in Los Angeles that Theirren, 22, pushed children out of the way as the truck barreled toward them. He was killed in the accident.

"I owe my son's life, as well as many others. They were inches away from him and he saved their lives," Cox said of the Riverside resident. "He's a hero in my book."

March said he and other fans lifted the truck, which came to rest with its oversized wheels pointing toward the sky, and found four people lying unconscious underneath.

It took rescue vehicles and helicopters more than half an hour to reach the remote location, accessible only by a rutted dirt road. Spectators said off-duty police and firefighters in the crowd joined paramedics hired by the race organizer to help the injured and place blankets over the dead.

Six people died at the scene and two others died after being taken to a hospital, authorities said. Most of the 12 injured people were airlifted to hospitals.

Paramedics brought six people — five adults and a child — to Loma Linda University Medical Center, spokesman Herbert Atienza said Sunday. He had no information on their condition.
Officials said Sloppy, the driver, wasn't hurt. It was not clear why he lost control of the truck, a white modified Ford Ranger with "Misery Motorsports" painted on the doors.

A Facebook page that appeared to belong to Sloppy and included a picture of his truck was updated Sunday with a note: "Soo incredibly lost and devistated my thoughts and prayers go out to all the familys and friends involved.. Thank you too all my friends for sticking with me even thru these tragic times I love you all."

Nearly 40 friends responded with messages of support by Sunday afternoon.

The race is part of a series held in the Mojave Desert's Soggy Dry Lake Bed, about an hour's drive from the nearest city, Lucerne Valley.

The course winds through empty desert dotted only with rocky outcroppings and desert shrubs. Several families were still camping Sunday on a dried-up lake bed below the crash site. Buggies and dirtbikes zoomed back and forth, kicking up dust that could be seen for miles.

There were no barriers at the site of the crash. Fans said these races rarely have any kind of safety guards.

"That's desert racing for you," said fan John Payne, of Anaheim. "You're at your own risk out here. You are in the middle off the desert. People were way too close and they should have known. You can't really hold anyone at fault. It's just a horrible, horrible accident."

Briery said he didn't know if the BLM would conduct an internal investigation, and he added it was too early to say if the agency would change its permit rules to ensure stricter enforcement of safety requirements.

The BLM is required by Congress to make public lands accessible to reasonable requests, and the area used Saturday is one of the few available to off-road enthusiasts, he said.

The CHP does not normally investigate crashes at organized events, but took the lead on this probe because of its scope.

Aside from Freeman and Therrin, those killed were Brian Wolfin, 27, Anthony Sanchez, 23, and Aaron Farkas, 25, all of Escondido; Danica Frantzich, 20, of Las Vegas; and Dustin Malson, 24, of Ventura. The name of the eighth victim, a 34-year-old man from Spring Valley, had not been released by Sunday night.
AP Photos
www.google.com