Ark-La-Tex Speedway — Local services in Vivian

Racin’ Ricky and the Season That Never Was – A Tale from Ark-La-Tex Speedway

It was supposed to be the year.

Racin’ Ricky had the new setup dialed in—fresh shocks, a bulletproof powerplant under the hood, and a brand-new wrap that shimmered like the oil slicked clay of Ark-La-Tex under stadium lights. The off-season had been kind to him. He’d even laid off the party favors (a little) and spent more time wrenchin’ than rollin’. With David Gravel’s Knoxville win still echoing in his ears, Ricky was fired up to make 2025 the one where he finally took the local points title and shut Johnny Taylor’s mouth once and for all.

Opening night arrived with a humidity that clung like guilt. Ricky strutted through the pits in his fire suit half-zipped, a joint tucked behind his ear and swagger in every step. “Hope Johnny brought a broom,” he chuckled, lighting up. “’Cause I’m about to sweep the season.”

But fate’s a cruel race director.

The first sign came during hot laps—something in the rear end didn’t feel right. Ricky shrugged it off. Probably just the track still settling from the rain last week. But in the heat race, the engine sputtered like it was gasping for one more toke and then—pop. Dead.

“Bad fuel pump,” Lucky from Grab n Go #6 told him, spitting into the dirt and handing over a lukewarm Red Bull. “I warned ya about mixing Sunoco with moonshine.”

Week two: new pump, same bad luck. A flat in turn three on the last lap while running second. Then a blown radiator hose in week three. Week four, he missed entirely after accidentally locking his keys, his phone, and himself out of his RV in the Walmart parking lot in Texarkana.

“I ain’t cursed,” Ricky insisted, sipping a Pabst and pointing a greasy finger at Kenny, who was laughing his ass off, “this is just a real long test session.”

But by mid-season, Johnny Taylor was lapping the field in more ways than one. Ricky’s pit turned quiet, a little sad. Even his trusty crew guy Bubba started disappearing on Friday nights, supposedly “working late,” but Ricky knew he was probably moonlighting for Johnny. Betrayal stung worse than a clogged carb.

Still, he showed up—every damn week. Even when the car wouldn’t start, even when it rained out, even when he knew he didn’t have a shot. Because that’s what Racin’ Ricky did. He raced, or at least tried to.

The season ended with Ricky sitting on a folding chair behind his trailer, passing a joint with a few fans who still believed. “It wasn’t about winnin’,” he said, watching fireworks pop over turn four, “it was about showin’ up. Every time life tried to throw a flat tire at me, I just lit another one and kept goin’.”

The record books would mark it a wash—zero wins, a string of DNFs, and a 14th place finish in points. But the legend? The legend of Racin’ Ricky? That only grew.

They’d say he ran on heart, weed smoke, and pure stubborn grit.

And next year? Well, next year was always just one...

I've been to better place but this place is a nice place to take the family and watch some racing and crashing! Bathrooms are rancid about an hour into the or deal. Actually racing doesn't start till about 10-1030. So we don't leave the house till about 9 to head there. Food is decent and decently priced! We paid for the a/c booths a few weeks ago and it wasn't worth it to me. The windows were fogging up and we couldn't watch the race so we went and sat outside like everyone else! Definitely won't be doing that again! They Needed a return air vent installed, as I mentioned to multiple staff members. So someone had to of brought it up in a staff meeting! Hopefully 🍀! But all in all, enjoyable place to...

I've already posted about this place but apparently it took it down. So here goes again. The price down here in the south is expensive. Up north it was way cheaper to watch dirt track racing. (They must be serious down here! :-) Bathrooms are absolutely disgusting, flooded last time I went. So when you needed to relieve yourself you must stand in what I hoped was water! Food is ok. Typical concession stand food! PA system is genki on the far end of the track by the new bleachers. Racing is always super fun to watch. Their a cash only establishment (which isn't cool!) give them a try and have some fun!

(Take some glasses...