Dave and Scott Just

     There are several father/son race teams that filtered through Ransomville Speedway in the facility's 46 year existance.

     This one, however, might be a little differant.

     Hometown driver Dave Just has won several races at Ransomville Speedway in his six year career. Last season, he came through with his first season championship at Genesee Speedway in nearby Batavia. This season, he's ready for the next challenge.

     Dave's son, Scott, will be turning 16 years old and is on his way to his first full season in the track's DIRT Sportsman division. Followers of the division have already seen an improvement in the Wilson High School student's racing program, including a career best sixth place finish a few weeks ago.

     "Scott is pretty much self taught," said Dave, just prior to last Friday's racing program at Ransomville Speedway. "He spends the winter stripping the cars down and putting them together. For his age, he really knows what's inside a race car."

     The Just family makes it's living within the sport. Both Dave and Scott drive self-built cars, along with a number of other Ransomville competitors, including fellow DIRT Sportsman competitor Tony Purgarich. Dave also letters cars for several race teams in addititon to his racing duties.

     Tonight, JP Decals will be sponsoring the night's program at Ransomville Speedway.

     At 32 years of age, Dave has driven just about everything. From four wheelers to go karts to his entrance into the DIRT Sportsman class in 1998, Dave was involved in the Ransomville Speedway go-kart program as the technical inspector in the late 1990's. That's when Scott got his induction into the sport of racing. Scott spent some time on the local ovals before getting a chance to drive the backup car in the Just Family stables at a practice session late in 2002.

     "We went over to the track on a Sunday morning and turned about 100 laps. Jamie (Friesen) was there and pretty much gave him the Ok to race here after that. He had just turned 14 years old."

     Scott also remembers his first time out on the big track.

     "I was really scared. I felt intimidated. I really just wanted to stay out of the way. I didn't want to be responsible for taking someone out of the race.

     "We had a rule that first year," said Dave. "Scott could stay out on the track until he was lapped, then he would have to go to the pits. I didn't want him to be in the way either. Then when he finished sixth a couple of weeks ago, I was real proud of him."

     Dave has been very competitive in Ransomville's DIRT Sportsman class. He was in line to pick up his first victory of the 2004 season last Friday night before the left rear went flat while leading.

     "It's my seventh year of racing here," said Dave. "The competition here at Ransomville is tough. It's great to race against. Ray McIver (former Ransomville champion) told me that if you can win a race at Ransomville, you can win anywhere."

     I'm sure Scott would like to take his first Ransomville feature victory soon. Experience will take care of that and he'll get it running up against some of the top names on the DIRT Sportsman trail.

     The Just family is one of the few teams at Ransomville that handles it's own program. They build it's own cars and motors and maintain them as well. The team is currently building a third team car, which will be used as a backup for either Dave or Scott.

     Dave is also ready to test new waters. With the Turning Stone Casino DIRT 358 Modified Series Alex Friesen Summer Nationals set to go in early August, Dave will put in a DIRT 358 Modified motor and attempt to qualify for the 100 lap event. He mentions that he'd like to move up to Ransomville's headlining division full time, but he needs a sponsor that will allow him to compete within the division's top ten positions.

     Family and team members are awaiting the day when Dave and Scott comes down to the checkered flag side by side looking for the victory. It would probably make both individuals at it's highest competitive level.

    "We'll be racing then," laughs Dave. "If he wants to beat me, he'll have to earn it. We're both out there to win."

    When it happens, it should be an interesting scenerio.