Memorial race for local legends draws big crowd

Open seats were few at LA Raceway's Merlyn McCown--Ken Taylor Memorial Race as record crowds filled the stands to honor two Missouri boys who made a name for themselves in sprint car racing.

"It is one of the largest crowds I have seen out here at LA Raceway," said "Hollywood" Bob Ramey, LA's official announcer, during the race on Sunday night, July 8.

Over 30 of the "old-timers" were present to honor the memory of Taylor and McCown, including "Fireball" Jimmy Jenkins, Ray Lee Goodwin, Bill Utz, "Shorty" Acker, George Lasoski, Rick Kimberling, Jay Lyle, Cliff Jones, Ernie Buso, Donnie Cooper, Jerry Beatie, Dean Elliott and many more.

"It was really, really neat to see everyone," said Taylor's daughter, Margaret Pond. She continued, "Mom (Betty Hightower-Taylor) enjoyed it. She was so excited that Danny (Lasoski) won."

Danny Lasoski stepped out of his Roth Motorsports No. 83 World of Outlaws (WoO) sprint car and stepped into his dad's, George Lasoski, Michael Ross Memorial Foundation No. 33 sprint car to win an O'Reilly's World of Outlaw Warriors (WOW) feature for the "old-time" racers and his dad.

George Lasoski and Taylor raced many years together at Sportsman's Speedway in Marshall in the 1960s.

Danny Lasoski quickly took the lead in the feature and it was smooth sailing after that. He passed lap cars upon lap cars and disappeared on the track.

"I want to thank my dad," Lasoski said. "I know he could have crawled in this car and done the same thing out here tonight.

"I love to come back and race for my hometown fans," Lasoski said. "I did not know Ken (Taylor) but I knew Merlyn (McCown) really well. It was an honor to race for them tonight."

The surprise of the night for Pond came when she was asked to be the trophy girl through the middle of the first feature.

"I did not know that was going to happen," Pond said. But she was proud and pleased to present the trophies to both Lasoski and the 305 sprint car feature winner Mitchell Moore of Edgerton, Kan.

Pond asked George Lasoski if Danny was going to keep the trophy. "George said 'I am taking it home (with me),'" Pond said.

Carolyn White, LA Raceway track owner and media relations manager, said she was amazed by the turnout. "We would be honored and would love to have another memorial race next year in honor of Taylor and McCown."

Pond said Larry McCown, Merlyn McCown's brother, has already started to work on next year's race.

Contact Rachel Harper at

marshallcity@socket.net