Just read that Wil "The Thrill" Newlin will be back in action at Lincoln Park Speedway tonight!!!!!!

Good Luck Wil!!!!!!!!!!

[The Thrill]

Originally Posted by GOFOBROKE Just read that Wil "The Thrill" Newlin will be back in action at Lincoln Park Speedway tonight!!!!!! Good Luck Wil!!!!!!!!!!

LPS – WIL NEWLIN

Wanted to answer some questions that people have been asking, and I just found out about IOW web page from Kenny Carmichael on Sunday.

Where have I been? On July 8th of 2005, I had a bad crash at Spoon River speedway in Canton, IL while racing a MSCS event. The injuries included a skull fracture and a fracture of the C1 vertebra in my neck.
I completed the rehabilitation process which lasted approx 18months. I choose to stayed away from racing all together, thinking that this would help me loose the desire to race. This did not work and there was never a day that went by that I didn’t miss the fans and fellow competitors, who had became friends, that I had truly missed.

My return as a driver at Lincoln Park Speedway Saturday night was very emotional for me & my wife, this was due to a variety of reasons, but both of us agreed that we were glad to be back.

I would like to say thanks to Brent, Crystal & Larry Pottorff for letting me race their car. I would like to also thank Cam Pottorff for all of his contributions to the effort as well.

Thanks to all the LPS staff for a great race track.

My thoughts after being out of car for 4 years and returning, is best summed up by a conversation between Brent, Crystal and myself which took place after my heat race.

Brent and Crystal: Well what do think?
Wil: When did they start running 20 lap heats?
Brent: Didn’t still running 8 lap heats
Wil: Huh
Brent: What do you think the car is going to need for the feature?
Wil: Oxygen bottle in cockpit.
Laughter from all.

Feature race: Got caught up in a racing deal and taken out early, but the car that took us out won. COOL, hopefully, he should be able to fix his race car & Brent & Crystals   
Good news from feature didn’t need oxygen bottle, not because of the short amount of laps I got to run. But thanks to Greg Stabb’s observations that I might have been so nervous about being back in a race car, that I was probably holding my breath. After the 1st restart, I realize, Greg may be smarter than he looks, caught myself holding my breath. Realization that this may have been a bad habit I had before the accident 4yrs ago, which would explain a lot bad decisions I made out on track.
Thanks, Greg for the good advice.

Oh ya, the oxygen bottle did get returned to the older gentleman in the stands with no harm done to the bottle or to the gentlemen’s health, I was informed the gentleman’s color came back shortly after the fireworks show was over.

I am hoping that Brent, Crystal and Cam can have a car for me to drive next week at Paragon or Danville.

Thanks again,
Wil

[sprint38racer]

Congrats on the return Wil. It's hard to stay away isn't it? lol

[Charles Nungester]

Wil, Remember you caming to Burg for your first race there and winning
Glad your back and wish I had known what happened.

Hope to see you race again.
Chuck

[hoosier]

I would just like to take time to say "thanks" to not only Wil but the folks who came up to me
and thanked me for letting Wil drive Saturday Night. At first Brent and myself came under heavy
criticism for putting him in a car due to the injuries he had sustained in years past. I myself swore
that I wouldn't put him back in a car due to the fact that if something were to happen to him I would never forgive
myself. Everybody knows that we have had several "drivers", but Wil, Dickie Gaines and Kent Christian have always been my favorites. I have great respect for each of them and Wil and Dickie are like a part of the family. Wil was who started us in sprint car racing, we sponsored his and his dad's 71 car, so I don't know whether to thank him or slap him :2: cause we could've saved thousands of dollars if we were still sitting in the stands just watching.
However I better thank him cause we sure have met alot of great people and have had alot of good times over the years. So thanks Wil, we had a blast with you Saturday and I'm sure you will be back in the seat again at one point or another.

Crystal Pottorff

[Redwood17257]

Hey it was great to see Wil back in the car again on Saturday night. Thought I'd post a photo of him gassing it up! Hope to see him back at LPS on a regular basis!

Carey Fox

This is GREAT news to me!!!!! Congrats Wil!!!! John Gurley

Glad to see you back Wil........Anthony

Good to see ya back in action!!!! hope ya can get a full time ride!!!!!

[Lawrenceburger]

Very cool indeed!!