By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Lookin' for something to do these lazy summer Sunday afternoons.
Then, for some good clean fun, why not try doin' it in the mud. On a 4-wheeler or in a pick up or just about any kind of vehicle you might want to try.
For the past three Sundays, vehicles of all shapes, sizes and descriptions have found their way to Crow Creek Raceway, located three miles north of Forrest City off Hwy. 284, to race through two lanes of mud on a 180-foot track.
At stake are trophies and cash prizes.
Most of the drivers have been locals, according to Justin Murphy, one of the track owners, "but last Sunday for the first time, we had some out-of-state racers come down."
Murphy is hoping that trend continues.
"I think that word is beginning to get around about what we're doing out here," Murphy said.
Murphy said the track has drawn between 200 and 300 entrants each Sunday with drivers running in classes from ATV stock to anything-goes outlaw, based on tire size and engine size.
Murphy said fans can see just about any kind of vehicle you can imagine on the course, and some vehicles that you might not imagine.
"We actually had a snowmobile out here," Murphy said. "driven by Jason Phillips of Wynne. I guess, so far, that has been the weirdest vehicle we've had on the course. Jason ran it in the ATV class and he's picked up two or three trophies, so I guess he knows what he's doing."
Murphy said the track will remain open through the fall and into winter, "or as long as we can stand the cold weather," Murphy said.
The gates open at 12 noon each Sunday.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Professor Pigskin Football Contest returns to the Times-Herald sports pages Tuesday, Sept. 3, with some minor changes.
Each week, readers will be given the chance to choose the winning football teams from a list of specially selected high school, college and NFL games.
At stake each week is a $50 cash prize, which goes to the person who has the most correct guesses.
In the event of a tie between two or more entrants, the specifically designated "tie-breaker" game will come into play to help determine a clear winner.
The "tie-breaker" game this year will alternate weekly between the Forrest City and Arkansas Razorback game. If the Forrest City game is used as the tie-breaker, the Razorback game will be one of the picks and if the Arkansas game is used as the tie-breaker, the Forrest City game will be used as a pick.
Readers will be asked to correctly guess the winner and the score of the tie-breaker game.
If the tie-breaker game fails to determine an outright winner, the prize money will be equally divided and the decision of the Professor Pigskin judges will be final.
Each week's list of games will appear in the Tuesday edition of the Times-Herald along with the entry form and the name of the previous week's winner.
All entries must be received and postmarked by noon on the Friday following that week's published list.
For example, all entries for the list appearing Sept. 3, will be due by noon on Friday, Sept. 6.
This year, readers are being encouraged to use only the official Pigskin entry form -- either the original or a photocopy -- and all entries should be printed or typed clearly.
Any "unreadable" entries will be discarded from that week's contest.
Entries may be dropped off at the Times-Herald main office, located at 222 North Izard, in the outside mailbox or in the "Professor Pigskin" box which will be located on the front desk in the Times-Herald lobby from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The annual Times-Herald football preseason special section will be published on Wednesday, Sept. 4.
The special section will include preseason information about the Forrest City, Palestine-Wheatley and Hughes junior and senior high football teams as well as articles on the Arkansas Razorbacks and Arkansas State Indians.
The high school football season is scheduled to kick off on Friday, Sept. 6.
Forrest City opens at Wynne, Hughes travels to Barton and Palestine-Wheatley will host Des Arc.The junior high football season begins a day earlier, on Thursday, Sept. 5.