I gave a call to "The Magic Man", Doug Pratt at Pratt Racing and stopped by to visit with the team. Doug had been called out of town so I figured this would be the best time for me to go have some fun with the rest of the team while he was gone. When I got to their garage in Havana I found the team tearing into Doug's 2007 CJ Rayburn Chassis ride. Like most teams, in the off season it's time to pretty much take the car down to the bones after a long season of racing. This is a pretty busy time for everyone and as you will see in the photos they even put me to work wrenching the car before the day was over.

   The team is made up of Dougie of course and Lori Pratt, Kayla Pratt, Joey France, Butch Logsdon, Wyatt Logsdon, Teresa McComic, Ally McComic, Tiffany McComic, JT McComic, Matt Pratt, Joni Pratt, Stanley Pratt,  Vickie Pratt, Terry {Homey} Holmes, Chad Pratt, and Terry Pratt. This typical grassroots racing team is made up from family and friends but they get real serious about their racin. Doug's team is sponsored by The Chuckwagon Restaurant, Just Havin Fun Graphics, Pratt Woodshop, Hurley's Funeral Home, Boeker Trucking, PT's Woodshop,  Phatt Kitti, and Heaven Scent Florist.

   When the team goes racin it is normally at Macomb Speedway but they sometimes head out for Spoon River Speedway, Lincoln Speedway, or Montgomery County Speedway. Doug has been racin for 10 years beginning in Thunder Trucks, E Mod, and Modified Divisions before finding a home in the Late Model Divisions. By trade Doug is a Local 60 Union Boilermaker; he, his wife Laura, and daughter Kayla make their home in Havana, Illinois which places them pretty centrally located between a large number of great Midwest racing facilities.

   Pratt Racing is hosting a really fun Race Party on March 8th at the Paddlewheel Lounge in Havana and I am going to be there from 6:30 until 8:30 for all the fun. I will have FREE autographed 8 x 10 color photos for the first 100 fans in the door courtesy of Pratt Racing and MidwestRacin.com. There is going to be great food and drinks, a huge auction, a big 50/50 drawing, and a fantastic band you have probably heard before starting at 9...Phatt Kitti. So please come by the party, I would love to meet everyone and give you a photograph. I am sure we will have a great time, so I will see you there.

   Thanks and hugs to everyone at Pratt Racing for a very fun day. I guess since I didn't get to meet Dougie I will just have to catch up with you at the track this year. So I will be seeing all you guys again soon. I have to know why they call you the "Magic Man".

                       Visit their website, just CLICK HERE.

   I look forward to seeing all of you in your garage, in the pits, on the track, and right back here.  Please drop me a note at  racinrachel@midwestracin.com  I would love to hear from everyone."