BUZZ SODEMAN The Buzzman BUZZ SODEMAN / SPECIAL TO THE PVT Leland Hibdon drives his IMCA modified at the Pahrump Valley Speedway. He is the 2006 division champion. Advertisement

Back in 1994, when I first met Leland Hibdon, he was a soft-spoken, obviously shy student at Pahrump Valley high school, who was already well known in IMCA circles.

He had just started racing his first IMCA modified. However, his first race car was brother-in-law Jason Pike's old Chevelle, and he made the switch from super stocks to the modifieds, after just five races, because he "didn't want to get killed out there!"

Twelve years later, amid the spraying champagne out on the track for a 100th feature win, there was a "mini-celebration" taking place in the pits.

While some IMCA drivers were celebrating the anticipated "retirement" of Jason Pike to his "lazy boy," Hibdon was celebrating his first ever track championship, not just any track championship but a championship in the most competitive division at the Pahrump Valley Speedway.

This also marks the second year that he has made every scheduled race at the Pahrump facility.

The track championship is truly an awesome feat by the entrepreneurial owner of Awesome Construction Company. Whether you are aware of it or not, Pahrump Valley Speedway is the home of some of the best modified drivers in the Southwest.

When Hibdon isn't butting heads with the likes of Levi Kiefer, Jason Pike, and Dan Fitzgerald, he's traveling to other tracks throughout Arizona and California to take on their best. Hibdon doesn't back down or in his own words, "I'm not afraid of anybody" when he pits his skills against other "hot shoes."

He just recently returned from Boone, Iowa, where he competed in the IMCA Supernationals.

Oddly enough, Leland has a knack for getting the "read of a track" and willingly helps his competitors with their chassis set up. Had Leland not helped Kiefer in Boone, Levi would not have been as successful as he was (he actually had a transfer spot into the A-Main until he lost his motor).

Hibdon downplays the championship. "This is just a hobby where I can have fun and meet good people. There are so many good people in racing that I have had the opportunity to call friends," he said.

Leland went on to say, "I'd be content to travel to the big money shows not because I think that I can make it into the A-mains, but because I would like to compete and learn from those other driver's that run the bigger shows."

Leland has his sights set on the Las Vegas Duel in the Desert and the Mohave Valley IMCA Nationals around the second week in October. He is expecting a 30- to 40-car turnout at the track just south of Bullhead City, Ariz.

On Aug. 1, 2003, Leland was featured in a Times article entitled "Hibdon builds race cars for fun." Yes, Hibdon would rather build his "awesome chassis" than race.

With the explosive growth in Pahrump, Leland has little time to build his cars at the shop and can no longer find the time to do what brings him his most satisfaction.

"Most of our car building effort is done in the winter, especially after a rain. It gives us two or three days to work on the frame and body," said Hibdon. "I have an order from Levi, who feels that he hasn't had a car that is the equal to the one that I built him, that he crashed at Pahrump in October 2004."

He can assemble a frame in approximately three days and a complete "roller" in a couple of weeks. Leland does all his own sheet metal work or body fabrication. This is especially important when you consider the "occasional" on-track "racing incident."

These procedures were self-taught. "I didn't have the resources, when I started out, to be able to order a roller or just a body, so I learned how to do everything myself," said Hibdon.

No one person or event inspired him to pursue a life that includes being a "local hero."

He said, "My dad (Phil) would bring us up to the track on a regular basis and I would watch the drivers, in particular, Gene Fletcher, and just wanted to do something involving cars."

Leland has, on several occasions, mentioned the importance of family and the values that he was taught.

"I owe my mom (Carrie) and dad so much I would take a bullet for my dad," said Hibdon.

I have witnessed the metamorphosis from high school graduate in 1995 to a mature, articulate business owner, husband, and father.

Three of his biggest fans are his children (Kaitlynn, Kollin, and Kendall), as well as his wife, the former Misty Touchstone.

What I haven't witnessed is a decrease in his competitive fire and "no fear" attitude behind the wheel of cars of his own design to his latest Larry Shaw-prepared ride.

When Leland went to Arkansas to pick up two cars, he admitted, "that's some of the prettiest scenery I've ever seen, I'd sell everything and move back there in a minute."

With the way Leland attacks the track and hounds fellow competitors, I'm sure they'd help pay the moving expenses. He drives like someone suffering from "road rage on steroids."

What does the future hold for this family man? He is content to be supportive of whatever endeavors his children want to participate in. "I bought an outlaw kart (sold to Todd Nunally for his son, Shane) for Kaitlynn and she said it was 'neat' but prefers to concentrate on cheerleading."

He added, "Kollin, even at two," is acquiring a knowledge that could possibly lead down the same path as his dad, "but I'm not going to push him into anything. If he wants to play sports and not race, I'm happy if he chooses to race, I'll be there to help him out."

Well spoken by a fine young man and 2006 Pahrump Valley Track champion. Your parents should be very proud. I am proud to call you friend and champion.

Fall Classic announcement and shameless self-promotion: I have been invited by track promoter, Dave Hall, to bring copies of my first book, "Chrome Cadavers and Bullring Buddies" to the track to sell and personally autograph over the Fall Classic weekend. "Chrome Cadavers" is a book where automobiles take on human qualities.

There are stories about dirt track racing and the consequences of driving under the influence.

This is not a book for children; it was written for high school students and adult readers. There is even a story about local legend, Wyatt Ehrp. Cost of the book is $13 and I will make myself available both evenings, for the drivers, before and after the pit meeting and spectators during the evening's festivities.

Should I run out, I will take pre-paid orders.

The speedway will be in action both tonight and Saturday night during the Fall Festival.