Veteran flagman Steve 'Chicken' Little will be the official flagman of the International Outlaw Figure 8 Series (IOFS) in 2010 series officials recently confirmed. Little will flag both the Outlaw and Front Wheel Drive divisions in 2010. Little's experience and knowledge will be beneficial to the growth of third year series.
Known more by the nickname 'Chicken', Little has been the track flagman at two central Indiana speedways, Anderson and Mount Lawn Speedways, as well as the flagman for the USA Modified series in years past. His tenure with the USA Modifieds was his longest as he flagged the traveling Modified series from 1999 through 2008. While with the USA Modified series Little flagged at nearly every Midwestern pavement short track.
Being a flagman wasn't Little's first choice and he was basically thrown to the Wolves in 1995. "I was operating an emergency extraction safety tool for Anderson Speedway "explained Little. " Well one night during intermission their flagman walked out and left them without a flagman. The owners came to me during intermission and explained what was going on. They told me they had taken a vote and decided I knew more about it than anyone there and told me to go get into the flag stand. I told them I don't know how to flag but they said they would help me out over the radio. I was a little nervous as it was a 100 lap Late Model race" concluded Little.
Over the years Little began to enjoy the art of flagging and hone his skill. " Being a flagman allows you to get closer to the drivers than any other position on a particular race night. They rely on you just as much as you rely on them. I hate throwing a black flag but when I do there is a reason whether it be safety of other drivers or fans and at the end of the night they know there was a good reason. Maybe it even meant I saved them an engine".
Little is eager to get back in the flag stand after taking a year off in 2008. "What I missed most last year was the comradely between racers and the flagman last year. I like the IOFS and the tremendous job the series has done promoting it. These cars are very appealing with the overall design and the wings. I already know some of the drivers in this series and they know me from our days together in the USA Modifieds. This should be a fun year."
There will be a few new tracks that Little will see on the IOFS schedule as well as many old ones he has already flagged at before. A couple of tracks stand out to Little and he is eager to get in the stand at these venues. "Anderson is probably my favorite track since I grew up a few miles from there and cut my teeth flagging there as well ". Another interesting venue Little will flag at is the new 1/4 mile short track being constructed inside the legendary Salem (IN) Speedway's .555 high-banks. The first of two visits for the IOFS is Sunday afternoon May 23rd and Little will have the distinction of being the first to flag the new addition to Salem Speedway.
With a veteran flagman like Little in the stand in 2010, the series continues to grow and series officials are confident Little can be a key component of the series for years to come. For more information on the IOFS and its 2010 schedule log onto: www.iofsracing.com