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Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Tom Salley, right, and Dale Phelon talk over race strategy following afternoon practice sessions on Thursday. Both racers are in the chase for the overall championship in the historic stock car division.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: November 30, 2007

SEBRING INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY — Age knows no bounds, especially on the race track.

Racers Dale Phelon and Tom Salley have proved just that, and through their body of work, they've shown the ability to compete with anyone on the asphalt.

Phelon, 66, and Salley, 63, are No. 1 and No. 2 in the points standings of the Historic Stock Car Series, with the season's final race on tap during the 2007 Sebring Historic Fall Classic, which begins today and runs through Sunday at Sebring's famed raceway.

Talk of rivalry brings a smile to the gentlemen's faces, as the teammates are just out on the track to win.

"We're not on the track at the same time, as we are not racing at the same time," Phelon said. "We just love racing ,and I'll be happy if he wins and I know he feels the same about me."

"Its great to chase an "A" car and keep up in the points," Salley said. "That really proves our consistency on the track."

Phelon leads Group 8 with a tally of 317 points, while Salley trails by 27. Phelon also leads in Group 9 with 167 points in the Historic GT division.

Phelon, owner of Phelon Motorsports, began his racing career at the age of 50, when most people begin winding down their current station in life.

"I've been a car collector all my life and I built up my manufacturing business," Phelon said. "But one day in 1990, I was at Watkins Glenn and was amazed at watching the race.

"And before I left the track, I bought my first car."

That car, a 1969 Ford Boss 302 Mustang, ignited his lifelong passion for race cars, and he began racing on the historic and vintage car circuit, moving to Trans-Ams and then to historic stock cars.

Salley's journey to the track began much sooner than Phelon's, with drag racing in 1962 on the NHRA and IHRA circuits until 1986, when he took a hiatus from racing.

"I've always had a love for cars and racing," Salley said. "I love coming to Sebring because of the history, although the track really takes its toll on the car and driver."

After his hiatus as an air conditioning contractor, Salley couldn't deny the lure of the track, returning to the pits in the mid-90s in NASCAR late models before attending the Panoz Racing School in Sebring in 2003 and racing for Phelon Motorsports. There, he contended with his boss for the overall championship.

"Dale has really mentored me," Salley said. "Especially at tracks like Sebring, where he'll tell me things about certain corners."

The family sentiment and a sense of camaraderie among racing teams on the historic circuit helps bond everyone in the fraternity of racing.

"We're all friends and we'll help each other out," Phelon said. "It is our love of racing that brings us out to the track each weekend.

"We're all friends that is until we hit the race track and then its all about winning."

The Historic Fall Classic features the Historic GTP/Group C Series, World Championship of Makes Series, World Sportscar Series, Historic GT Series, Historic Stock Car Racing Association, American Muscle Car Challenge, Porsche 356 Reunion, Klub Sport Porsche Challenge, ROLEX Endurance Challenge Series Races and Dash Series Races.

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