Racing enthusiasts traveled from far and wide and braved the cold New Year’s Day for the Polar Bear 150 at “The Rock.”

Richmond Senior High basketball standouts Lovell Joy and Darryl Sellers worked the parking lot and the suites at the race as part of a fundraiser for the team.

“I’ve been seeing people from a lot of different places - Kentucky, Louisiana, all around,” Joy said. “I’ve mostly been helping people where they need to go.”

“I’ve met a few different people from Georgia,” Sellers said. “Everybody’s just having fun. This is good for the community, to have the races here.”

He said one thing that happened while he was working stood out.

“A guy walked up a little while ago and asked how much it cost to get in the race,” he recounted. “We told him ‘$20,’ and he said, ‘$20, I can sit out here and listen to it on the radio.”

“All the people I’ve talked to are just tickled to have the races here,” RSHS Basketball Coach David May said.

He added that the team’s work at the October race raised enough money to almost completely pay for their tournament appearance and travel expenses in North Myrtle Beach in December.

Outside the track, Tim Inge and Ray Garner of Cary tailgated in the parking lot before the race.

“The weather is a non-factor,” Inge said. “We’re just here to see some racing, and the cold can’t stop us.”

Brian Ferrell of Columbia, S.C. was tailgating at a friend’s RV parked inside the speedway along the back straightway.

“Cold? It’s racing weather,” he said. “We’ve got food, liquor and we can climb in the RV and warm up. Nothing to worry about here, just sit back and see some wrecks.”

In the grandstands, friends Bill Lipes and Junior Lester watched the race attentively.

“We’re here from Roanoke, (Virginia) about 180 miles,” Lipes said. “We got up early this morning and drove down to see some racing.”

He said that they were driving back, and hadn’t partaken in any tailgating festivities. “There were some folks across the street partying, though, they had their grills out, the beers flowing and the music playing. It looked like a good time.”

Walter and Janice Moseley of Laurinburg brought their party to the infield with several family members and grandchildren in tow.

“The wrecks - that’s what I want to see,” Walter said, pointing to turns three and four. “Right there, I’m waiting to see one spin.”

Walter’s daughter Kelly Schwartzel was chasing her two sons, Carson and Ashton, a good portion of the pre-race.

“You’ve just got to bundle them up, and put them in the truck with the heat every once in a while,” Kelly said.

“I came down from Raleigh and camped to watch a couple of the NASCAR races here. Matter of fact, we were at the last one,” her husband David said. “This is a good track, and a good atmosphere.”