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News BIT pushing for wireless broadband by next year09/09/10 - 7:31 am
Supervisors heard a brief report Tuesday evening from Mickey L. Sims, General Manager of Buggs Island Telephone Cooperative (BIT), who discussed the company’s push to extend wireless broadband throughout Halifax…
Passenger in pick-up injured09/09/10 - 7:30 am
A 19 year old passenger in a pick-up truck was injured and transported for treatment early Tuesday morning after the driver of the 2004 Ford F150 ran off the right…
Highway safety better over holiday09/09/10 - 7:29 am
Virginia’s highways proved to be considerably safer over the 2010 Labor Day weekend than in 2009. Last year over the holiday weekend 14 people lost their lives in traffic crashes…
Sports Richmond critical to Hamlin’s Chase bid09/08/10 - 1:51 pm
Denny Hamlin will walk through the gates at Richmond International Raceway Friday morning locked into NASCAR’s Chase for the Sprint Cup title and currently 10th in the standings.
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Sports Dolly Fallen for family
SoVaNow.com / March 10, 2010
Dolly Fallen is as much a part of the storied tradition at South Boston Speedway as anyone, and she’s part of a new racing chapter.Fallen’s grandson, Austin Thaxton, is a regular competitor in the NASCAR limited sportsman division at SBS. Fallen and her daughter, Dawn Adams – Austin’s mom – are heavily involved in the effort. Thaxton always has his grandmother or mom with him in the pits, providing guidance and encouragement as needed. For many years, Fallen attended races at SBS with her husband, the late Goo Fallen, a longtime car owner. The Fallen family business now revolves around Austin, with a group of friends also supporting him. Thaxton, driving the Fallen Trucking Racing car, has been involved in the sport his whole life. “When he was just a toddler, he went with Goo and I to every race, him and his sister. It was always a family affair for us, my daughter, her two children,” said Fallen. Austin and his sister, Brooke, grew up around the short track race scene at SBS. But Austin is now working in racing without two of his strongest role models. Thaxton’s dad, Larry Thaxton, and Goo have passed away. Admirably, Fallen has stepped in and had a tremendous positive influence on Thaxton. “My goal was to keep him busy and give him a goal and hopefully give him something to look forward to in life, and keep him out of trouble,” said Fallen. “To this point, I feel like I’ve met my goal,” said the car owner. Thaxton is now 16, and competing in the limited sportsman division after winning the go-kart division championship in his age group with the Halifax County Motorsports Academy. Thaxton also attended camp at Virginia International Raceway and was elected crew chief in his group in that camp. He appears to have a possible future working in some aspect of motorsports. Without very deep pockets, it’s difficult for anyone to crack the top levels of NASCAR. And the lingering economic slump isn’t helping advancement in any area of the sport at the moment. Nevertheless, Thaxton presses on. “He is an hands-on (driver). He goes over that car himself, makes sure everything is right,” said Fallen. Thaxton is a student, and also works at A&E racing, with a full summer schedule. He realizes the driver part might not work out as a career, so there’s a backup plan. “Austin knows that also, how difficult it is. If he doesn’t make it, he has a backup plan. He wants some position, in motorsports in racing,” said Fallen. “He definitely has the mechanical ability,” said Fallen. Fallen has nine grandchildren, and she said, emphatically, “I love them all, I truly do.” She makes no apologies for her trackside work with Austin. “This has been part of my life for 20-plus years. It’s just a continuation of my life, watching him,” said Fallen. Fallen fielded a NASCAR late model team in the past at SBS, and still has a car for that division in her shop. Her concentration is now on the limited sportsman effort. It seems natural, this transition. Goo was a racing legend at SBS and certainly, he would be proud of Thaxton’s progress in racing. Fallen estimates she’s been involved at SBS for a long time, 20-25 years. “I’ve seen a lot of changes, a lot of good changes through the years. I’ve seen some changes that maybe weren’t so good,” said Fallen. There are those money issues. Even NASCAR late model racing is a formidable financial deal now. “The money that has gotten into racing now has got almost uncontrollable,” said this race team owner. She started at racing when it was all more modest, but now the level of expense at late model racing is at a level she never expected to see. She estimates it costs $200,000 – at least – to run a realistically competitive late model operation. “But it is a rewarding mission,” said Fallen. “If you are competitive and you’re out there running for the points, or even if you’re running for the win, once that checkered flag waves and you’re the first car there, you forget all of that expense. It’s just the thrill of the moment,” said the South Boston businesswoman. And Fallen, a successful local business professional, beams with pride over Austin’s progress. “Of all the years that Goo and I were involved in racing, we never had a family member in the car. The first time I saw him (Austin) on that track in the car was a feeling that I had never experienced before,” said Fallen. Halifax Sports
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