Sometimes things don't work out

I had heard about NASCAR's first winner being a native of Halstead. Coincidentally, there was a NASCAR-themed restaurant in this little Harvey County town that had some relics of the guy whose name is often forgotten by even the biggest NASCAR fan.

With all the racing fans we have in Kansas, I thought it would be a great story. However, sometimes stories just don't work out.

Halstead native Jim Roper heard about the first NASCAR race at a three-quarter mile dirt track in Charlotte, NC, by reading a note about it in a comic strip in his local newspaper.

Roper convinced a local care dealer to drive two of his Lincolns more than 1,000 miles to Charlotte, N.C. to complete in the June 19, 1949 race.

It would be the first NASCAR "Strictly Stock" race ever -- now known as the Sprint Cup. Roper actually came in second to Glenn Dunnaway, but Dunnaway was disqualified after it was discovered that his rear springs were altered.

Roper raced one more NASCAR race. He was 16th overall in the 1949 standings.

According to a local guy, he died in 2000 and is buried in the local Halstead cemetery.

I thought Roper's successes would make an interesting story and one-tank trip, tied in with this popular bar and grill with the NASCAR theme.

The story, however, dissolved before my eyes when during the interview, the restaurant unexpectedly shut down and has yet to reopen.

Sometimes things just don't work out, but I have to admit it was the strangest experience I've encountered. While Halstead has plenty of interesting attributes, it doesn't fit the criteria of a one-tank trip.

There are a few stores open on Main Street. One woman moved to town about six months ago and opened a coffee shop and sundry store. She sells everything from candy and coffee to gifts, bulk foods and quilts. She also plans to have concerts, as well as open a pottery painting studio.

The Old Hardware Store on the southern edge of Main also is interesting -- especially if you are looking for hard-to-find items. Except for a few items, including electricity, the store represents an early 1900s hardware.

Other stops are the Kansas Health Museum, and Halstead has a great river walk and park, which was featured in the movie "Picnic."