Second of July offers bangs for the sports fan’s buck

By Ron Kantowski

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | 12:09 p.m.

NOW

Boy, it's going to be a hard choice about what to do on the Second of July.

The Second of July falls on a Thursday this year, which means $1 beers at Cashman Field. On top of that, the dreaded Reno Aces are in town and there will be fireworks, at least after the game.

The following night, there will be a Third of July Fireworks Extravaganza. A fireworks "extravaganza" sounds more impressive than a fireworks "show," which is how the 51s are describing Thursday's pyrotechnics. But on Thursday, the beers are only $1, whereas on Friday, there is no discount. I think local sports fans are going to be torn by this.

Or Thursday's "Night of Fire" at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Next to watching C. Thomas Howell and Patrick Swayze slamming their jalopies into each other under the watchful eye of Jamie Lee Curtis in "Grandview, U.S.A." nothing says the Fourth of July -- or thereabouts -- like short track stock car racing.

The Night of Fire at the LVMS bullring will include fireworks, lightning-fast Supermodifieds, freestyle stunt street bikes, a drifting exhibition, a 76-lap Super Late Model race, Chargers, Outlaw Enduro Bombers, Twin Legends Cars features, Bandeleros, $1 dollar hot dogs, sodas and beers, country music, a partridge in a pear tree and, last but not least, a spectacular dual jet car meltdown.

I'm not that crazy about the country music and partridges in pear trees (with the possible exception of Laurie Partridge). But nothing says the Second of July like watching two flame-belching jet engines liquidate a couple of rusted-out Ford Mavericks.

In terms of meltdowns, it should fall somewhere between watching Russell Crowe dealing with room service and Jimmy Swaggart.

The ball game starts at around 7 p.m., the stock car racing at 6:20.

Either way, you can't lose.

THEN

"Driving in to Darlington County. Me and Wayne on the Fourth of July."

--- Bruce Springsteen