Another week, another rivalry to be renewed for Wrexham.
Much like Penelope Pitstop, the Ant Hill Mob and Dick Dastardly and Muttley jostling for front position on the winding rocky cactus-infested roads of North America, Phil Parkinson has enjoyed many a battle with familiar foes since occupying the Stok Racecourse hot seat in the summer of 2021.
Parkinson oversaw an astonishing debut campaign in north Wales, guiding Wrexham to runners-up spot in the National League, having won 26 of 44 league fixtures, claiming 88 points in the process.
Unfortunately, their sublime tally was bettered by Stockport County who topped the table to gain promotion into the Football League, with Wrexham going on to suffer the hideous misfortune of losing to Grimsby Town, a club that ended the regular season in sixth before emerging victorious in the play-offs.
It was ultimately a gut-wrenching way for Parkinson's first season in the post to reach its climax.
But having felt the full force of a Grimsby-shaped anvil plummet onto the centre circle of their hallowed Racecourse turf, Parkinson called upon his own deadly weapons in his quest to return to the front of the field.
A new season dawned, and having had further input from Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Wrexham were only too ready to finish at the front of the pile as a new rivalry emerged.
The Welsh side and Notts County played out a battle for the ages over the course of the 2022-23 season, but it was Wrexham who ended the campaign on top after earning a record 111 points having dropped points just 12 times in 46 league outings.
Much like Stockport a year earlier, Wrexham and Notts County's paths would cross again very soon.
With Birmingham's own stardust man in Tom Brady deploying Jay Stansfield to spearhead their promotion push, a rivalry with Wrexham this season was ultimately not a realistic one.
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But Parkinson and his troops quickly found themselves locked in an almighty tussle with Wycombe for that crucial second spot on the podium.
Victory over the Chairboys in he picturesque heart of Buckinghamshire last weekend saw, albeit briefly, Wrexham rise back into second place in League One.
Mike Dodds' side rectified that setback just three days later as they turned on the style at the death to win 3-2 at Rotherham United and slide their promotion car a bumper's length in front of Wrexham's with only eight matches remaining.
"I don't rule anyone in or out," said Parkinson. "I've said all season that we're just concentrating ourselves.
"There's other teams who will still be thinking they've got a great chance to get automatic promotion and there will be teams outside the play-offs who'll be thinking they've got a great chance of getting into the play offs.
"We're just concentrating on what we've got to do this week to get the preparation right and get the energy levels where they were against Wycombe on Saturday.
"We had a tough game last Tuesday at Reading and we had a lot of travelling, and to go to Wycombe and get the win there, the lads deserve credit for that and so do the staff.
"But it's feet firmly back on the ground now and the focus is on producing a performance which gives us the best chance of continuing the run we're on at the weekend against Stockport."
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In what is now season four of Parkinson's Wrexham Wacky Races, the Red Dragons are preparing to reignite the rivalry that kick-started the entire series that is now watched by the eyes of the world.
Like Wrexham, Stockport have enjoyed two promotions in quick succession to sit in the third tier.
And much like that ultimately heartbreaking first campaign for Wrexham, only six points separate the two sides ahead of their meeting at the Racecourse on Saturday afternoon, only this time, it's Wrexham who have their noses in front with the finish line in sight.
Dave Challinor's side have lost just once in their last 12 league outings, although they no longer have Aston Villa starlet Louie Barry to call on after he joined Hull City on loan in January.
Wrexham are also proving hard to beat, though, having kept four clean sheets in their previous five League One fixtures.
Only leaders Birmingham have claimed more points on home soil in the league than Wrexham this season, so the Hatters certainly have their work cut out.
But even with the season finale drawing ever closer, expect many more twists and turns on what is the wonderful and wacky race to 'back-to-back-to-back Olé Olé' for Parkinson's Wrexham.
READ MORE: Wrexham Stockport County
