by Jane Smith
(KNS)Since only seven cars turned out for the Florida Pro
race at Charlotte County Speedway recently, everyone
is asking the big question "is Florida Pro done?"
Hopefully the following evidence will show why car
counts will be down for all Late Model series this
year.
Everyone always says, "why don't tracks get together
when they make out their yearly schedules so there
will be no conflict in big races?" Well, tracks
do not purposely schedule Late Model races against
each other. True, they do not talk to each other
about their schedules but then again, we have never
had so many different Late Model Series.
On April 13th (next Saturday), Late Model drivers
will be split as to which way to go when DeSoto
Speedway runs their All American Challenge Series
and New Smyrna Speedway hosts the Racecar Engineer-
ing Sunbelt Late Model Series.
Since the All American Challenge Series started
before the Sunbelt and since a number of the AACS
drivers were among the Sunbelt drivers last year,
which way will they go? Both series are paying
the same, $3,000 to win but some drivers are
already in the points at DeSoto so will they go
for the points there or will they go for the
Sunbelt points?? This is the question!!!
On April 27th, drivers will be split again as
Citrus County Speedway will hold one of it's
$5,000 to win Late Model races and at the same
time the Sunbelt will run at USA International at
Lakeland, Florida. USA is the Daytona for most
local short track racers and the track that most
want to at least try once. As you can see,
there is a $2,000 difference in the top prize so
who will go for the money and who will go for
points and the chance to race USA. Good question!!!
May 11th will see Florida Pro at Hialeah and All
American Challenge Series at DeSoto Speedway. These
races will more than likely depend on points in
both series as to which way a driver will go but
you can be sure that Hialeah has many good Late
Model drivers and they will definitely want to
try their luck at a Florida Pro race.
May 25th will be a disaster as the Florida Pro runs
at Columbia Motorsports Park (it's home track),
All American Challenge Series will run at DeSoto
Speedway and Citrus County Speedway will hold the
second $5,000 to win Late Model race. Now think
about it, three BIG races on the same night and
all in different parts of the state. You can win
$5,000 or $3,000 or $2,500 but POINTS will determine
which way a driver will go.
June and July the drivers and fans will get a break
since there are no conflicting Late Model races
scheduled against each other. Not until August
31st will drivers once again be challenged as to
which way to go when Florida Pro runs at Columbia
Motorsports Park and All American Challenge Series
runs at DeSoto Speedway. Money, points, prestige -
which way to go???
September 21st will see the Florida Pro against the
All American Challenge Series again as the Florida
Pro hits the hot asphalt of Bronson Speedway and
AACS hits the asphalt of DeSoto Speedway. Another
bad night for the fans and drivers.
On October 5th, Bronson Speedway will host it's Late
Model Series race against Citrus County Speedway's
$5,000 to win race and the All American Challenge
Series at DeSoto Speedway. This posts the same
old question, POINTS and MONEY. That $5,000 sure
does look good but if you are in the top points in
the All American Challenge Series, the chances are
you won't want to miss a race. Who wins and who
loses, the TRACKS and the fans.
October 26th will see the biggest payout ever for
a Late Model race as Citrus County Speedway holds
it's 150 lap $10,000 to win Late Model race. Once
again, the All American Challenge Series will run
DeSoto Speedway the same night. Now $10,000 is
more than any Late Model race payout in the state
but do you go for the money or do you stay in the
points??? MIND TWISTER for sure!
Novemer 2nd, the torture will finally end when
Bronson Speedway holds it's finale for their
Late Model Series and Florida Pro runs at Hialeah
Speedway. Thank goodness, the conflicts are
over for 2002.
Hopefully, this has answered some questions as to
why the car counts are down at the tracks. Partly
they are down due to the high cost of running a
Late Model series but also because we have more
series this year than we have ever had with so
many races on the same dates. The point funds and
the point standings will have alot to do with which
way a driver goes when it comes to Florida Pro,
Sunbelt, All American Challenge, Citrus County Late
Model Series, and Bronson Late Model Series.
And the question is - WHO WILL WIN IN THE RACE FOR
THE LATE MODEL SERIES??
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