| New Era Dawns For Ocala Speedway | By Dave Westerman
The 50th year of operation for Ocala Speedway just north of Ocala, FL, is becoming a very interesting one. New ownership has taken over with a new racing attitude and a host of big changes and big events on the way.
On July 29, a four person partnership took control of the Ocala facility. Tim Christman, Scott and Chris Armstrong, and Tim Petty are the four men involved in the venture.
Tim Christman is now the General Manager of Ocala Speedway. Christman has a solid background in racing from his days as a youngster enjoying races from the grandstands of this very track and others where his parents worked at over the years to his most recent position with Dover Motorsports, overseeing racing at Dover International Speedway, Nashville Super Speedway, Gateway Motorsports Park near St. Louis, MO, Memphis Motorsports Park, The Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, and the Grand Prix of Denver.
The opportunity to settle down near his original home with his family prompted Christman to become part of the group ownership of the track where he spent many hours as a kid.
Scott and Chris Armstrong are well known homebuilders in the Ocala area with a big love of stock car racing. Their involvement was quickly noticed last week. The "new" restroom facility, which had been sitting "under construction" for nearly two years, was completed in less than five days and being used by race fans last Saturday night.
Tim Petty is a semi-retired businessman whose interest in racing led him to become involved in what he believes will eventually be not only the best racetrack in the State of Florida, but in the United States.
The new owners have wasted little time in announcing major changes.
Starting September 6th, Ocala Speedway will switch to Friday nights, making it the only track in Florida other than Speedworld near Orlando that operates on Friday evenings.
In addition, the Super Late Model and Modified Mini-Stock Divisions will be brought in as regular classes, joing the Sportsman, Open Wheel Modifieds, Pure Stocks, and Four Cylinder Bombers each Friday night. The current Hobby Stock class drivers will be given the option of moving their machines up to Sportsman or down to Pure Stock.
The Super Late Model and Open Wheel Modified classes will run on a rotation basis, but each class will run at least three times per month and on many nights, both classes will be in action.
Purses for all divisions have also been increased significantly, with tow money also added to most of the purses.
Race fans who enjoy watching traveling series like the Sprints, Classic Cars, Dwarf Cars and others will still see those machines on a regular basis.
A number of changes are already being made to the facility itself. Along with the new restrooms, a new scoreboard has been ordered and should be ready by the Grand Re-opening on September 6th. A new state-of-the-art sound system is also on its way and should be in place next week.
Two major events have already been booked. The Fall Festival 400 is set for Sunday afternoon, November 17th. The program will feature twin 100-lap races for the Super Late Models plus 100-lap events for the Open Wheel Modifieds and Modified Mini-Stocks with a huge purse to be offered.
December 1st, it's the Ocala 150 Enduro. This race will pay $10,000 to the winner with $1500 to second, $1000 to third, $750 to fourth, and $500 to the fifth place finisher. Entries will be accepted beginning August 12th with the order of entry determining the starting line-up.
Ocala Speedway originally opened in 1952 as a quarter-mile dirt track. It became a three-eighths mile dirt facility in the mid-60's and was paved for the first time in 1996 then re-paved before the start of the 2002 racing season. It is the oldest continually-operating race track in the State of Florida.
The Grand Re-opening will take place on Friday night, September 6th and will feature Super Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Modified Mini-Stocks, Sportsman, Pure Stocks, Four Cylinder Bombers, and a huge fireworks show. Pit gates will open each Friday at 4PM, grandstands will open at 6PM, and racing will start promptly at 8PM.
For any information regarding Ocala Speedway, you can contact the track directly at (352) 622-9400. Rule books for all divisions will be available shortly.
For media inquiries or to get Ocala Speedway results and information, contact Dave Westerman at announcerdave@usa.net.
Ocala Speedway looks forward to a great bond between ownership, fans, drivers, and sponsors for the remainder of 2002 and for many years to come.
This Saturday night drivers in the Ocala Pure Stock Division get to strut their stuff for 30 laps Saturday night at Ocala Speedway.
If last week is any indication, this week's extra-distance event should be a great one. Darren Dukes passed Mike Fiddia on the last turn of the last lap to take the win in a 20-lapper last week and this week the drivers will have an extra ten laps to decide the outcome.
The popular Mini-Cup cars return to Ocala Speedway as well Saturday Evening.
These Winston Cup lookalike machines are not much bigger than a go-kart but put on a fantastic show everywhere they race.
Maybe the most interesting event of the evening will be the Mechanics Race, where the guys who turn the wrenches on the cars will get a shot at what it feels to be behind the wheel.
Also on the card are the Diamond H Heat and Air Modifieds, Steven A. Bagen Sportsman, Thrifty Nickel Hobby Stocks, and Coca-Cola Four Cylinder Bombers.
Pit gates open at 3PM, Grandstands at 5PM and racing begins promptly at
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