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February 2002

By Larry MacMillan

This will be the last race of the pre-fair break. The Street Stock division hits the green flag for their first special of the year Saturday night. A $600 win purse is waiting in the winners circle for the driver who figures out the new Citrus County Speedway layout and can outmaneuver the 23 registrants that have tried it on for size in the early season. The additional payoff money will probably draw some visitors that should beef up the field and it could be anybodys race. With just 2 points races under their belts the top five are chasing Ernie Reed, Danny Cretty, Mike Bell, Harley Wilson and David Kingsbury.

Due to the rainout last Saturday night there havent been too many hotshoes that have put a lot of laps on the new 3/8th mile expansion at Citrus County Speedway. The 40 lap Hobby Stock special had to be postponed due to the inclement weather and a make up date will be announced later in the season.

Mike Bresnahan heads up a 23 car Late Model field that have raced in the first two point races of the year with a slim four point lead on Jim Smith. First feature winner Teddy Nelson holds out in third while Rex Struble and Raymond Lovelady are knotted in a tie for fourth.

Sixteen Sportsman pilots have a pair of races behind them and the familiar point man, Mike Veltman, has Mark Dominique, Bill Oestreicher, George Neumann and Buddy Kessler in his review mirror in the race for the top five positions. Veltman has his eye on a fourth straight Sportsman crown in 2002 but his competition will be doing everything they can to put a new name on that trophy. More competitors will be in the running after the County Fair break.

Mini Stocks are enjoying the extra racing room with the new configuration and are going four and five wide in some tight racing situations. Top shoe in the early going is Rob Wheatley who won the first 40 lap special on opening night. Robbie Yoakam is always a threat at his home track. Jay McKenzie rides in a racecar that won the Championship for George Neumann and holds out in third over Kevin Harrod who won the second feature race of the year. Harry Futch Jr. holds out in fifth in a division that has a whole season full of excitement ahead of them.

With the Hobby Stock first special of the year being rained out last week it will postpone who will be the top dog in that big money run. Twenty-seven racers have chased the Smith brothers in the first two weeks of the season with older brother Tommy on top of the heap with a six-point edge on Richie. Richie is supposed to move up to a Late Model ride after the Fair and weather he will do double duty going after his second Hobby Stock Championship remains to be seen. Roy Perkins, Dustin Aaron and Joe Rauner who moved up from Thunder Stocks this season.

An unfamiliar name tops the Thunder Stock point ladder with Robert Jordan showing a win and a top five finish in the first two races. He is 50 points up on Josh Teague. The next three, Terry Sharrone, Stuart Madison and Tim Wilson have a little tighter race going for their share of the top five spots with thirty cars registered and running.

Figure 8s return for the second of their 12 races for the season with fourteen cars in the point race. Three time Figure 8 Champion Robert Aaron came up with the first win of the season on a final turn run for the start finish line over runner up Darryl Hage. Jeff Kramer, Charlie Meyer and Dwayne Fults round out the top five.

Pit gates open at 3, while the grandstand gates open 4 and Street Stock Time Trials begin at 5:30. Regular race heats will take the green at 6 p.m.

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by John Barker

LAKELAND, FLORIDA - A history setting Jason Boyd rocketed to his 13th straight special events Late Model race by winning the Goodyear Challenge Series 100 Sunday night Feb. 24 at USA International Speedway.

by Rick Anges

(KNS) Mother nature forced the U.S.A.R. Hooters Pro-Cup to run the season opener Sunday afternoon rather then Saturday night. Rain not only washed out Saturdays show but the Friday practice also had to be scrubbed. With only an hour and a half of practice crews were scrambling to not only get the right setup but to change strategy from a night race to an afternoon race on a green race track.

Forty-three cars rolled out onto the grid to make qualifying attempts on the high-banked three quarter mile oval. Early fast time was Mike Williams in the #24 with a 22.205 second time. Defending Pro-Cup champ Bobby Gill nearly looped the car in turn one his first lap but came back strong with a 22.215 sec.time.

Jason Sarvis was the 36th qualifier and blistered the track with the only sub 22-second run at 21.97 to take the pole for the race.

When the green flag dropped on the Lucas Oil 250 presented by Jennie-O Turkey Store, it was the outside pole sitter Bill Plemons in the #15 who jumped out to the early lead. The field stayed side by side for the first ten laps behind Plemons.The first caution of the day was when the #21 of local favorite Derrick Kelley tangled with the #61 of Morgan. Kelly later retired the car with mechanical problems. Another Florida fan favorite also suffered mechanical woes, as Mario Gosselin had to retire his mount early in the race.

David Buggy Pletcher #51 was moving up through the field when he tangled with another car and got a flat right front tire, fortunately for him the caution came out.

Pletchers team struggled getting the tire off the car and he had to go out on the track with a flat to keep from going a lap down. He was able to stay on the lead lap and later lead for several laps.

Gill who had moved into second place behind Plemons made an early pit stop with several other cars during caution on lap 47, the hood went up on the #5 car but no work was done and the defending champ was down and away.

Meanwhile back on the track Steven Christian in the #16 and the #9 of Chad Mullis had moved into second and third and were setting their sites on the lead. On lap 90 Christian was able to get under Plemons and take the top spot becoming the second leader of the 250-lap event.

On lap 97 a hard crash coming out of turn four took out the cars of Calvin Redwine #85 and the #41 of former open-wheel stand out Luke Hill.

Taking advantage of another caution on lap 120 most of the leaders dove into the pits for four fresh tires and gas.
Pletcher who had pitted earlier stayed out on the track and was the leader at the half way mark under caution.

Mart Nesbitt #30 who had moved himself into the top ten was caught up in a crash on lap 134 with the lapped car of Hooters North driver #16n Jeff Oakley. Nesbitt suffered front-end damage to the car, which ended his bid for the win.


On lap 147 Jeremy Bowser who had to start at the rear of the field took the lead from Pletcher.

Gill in the meantime had moved his way back up through the field and was quietly running in second several car lengths behind Bowser. Slowly Gill made his way up to the leader and in patented Dominator fashion moved under Bowser and powered himself into a lead he would not relinquish.

“We had a really good car today,” said Gill. “We made a couple of pit stops to check some things and we were able to get out front and stay there at the end. The lapped traffic gave me a cushion with Steven because I knew he had a car that could challenge us.”


Steven Christian tried all he could do to get around Gill in the closing laps but the #5 held off the challenge scooping up the opening win of the 2002 season in the same way he closed out 2001. Christian held on for second. Micheal Ritch #28 who had a strong race car all day beat #9 Chad Mullis to the stripe for third and rounding out the top five was Pro-Cup veteran #84 Shane Huffman.

With this win Gill becomes the first Hooters Pro-Cup driver to go over 1 million dollars in winnings. Gill also showed why he has earned the nickname the "Dominator" and has made a jump start to his fourth consecutive championship.

The stars and cars of the Hooters Pro-Cup series make their way to the tough half-mile of Five Flags Speedway on March 16th and then on to the even tougher high banks of history filled New Smyrna Speedway April 6th to wind up the early 2002 Florida tour.

-PHOTO GALLERY FROM SUNDAY'S ACTION AT USA: CLICK HERE.

-Rick Anges

By Jane Smith

(KNS) Racing season has opened or will be opening soon at all our Florida tracks. Not only will there be plenty of action every weekend but this year, more than any other year, we will see racing series running from one end of the state to the other.

If you have a Super Late Model, Late Model, Open Wheel Modified or Mini-Stock, this is your year to travel to a number of tracks in the Sunshine State.

Super Lates will have four series this year. The Florida Pro will also offer Super Late Models a number of races throughout the racing season with the opening race at Columbia Motorsports Park.

The Racecar Engineering Sunbelt Super Late Model Series will open it's season on March 30th at Citrus County Speedway.

The Sunbelt Super Series will have three races at USA International with the first on April 27 followed by July 20 and October 19. On September 28 and 29th, the Super Late Models will get their second chance at Sebring International and a road course race.

This year, the Triple Crown will not run for three consecutive nights but at three different tracks throughout the season. The first leg of the Triple Crown (Sunbelt Super Series) will be June 15 at Charlotte County Speedway. The second leg will be on July 20 at USA International Speedway with the final leg on November 9th at New Smyrna Speedway, which is also the biggest race of them all, the Florida Governor's Cup.

Five Flags in Pensacola, Florida will have the Snowball Challenge Series which will consist of five races on March 29, June 7, August 16, September 13 and October 11th concluding with the Snowball Derby on December 4th thru 8th.

The fourth Super Late Model Series is the All American Challenge Series which will run entirely at DeSoto Speedway. The opening race was on February 24 with Jimmy Cope as the winner and will run thru November 30th.

LATE MODELS
Late Models will see plenty of action with the Goodyear Challenge Series and the SARA Late Model Series. The Goodyear Challenge Series had their first race at USA International on February 24 with Jason Boyd as the winner.

The Goodyear Challenge will run at USA International Speedway, Orlando SpeedWorld, New Smyrna Speedway and Sebring International Raceway on the 28th and 29th of September. The SARA Late Model Series had it's opening race on February 16 at DeSoto Speedway and they will race at DeSoto Speedway, Charlotte County Speedway, South Alabama Speedway, Hialeah Speedway and tentatively Volusia Speedway Park ending their season on November 9th.

MINI STOCKS
For all the Mini-Stock drivers and crews, we have the Florida Mini-Stock Challenge Series which has it's opening race at Hialeah Speedway on March 23.

A number of races are planned this year but the biggest event for this division will be the Road Course race at Sebring International on September 28 and 29th where they will join the Racecar Engineering Sunbelt Late Models and the Goodyear Challenge Late Models. The Florida Mini Stock Challenge series will race 50 lap races with the last race of the year at New Smyrna Speedway and it will be a 100 lap race.

OPEN WHEEL
For the Open Wheel Modifieds, you have the Pro Mod Series and the SARA Open Wheel Modified Series. The Pro Mod series will open on March 16 at New Smyrna Speedway and will end on November 22 at Orlando SpeedWorld. The series has 10 races scheduled with one at USA International on July 20th. The SARA Open Wheel Modifieds will open their season on March 2nd at DeSoto Speedway with 12 races on their schedule going between DeSoto Speedway, Charlotte County Speedway, tentatively Volusia Speedway Park and a few to still be announced.

MORE SERIES ACTION
The SARA Pro Trucks made their debut on February 24 at DeSoto Speedway and will run DeSoto Speedway and tentatively Volusia Speedway Park ending their season on November 3rd.

And for those who want something different, there is always the Classic Auto Racing Series, Dwarfs (Mod Lites), Legends, and always a fan favorite TBARA Winged Sprint Series which run on New Smyrna Speedway, DeSoto Speedway, Hialeah Speedway, Sunshine Speedway, Charlotte County Speedway, Auburndale Speedway, Ocala Speedway, Orlando SpeedWorld, and Citrus County Speedway, ending their season on November 9th at Auburndale Speedway.

This year, 2002, promises to be a year where there is plenty of action not only at your local regular divisions but your Florida Series divisions. Whether it is Super Lates, Lates, Modifieds, Mini-Stocks, Trucks, Classic Cars, Legends (Mod Lites), Dwarfs, or TBARA Winged Sprints that tickle your fancy, you can be sure that they will be at a track near you during the 2002 racing season.

So, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to start your engines and get ready for some real action packed Florida racing series.

Jane Smith

Motorsports journalists Bruce Hassy and Chris Cook are set to unveil the premiere edition of Florida Motorsports Report on the weekend of March 2nd. The new weekly publication is being launched in partnership with KARNAC.com, now in its sixth year of providing Internet news and entertainment for race fans.

Chris Cook, Bruce Hassy, Robert Brown, Rick Anges

Larry MacMillan

Mike Bresnahan took a year off to run with the Florida Pro and Sunbelt Series and came back after doing well in both after taking Rookie of the Year. He departed his home track as the 2000 Late Model Champion and it would appear that his return has the same goal in sight for 2002. Just two races into the season, he is sporting the win in Spectacular I, a top ten finish in the first points race of the year and the win last week on the new playing field that he seems to have figured out already. Jim Smith trails him by just four points with two top 5 finishes. Pinellas Parks Teddy Nelson holds out in third just 12 points behind Smith. Rex Struble, and Raymond Lovelady are tied for fifth.

Mike Veltman is the man to beat for the fourth consecutive year, locking in his first win of the season on opening night and backing it up with a heat win. Mark Dominique followed up with his first win of the season on night two and holds out in second in the early points run. Bill Oestreicher and George Neumann share third with Buddy Kessler returning with a solid fifth place hold in the early going.

Ernie Reed and Danny Cretty hold the two top spots in the Street Stock action after sharing the winners circle in the first two weeks of the 2002 season. Mike Bell, Harley Wilson Sr. and David Kingsbury hold down the balance of the top five positions with a ton talent behind them that will also be in the chase for the crown.

Rob Wheatley set the pace for the first week of the season in Mini Stock action. Robbie Yoakam trails Wheatley by 12 with two decent finishes. Jay McKenzie continues to improve with top 5 finishes in both initial weeks of racing. Kevin Harrod borrowed a ride to make his first ride to the Winners circle last week and with only one week on his resume holds out in fourth over an improving Harry Futch Jr.

It would seem the Smith Brothers are going to share the limelight in the Hobby Stock division with older brother Tommy having a six point lead with two heat wins and a feature win and a second in back to back weeks. Richie has a 100-point lead over former champion Roy Perkins. Dustin Aaron holds out in fourth while Joe Rauner and Brandon Johnson share in the race for fifth.

Robert Jordan paired a win and a fourth place finish to hold the Thunder Stock lead. Josh Teague continues to come from the rear of the pack and finishes up front holding down an 18-point lead on rookie Terry Sharrone. Defending Champion Stuart Madison locked on to fourth over Tim Wilson after the first two weeks of racing.

Robert Aaron jumped to the top of the Figure 8 point race with a last turn win in their only outing. Darryl Hage, Jeff Kramer, Charlie Meyer and Dwayne Fults round out the top five. They return to action on Saturday March 2nd just before the three-week break for the Citrus County Fair.

The rest of the divisions will get two more workouts to dial in on the new 3/8th mile racecourse before the break. This Saturday night will feature a 40-lap shootout for the Hobby Stocks battling for a $500 win purse.

-Larry MacMillan

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By Dave Westerman

Great weather and a great field of NAMARS midgets highlighted night number one as the 2002 Florida Winternationals got under way Tuesday evening at Orlando Speedworld. Of the 37 midgets in the pits, three have Mopar power. When the checker flew at the end of the 30-lap feature, the Mopars were 1-2-3 headed by surprise entry Jason Leffler.

The night got off to an awesome start as five drivers broke Nick Fornoro's track record of 14.320 set back in 1985. Indianapolis, IN driver Shane Hollingsworth, just 16 years of age, toured the 3/8 mile Speedworld oval at 13.160 sec. to set fast time followed closely by another 16-year-old, Bobby East at 13.172 sec.

Hollingsworth and East would not have much luck after that though. Hollingsworth failed to finish in a transfer spot in his heat, then started the Semi from the pole and was running away with that race when he spun in turn four. He worked his way back to fifth before mechanical problems sidelined him from a spot in the feature.

East finished second in his heat and was on the move in the feature, but got caught up in a couple of minor incidents and dropped out near halfway in the race. John Nervo, Paul Perkins, Teddy Beach, and Dave Steele won the heats while Aaron Pierce topped the Semi as the 20 car feature field was set with Rich Corson and Steve Thinnes on the front row.

Corson took off like a rocket and built up a quick lead as the field jockeyed for position behind him. Tracy Hines and Jason Leffler were on the charge from their 6th and 7th starting spots with Hines leading Leffler past Corson for the lead on lap 15. East spun on lap 19 to bring out the first caution. On the restart, Leffler dove inside Hines and took over the top spot. A lap later, East spun again to bring out caution number two.

On the restart, Aaron Pierce and Sondi Eden tangled with Pierce tagging the fronstretch wall. Unable to avoid the melee, Mike Roselli ran over the front end of John Nervo's car, hit the wall and flipped bring out the red flag. All the drivers were OK, but only Eden was able to continue where she eventually wound up 13th.


Leffler led Hines and Dave Steele, all in Mopar-powered cars, the remaining nine laps as the crowd focused on a late charge by Justin Overfelt, who came from nowhere to pass six cars in the last eight laps to finish fifth behind Corson after starting 16th.

Teammates Teddy Beach and Matt Westfall were sixth and seventh with Steve Thinnes, David Gough, and Dave Baumgartner rounding out the top ten.

Leffler, a surprise entry in the event, was driving the Keith Kunz Special sponsored by Mopar, Keco, Advanced Racing, and Gary Stanton Racing Engines with a Kunz chassis. Hines was behind the wheel of the Wilke/Pak Motorsports Beast sponsored by Mopar, Penray, Seco, and Hoosier Tire, while Steele steered Dino Tomassi's Stanton/Mopar Beast with sponsorship from Mopar Parts, Finish Line Towing, and Penske Shocks.

In Support Class action, Rick "Sock-It" Tumey topped a wild Mini-Stock Feature that saw numerous leaders, spins, and wild action. Tumey worked his way up from tenth in a field of 14 to take the lead late in the race, leading the Dodge of Matt Watts to the line. Charlotte, NC driver Waylon Flynn, who learned to race on this track, was third in his Toyota, while Bobby Orr came back from a penalty that sent him to the rear of the field to checker fourth. Corbin Gibbs was fifth.

Rich Clouser dominated the Super Stock field in his Oldsmobile taking an easy win over Mike Peppler, Big Bob Wines, Ron Whaley, and Bomber Bill Loomis.

Brian Gingras took the lead from Michigan driver Rob Roney with two laps to go and won the Dwarf Car feature. Roney held on for second ahead of Rick Lundeen, Tom Sliwa, and Dan Nyhan.

Action continues Wednesday night at 7:30 PM.

RESULTS:
NAMARS MIDGETS
Time Trials:
1) Shane Hollingsworth, Indianapolis, IN #7 13.160 NTR
2) Bobby East, Brownsburg, IN #4 13.172
3) Teddy Beach, Donnelsville, OH #25B 13.221
4) Dave Steele, Indianapolis, IN #29 13.331
5) Jason Leffler, Columbus, IN #67 13.401
6) Tracy Hines, Greenfield, IN #11 13.441
7) Aaron Pierce, Muncie, IN #26 13.482
8) Matt Westfall, Ludlow Falls, OH #25W 13.514
9) Jimmy McCune, Sylvania, OH #21M 13.542
10) Steve Thinnes, West Chicago, IL #48 13.611
11) Rich Corson, Markham, IL #15C 13.633
12) Mike Roselli, Broadheadsville, PA #98 13.670
13) John Nervo, Akron, OH #21N 13.672
14) Dave Baumgartner, Ottawa Lake, MI #38 13.741
15) Sondi Eden, Crawfordsville, IN #15E 13.780
16) David Gough, Machesney Park, IL #5 13.801
17) Rex Norris III, Indianapolis, IN #63N 13.844
18) Adam Nuetzel, Indianapolis, IN #17 13.845
19) Justin Overfelt, Crawfordsville, IN #78 13.860
20) Rory Price, Edmonds, WA #99 13.901
21) John Batts, Advance, IN #6 13.952
22) Paul Perkins, Antioch, IL #63P 13.955
23) Gene Lee Gibson, Richwood, OH #0 13.966
24) Mel Kenyon, Lebanon, IN #61 14.091
25) Joey Coy, Hull, MA #77M 14.191
26) Jason Willis, Lawrenceburg, IN #25J 14.211
27) David Thompson, Minooka, IL #24 14.500
28) Stuart Birkinbine, Meridian, ID #2 14.533
29) Steve Craig, Leavittown, PA #55 14.621
30) Bryan Kobelarz, Birdsboro, PA #49 14.655
31) B.J. Manson, Grove City, OH #18 14.914
32) Jim Libby, Hull, MA #77L 15.222


Heat One: 1) Nervo, 2) Leffler, 3) Coy, 4) McCune
Heat Two: 1) Perkins, 2) East, 3) Nuetzel, 4) Hines
Heat Three: 1) Beach, 2) Overfelt, 3) Eden, 4) Corson
Heat Four: 1) Steele, 2) Price, 3) Roselli, 4) Westfall


SEMI: 1) Pierce, 2) Thinnes, 3) Gough, 4) Baumgartner - Did Not Make A-MAIN:
Norris III, Kenyon, Manson, Willis, Batts, Craig, Libby, Hollingsworth,
Kobelarz, Gibson.


A-MAIN FEATURE (30 Laps):
1) Jason Leffler #67
2) Tracy Hines #11
3) Dave Steele #29
4) Rich Corson #15C
5) Justin Overfelt #78
6) Teddy Beach #25B
7) Matt Westfall #25W
8) Steve Thinnes #48
9) David Gough #5
10) Dave Baumgartner #38
11) Rory Price #99
12) Paul Perkins #63P
13) Sondi Eden #15E
14) Aaron Pierce #26
15) John Nervo #21N
16) Mike Roselli #98
17) Bobby East #4
18) Adam Nuetzel #17
19) Jimmy McCune #21M
20) Joey Coy #77M


MINI STOCKS (15 Laps):
1) Rick Tumey, Deltona, FL #55
2) Matt Watts, Dade City, FL #3
3) Waylon Flynn, Charlotte, NC #6
4) Bobby Orr, Montverde, FL #30
5) Corbin Gibbs, Plant City, FL #2
6) Rick Sirmans, Pinellas Park, FL #05
7) Chris Thornton, Clearwater, FL #24
8) Tom Rose, Longwood, FL #43
9) Tim McPhail, Pinellas Park, FL #7
10) Bo Davis, Lakeland, FL #67
11) Tom Clark, Lakeland, FL #99
12) Mike Gonzalez, Land O' Lakes, FL #46
13) Tim Clark, Cocoa, FL, #15
14) Mark Gonzalez, Wesley Chapel, FL #47


SUPER STOCKS (15 Laps):
1) Rich Clouser, Grant, FL #8
2) Mike Peppler, Longwood, FL #81
3) Bob Wines, Bull Creek, FL #7B
4) Ron Whaley, New Smyrna Beach, FL #2
5) Bill Loomis, Orlando, FL #32
6) David Gould, Satellite Beach, FL #16
7) Rob Watford, Palm Bay, FL #17
8) Dean McGlothin, Palm Bay, FL #66
9) Scott Tyler, Orlando, FL #27
10) Rip Dyal, Titusville, FL #79
11) Clint McKean, St Cloud, FL #79X
12) Dick Owens, Kahuna, AL, #1
13) Darren Gould, Cocoa, FL #67
14) John Hodge, Palm Bay, FL #00 DNS


DWARF CARS (15 Laps):
1) Brian Gingras, Winter Haven, FL #21
2) Rob Roney, Holly, MI #911
3) Rick Lundeen, Jacksonville, FL #04
4) Tom Sliwa, Southfield, MI
5) Dan Nyhan, New Symrna Beach, FL #09
6) Phil Krauthoff, Stuart, FL #2
7) Bill Burback, Kissimmee, FL #77
8) Bob Quick, Jacksonville, FL #06
9) Jim Biglin, Daytona Beach, FL #07

By Jane Smith
(KNS) After seven nights (the Super Lates had
Monday night off) of hard side by side racing, Jimmy
Cope, "Mr. Excitement" to Florida race fans, was crowned the Champion of the Super Lates at New Smyrna Speedway and the 36th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.
Cope won the first race last Friday, February 8, and
has been in the top five most every night.

On the pole for the final and 100 lap race was Jr.
Hanley's #66. Hanley, the winner of five races, proved
to all the drivers and the fans that he is definitely
one of the top short track racers in the country.
Night after night, he worked his way to the front
and maintained it. On the outside of Hanley was the
#2x of Clay Rogers, also a well known racer. With 39
cars on the track for the 100 lapper, the start of
the race was alittle hard. But it was not until
lap 19 when #9 Jonathan Brown, while passing a lap
car, gave the crowd a thrill. Brown's car seemed
to lift up slightly and come back down with the #9
being towed in the pits and Brown okay. Brown was
running tenth at the time.

After the track was cleared and checked, the green
flew once again with Hanley still leading the way.
Travis Kittleson #88 and Clay Rogers #2x were having
their own side by side action as the #88 machine was
working hard for that second place spot that the
#2x had. Just as Kittleson takes second from Rogers,
the yellow comes out for the #38 of Shane Sawyer who
spins on lap 25. Clay Rogers gets back second position
on the restart but it does not take Kittleson long to
once again take it away putting Rogers in fourth and
the #61 of Cope in third.

Lap 35 saw a pile up over in the bottom of turns 1
and 2. Jeff Sloan #31, #6b Jerome Brown, #60 Bob
Eastwood and #74x Jody Turner were all involved. Sloan
#31 was slightly run over but able to continue as
well as the #6B of Brown. The track was cleared, the
one to go was shown and we were green flag racing again.

Kittleson #88 charges Hanley #66 for the lead but
Hanley, being the great racer he is, is not shaken
but Kittleson remains right on his rear. Hanley
and Kittleson pull away from the field leaving Cope
#61 in third and no cars directly behind him. Clay
Rogers, Louie Mechalides, David Rogers, Freddie
Query and B.J. McLeod are now in an all out dog fight
for position as the laps dwindle down.

Lap 56 the #30 of Richard Duecker hits the turn 1 and
2 wall but is not badly damaged. On the restart,
David Rogers #11 takes over the fifth position as
he puts the #47 Louie Mechalides to sixth. It is
now Hanley, Kittleson, Cope, Clay Rogers, David
Rogers, Mechalides, Query, McLeod, Powell and Willoughby.
Cope does a little wiggle but is able to correct but
the yellow comes out once again as the #7 of Erik
Darnell does alittle 360 practice in turn 1 and 2.
The field is started single file with Hanley still
leading and Kittleson close behind. The #2x Clay
Rogers and #61 Jimmy Cope are having their own battle
and touch causing the #11 of David Rogers to go high
in turns 3 and 4 losing his fifth place spot and
ending up in ninth after saving his car.

In the
meanwhile, the two lead cars of Hanley and Kittleson
touch down in the bottom of turn 4 with both
saving their cars. Clay Rogers #2x takes the 3rd
position from #61 Cope.

Now the track is really hot and everyone is fighting
hard as the #8 of Freddie Query seems to have a
tire go down and ends up in the turn 4 wall. Query
has not had the best of luck this year and every
time it seemed that he was going to have a good
finish, something happened. Query is towed off the
track and the race is green once again. David
Rogers is side by side #78 McLeod for the fifth
position and does get it. Now it is Hanley,
Kittleson, Clay Rogers, Cope and David Rogers.

Lap 90 on the board as the #12 of Justin Drawdy spins
and the #53 as he spins to avoid hitting the #12.
With ten laps to go, can Kittleson take Hanley???
Kittleson tried everything- high, low but could not
pass the #66 of Hanley. Taking home the trophy for
the 100 lapper was #66 Junior Hanley followed by
#88 Travis Kittleson, #2x Clay Rogers, #11 David
Rogers, #61 Jimmy Cope, #47 Louie Mechalides, #78
B.J. McLeod, #37 James Powell III, #74 Barry
Willoughby, #82 Donnie Wilson, #137 Mike Franklin, Jr.,
#371 Larry Gelinas, #10 Donald Long and #6 Mac
Johnson.

Open Wheel Modifieds

Jerry Symons #66 took home his eighth win of the
nine nights of racing. Only one other driver won
a race during the 9 nights and that was the #l of
Stephen Johanneck. The #00 of Bobby Blake sat on
the pole but it was the K1 of Mike Carroll who took
the lead. Carroll maintained his lead until the
caution came out for the #5x of Gery Artuso on lap
8. Artuso was fine but his car was slightly hot
and on fire but the safety crew had it out in
seconds. The #5x was towed in and the race was
green once again. Symons quickly took the lead
from Carroll who got shuffled back and ended up
finishing seventh. The final positions were Symons,
#2x Jason Boyd, #51 Dave Stacy, #00 Bobby Blake,
#1A Andy Saffotti, #00x Brad May, #K1 Mike
Carroll and #7 Mark Vandevender.

Late Models
Jason Boyd #15 set the new World Series of Asphalt
Stock Car Racing as he won all nine nights of Late
Model action.

No one has ever done this before.
Richie Evans won 8 times but Boyd is the only 9 times
winner. Tonight Boyd won with the #38 of Kirk
Hooker, #22 Larry Osteen, #26 Mike Murphy, #5x
Gery Artuso, #5 Joey Miller, #25 Timmy Todd and
#70 Rob Howard following him over the finishing line.

NASCAR TYPE MODIFIEDS
The "thunder pounders, stand shakers" NASCAR Tour Type/
SK Mods saw the #26 of George Kent on the pole for
their final race at New Smyrna Speedway for the 2002
World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. With
only one caution in their final feature, the excite-
ment was never ending. Kent was able to hold his
lead even with the #13 of Teddy Christopher constantly
putting the nose of his machine under the bumper of
Kent's. Night 9 gave George Kent #26 the final win
as #13 Teddy Christopher, #19 Eric Beers, #00 John
Blewitt, #32 Dave Bergman, #5 Charlie Pasteryak, #14
Robbie Summers, #99 Jamie Tomaino, #29 George Bach,
and #2 JR Bertuccio followed Kent across the finish
line. Robbie Summers #14 was crowned the Champion
for the NASCAR Tour Type/SK Mods for the 2002 World
Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.

SUPER STOCKS
Rich Clouser #8 Super Stock won both races for this
division, taking the first win last Saturday, February
9 and the win on February 16. Clouser was able to
take his #8 to the front and maintain his lead for
his second win. Following Clouser across the finish
line was #2 Ron Whaley, #08 Robert Skinner, #45 Mike
Soukup, and #16 David Gould.

Nine nights of racing are over. It has been a challenge
for all that came. Fed Ex, UPS, became a familiar site
at the track as parts were delivered to the determined
drivers to get a win. Cope, Boyd, Symons, Vulipus,
and Clouser went home knowing that they had done their
best as Champions of the 2002 World Series of Asphalt
Stock Car Racing.

-Jane Smith

By Rick Anges


(KNS) Volusia Speedway Park owner Richard 'Dicky' Murphy was arrested last week on charges of unlawful drug financial transactions and attempted drug conspiracy.

Murphy tells a different story from the one painted of him in the indictment handed down from Anderson County, South Carolina.

The case against Murphy starts in 1974 when Murphy and an unnamed business partner sold William 'Ronnie' Burkhart a piece of property for $10,000 of which Murphy received $5,000.

Murphy had been a lifelong friend of Burkhart.

Burkhart who died two years ago, was accused of drug smuggling for over 30 years.

The Sheriffs Departments of Anderson and Oconee Counties in northwestern South Carolina have kept the case active.


Among papers Murphy disclosed to KARNAC.com were two letters from the 10th Judicial Circuit in South Carolina offering Murphy complete immunity from prosecution in exchange for testimony against Burkhart.


The first immunity grant was dated January 4th, 2002 and the second came on the 24th of the same month.

Murphy refused the immunity offers stating the State of South Carolina
wanted him to "tell an outright lie" against his lifelong friend.

He also believes this is where the charges of unlawful drug financial
transactions stem from.

Murphy also stated that this case has already been thrown out of Federal, State and County [Anderson County, SC] courts and Sheriff Gene Taylor of Anderson County was instructed not to file the charges again.


Unable to further pursue the case in Anderson County, Sheriff Taylor went to the Sheriff of adjoining Oconee County.

The warrants Murphy was arrested on by the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday originated in Oconee County.

Against a no bail request in South Carolina warrants, Murphy was granted $300,000 bail and released.

"We believe Burkhart smuggled large quantities of cocaine and marijuana for about 30 years and went untouched" said Taylor in statements related to the warrant.

Although there have been no convictions in the case, approximately 6 million dollars in property to date has been seized.

"They took everything out of this man's [Burkhart] house and sold it at auctions," said Murphy. "The Sheriff [Taylor] even drove Ronnie's Jeep."

"This is the worse case of abuse and misuse by a law enforcement authority I've seen in the more than 20 years I have been practicing law," said Harlan Paul, Murphy's attorney.

"They're more interested in getting their hands on people's property than they are in truth and couldn't care less about trampling on the rights of innocent people to do so."

Murphy intends to take this as far as the law will let him and said in the end he will be exonerated and the real truth will be known.

"It was embarrassing for my son, but I feel real good about the case, and I'm going to sue them," Murphy said.

On a lighter note, when asked how his Winter Nationals went, Murphy replied, "Other than two rainouts and spending the night in jail they went fine."

-Rick Anges

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By Leo Dougherty

If you've ever been to the Knoxville Nationals or the Chili Bowl youve heard the golden throat of Jack Miller. Even if you've never been to these two historic events you have probably heard him at one time or another at some race track calling a sprint car race. Over the years, Miller has been in demand as an announcer at some of the best sprint car and midget venues in the country. But he wasnt always an announcer.

This former schoolteacher/motorcycle racer from Illinois was racing his bike in Champagne, Illinois in 1956 when the local announcer failed to show up. Someone asked him to announce the races and he said, "sure, as long as I can race. I'd never announced anything before in my life. I won $7.00 racing that night and got paid $15.00 for announcing. I knew what I was going to do after that. I quit racing because all I ever got racing motorcycles was hurt."

Miller began announcing bike races and found himself in Oklahoma City one day.

""Shane Carsons dad, a Knoxville winner and former competitor with the Outlaws asked me to do an IMCA sprint show. I didn't know sprint cars from nothing. But I did it and that was how I got my start in sprint cars."

With a reflective look in his eye he said, "Jan Opperman was in the first race I ever announced."

Since he didnt know a lot about the business he began standing at the back gate, talking to everyone who went through it. It was what the former schoolteacher called doing his homework.

"If someone came through the gate and I didnt know them, I stopped them and asked who they were. Thats how I got to know them and how I learned about them. James McElreath came through the back gate one time and I asked him who he was. I didnt know Jim McElreath."

One day Joie Chitwood came through town. He heard Miller announcing and offered him a job. Miller spent the next two years traveling and announcing with the Chitwood thrill show.

He eventually moved from Illinois to Florida where he now resides but he has worked so many of the open-wheel venues across the country. He was in Knoxville years ago when a fellow named Lew Job told him the fairgrounds needed an announcer. Job offered him a job, a house, and an announcing position.

"For twenty-five years I did the Nationals," he said. "That was the beginning of my involvement there, in 1976."

"I do this because I always liked it, he said, but I also do it because its not a job. It was fun. Look, Ive had four jobs in my life. I was a teacher, a weather forecaster, an auctioneer, and an announcer. I didn't have to work at any of those jobs."

Hes been doing the Winternationals here at East Bay Raceway since the track was built twenty-six years ago. He figures hes missed about five Winternationals over all those years. Tonight, the final night of the 2002 Winternationals, is also Jack Millers final night working as an announcer. While he'll still do the Chili Bowl, for the most part when he signs off tonight, it will be the last time sprint car fans will hear his voice over the PA system.

While his departure will leave a big hole at many venues, he sure has made it entertaining. Hes had many good memories and a few bad ones too, but for the most part its been a great career and hes become a friend to thousands of people.

East Bay official Ken Sands said, "I went to the Chili Bowl with him once and we couldn't walk five feet without someone stopping him and talking to him. He knows everyone and everyone knows him."

"The time has come though", he says, "when its time to stop doing what you're doing." He says that time is now for him.

"I promised my wife when I stopped enjoying it I'd stop doing it and that's a promise Im going to keep," he said. "I had to get off the road in 98 and I did that. But the last five years it became a job and not a hobby. For 35 years I did it as a hobby."

He had the misfortune of being the one to tell East Bay fans that Ron Laney had passed on during the King of 360s show two weeks ago. He is a friend to Laneys father and had watched Ron grow up. He nevertheless stayed in the booth and made the necessary announcement professionally and with dignity, despite a voice cracking with emotion.

He also had the courage and the integrity late Friday night when there appeared to be an unnecessary delay in pushing cars off to say what needed to be said. The fans were more than restless and Miller chided track officials over the PA system to get the show underway. Very few announcers would do that.

"Too many people have lost sight of the fact that this is show business," he said. "We've lost the aspect of entertainment in racing."

I asked him if he'd be sad when he signed off tonight and if he woluld look over his shoulder as he drove out the gate tonight. He said, "Sad only because of the friends I've made. I'm going to miss so many people. Thats why I want to keep the Chili Bowl, because I get to see all the friends I've made and theres so many old timers there. But its the humanity of racing I'll miss. I'll miss the fans and of course the drivers. Theyre very brave people and they are great people. But its the humanity of racing, thats what I'll miss".

Time marches on, and life goes on. Well have sprint car racing and well have announcers, but Jack Miller is a classic. Hes been a friend, an entertainer, an educator to us race fans, and hell be sorely missed. I'm privileged to have had the opportunity to know him, and Im humbled and honored to say he's a friend.

So, my friend, this one's for you.


-By Leo Dougherty

By Leo Dougherty
East Bay Raceway, Gibsonton, FL (Thursday, February 14, 2002)-This kid Dewease is still on a tear. Once again he comes up with a win during the Winternationals. He started in third and might not have won if not for Tim Shaffer.

Shaffer led the race until lap 11 when he went high at the end of the front stretch. The car caught the wall and flipped, ending his hopes for winning the nights feature. Shaffer was unhurt.

This left Dewease with the lead and Danny Lasoski running in second. Dewease ran the high line and Lasoski ran the low line until lap 17 when traffic almost let Lasoski get by. On the following lap Dewease dropped down and took Lasoskis line away. From that point on, Lasoski had to contend with traffic and, when it looked like he might catch Dewease, would have had to figure out how to get around him.

"He did a great job and his whole crew has done a great job. I kind of snuck under him there for a second but he did a great job taking the spot back", said Lasoski.

Prior to time trials Jack Miller announced that the track record was 12.118 seconds held by Craig Dollansky. Shortly after time trials began, local driver Johnny Gilbertson smashed the track record with a time of 11.794. Then Chad Kemenah came out and smashed the new record with a time of 11.638. The track was so fast that a number of drivers beat the old record.

Despite setting fast time for the night, Kemenah had to qualify for the A main through the B main. Once he qualified however he got his time back but started in sixth place because the top six cars were inverted.

Former track record holder Craig Dollansky was unable to make the A main through his heat race. He finished second in the B main to qualify.

Jack Hewitt had his two-seater car at East Bay and was on the track with it just prior to the first C main. Hewitt had to hustle to get out of the two-seater and into the 31J to make the C main but just before the race was green flagged, he pulled into the infield and missed the race. Apparently one of his wheels had been put on the car but not tightened.


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By Robin Smith Miller

(KNS)Clear Channel Broadcasting of Southwest Florida's local market Vice-President, Jim Keating, has a hobby that might be surprising to many who don't know him. He spends his weekends racing stock cars at Charlotte County Speedway, where he competes in the sportsman and limited late model division.

An avid race fan most of his life, from the days his father used to take him to stock car events in Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, he never sat behind the wheel of a four wheeled beast until he moved to Southwest Florida in 1997. After he came to work for Clear Channel Broadcasting whose diverse local radio stations include Cat Country 107, KIX Country 92.9, Oldies 95, The Beat 105.5, and Real Radio 100.1, he learned they sponsored the limited late model of 2000 champion Glenn Morris of Bokeelia.

Keating innocently said to one of the employees of Clear Channel, "Do you think I could drive around the track a couple of times?" The next thing he knew, he was sitting in a real racecar, driving it around the asphalt at Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda. Each lap the car went faster and the thrill Keating felt got more intense. He had caught "The Fever".

Later, the car's regular driver, Morris, asked if he really wanted to race. Keating's reply was "Yes" and the next thing he knew Morris offered him his second car, a pure stock. In Keating's first full year of racing in the pure stock division he finished fifth in points, along with a feature win, as well as several heat race trophies. He raced in the division two seasons before moving up into the most competitive division at the speedway, the sportsman class.

In the five years he has raced he has won at least one feature race a year and has seen a lot of good up-front racing action. Last year, he even tried his hand in the limited late model division, driving a 50-lap feature and a 100-lap Six Pack Series race. This year, he expects to compete in both divisions again, although the sportsman division is what he calls "home".

Keating has "The Fever" so bad that he has gotten all five of Clear Channel's stations involved in racing. This season, they will sponsor three cars in the limited late model division, Keating in Real Radio 100.1 car; Morris in his Cat Country 107 car; and new addition, Richie Anderson, in the Oldies 95 car. The marketing department at Clear Channel has even managed to turn their racecar sponsorships into profit making endeavors by selling packages to sponsor the cars.

This still is not enough for Keating, as far as spreading his love of racing throughout the airwaves. Every Friday morning, during racing season, he takes a lot of ribbing from Cat Country's morning show hosts, The Bear, Billy and Amy Newman, when he hosts a ten minute segment called "Track Talk" where he tries to give a driver's perspective on local and big time NASCAR racing.

A family man, Keating tries to spend time with his wife on Sundays, which sometimes takes him away from the television screen and NASCAR races. In the past few years, he has done what he could to bring in barely audible signals from faraway radio waves on his car radio so that he could hear the NASCAR races in his travels with his wife. No one in Southwest Florida broadcast the races after a local AM station gave it up two years ago.

All that comes to an end though for the upcoming 2002 season. Clear Channel Broadcasting of Southwest Florida has signed an agreement to broadcast every Winston Cup event this season, beginning with the Bud Shootout at Daytona International Speedway on February 9. The flag-to-flag coverage can be dialed in on WRLR Real Radio 100.1 FM, a powerful 100,000-watt station.

The station will also broadcast several other race related shows including "Race Refresher, " a recap of the weekends racing results, airing Monday mornings at 6:45am. "NASCAR Today," a racing newscast, airs Monday - Friday at 6:10 pm, and "Garage Pass," which highlights the latest NASCAR info and breaking news stories, will air Monday - Friday at 10:10pm.

Keating points out, "NASCAR racing is the fastest growing sport in America in both attendance and media appeal. We're thrilled to be able to bring these exclusive radio broadcasts of the premier stock car racing series to the area. This also compliments our commitment to local stock car racing as well."

Another huge racing enthusiast, Bubba the Love Sponge, whose syndicated morning talk show is heard on Real Radio 100.1 during the week, drives Sprint cars in his spare time. He and Keating are even talking about having a special racing event during the coming local race season.

So race fans, buckle up and get ready to go racing. Whether it is while driving your car or sitting on the beach enjoying the beautiful sunshine, NASCAR racing is coming your way in stereo. Even if you are sitting at home, turn on the television but turn down the sound and listen to all excitement on Real Radio.

-Robin Smith Meiser

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By Scott Hawkins

By Jane Smith
(KNS)Thirty five Super Late Models took the green flag on Saturday night at New Smyrna Speedway with Justin Drawdy on the pole. Night two of the World Series of Asphalt Racing was not quite as cold as night one but the action did not cool down. Drivers worked all day replacing blown motors and hoping that Saturday night would be kinder than the night before.

Before the first lap was in, a caution was thrown. The field was realigned once again with Rogers jumping to the lead over Drawdy only to see the caution again for Shane Sawyer in the #38. Sawyer's car was totally destroyed in turns 3 and 4 and at the end of the night, Sawyer went home. The race was then restarted in single file with Rogers, Drawdy, Hanley, Kittleson and Anderson filling out the top five spots.

Eric Black, the #10, had something break in his rear-end which sent him hard into the turn 3 wall. Black was sore and bruised but his car was gone. When the green came out again, Hanley was there making his move on Rogers for the lead. At one point, Drawdy, Hanley and Rogers made a perfect Oreo cookie, racing three wide. Drawdy goes spinning and ends up in the rear of the lead lap and Hanley takes the lead with Rogers, Kittleson, Anderson and Cope chasing the leader.

By lap 21, Kittleson had taken the second place spot from Rogers who was shuffled back to fifth. Hanley took the checkered flag but in tech was disqualified for being 14 pounds light. Hanley is an expert at fuel calculation but with all the cautions of this race, he ended up short. The win was given to Kittleson with Jimmy Cope, Wayne Anderson, David Rogers, Dan Fredrickson, James Powell, Matt Hogan, Freddie Query and Chris Wimmer filling out the top ten.

LATE MODELS: Late Models saw the #5x of Gary Artuso on the pole but it was the #23 of Jerick Johnson who jumped to the lead. Mike Murphy took the lead from Artuso and kept it for a few laps but Artuso won it back. But in the pack, coming up fast, was the #15 of Jason Boyd who is on a run at this time. Boyd passed the top three cars to take the lead and win his second race of the nine nights of racing action. Filling out the top ten were Jason Boyd, Larry Osteen, Mike Murphy, Joey Miller, Don Thomson, DeWayne Bryan, Jerick Johnson, Kirk Hooker, Rob Howard and Gary Artuso.

MINI STOCKS: In the Mini-Stocks with 28 cars in the field. The #3 of Matt Watts sat on the pole but it was the #96 of Frank Welch, 2001 Champion at Charlotte County Speedway, that took the lead from the beginning of the race and never let go. Welch, who is moving up this year to Super Late Model plans to run the Racecar Engineering Sunbelt Super Series, has worked hard to get where he is now in the Mini-Stock division. The #96 is really hard to beat since Rick Sirmans, Ted Vulipus, Matt Watts and Rick Tumey did their best to try and pass or catch up for the lead. But Welch held on for his second win with Ted Vulipus, Rick Sirmans, Matt Watts, Pete Jacobs, Waylon Flynn, Clint Foley, Scott Reeves, Terry Cady and Ron Dubeau filling out the top ten.

OPEN WHEELS: A few of the Open Wheel Modifieds were missing on night two as they traveled to Columbia Motorsports Park for the annual Blue/Grey Modified race but still 18 cars filled the field. The #1 of Steve Johanneck sat on the pole but it was the #2x of Jason Boyd jumping to the lead. Tank Tucker, in the #17 which was the new car for Mark Vandevender, was moving up fast but he and Boyd tangled sending Tucker into the wall and Boyd to the rear. This gave the lead to the #1 of Johanneck with Bobby Blake, Wayne Parker, Jimmy Crowe, Chad Poole, Mark Vandevender, Bob Bauer, Gary Artuso, John Compagnone and Jason Boyd filling out the night's top ten.

On night one, the NASCAR Tour Type/SK Mods ran a caution free 25 lap race but on night two, that was not to be seen. With 31 of these mean, hard charging, flying machines in the field, the noise level was definitely up. Eric Beers, #19, sat on the pole and did a great job of holding off the #13 of Ted Christopher for much of the race. But Christopher never let up on Beers and eventually ended up with the lead. Beers, Rob Summers, Charlie Pasteryak, George Kent and JR Bertuccio did alot of shuffling between themseves for the top five but in the end, Kent and Beers were both shuffled back. Night two went to Ted Christopher with Rob Summers, Charlie Pasteryak, JR Bertuccio, John Blewitter, Eric Beers, Jamie Tamaino, Tim Arre, Terry Zacharias and Jim Winters filling out the top ten.

SUPER STOCKS Rich Clouser, 2001 Street Stock Champion at DeSoto Speedway, sat on the pole for the Super Stock feature. Mike Wiezoreck in his new #30 ran second to Clouser but as new motors go, lost his motor giving second place to Darren Gould's #67. But coming up was the #08, the car that Clouser won his Championship with at DeSoto Speedway and sold at the end of the season, with Robert Skinner at the wheel. Skinner passed Gould to take second place and was chasing his car's old owner but could never quite catch him. Clouser held on for the win with Robert Skinner, Darren Gould, Michael Soukup, Ron Whaley, Joe Evans, Dean McGolthin, Charlie Collins, Bobby Giles and David Gould filling out the top ten.

After and before the races tonight, Ford shot a commerical using the #31 of Jeff Sloan, #61 of Jimmy Cope, #27 of Mike Good and #77 of Robbie Dean. The track was closed down after the races for an hour so the film crew could film these cars racing. Fans and drivers were invited to watch and quite a few stayed to see just how commercials are made.

As the night was over for the fans, many crews worked until the wee hours of the morning repairing their cars for the Sunday's action. The #64 crew of Garrett Evans gets the "hard worker" award as they worked feverishly for the first two nights repairing that car. And for the first time ever, this writer and her son spent the night at the racetrack in a tent being softly lead to sleep by the humming of generators working hard.

Sunday night the rain won, but not until Jerry Symons smoked the field again in the Open Wheel Modifieds and Matt Mercer won the TBARA feature.

-Jane Smith

by Leo Dougherty
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, FL (Sunday, February 10, 2002)-Tonights show was run without benefit of time trials. The top six in points in the following order, Danny Lasoski, Lance Dewease, Joey Saldana, Chad Kemenah, Travis Rilat, and Kenny Jacobs began the evening locked into the A main. However, they were inverted for the starting grid.

Kasey Kahne came all the way to Florida from Ecumlaw, Washington and a seventh place start to collect the $7,000 All Star Circuit of Champions win. He didnt break into the top four until lap 24 and led only the last four laps.

On a slick track that had tires smoking most of the race, Kenny Jacobs claimed the lead for the first 26laps. Even though there were only three cautions for minor incidents traffic wasnt a factor for most of the race.

Perhaps the best run of the evening came from Stevie Smith who started dead last and worked his way into the fourth position by lap 27 and finished the race in third place.

Mike Erdley hit the outside wall in the front stretch on the first lap of his qualifying heat, losing his right rear wheel. Stevie Smith and Tyler Walker exchanged the third place spot each of the first three laps until Walker was able to put a little distance between the two cars, claiming the final transfer spot into the A main.

As the dash field took the green flag, Lasoski got sideways going into turn two. Rilat tried to avoid him but got sideways, collecting Kenny Jacobs. Lasoski took his car to the pits and didnt return to finish the dash.

The All Stars action moves next to East Bay Raceway. Webmaster Allan Holland will be at those races and will post results as they occur. Ill work on my photography and I also hope to do some profiles.

I want to thank everyone who sent emails to me and commented to me in person about the coverage to this point.

Finish Start Driver
1 7 Kasey Kahne
2 1 Kenny Jacobs
3 24 Stevie Smith
4 5 Lance Dewease
5 3 Chad Kemenah
6 7 Jason Johnson
7 12 Craig Dollansky
8 11 Fred Rahmer
9 6 Danny Lasoski
10 13 Tim Shaffer
11 10 Greg Hodnett
12 16 Greg Wilson
13 23 Paul McMahan
14 17 Jason Sides
15 14 Danny Smith
16 21 Kelly Kinser
17 15 Rodney Duncan
18 22 Tom Busch
19 19 Tyler Walker
20 18 Shane Stewart
21 4 Joey Saldana
22 9 Dean Jacobs
23 20 Mike Wagner
24 2 Travis Rilat

B main
1. Danny Smith 12. Curt Trainer
2. Dean Jacobs 13. Jody Keegan
3. Rodney Duncan 14. David Waltman
4. Greg Wilson 15. Barry Ruble
5. Mike Wagner 16. Shawn Chaney
6. Tom Busch 17. Jeff Hodgson
7. Stevie Smith 18. Christi Passmore
8. Mike Erdley 19. Jeremy Campbell
9. Leonard Lee 20. Johnny Johnson
10. Mike Woodring 21. Bruce Robenalt
11. Bill Rose


Heat 1
1. Kasey Kahne 6. Shawn Chaney
2. Fred Rahmer 7. Tom Busch
3. Jason Sides 8. Johnny Johnson
4. Danny Smith 9. Phil Gressman
5. Mike Wagner

Heat 2
1. Jason Johnson 6. Jody Keegan
2. Terry McCarl 7. Bruce Robenalt
3. Kelly Kinser 8. Spud Gustin
4. Bill Rose 9. Mike Erdley
5. Rodney Duncan

Heat 3
1. Craig Dollansky 6. Greg Wilson
2. Shane Stewart 7. Leonard Lee
3. Paul McMahan 8. Jeff Hodgson
4. Dean Jacobs
5. Christi Passmore

Heat 4
1. Tim Shaffer 6. Curt Trainer
2. Greg Hodnett 7. David Waltman
3. Tyler Walker 8. Barry Ruble
4. Stevie Smith 9. Kevin Frey
5. Mike Woodring

Dash
1. Chad Kemenah
2. Joey Saldana
3. Lance Dewease
4. Travis Rilat
5. Kenny Jacobs


by Leo Dougherty
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, FL (Sunday, February 10, 2002)-Tonights show was run without benefit of time trials. The top six in points in the following order, Danny Lasoski, Lance Dewease, Joey Saldana, Chad Kemenah, Travis Rilat, and Kenny Jacobs began the evening locked into the A main. However, they were inverted for the starting grid.

Kasey Kahne came all the way to Florida from Ecumlaw, Washington and a seventh place start to collect the $7,000 All Star Circuit of Champions win. He didnt break into the top four until lap 24 and led only the last four laps.

On a slick track that had tires smoking most of the race, Kenny Jacobs claimed the lead for the first 26laps. Even though there were only three cautions for minor incidents traffic wasnt a factor for most of the race.

Perhaps the best run of the evening came from Stevie Smith who started dead last and worked his way into the fourth position by lap 27 and finished the race in third place.

Mike Erdley hit the outside wall in the front stretch on the first lap of his qualifying heat, losing his right rear wheel. Stevie Smith and Tyler Walker exchanged the third place spot each of the first three laps until Walker was able to put a little distance between the two cars, claiming the final transfer spot into the A main.

As the dash field took the green flag, Lasoski got sideways going into turn two. Rilat tried to avoid him but got sideways, collecting Kenny Jacobs. Lasoski took his car to the pits and didnt return to finish the dash.

The All Stars action moves next to East Bay Raceway. Webmaster Allan Holland will be at those races and will post results as they occur. Ill work on my photography and I also hope to do some profiles.

I want to thank everyone who sent emails to me and commented to me in person about the coverage to this point.

Finish Start Driver
1 7 Kasey Kahne
2 1 Kenny Jacobs
3 24 Stevie Smith
4 5 Lance Dewease
5 3 Chad Kemenah
6 7 Jason Johnson
7 12 Craig Dollansky
8 11 Fred Rahmer
9 6 Danny Lasoski
10 13 Tim Shaffer
11 10 Greg Hodnett
12 16 Greg Wilson
13 23 Paul McMahan
14 17 Jason Sides
15 14 Danny Smith
16 21 Kelly Kinser
17 15 Rodney Duncan
18 22 Tom Busch
19 19 Tyler Walker
20 18 Shane Stewart
21 4 Joey Saldana
22 9 Dean Jacobs
23 20 Mike Wagner
24 2 Travis Rilat

B main
1. Danny Smith 12. Curt Trainer
2. Dean Jacobs 13. Jody Keegan
3. Rodney Duncan 14. David Waltman
4. Greg Wilson 15. Barry Ruble
5. Mike Wagner 16. Shawn Chaney
6. Tom Busch 17. Jeff Hodgson
7. Stevie Smith 18. Christi Passmore
8. Mike Erdley 19. Jeremy Campbell
9. Leonard Lee 20. Johnny Johnson
10. Mike Woodring 21. Bruce Robenalt
11. Bill Rose


Heat 1
1. Kasey Kahne 6. Shawn Chaney
2. Fred Rahmer 7. Tom Busch
3. Jason Sides 8. Johnny Johnson
4. Danny Smith 9. Phil Gressman
5. Mike Wagner

Heat 2
1. Jason Johnson 6. Jody Keegan
2. Terry McCarl 7. Bruce Robenalt
3. Kelly Kinser 8. Spud Gustin
4. Bill Rose 9. Mike Erdley
5. Rodney Duncan

Heat 3
1. Craig Dollansky 6. Greg Wilson
2. Shane Stewart 7. Leonard Lee
3. Paul McMahan 8. Jeff Hodgson
4. Dean Jacobs
5. Christi Passmore

Heat 4
1. Tim Shaffer 6. Curt Trainer
2. Greg Hodnett 7. David Waltman
3. Tyler Walker 8. Barry Ruble
4. Stevie Smith 9. Kevin Frey
5. Mike Woodring

Dash
1. Chad Kemenah
2. Joey Saldana
3. Lance Dewease
4. Travis Rilat
5. Kenny Jacobs


by Leo Dougherty
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, FL (Sunday, February 10, 2002)-Tonights show was run without benefit of time trials. The top six in points in the following order, Danny Lasoski, Lance Dewease, Joey Saldana, Chad Kemenah, Travis Rilat, and Kenny Jacobs began the evening locked into the A main. However, they were inverted for the starting grid.

Kasey Kahne came all the way to Florida from Ecumlaw, Washington and a seventh place start to collect the $7,000 All Star Circuit of Champions win. He didnt break into the top four until lap 24 and led only the last four laps.

On a slick track that had tires smoking most of the race, Kenny Jacobs claimed the lead for the first 26laps. Even though there were only three cautions for minor incidents traffic wasnt a factor for most of the race.

Perhaps the best run of the evening came from Stevie Smith who started dead last and worked his way into the fourth position by lap 27 and finished the race in third place.

Mike Erdley hit the outside wall in the front stretch on the first lap of his qualifying heat, losing his right rear wheel. Stevie Smith and Tyler Walker exchanged the third place spot each of the first three laps until Walker was able to put a little distance between the two cars, claiming the final transfer spot into the A main.

As the dash field took the green flag, Lasoski got sideways going into turn two. Rilat tried to avoid him but got sideways, collecting Kenny Jacobs. Lasoski took his car to the pits and didnt return to finish the dash.

The All Stars action moves next to East Bay Raceway. Webmaster Allan Holland will be at those races and will post results as they occur. Ill work on my photography and I also hope to do some profiles.

I want to thank everyone who sent emails to me and commented to me in person about the coverage to this point.

Finish Start Driver
1 7 Kasey Kahne
2 1 Kenny Jacobs
3 24 Stevie Smith
4 5 Lance Dewease
5 3 Chad Kemenah
6 7 Jason Johnson
7 12 Craig Dollansky
8 11 Fred Rahmer
9 6 Danny Lasoski
10 13 Tim Shaffer
11 10 Greg Hodnett
12 16 Greg Wilson
13 23 Paul McMahan
14 17 Jason Sides
15 14 Danny Smith
16 21 Kelly Kinser
17 15 Rodney Duncan
18 22 Tom Busch
19 19 Tyler Walker
20 18 Shane Stewart
21 4 Joey Saldana
22 9 Dean Jacobs
23 20 Mike Wagner
24 2 Travis Rilat

B main
1. Danny Smith 12. Curt Trainer
2. Dean Jacobs 13. Jody Keegan
3. Rodney Duncan 14. David Waltman
4. Greg Wilson 15. Barry Ruble
5. Mike Wagner 16. Shawn Chaney
6. Tom Busch 17. Jeff Hodgson
7. Stevie Smith 18. Christi Passmore
8. Mike Erdley 19. Jeremy Campbell
9. Leonard Lee 20. Johnny Johnson
10. Mike Woodring 21. Bruce Robenalt
11. Bill Rose


Heat 1
1. Kasey Kahne 6. Shawn Chaney
2. Fred Rahmer 7. Tom Busch
3. Jason Sides 8. Johnny Johnson
4. Danny Smith 9. Phil Gressman
5. Mike Wagner

Heat 2
1. Jason Johnson 6. Jody Keegan
2. Terry McCarl 7. Bruce Robenalt
3. Kelly Kinser 8. Spud Gustin
4. Bill Rose 9. Mike Erdley
5. Rodney Duncan

Heat 3
1. Craig Dollansky 6. Greg Wilson
2. Shane Stewart 7. Leonard Lee
3. Paul McMahan 8. Jeff Hodgson
4. Dean Jacobs
5. Christi Passmore

Heat 4
1. Tim Shaffer 6. Curt Trainer
2. Greg Hodnett 7. David Waltman
3. Tyler Walker 8. Barry Ruble
4. Stevie Smith 9. Kevin Frey
5. Mike Woodring

Dash
1. Chad Kemenah
2. Joey Saldana
3. Lance Dewease
4. Travis Rilat
5. Kenny Jacobs

Leo Doughtrey is the writer of "Makin Tracks" on Hoseheads.com

Teddy Nelson celebrated a return to Late Models with a Win at Citrus County

(KNS)I.M.C.A. Sunoco Modifieds return to the half-mile speedway in North Florida, running on a fast surface that is being rebuilt with 300-plus loads of clay. The re-vamped dirt track, formerly known as Gulf County Speedway reopens on March 30 in Wewahitchka, near Panama City, Florida.

Among the other improvements at the speedway are a new victory lane and winner's circle, a new pit road and an expanded staging area that will allow fields for two heats to be lined up simultaneously. William Clark will be at the promotional helm this season at the newly re-named North Florida Motor Speedway.

An Indiana native and former power boat racer, Clark helped with announcing and operating an East-Central Alabama track for seven seasons in the 1990s. With a background in radio, he did his first announcing gigs at a dirt track in Minnesota in 1986. "I have a love for racing and for speed. I get a lot of satisfaction coming out here and working at the track," said Clark. "I've always tried to bring professionalism to racing. Racing is a profession and promoting is a business."

"We're also putting in new scales and revamping the parking area for trailers. The track will be up to par to run dirt races by opening night on March 30," Clark promised. Regular Saturday night shows at Wewahitchka continue through Sept. 28.

Fans and drivers can keep up with everything that goes on at North Florida Motor Speedway at KARNAC.com during 2002.

For more information on the North Florida Motor Speedway, visit our tracks section: CLICK LINK.

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It was a beautiful Florida night and #20 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO took advantage of it as he won his first feature race of the 2002 Raceweek event at Volusia Speedway Park. The 24 ALL STAR Sprints started their 25 lap feature in the 'missing' man formation and 4 abreast in memory of a fellow racer that lost his life last year. John Bankston, Beumont, TX, 1939-2001, died tragically in August of 2001 at the Eldora Speedway.

Before the first lap was on the board, #7d Craig Dollansky, St. Zimmerman, MN, lost in in turn 2 and it was a complete restart with #U2 Paul M McMahan, Bristol. IN on the inside of #20 Lasoski, by lap three it was #20 Lasoski all the way and lapping cars by lap 6.

On lap 10 the caution was thrown as #51 Danny Smith, Danville, IN spun to avoid the car of #12 Greg Hodnett, York PA spun out in turn 2. On the restart Lasoski wasted no time putting a lot of track between himself and #U2 McMahan.

On lap 12 #35, Tyler Walker, Tulsa OK went low and brushed the inside wall in turn 3 but was able to recover and continue without bringing out the caution but #35 Walker went on to have more troubles on lap 20, Walker was the only car off the track for the remainder of the race. After the caution with #35 Walker on lap 20 the restart was risky for all the top cars as lapped cars threaded their way through the field. #U2 McMahan was able to get ahead of lapped traffic but was unable to catch the fast leader, #20 Danny Lasoski.

In victory lane Lasoski spoke of car owner Tony Stewart and his team as well as saying "everything was lookin good, were having a great time and I hope to do a good job representing dirt track racers". The top 5 spots went to: #20 Danny Lasoski, Dover, MO - #U2 Paul McMahan, Bristol, IN - 15k Chad Kemenah, Findlay, OH - #51K Kasey Kahne, #1AT Travis Rilat, Texas City, TX

The feature race was dedicated to John Bankston, sending a chill up your spine to see the cars line up 4 wide with the inside pole position empty.

UMP MODIFIEDS Ray Walsh, St. Louis MO, took his first feature win the second night of Raceweek 2002 at Volusia Speedway Park. It is without a doubt the most unbelievable feeling as these open wheel 'monsters' of the dirt fire it up coming out of turn 4! Its hard to believe that these race cars can take up the entire track but they do and they do it 4 wide sometimes.

The third caution of the race was on lap 7 in turn 3 as XXV Paul Miles, Owensburg, KY involved in his second caution of the night got together with #67j Billy Jewell, Norman Ok, Jewell was taken off the track by the wreckers and XXV Miles attempted to return to the race only to get caught up in the worst wreck of the night in turn 3 again on lap 21.

It was a battle for first place between #1pj Shawn Holliday, Ironton, OH, 1W Ray Walsh and #11z Bryan Collins, Muskogee, OK. On lap 21 cars spun in turn 3 and #1pj Holliday had nowhere to go ending his chance at a win. With 4 laps to go #1W Ray Walsh put it hard to #11z Collins, Collins wasnt able to hold on to 2nd as #17s Jim Shereck, St. Charles, MO and #12l Jeff Leka, Buffalo, IL were able to get around him taking 2nd and 3rd. #1w Walsh and was able to pull out his first win this year. Series announcer Steve Nelson made it trackside to interview a very happy winner. Walsh stated "we had bad luck in GA and bad luck last night so we started early, 9am worked on the car and it paid off!"...Nelson asked for Walsh' secret all Walsh had to say was there was no way he was saying anything! ALL STAR SPRINTS results

Heat #1 1)20-Danny Lasoski, 2)1a-Travis Rilat, 3)24-Terry McCarl, 4)51k-Kasey Kahne, 5)7s-Jason Sides, 6)4B-Tom Busch, 7)6B-Bill Rose, 8)16L-Lenord Lee, 9)K60-Jody Keegan, 10)V8-Jeff Hodgson, 11)10c-Jeremy Campbell.

Heat #2 1)6-Kenny Jacobs, 2)U2-Paul McMahn, 3)45-Tim Shaffer, 4)4k-Kelly Kinser, 5)11-Mike Erdley, 6)41-Jason Johnson, 7)36-Curt Trainer, 8)61a-Toby Brown, 9)12-Greg Hodnett, 10)1-Doug Berryman.

Heat #3 1)88H-Fred Rahmer, 2)7-Craig Dollansky, 3)51s-Danny Smith, 4)19s-Stevie Smith, 5)55W-Mike Wagner, 6)15k-Chad Kemenah, 7.Shane Stewart, 8)27c-Shawn Chaney, 9)4M-Mike Dupuy, 10)10G-Spud Gastin, 11)63R-Barry Ruble.

Heat #4 1)92-Joey Saldana, 2)34-Dean Jacobs, 3)77-Lance Dewease, 4)35-Tyler Walker, 5)22D-Rodney Duncan, 6)19w-Mike Woodring, 7)2K-Kevin Frey, 8)1ax-Christi Passmore, 9)9G-Phil Gressman, 10)98-Bruce Robenalt, 11)72J-John Johnson.

B-Main 1.Chad Kemenah, 2.Greg Hodnett, 3.Jason Johnson, 4.Greg Wilson, 5.Shane Stewart, 6.Mike Woodring, 7.Phil Gressman, 8.Curt Trainer, 9.Tom Busch, 10.Kevin Frey, 11.Lenord Lee, 12.Christi Passmore, 13.Shane Chaney, 14.Jody Keegan, 15.Jeff Hodgson, 16.Bill Rose, 17.Bruce Robenalt, 18.Barry Ruble, 19.Doug Berryman, 20.Toby Brown, 21.John Johnson, 22.Spud Gastin.

ALL STAR SPRINTS FEATURE RACE FINISH

1.Danny Lasoski, 2.Paul McMahn, 3.Chad Kemenah, 4.Kasey Kahne, 5.Travis Rilat, 6.Joey Saldana, 7.Stevie Smith, 8.Lance Dewease, 9.Danny Smith, 10.Jason Johnson, 11.Tim Shaffer, 12.Rodney Duncan, 13.Fred Rahmer, 14.Kenny Jacobs, 15.Dean Jacobs, 16.Craig Dollansky, 17.Mike Wagner, 18.Terry McCarl, 19.Greg Hodnett, 20.Mike Erdley, 21.Jason Sides, 22.Kelly Kinser, 23.Greg Wilson, 24.Tyler Walker.

U.M.P. OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED RESULTS

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Heat #1 (1)1W Ray Walsh, St. Louis, MO (2) 1R Bart Richardson, Bradford, IN (3) 22 Marvin Burton, Georgetown, IL (4) 45 James Mills, Marshall, IL (5) K5 David Baker, Peoria, IL (6) 7K Kent Corbin, Bunnell, FL (7) 707 Corey Conley, Wellsburg, WV (8) M40 Scott May, East Peoria, IL (9) 17s Jim Shereck, St. Charles, MO (10) 37f Dan Fugate, Lawrenceburg, IN (11) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, IA (12) DQ 88 Scott Orr, Columbia City, IN

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Heat #2 (1) 79 Shawn Nolan, Aunandale, MN (2) 0J Ronnie Perrine, Jr. Lima OH (3) 87 Eddie Harmon, Ironton, OH (4)17H David Hughes, Brooksville, KY (5) 71 Bill Davis, Chesterton, IN (6) 1GRS Dave Groves, Morgantown, WV (7) 7W Jason Wheatley, Loretto, KY (8) 67J Billy Jewel, Norman, OK (9) 43 Mike Harding, Lowell, MI (10) A Junior Nolan, St. Clarksville, OH (11) 7m Bryan Millican, Cleveland, TX (12) 20 Jimmy Owens, Newport, TN

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Heat #3 (1) 74 N Scott Nesteby, Asbury, IA (2) 18 Dean Wray (3) 33 Steve Wetter, Platteville, WI (4) 11L Travis LaCombe, Holland, MI (5) 69 Junior Hotovy (6) 37K Kenny Patterson, Cincinnati, OH (7) 2* Don Gumke, Jamestown, NH (8) 12m Kenny Myracle, Mattoon, IL (9)18m David McWilliams, Verona, KY (10) D1 Donald Necessary, Bristol. VA (11) 7t Jeremy Tibben, Red Oak, IA (12) 88e Barry Elliott, Chandler, IN

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Heat #4 (1)1st Brook Phillips, Wichita, KS (2) 67s Warren Shingleton, Dayton, OH (3) 64 Gary Cook, Deer Creek, IL (4) 45 Brandon Maxwell, Milan, TN (5) 1H Chuck Haga, Bismark, IL (6) 36s Brady Short, Bedford, IN (7) 63 Matthew Weston, Muskogee, OK (8) 12D Scott Drake, Muskogee, OK (9) 36p Billy Palmer, Knoxville, TN (10) 93 Rick Germar, Red Park, IN (11) 2w Darryn Waldo, Billings, MO (12) 2r Marc Robe, Manhattan, KS

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Heat #5 (1) 1pj Shawn Holliday, Ironton, OH (2) 37b Ron Barker, Dubuque, IA (3)11z Bryan Collins, Eisberry, MO (4) XXV Paul Miles, Owensboro, KY (5) 20b Mike Brecht, Deshler, OH (6) 05m Mike Mashl, Deper, WI (7) 03 Benji Lee, Raywick, KY (8) 21 Kenny Carlson, Hobart, IN (9) 0H Lee Hobbs, Mitchell, IN (10) 88w Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, OK (11) c11 Mike Gee, Arcola, IL (12) 812 Marvin Hotovy



U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Heat #6 (1) 12L Jeff Leka, Buffalo, IL (2) 75 Dusty Moore, Swanton, OH (3) 26h Justin Houston, Hazel KY (4) 72 Brian Mullen, Seymour, WI (5) 182 Randle Sweeney, Clifty, KY (6) 55 Tom Moore, Zanesville, OH (7) 9I Steve Isenberg, Marshfield, WI (8) 74o Scotty Owens, Crofton, KY (9) 5P Randy Purcell, Gary, IN (10) 4G Gary Clark, Walker, MO (11) 157 Mike Marler, Warfield, TN

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Consi #1 (1) 17(2) 45 Brandon Maxwell, Milan, TN (3) 1 Chuck Haga, Bismark, IL (4)707 Corey Conley, Wellsburger, WV (5) 2 (6) 555 Ryan Ruter, Kanawha, IA (7) K5 David Baker, Peoria, IL (8) 36 Brady Short, Bedford, IN (9) 63 Matt Weston, Muskogee, OK (10) 36 Billy Palmer, Knoxville, TN (11) 2w Darryn Waldo, Billings, MO (12) 12 Scott Drake, Muskogee, OK (13) 45m James Mills, Marshall, IL (14) 7k Kent Corbin, Bunnell, FL - DNS m40 Scott May, East Peoria, IL - 37 - 93 Rick Germar, Red Park, IN

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Consi #2 (1) 71 Bill Davis, Chesterton, IN (2) XXV Paul Miles Owensboro, KY (3) 20b Mike Brecht, Deshler, OH(4) 17h David Hughes, Brooksville, KY (5) 0H Lee Hobbs, Mitchell, IN (6) 05 Mike Mashl, Deper, WI (7) 7m Bryan Millican, Cleveland, TX (8) 88w Chad Wheeler, Muskogee, OK (9) 7w Jason Wheatley, Loretto, KY (10) 03 Benji Lee, Raywick, KY (11) 43 Mike Harding, Lowell, MI (12) 67j Billy Jewell, Norman, OH (13) 21 Kenny Carlson, Hobart, IN (14) A Junior Nolan, St. Clarksville, OH (15) 1grs Dave Groves, Morgantown, WV -- DNS c11 Mike Gee, Arcola, IL - 20o Jimmy Owens Newport, TN - 812 Marvin Hotovy

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Consi #3 (1) 157 Mike Marler, Warfield, TN (2) 69 Junior Hotovy (3) 72 Brian Mullen, Seymour, WI (4) 4G Gary Clark, Walker, MO (5) 55 Tom Moore, Zanesville, OH (6) 2* Don Gumke, Jamestown, NH (7) 182 Randle Sweeney, Clifty, KY (8)9i Steve Isenberg, Marshfield, WI (9)18m David McWilliams, Verona, KY (10)11L Travis LaCombe, Holland, MI (11) 37k Kenny Patterson, Cincinnati, OH (12) 74o Scotty Owens, Crofton, KY (13)5p Randy Purcell, Gary IN (14) 12m Kenny Myracle, Mattoon, IL --DNS D1 Donald Necessary, Bristol, VA - 7t Jeremy Tibben, Red Oak, IA - 88 Barry Elliott, Chandler, IN

U.M.P. Open Wheel Modified Feature Finish (1) 1W Ray Walsh, St. Louis, MO (2) 17S Jim Shereck, St. Charles, MO (3) 12l Jeff Leka, Buffalo, IL (4)11z Bryan Collins, Eisberry, MO (5) 71 Bill Davis, Chesterton, IN (6) 64 Gary Cook Jr., Deer Creeek, IL (7) 74n Scott Nesteby, Asbury, IA (8) 157 Mike Marler, Warf8ield, TN (9) 18w Dean Wray, (10) 45 Brandon Maxwell, Milan, TN (11) 87 Eddie Harmon, Ironton, OH (12) 0 Ronnie Perrine, Jr. Lima OH (13) 75 Dusty Moore, Swanton, OH (14) 1pj Shawn Holliday, Ironton, OH (15) 1r Bart Richardson, Bradford, TN (16) 79 Shawn Nolan, Aunandale, MN (17) 26h Justin Houston, Hazel, KY (18) XXV Paul Miles, Owensboro, KY (19) 1st Brook Phillips, Wichita, KS (20) 37b Ron Barker, Dubuque, IA (21) 67j Billy Jewell, Norman, OK (22) 33 Steve Wetter, Platteville, WI (23) 69 Junior Hotovy (24) 22 Marvin Burton, Georgetown, IL

Next Race: Sunday 2/10/02 the Finale for the ALL STAR SPRINTS ALL STAR SPRINTS and U.M.P. Open Wheel Modifieds Gates open: 5PM - Qualifying 6:15PM - Racing starts at 7:30pm

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by Leo Dougherty
Volusia Speedway Park, Barberville, FL (Friday 2/8/02)-Thursdays rainout at Volusia Speedway Park gave the All Stars Circuit of Champions drivers an extra day to work on their cars after the Putnam County Speedway show Wednesday night. Because of the tight schedule at Volusia, no rain dates are scheduled.

This kid Lance Dewease is on a tear here in Florida. Once again he claimed the victory, leading all 20 laps of the $4,000 to win A main Friday.

At the start, the top four cars of Dewease, Stevie Smith, Greg Hodnett and Joey Saldana set the pace with at least two car lengths between each car. Smith lost power on the fourth lap, causing Kasey Kahne and Craig Dollansky to spin for the first caution. Smith lost power again on the next lap bringing out another yellow.

The final yellow flag was on lap nine when Dollansky came to a stop on turn four.

From that point it became a race for second and third place. Dewease developed a fair lead while Hodnett, Greg Wilson, Saldana and Lasoski scrambled for the second spot.

When it was all said and done Hodnett, Wilson, and Lasoski crossed the start finish line after Dewease with Saldana settling for the fifth spot.

Drivers displayed the 8 of John Bankston and the 52 of Ron Laney on their cars. (Leo Dougherty)

Finish Start Driver
1 1 Lance Dewease
2 3 Greg Hodnett
3 10 Greg Wilson
4 6 Danny Lasoski
5 8 Joey Saldana
6 6 Chad Kemenah
7 4 Travis Rilat
8 20 Shane Stewart
9 13 Kenny Jacobs
10 7 Jason Johnson
11 24 Dean Jacobs
12 12 Terry McCarl
13 19 Jason Sides
14 23 Tyler Walker
15 15 Mike Erdley
16 18 Michael Dupuy
17 11 Rodney Duncan
18 14 Craig Dollansky
19 21 Fred Rahmer
20 22 Danny Smith
21 17 Mike Wagner
22 16 Tim Shaffer
23 2 Stevie Smith
24 9 Kasey Kahne

B Main
1. Stevie Smith 13. Jody Keegan
2. Jason Johnson 14. Toby Brown
3. Greg Wilson 15. Barry Ruble
4. Danny Smith 16. Doug Berryman
5. Kelly Kinser 17. Johnny Johnson
6. Leonard Lee 18. Spud Gustin
7. Bill Rose 19. Phil Gressman
8. Kevin Frey 20. Mike Woodring
9. Jeremy Campbell
10. Christi Passmore
11. Tom Busch
12. Jeff Hodgson

Heat 1
1. Chad Kemenah 7. Jason Johnson
2. Michael Dupuy 8. Jody Keegan
3. Greg Hodnett 9. Phil Gressman
4. Mike Erdley 10. Mike Woodring
5. Rodney Duncan 11. Johnny Johnson
6. Danny Smith

Heat 2
1. Tim Shaffer 7. Stevie Smith
2. Joey Saldana 8. Kevin Frey
3. Jason Sides 9. Tom Busch
4. Terry McCarl 10. Shawn Chaney
5. Tyler Walker 11. Jesse Gianetto
6. Kelly Kinser

Heat 3
1. Kasey Kahne 7. Leonard Lee
2. Shane Stewart 8. Christi Passmore
3. Danny Lasoski 9. Doug Berryman
4. Mike Higgenbottom 10. Barry Ruble
5. Mike Wagner 11. Bruce Robenalt
6. Jeremy Campbell

Heat 4
1. Craig Dollansky 7. Greg Wilson
2. Lance Dewease 8. Jeff Hodgson
3. Fred Rahmer 9. Toby Brown
4. Travis Rilat 10. Spud Gustin
5. Dean Jacobs
6. Bill Rose


Chad Kemenah of Findlay, OH set fast time of 13.210 on the half-mile dirt track for a speed of 136.26. He came from the ninth starting position in his heat to win. Tim Shaffer came from the seventh starting spot to win his heat and Kasey Kahne came from the eighth starting spot to win his heat.

Leo Dougherty is the writer of "Makin Tracks" on Hoseheads.com

Tampa,FL 2-5-02)-In the words of former New York Yankee catcher Yogi Berra, the 2002 edition of the Renegade DirtCar Racing Series sanctioned "26th Annual Winternationals" is "like deja vu all over again", especially for Don O'Neal. The Martinsville,IN driver led all 75 laps of the main event Tuesday night to pocket the $7,000 top prize at East Bay Raceway in Tampa,FL backing up his opening night triumph Monday. O'Neal accomplished the same feat in the 2001 "Winternationals" grabbing victories the first two nights.

Aboard the Petroff Towing/O'Neal Wood Products/B-Auto Parts No. 71o O'Neal Racing/C.J. Rayburn Race Cars/Pro Power Racing Engines Chevrolet Monte Carlo, O'Neal dominated the field throughout the event taking the victory nearly four car lengths in front of eighth starting Steve Francis. The only threat O'Neal faced from Francis happened after a lap 63 caution when Francis was able to pull to the back bumper of O'Neal but could not make his way past O'Neal. Billy Moyer rode home third with Rick Eckert fourth and 20th starting Brian Birkhofer fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Davey Johnson in sixth followed by 15th starting Shannon Babb (the last car on the lead lap) then 25th starting Chub Frank, Dennis Erb Jr. and 19th starting Steve Shaver.

(Starting from the pole, O'Neal powered into the lead at the drop of the green flag but the caution was quickly out when Roy Deese Jr. smacked the turn three wall dropping him from the action. O'Neal again got the jump at the start leading Eckert, Terry English, Moyer and Francis after one lap. Cautions on lap 3 and lap 7 slowed the pace. By lap 10 O'Neal enjoyed a comfortable margin over Francis, English, Eckert and Moyer. Cautions again on laps 11, 12 and 14 slowed the action but the next 35 laps went caution free.

With 25 laps in the books, O'Neal was simply running away from the field using every groove available on the tacky surface. Moyer now sat second with Babb third, Francis fourth and Eckert fifth followed by Johnson, Birkhofer, Shaver, English and Mike Balzano. O'Neal saw his huge lead dwindle somewhat when he encountered heavy lapped traffic on lap 45 allowing Moyer, Babb and Francis to close on the leader. Caution on lap 49 slowed the torrid pace and gave O'Neal an open track in front of him.

O'Neal again opened up a sizeable advantage on the restart leaving the field behind him to scramble for position. By lap 60 Francis had worked his way into second and a caution on lap 63 closed the field back up. Francis stayed with O'Neal on the restart but with five to go O'Neal had again opened up a healthy which he held through the finish.

The $34,000 event drew 86 drivers to the semi-banked 1/3rd mile track with Rick Eckert topping the field during CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" time trials with a quick lap of 14.376 seconds. Grabbing BRODIX,INC. heat race wins were Marshall Green, Joey Izzo, Francis, Rick Aukland, Johnson and Jimmy Mars. Copping the MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Mains were Shaver, Birkhofer and Delmas Conley with O'Neal earning the feature pole with his triumph in the ISKY RACING CAMS Dash. In the non-sanctioned Morgan Farms "Strawberry Dash" for non-qualifying feature event drivers, Jeff Wildung copped the top prize for the second night in a row.


1. (1) #71o Don O'Neal 75 Running $7,100
2. (8) # 1 Steve Francis 75 Running $4,000
3. (4) #21M Billy Moyer 75 Running $2,550
4. (2) #24 Rick Eckert 75 Running $1,580
5. (20) #15B Brian Birkhofer 75 Running $1,440
6. (10) #19J Davey Johnson 75 Running $1,300
7. (15) #18 Shannon Babb 75 Running $1,200
8. (25) #1* Chub Frank 74 Running $1,140
9. (14) #28E Dennis Erb Jr. 74 Running $1,000
10. (19) #30 Steve Shaver 74 Running $940
11. (26) #71C R.J. Conley 74 Running $840
12. (23) #S9 Dan Schlieper 73 Running $740
13. (17) #1P Earl Pearson Jr. 73 Running $650
14. (13) #0A Bobby Alexander Jr. 72 Running $600
15. (21) #71 Delmas Conley 71 Running $590
16. (6) #E1 Mike Balzano 67 Handling $535
17. (7) #166 Joey Izzo 58 Handling $450
18. (5) #96E Terry English 48 Handling $440
19. (27) #W11 Rob Blair 47 Handling $440
20. (16) #29 Darrell Lanigan 42 Mechanical $400
21. (22) #02 Keith Nosbisch 37 Suspension $440
22. (28) #23J Greg Johnson 18 Suspension $440
23. (24) #99 Donnie Moran 16 Steering $440
24. (9) #12 Rick Aukland 14 Suspension $400
25. (3) #89 Marshall Green 13 Brakes $460
26. (17) #4B Jackie Boggs 11 Steering $400
27. (11) #28M Jimmy Mars 3 Suspension $400
28. (12) #05 Roy Deese Jr. 0 Accident $400


Time Of Race: 53 Mins.
Yellow Flags: Ten-Laps 0,3,7,11,12,14,14(rs),49,58,63
Red Flags: None
Lap Leaders: One-O'Neal 1-75
OUTERWEARS CO. "Hard Charger of the Race": Francis
ROCKET CHASSIS "Rookie of the Race": None
Provisional Starters: Frank,R.J. Conley,Blair,G. Johnson
Car Count: 86
CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" Time Trial Award: Eckert 14.376 secs.
BRODIX,INC. Heat Race Winners: Green,Izzo,Francis,Aukland,D. Johnson,Mars
SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRE Heat Race Bonus Winner: Francis
MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main Winners: Shaver,Birkhofer,D. Conley
ISKY RACING CAMS Dash Winner: O'Neal


SUMMARY: CARRERA SHOCKS "Challenge the Clock" Time Trials:


1. #24 Rick Eckert York,Pa 14.376
2. #96E Terry English Benton,KY 14.608
3. #E1 Mike Balzano Parkersburg,WV 14.634
4. #71o Don O'Neal Martinsville,IN 14.648
5. #71C R.J. Conley Wheelersburg,OH 14.661
6. #21M Billy Moyer Batesville,AR 14.691
7. #89 Marshall Green White,GA 14.756
8. #99J Johnny Johnson West Burlington,IA 14.768
9. #S9 Dan Schlieper Pewaukee,WI 14.780
10. #29 Darrell Lanigan Union,KY 14.813
11. #4B Jackie Boggs Grayson,KY 14.860
12. #28M Jimmy Mars Elk Mound,WI 14.865
13. #02 Keith Nosbisch Valrico,FL 14.868
14. #166 Joey Izzo LaSalle,IL 14.882
15. #28E Dennis Erb Jr. Carpentersville,IL 14.903
16. #12 Rick Aukland Zanesville,OH 14.907
17. #19J Davey Johnson Greensburg,PA 14.940
18. #71 Delmas Conley Wheelersburg,OH 14.974
19. #05 Roy Deese Jr. Odenton,MD 14.978
20. #0A Bobby Alexander Jr. Riverview,FL 15.003
21. # 1 Steve Francis Ashland,KY 15.066
22. #W11 Rob Blair Titusville,PA 15.068
23. #18 Shannon Babb Decatur,IL 15.092
24. #1* Chub Frank Sugar Grove,PA 15.099
25. #23J Greg Johnson Edinburgh,IN 15.132
26. #77 Bill Bartels Marina Del Rey,CA 15.164
27. #1D Billy Drake Bloomington,IL 15.192
28. #17M Dale McDowell Rossville,GA 15.204
29. #32C Vic Coffey Leicester,NY 15.207
30. #1P Earl Pearson Jr. Jacksonville,FL 15.211
31. #71R Rod Conley Wheelersburg,OH 15.237
32. #19Y Timmy Yeager Harrodsburg,KY 15.264
33. #15B Brian Birkhofer Muscatine,IA 15.286
34. #00K Randy Korte Highland,IL 15.294
35. # 7 Matt Miller Waterville,OH 15.302
36. #72R Steve Russell Pontotoc,MS 15.312
37. #201 Billy Ogle Jr. Knoxville,TN 15.320
38. #T8 Mark Banal St. Clairsville,OH 15.333
39. #12S Jason Setser Columbus,IN 15.335
40. #80 Bryan Durig Warren,OH 15.349
41. #40A Andy Anderson Martinsburg,WV 15.354
42. #70J D.J. Myers Greencastle,PA 15.366
43. #13 Barry Doss Sardinia,OH 15.367
44. # 3 Steve Smith Powell,TN 15.374
45. #00H Chuck Harper Beverly,WV 15.408
46. #71W Jeff Wildung Nassau,MN 15.420
47. #00S Freddy Smith Knoxville,TN 15.422
48. #53 Ray Cook Brasstown,NC 15.434
49. #72 John Mason Millersburg,OH 15.441
50. #32D Scott Douglas Waco,KY 15.450
51. #1K John Anderson Omaha,NE 15.518
52. #64 Ryan Dauber Tonica,IL 15.523
53. #99 Donnie Moran Dresden,OH 15.527
54. #21 Jason Montgomery Jackson,OH 15.539
55. #30 Steve Shaver Vienna,WV 15.594
56. #59 Bill Cunningham Jefferson,OH 15.652
57. #46 Jason Tolliver Proctorville,OH 15.654
58. #45 Russ Frohnapfel Columbus,OH 15.667
59. #25 Jeff Kohn Sheridan,MI 15.715
60. #17 Mike Gault Gaffney,SC 15.744
61. #6M Wendell Wallace Batesville,AR 15.782
62. #42 Marshall Austin Dover,FL 15.848
63. #7J Dave Troutman Hyndman,PA 15.886
64. # 2 Anthony White Clinton,TN 15.931
65. #50 Ed Dixon Washington,MO 15.962
66. #9X Russ Scheffler Waukesha,WI 15.967
67. #18D Jim Bernheisel Lebanon,PA 15.981
68. #21D Dan Stone Thompson,PA 16.008
69. #43 Aaron Bapst Jackson,OH 16.018
70. #T31 Shane Tankersley Morganton,GA 16.028
71. #28 Steve Lucas Charleston,WV 16.050
72. #6H Tom Hall Denton,KY 16.278
73. #6T Tim Dohm Cross Lanes,WV 16.346
74. #12C Cortney Clewell Cambridge,OH 16.401
75. #32S Ronnie Smith Waco,KY 16.432
76. #07 Scott Cross Stevensville,MD 16.532
77. #9Z Jayme Zidar Greenfield,WI 16.721
78. #99H Sherri Heckenast Chicago,IL 16.724
79. #17S Frank Smith Mechanicsville,MD 17.130
80. #7L Randy Lucas Apex,NC 17.403
81. #1A Dan Autullo Worth,IL 17.486
82. #J0 J.O. Nobles Nahunta,GA 17.590
83. #H20 Mark Kraus Stratford,WI 18.775
84. #J8 Billy Jones Gravel Switch,KY 18.947
85. #96 Cory Daugherty Decatur,IL NT
86. #32 Greg Lucas Whitesburg,KY NT

BRODIX,INC. Heat #1 (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Green,
Deese Jr.,Eckert,Nosbisch,Shaver,G. Johnson,Dohm,Mason,Ogle Jr.,
Doss,Rd. Conley,Bernheisel,Wallace,Fk. Smith,NS-Daugherty

BRODIX,INC. Heat #2 (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Izzo,
Alexander Jr.,English,J. Johnson,Banal,Cunningham,Douglas,Stone,
Clewell,Bartels,Austin,R. Lucas,Yeager,S. Smith,NS-G. Lucas

BRODIX,INC./SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRE Heat #3 (12 Laps-Top 3
Advance To Feature): Francis,Erb Jr.,Balzano,Schlieper,Birkhofer,Drake,
Setser,Harper,Bapst,Tolliver,Anderson,Troutman,R. Smith,NS-Autullo

BRODIX,INC. Heat #4 (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Aukland,
O'Neal,Lanigan,Blair,McDowell,Korte,Dauber,Durig,Frohnapfel,Wildung,
White,Cross,Tankersley,Nobles

BRODIX,INC. Heat #5 (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): D. Johnson,
Babb,Boggs,Coffey,R.J. Conley,Dixon,Moran,Kohn,S. Lucas,Fy. Smith,
Zidar,Miller,Kraus,NS-Anderson

BRODIX,INC. Heat #6 (12 Laps-Top 3 Advance To Feature): Mars,Moyer,
Pearson Jr,D. Conley,Frank,Cook,Gault,Heckenast,Myers,Hall,
Montgomery,Scheffler,Russell,Jones

MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main #1 (15 Laps-Top 2 advance to feature):
Shaver,Nosbisch,Banal,G.Johnson,Doss,Dohm,Douglas,
Bernheisel,Rd. Conley,Yeager,Stone,Fk. Smith,Bartels,Austin,Mason,
Clewell,Wallace,R. Lucas,Ogle Jr.,Cunningham,Daugherty,J. Johnson,NS-
S. Smith,G. Lucas

MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main #2 (15 Laps-Top 2 Advance To Feature):
Birkhofer,Schlieper,Blair,Harper,Drake,Cross,Wildung,Bapst,
Dauber,Setser,Anderson,Tolliver,Tankersley,Durig,Autullo,McDowell,R.
Smith,Frohnapfel,Korte,Troutman,Nobles,White

MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" Main #3 (15 Laps-Top 2 Advance To Feature): D.Conley,Moran,R.J. Conley,Miller,Frank,Anderson,Scheffler,
Myers,Coffey,Cook,Kohn,Heckenast,Zidar,Hall,Kraus,S. Lucas,Gault,
Dixon,NS-Fy. Smith,Montgomery,Russell,Jones

ISKY RACING CAMS Dash (6 Laps-Finish Determines First Three Rows Of
Feature): O'Neal,Eckert,Green,Moyer,English,Balzano

Morgan Farms "Non-Qualifiers Strawberry Dash" (10 Laps): Wildung,Myers,Kohn,Rd.Conley,Bapst,Setser,Gault,Dauber,Anderson,Austin

(KNS)The FASCAR Super Late Models started off the night with a three-caution 125-lap chase scene. Veteran Florida racer Billy Bigley, Jr, coming off a great rookie season in the NASCAR Craftsman Trucks, started on the pole and lead the first four laps. Travis Kittleson, with two top ten American Speed Association (ASA) finishes in 2001, started in the third spot, grabbed the lead early and led the rest of the way. Veteran Junior Hanley, Friday night's winner and SpeedFest Super Late Model Champion, drove from the eighth spot to overtake Hooters ProCup racer Clay Rogers on lap 66 for the second spot.

The chase was on!

Hanley was able to gain get within a couple of car lengths of Kittleson on the long runs but moving through the field of lapped cars the number 88 was always able extend his lead. Finally on lap 101 the third yellow flag of the race came out, allowing Hanley a shot at the youngster from Merritt Island, FL. On the ensuing restart Hanley appeared to slip a bit, and Kittleson opened up a three car length gap, and the two quickly drove to a half straightaway lead on Shane Sawyer, Jimmy Cope and Mario Gosselin. Meanwhile Cope drove hard trying to get the third spot from Sawyer until he broke and came to a stop near the wall between turns three and four with 5 laps left, bringing out the fourth caution of the night and putting the fear of Hanley into the Kittleson team.

Hanley came screaming down the front stretch on lap 121 trying to get under the #88 and then tried turn four, but Kittleson held off the charge and went on to secure the win on the 3/4 mile fast track. Hanley, in second, was followed by outside pole sitter Shane Sawyer, Mario Gosselin, and Clay Rogers. Rogers had outgunned Eddie Van Meter of Indianapolis, IN on the final lap to secure fifth.

Kittleson, 1999 Orlando Speedworld Rookie of the Year, 1999 Winter Series Championship at New Smyrna Speedway, 2000 Florida Sunbelt Rookie of the Year, and 2000 Orlando Speedworld Champion was one happy race car driver as evidenced by the volumes of smoke pouring from his tires as he pulled into the winner's circle at USA International Speedway.

The win was both very special and important to Travis Kittleson, who is still seeking sponsorship for the 2002 ASA season, which begins at USA International Speedway on March 24th. Setting the fast time on both Thursday and Friday and finishing second to Junior Hanley in the 50-lap event on Thursday, Kittleson was having good weekend. But with pill draws to invert the field he started seventh on Friday and on the very first lap was hit from behind and turned toward the wall. Just as he saved the car, Travis was hit again in the right rear turning him into the outside wall. The car was heavily damaged and was forced to retire. The crew worked until 6AM in the morning preparing the car for the big race on Saturday.

The Saturday night show at USA International was a fan's delight. After all the qualifying was over all the cars and trucks were brought out onto the speedway and the fans were invited onto the track to get autographs, touch the cars and get close to the drivers. A stage was wheeled into place and live music replaced the sound of horsepower for an hour while the fans from Florida and around the Country mingled and got themselves ready for the big show.

The second race of the night was the 100 lap Late Models which once again was dominated by Orlando, FL's Jason Boyd. With only 13 cars in the field, the race didn't hold the excitement of the Super Lates, but with Boyd on the track excitement seems to happen. It only took 20 laps for the young star to grab the lead. He never looked back, winning easily and sweeping the Late Models at SpeedFest 2002. Boyd lead 177 of the 240 laps in the three days of Late Model racing. Second place went to Brent O'Neill (Pembroke Pines, FL) followed by Mike Hovis (Ft. Myers, FL), Wayne Morris (Mulberry, FL) and Steve Dorer (Riverview, FL).

If any fans had fallen asleep during the Late Model race, when the 21 Modifieds hit the pavement they certainly woke up. Fans in attendance on Friday saw six Modified cautions in the first lap or two, but not tonight. The first 14 laps were lead by Steve Hauser, Jr. who started in fourth and grabbed the lead on the first lap. Once Jerry Symons took the lead from Hauser, he really only had to contend with Dewayne Dempsey, with the real racing battles well back in the pack. Symons cruised to his third straight SpeedFest 2002 win, leading 76 of the 110 laps run. Dempsey took second with Chris Turner, Jerry Lee Yarbrough and Eddie Hartin following.

Friday night 35 drivers from the FASTRUCKS Series were on hand and tonight they bettered that by one. The 50-lap feature was won by Todd Bontrager followed by Mike Davison, Thomas Carter, Steve Arnold and Shane Russ.

The final event of the night saw the brand new EROC Series making their debut for 2002. The nine-car field was lead at the green flag by pole sitter Tommy Gibbs from Tallahassee, but Cape Coral's Doug Wilson driving the number 88 roared into the lead on the very first lap and stayed there for all 35 laps.

Second place went to Phil Schippers from Lakeville, Ohio followed by Phil Little, Aaron Dreher and Guy Thomas. The EROC series is an offshoot of the Executive Racing School and gives racers an economical path to big time racing at USA International Speedway.

SPEEDFEST SLIDE SHOW

Notes from SpeedFest 2002: On Friday night Kim Sheffler became the first woman to win a feature event at the 3/4 mile track. She had finished second but was awarded the win after Jimmy Gill was disqualified, failing a compression check.

Robert Yoho arrived on Saturday at 4 PM, bought the late model of Wendell Overstreet, got prepared to race the new purchase and wrecked it before the Late Model event took place.

Numerous racers were seen wearing the Hutchens Device, including Florida drivers Chris Turner and Scott Bramlett, as well as many out of state racers. The Hutchens Device has been mandated as required safety equipment by NASCAR.

The next scheduled event at USA International is the Lucas Oil 250 USAR Hooters ProCup race on February 23rd, which also will include the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series and an EROC Series race.

RON LANEY MEMORIAL A MAIN 40 LAP $10,000 to Win

by Leo Dougherty
This, the final night of the King of 360s portion of the Winternationals at East Bay Raceway started with some much needed lightness as Speedo the Clown, one of a handful of Master Clowns alive in the country, married his companion Miss Gretchen and it ended with the 40-lap Ron Laney Memorial race.

Jason Sides of Bartlett, TN started on the outside pole, jumped into the lead immediately when pole-sitter Lance Deweases car seemed to falter, and almost immediately had to contend with a red flag condition. When the race finally did get started he fell out of the top three but recovered to win the race.



Jason Sides in victory lane with his trophy, crown and the Queen of East Bay Raceway after the Ron Laney Memorial race. (Leo Dougherty)

Before the first lap was completed Wayne Penningtons car jumped over a wheel and began a series of end over end flips, bringing out the first red flag. He was unhurt.

Dewease was better on the restart, getting the jump on Sides. As soon as the first lap went on the scoreboard Shane Stewart, Curt Michael, Casey Johnson and Chad Kemenah made contact in turn one. They too began a series of violent flips bringing out another red flag. All were unhurt.

From that point forward it was 39 laps of green flag racing.

Dewease held the lead for two laps but gave it up to Sport Allen on the third one. Allen led until lap 26 when Sides laid claim to the lead and never gave it up. He worked his way back into the top three by lap six and then into second on lap sixteen.


Sport Allen came close (Robin Lane)

For the last four laps Dewease and Allen fought it out for second place with Allen getting the second spot and Dewease the third spot.

But for the tragedy on Wednesday and the weird twist with Gary Wrights accident on Friday, this was some of the most competitive and exciting sprint car racing Ive seen. It promises to be even more competitive next year. At the completion of drivers introductions prior to the race, track owner Stan Kolan announced that next year he will pay $25,000.00 to the winner of the 2003 Ron Laney Memorial race if that driver has been supporting the Winternationals since its inception in 1999.

I said when we started this out our goal was to pay $25,000.00 to win, said Kolan. Its a loyalty race for those guys who have supported us. They supported us and we have a duty to support them.

Jeff Shepard, the defending champion of the Winternationals, was unable to report for the C Main. He was given the option of a provisional start as the defending champion.

One of the best races of the entire four days was a war in the B Main for second place between Travis Rilat, Don Droud, Jr., Mike Woodring, and Wayne Pennington. These four drivers went lap after lap in the closing laps fighting for the position, at times running three abreast through the turns. Droud, who started on the inside of the fifth row, was the lucky one to finish second.

Christi Passmore of Pryor, OK is giving a throw blanket to announcer Jack Miller to auction or raffle off at East Bay Raceway when the 410 sprint cars begin their segment of the Winternationals in two weeks. The proceeds raised from this will be donated to the Jan Opperman Fund to aid Jans parents. This article is large enough to cover an adult and is woven. It has a likeness of her sprint car as well as her autograph on the blanket. It will make a very unique racing souvenir. Ill make an effort to get a photo of the blanket posted here in the next day or two.

It was announced tonight that a torsion bar broke in the front end of Ron Laney's car Wednesday night. It was also announced the cause of death was a severed spinal cord.

RON LANEY MEMORIAL A MAIN STARTING LINEUP

1. Lance Dewease Jason Sides
2. Joey Saldana Greg Wilson
3. Sport Allen Phil Gressman
4. Gary Wright Jason Johnson
5. Greg Leonard Terry McCarl
6. Tim Crawley Kenny Adams
7. Wayne Johnson Chad Kemenah
8. Shane Stewart Travis Rilat
9. Curt Michael Johnny Gilbertson
10. Mike Woodring Casey Johnson
11. Don Droud, Jr. Jeff Shepard
12. Michael Dupuy Jac Haudenschild
13. Wayne Pennington Mike Chadd


HEAT WINNERS

1. Greg Leonard
2. Terry McCarl
3. Tim Crawley
4. Kenny Adams
5. Wayne Johnson

Wednesday Nights Dash completed Saturday night Jac Haudenschild

Thursday Nights Dash completed Saturday night Ryan Coniam

C Main Kevin Welsh
B Main Michael Dupuy


RON LANEY MEMORIAL A MAIN 40 LAP $10,000 TO WIN RESULTS

1. Jason Sides 14. Jac Haudenschild
2. Sport Allen 15. Michael Dupuy
3. Lance Dewease 16. Mike Woodring
4. Gary Wright 17. Shane Stewart
5. Terry McCarl 18. Phil Gressman
6. Joey Saldana 19. Johnny Gilbertson
7. Greg Wilson 20. Travis Rilat
8. Jason Johnson 21. Curt Michael
9. Jeff Shepard 22. Casey Johnson
10. Tim Crawley 23. Chad Kemenah
11. Kenny Adams 24. Don Droud, Jr.
12. Wayne Johnson 25. Mike Chadd
13. Greg Leonard 26. Wayne Pennington

Leo Dougherty is the writer of "Makin Tracks" on Hoseheads.com

Photos: Robin Lane FASTLANE Photos

by Leo Dougherty

Casey Johnson,16,of Sarasota, FL won the Young Guns Shootout for 13 to 20 year olds, in convincing fashion, pocketing $1500.00 for his 15-lap effort and taking home a new sprint car chassis to boot. He set fast time for the night, took the lead from the pole and was never threatened by the rest of the field.

Ohio driver Jeff Banyus flew in from Ohio Saturday just for this race but flipped his car in turn one on the opening lap. He was unhurt but unable to continue in the race.

Once the race officially got underway it went the distance without another yellow. Second place went to Greg Leonard and third to Christi Passmore. A complete finish will be posted later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Young Guns Shootout winner Casey Johnson with Ken Sands at East Bay (Leo Dougherty)


Second place winner in the Young Guns Shootout Greg Leonard. (Leo Dougherty)


Third place Young Guns Finisher Christi Passmore holding the flower Speedo the Clown gave her. (Leo Dougherty)

(KNS)Junior Hanley stole the show in the 24-car field of FASCAR Super Late Models and had a majority, or at least a large minority of the fans up in arms by the time he pulled into the Winner's Circle. In a race featuring four cautions in first four laps (removing 7 cars), Hanley led from the outset and withstood the efforts of several drivers to grab the checkers at USA International Speedway Friday night.

The strongest bid to unseat Hanley came from smokin' Billy Bigley Jr. who had to finally call it quits on lap 67 when he just couldn't get any more out of his Monte Carlo. When the 13 cars still running crossed the finish line Junior Hanley was followed by Justin Dawdry, Louie Mechalides, Dan Fredrickson and Steven Howard.

Wayne Anderson, starting in the fourteenth spot, had his night end before making it to turn two on the start when he and Joel Kauffman of LaGrange, Indiana got together for the first caution. Travis Kittleson was out after a crash on the restart, his crews were still putting the number 88 back together at 12:30 in the morning. Another wreck on lap four sent Mike Williams to the garage. Mike Good had been running in the second spot until an altercation on lap 66, when the 66 of Hanley was able to keep his front running position and the flagman sent Good the rear. A vote from the fans would have reversed that decision, when they made clear as Hanley celebrated did his post race interview.

FASCAR Late Models: Jason Boyd started in the seventh spot in the seventeen-car field, took the lead on lap on lap 28 and nobody seriously challenged him afterwards. Second place went to Doug Moff followed by Mike Hovis, Wayne Morris and Larry O'Steen.

FASCAR Modifieds: Twenty-Three cars took the first green flag. Six cautions and two laps later the field was reduced to seventeen cars with Red Vann in the lead. Jerry Symons took the lead on lap 10, and disappeared from the field, easily winning the 30-lap race. Vann took second followed by Steve Hauser Jr., Indiana racer Harold Scott and Jerry Lee Yarbrough.



FASTRUCKS: A huge field of trucks, 35 in all, started the last event of the night. Jimmy Gill got a break when Todd Bontrager's number 8 machine malfunctioned on lap 4 and was able to outrun Kim Sheffler driving the 01 of Larry Moyer. Paul Grynewicz, dragging a swaybar with sparks flying, moved from seventh to take the third spot in the 25-lap event. Steve Arnold and Shawn Icely took fourth and fifth respectively.


USA International will host the FASCAR and FASTRUCK series events again Saturday night with qualifying getting underway at 5:00 PM for the Super Late Models. Features on tap are Super Late Models (125 Laps), Late Models (100 Laps), Modifieds (50 Laps), FASTRUCK Series (25 Laps) and the new EROC Series (35 Laps).

KARNAC.com will have full results and hundreds of photos from SpeedFest 2002 available on Sunday.

by Leo Dougherty

East Bay Raceway, Gibsonton, FL (2/1/02)-Friday nights program was named in memory of John Bankston, who lost his life last year while racing at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, OH. Members of the Bankston family were present and each driver was given a decal in the drivers meeting with Bankstons number 8 and his name to display on their wing. This column, however good or bad it may be, is dedicated to the memory of John Bankston. As I wrote last year from Eldora Speedway, please keep John Bankston, his family, his friends, his fans, and the good folks at East Bay for their tribute to him in your thoughts and prayers.

This is a photo of the page dedicated to John Bankston in the 2002 East Bay Raceway Winternationals.


Jason Sides in victory lane with John Bankstons daughter on his left. (Leo Dougherty)





Jason Sides of Bartlett, TN drove his way into the record books here at East Bay Friday night and for his efforts received the John Bankston Memorial trophy from Bankstons daughter Kelly. It took him ten laps to break out of fourth place, where he started the race.

Thats when he made what might be called the cool move of the race, moving by Greg Leonard, Joey Saldana and Terry McCarl in one pass. From that point on, the race belonged to him.

Leonard led the first ten laps but was dogged by Saldana and McCarl, who were waging a battle of their own. The two fought back and forth for second place for four laps but McCarl wasnt able to get by Saldana and make it stick during that time.

When Sides took over the lead it changed the running order, putting McCarl out of the top three, and putting Leonard back to third place. McCarl did get by Saldana briefly on lap eleven but gave it back on lap fourteen. Saldana and McCarl followed across the line in that order.

I will post the official finish here sometime on Saturday and will include an updated points list if it is available.





HEAT WINNERS

1. Tim Crawley

2. Joey Saldana

3. Shane Stewart

4. Greg Wilson

5. Terry McCarl

6. Gary Wright

7. Greg Coverdale





C MAIN Mike Woodring

1st B MAIN Lance Dewease

2nd B MAIN Sport Allen





Ryan Coniam waged a torrid battle in the fifth heat with Terry McCarl and Jac Haudenschild. The three battled three wide for a full lap during the race refusing to give quarter to anyone. It took McCarl until the last two laps to get by Coniam and Haudenschild missed by inches getting by Coniam at the checkered flag.

In the sixth heat, Freddie Rahmer got up and over a wheel in turn three and drove straight into the wall. His hit was so hard that it lifted his car off the ground and spun him completely around but he walked away from the car before the safety crew got to the crash scene.

Despite the crash Wright had earlier in the day he came back to win the sixth heat in convincing fashion.

Wayne Pennington, trying to gain a spot on Red Stauffer in the seventh heat, got his front wheels so high of the ground it looked like it might go over on its back. When the front came down he tried to get back in the throttle and lifted the front end again, nearly spinning out. He nevertheless recovered without creating a caution condition and finished the race.

Seventeen year old Kyle Drum took a wild ride at the start of the second B main, flipping down the front stretch ending up against the wall in turn one. The top wing looked like it had been mounted on the front when the car was towed off the track but Drum was unhurt.

Jan Opperman, Jr. made an appearance at East Bay tonight to sign copies of an autographed photo of his fathers sprint car.

Leo Dougherty writes the "Makin Tracks" articles on Hoseheads.com

by Leo Dougherty(Hoseheads.com)
East Bay Raceway, Gibsonton, FL (Friday, 2/1/02)-Todays action started at 4:00 P.M. in order to complete Wednesday nights program. Despite dumping tons of water on the track throughout the morning and afternoon it was slicked up black before the completion of the second B main.

by Leo Dougherty(Hoseheads.com)
East Bay Raceway, Gibsonton, FL (2/1/02)-Thursday evening (1/31/02) started off here with Jack Miller talking about two Texans at the drivers meeting, John Bankston and Ron Laney. The evening ended with Miller talking to another Texan in victory lane.

Gary Wright of Hooks, TX won the 25 lap feature by coming from the B main to the A main and putting on a driving clinic in the process. He made it into the B main by virtue of his third place heat finish and won the B main.

Wayne Johnson (Oklahoma City, OK) started on the pole with Lance Dewease (Fayetteville, PA) beside him. In the early going it appeared as though the night belonged to Dewease, who was lapping traffic on lap three. He continued to lead until a caution on lap 12 bunched up the field. By this time, Wright had worked his way up to third place. On the next lap Wright claimed second just as another caution came out. When racing resumed, Wright set his sights on Dewease and blasted past him on lap 15.

Another caution on lap 17 gave Dewease a chance to reclaim his lead but couldnt make the pass on the restart. Wright, who was flawlessly working his way through heavy traffic, had a commanding lead when a caution on lap 24 made the race a one lap race. Dewease made one last attempt to get the lead back but Wright was too strong for him.


The official results of the race were delayed when Jeff Sheperd protested the last lap restart, claiming that he was passed on the outside by one car and the inside by another car before the restart cone.

This is a passing points race, he said. By Saturday night those points will be very important.

Track officials confirmed Friday morning that no change was made in the finishing order.

OFFICIAL RESULTS WITH HEAT WINNERS, C & B WINNERS AND TOP 10 A MAIN



Heats
1. Sport Allen
2. Greg Wilson
3. Wayne Pennington
4. Joey Saldana
5. Travis Rilat
6. Wayne Johnson
7. George Suprick
8. Lance Dewease



1st C Main Brad Pake

1st B Main Gary Wright

2nd B Main Kenny Adams



Strawberry Dash
1. Brad Pake
2. Casey Johnson
3. Dusty Ballenger
4. Jesse Gianetto
5. Kyle Drum
6. Jeff Vandusen
7. Ryan Coniam
8. Dean Kline
9. Justin Barger-dns
10. Freddie Rahmer-dns

A Main
1. Gary Wright
2. Lance Dewease
3. Jason Sides
4. Sport Allen
5. Joey Saldana
6. Phil Gressman
7. Chad Kemenah
8. Travis Rilat
9. Greg Wilson
10. Jeff Shepard



TOP 10 POINTS AS AFTER 1/31/02

1. Lance Dewease 159
2. Gary Wright 158
3. Jason Sides 157
4. Sport Allen 157
5. Joey Saldana 156
6. Travis Rilat 153
7. Chad Kemenah 152
8. Greg Wilson 152
9. Phil Gressman 151
10. Jac Haudenchild 147


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