Wednesday, March 12, 2003 It's Time to Race at Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway by Jane Smith Samsula, Fla - The 2003 racing season will begin this Friday night, March 14, at Orlando SpeedWorld and Saturday night, March 15, at New Smyrna Speedway. Fans and drivers are ready for some "good ole fashion" short track racing. Orlando SpeedWorld will open the 2003 season with a Pro Mod 50 lap feature event. Jerry Symons, the 2002 Pro Mod Champion, will have his hands full this year defending his championship. Symons, who not only won the 2002 Pro Mod Championship, also won the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Championship, will be one of the top contenders for 2003. Also on the Friday night program will be the FASTRUCKS, Sportsman, Super Stock and Strictly Stock. The Super Late Models will be off due to a Sunbelt Super Late Model race at Ocala Speedway along with the Mini Stocks who are also running in a Florida Mini Stock Challenge race that night at Ocala. Both divisions return on March 21 at Orlando SpeedWorld. Orlando SpeedWorld racing action starts at 8 p.m. New Smyrna Speedway opens it's 2003 season with a division that has never appeared at the speedway. The F.A.S.T SPRINTS will debut on Saturday night.with David Steele and Sport Allen in the entries. Also expected are Jimmy Alvis, Tommy Nickels, Shane Miller, Lee Cipray, Kevin Cahill, Mike Love, Clyde Poole, JJ Dutton, Bobby Rose, and Curtis Sutton. Other entries are still coming in.for the Saturday night opening race. Along with the F.A.S.T. SPRINTS will be the FASTRUCKS, coming off the opening night at Orlando SpeedWorld. Todd Bontrager wiped the slate at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing as he won but nights of FASTRUCK action. Jeff Firestine was the big winner at Citrus County Speedway and Bobby Owens showed how it was done at Bronson Motor Speedway. Late Models, Sportsman, Open Wheel Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Super Stocks and Strictly Stocks will also be on the Saturday night program. The Super Late Models will be off due to the Saturday night Sunbelt Super Late Model race at Bronson Motor Speedway. Both sister tracks are ready for the 2003 season and expect a great year for fans and racers alike. New Smyrna Speedway racing actions starts at 7:30 p.m. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!