| Points Get Tighter as racing gets HOTTER at Orlando SpeedWorld | by Jane Smith
Bithlo, Fla (April 22, 2003) - As the 2003 racing season gets going, the racers start to think about points and their chances to win championships. Every race counts, every finish is important.
B.J. McLeod, who recently returned to his home track of Orlando SpeedWorld, took over the points lead in the Super Late Models last Friday night with his win over Aric Almirola. McLeod and Almirola did some great side-by-side hard core racing last weekend as they both battled their way to the win.
McLeod is 20 points ahead of second place points holder Rusty Ebersole. Ebersole holds a 52 point lead over third place Ricky Wood with Ronnie Roach only 4 points behind Wood in fourth. Rounding out the top five is Aric Almirola who earned 72 points last week with his second place finish. Last Friday was double points for all divisions.
Rounding out the top ten in points are David Hart, Jared Allison, Jim Matheus, Marty Zehr and Tom Root.
Matt Wheeler of Edgewater took the points lead in the Open Wheel Modified division with his win last weekend. Shane Held previously held the points lead with 96 points but Held now stands in second place, only 4 points behind Wheeler. Jason Boyd, Glen Bradley run third and fourth respectively. But there is a tie for fifth with Dave Riley and Darren Gould both sitting at 84 points each. Filling in the rest of the top ten are Jared Allison, Lynn Dicandio, Chad Pierce, and Frank Polly.
This weekend the rescheduled Pro Modified race will be run at Orlando SpeedWorld with plenty of action for the modified fan to enjoy. Watch for Jason Boyd, Darren Gould, Matt Wheeler, Jerry Symons, Bryan Campbell, and others as they try and win the Pro Modified Championship.
Doug Samion has won every Sportsman feature that has been run in the 2003 season. Some have tried but all have failed to outrun the #04 yellow Sportsman.
Samion, who ran the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series last year, returned to his roots at SpeedWorld in his old Sportsman. Samion is 40 points ahead of second place holder Richard Hight. Michael Albert, Justin Hall, Erick Traves, Kelly Jarrett, Bill Hall, Kenny Carter, Dale Clouser and Don Smith complete the top ten.
Tim "Missileman" McPhail not only leads the points at Orlando SpeedWorld but also at New Smyrna Speedway. McPhail, who was the 2001 Mini Stock Champion at SpeedWorld, is 68 points ahead of second place Sean Bass. Filling out the top ten are Dick Laszlo, Chad Pierce, Pedie Allison, Kurt Steere, Tom Rose, Lee Davis, Keith Roggen, and John Cook.
This class has been short on cars since the beginning of racing season but as the season gets stronger and stronger, expect good fields of Mini Stocks.
With his good finish last weekend, Cory Freed pasted Bob Wines by only 8 points to take over the Super Stock points lead. Freed, the 2002 Super Stock champion, will find a stiff field behind him as he battles his way to the top in 2003. Billy Cuddy is third in points at 156, only 8 points behind Wines at 164. Mike Soukup comes in fourth with 140 followed by Ron Whaley with 128. Ted Head, Jeff Wright, Wally Semrow, Dave Wight, and Andy Nichols fill out the top ten.
Friday, April 25, Orlando SpeedWorld will have the rained postponed Pro Modified 50 lap event along with Mod Lites and Pro Challenge cars. Super Lates, Mini Stocks, Sportsman, Super Stocks and Strictly Stocks will also be on the program.
Orlando SpeedWorld is located at the intersection of SR50 and SR520 in Bithlo, Florida. Grandstands open at 6 p.m. with racing action at 8 p.m. Children 11 and under are free.
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