| Gaylon Roberts Memorial "Working Man's" 100 Set for Saturday at Columbia Motorsports Park | by Dave Westerman
The Florida Pro Series Super Late Models are back in action this weekend at Columbia Motorsports Park near Lake City for the annual Gaylon Roberts Memorial "Working Man's" 100 Saturday night.
Jay Middleton and his team early in 2003
The "young guns" of the Series remain atop the point standings headed into this week's race with local Lake City favorite and 2002 FPS Rookie of the Year Jay Middleton and his North Florida Pharmacy team leading the way over Gainesville's Michael Faulk who scored his first Florida Pro win at Citrus County in his Lee Faulk RaceCars/ Blake Construction/Eatmon Racing Engines Chevy.
The race is named in honor of former CMP Race Director Gaylon Roberts. Roberts, also known in this area for his expertise as an announcer and pit steward, was slated to become the first race director for the Florida Pro Series before his sudden passing in 1992.
This weekend's event comes on the heels of a highly successful "twin bill" two weeks ago at Ocala and Citrus County Speedways with 27 FPS Super Lates in the pits at Ocala and 33, the biggest Florida Pro field in three years, at Citrus County. So far there have been six different winners in six races this season.
Faulk used his win to cut into Middleton's point lead, but not by much as their weekend results pretty much offset each other. Middleton finished a strong second at Ocala while Faulk struggled to a 12th place finish.
Mike Faulk (in car) discusses stategy with his father Lee Faulk
Faulk then took the win on Sunday at Citrus while Middleton was mired in the middle of the "freight train" and held on to finish 11th.
Lawtey's Doyle Boatwright sits third in points and could pick up some ground this weekend at his home track with his Henry Hodges Construction sponsored car. Boatwright won the last Florida Pro Race contested at Columbia back in May and tuned up for this week's event by holding off Wayne Anderson to win the CMP Late Model feature last Saturday night.
Despite missing two of the six FPS races held so far, Wildwood's Wayne Anderson is fourth in points. Anderson has a win at Charlotte County to go with second, third, and fourth place finishes in his other three races.
Merritt Island fifth grade schoolteacher Brian Finney didn't have a real good weekend at Ocala and Citrus, but remains fifth in points and picked up a win at CMP in Florida Pro action earlier this year.
Miami's Steve Lamb, Anthony's Rich Pratt, and Valdosta, GA driver David Hodges, Jr. are sixth through eighth in points and will be in the field this week. Hodges debuted a new car at Ocala/Citrus with less than spectacular results, but should be a factor this week if they can get the new mount dialed in. Hodges had his best career FPS finish here in late May when he checkered second behind Boatwright.
After having to miss the back to back shows two weeks ago and falling to tenth in points, Loxahatchee's David Froelich is expected to be back in action this weekend.
Chet Morrison of Houma, LA has entered as has Savannah, GA driver Walter Reardon. Albany, GA's Jeff Gordon hopes to have a new engine ready in time to be able to compete as well.
Other drivers expected include Gainesville's Kevin Durden, Jacksonville area drivers Jody Turner and David Browning, Ft. White's Kevin Dicks, Tallahassee young gun Mark Mitchell, and Archer's Patrick Williams who scored top five finishes at both Ocala and Citrus.
A special practice session for Florida Pro series cars will be held on Friday evening from 6-9PM. Pit gates open on Saturday at 3PM, grandstand gates at 5PM and racing begins at 7PM.
FLORIDA PRO SERIES POINT STANDINGS as of 8/18/03:
1) Jay Middleton, Lake City #74 495
2) Mike Faulk (R), Gainesville #25 488 (1 win)
3) Doyle Boatwright, Lawtey #57 392 (1 win)
4) Wayne Anderson, Wildwood #84 391 (1 win)
5) Brian Finney, Merritt Island #80 340 (1 win)
6) Steve Lamb, Miami #99 319
7) Rich Pratt, Anthony #0 311
8) David Hodges, Jr., Valdosta, GA #16 280
9) James Powell III, Astor #37 244
10) David Froelich, Loxahatchee #22 228
11) Craig Seewald, Hollywood #44 218
12) Joe Winchell, Davie #13 192
13) Chris Turner (R), Naples #94 190
14) Scot Walters, Naples #2 181
15) Patrick Williams, Archer #57 178
16) Bobby Coyle, N.W. Ranches #64 158
17) Jody Turner, Jacksonville #7 157
18) Rick Carlton, Homossassa #3C 154 (1 win)
19) Jeff Scofield, Plant City #07 151
20) Aric Almirola, Tampa #14 142
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