Wednesday, October 15, 2003 "Rookies" Lead the Way as Classic Auto Racers Return to Volusia by Dave Westerman The Classic Auto Racing Series returns to Volusia Speedway Park this Saturday night as part of VSP's "Octoberfest" weekend events. Although the Classics have raced at Volusia before during Speedweeks, this will mark the first time a regular season race has been held at VSP and will also be the first time the CARS machines have ever raced here on a dirt surface having raced before on both the half-mile and third-mile layouts on asphalt. Saturday's show will have something for everyone. Along with the Classic Cars, the USCS Winged Outlaw Sprint Car Series will be in action with both heats and feature along with Mini Stock and Pure Stock features and qualifying for Sunday's Hobby Stock and Street Stock races. The Classics will not race on Sunday at Volusia, but fans should stick around as the Florida Mini Sprints join the USCS Sprinters along with 40-lap Hobby Stock and 30-lap Street Stock features. Going into Saturday's action, Ben Booth of nearby Deland has opened up a 43 point lead in the 2003 point standings over fellow Deland resident Daryl Grief. Deland must be the place to be from if you want to be on top in the Classic Series because another Deland driver, Joey Strehle, is third in points, 61 markers behind Grief. Booth is attempting to become the first driver in the history of the Series to win the Overall point championship and the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Year title in the same year. Although Booth has quite a bit of racing experience, he is technically a rookie in the CARS Series and had not been in a race car for almost ten years before purchasing his Classic late last season. Grief is now tied with defending Series champion Jim Rahman for the most wins this year at three following Rahman's win at New Smyrna three weeks ago. Rahman, who is not running for points this year, has still done well enough to sit eighth in the standings. Strehle is another driver who is technically a rookie in this Series despite quite a bit of experience, much of which has come at Volusia Speedway Park, and he runs his Super Late Model from time to time when his schedule and wallet allow. Bill Posey, yet another veteran driver who is a "rookie" in the Classics, has moved to fourth in points after a career-best second place finish at New Smyrna while Bud Spencer holds down the fifth spot. Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders, Al "Hot Rod" Hagan, Rahman, George Hall, Jr., and George Hall III round out the current top ten in points. Pit gates open Saturday afternoon at 4:30PM. Grandstands open at 5PM and fans are reminded Volusia Speedway Park has a "drive-in" spectator area in turns one and two where you can park your vehicle, bring your grill, cooler and lawn chairs and do a little race track "tailgating" before, during, and after the races. Race time Saturday night is 7:30PM. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!