2003 was a year of many rainouts for alot of our Florida local short tracks. Racers were getting racing blues and it looked like the FASCAR Pro Mods will never run a race since they were washed out so many times.
The rain would let tracks get thru hot laps and maybe even heats and then the bottom literally dropped out. Instead of needing a set of new race tires, it was getting to the point that pontoons were more appropriate.
Hialeah remained opened and ran in spite of all the rumors that were going around for it's immediate demise. Lake City Speedway changed hands from Jimmy Parker. Thundercross and Hendry County Speedway also changed hands along with Orange County Raceway. Tracks were digging deep for fans and drivers.
Wayne Anderson did his best to win both the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series and the Florida Pro Series but ended up second in Florida Pro and taking the Sunbelt Championship.
Jay Middleton, 19, showed that he could be a champion as he won the Florida Pro Championship and also came in second in points for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series. Jay, a soft spoken young man, had one heck of a year for sure.
Drivers were hurt and a few lost. Homer Gordon, a long time racer at Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway, died on the last lap of his Sportsman heat race in his brand new Sportsman. Fellow racers, fans and friends were in shock and still miss their friend.
Ron Paradise, a longtime racer at New Smyrna Speedway, also passed away after a lengthy illness. Ron drove with his hands since he lost the use of his legs many years ago. He may not have always been the fastest Super Stock on the track, but you could always count on him being there every Saturday night.
Ray Crews, longtime gas man at both Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway, never lacked a smile for any racer. Ray was always cheerful and always had a kind word for everyone, no matter what the situation. Ray was loved and respected by not only FASCAR racers but racers from all over the U.S. Ray never met a man or woman who did not become his friend.
Ocala Speedway driver Mac McCullough lost his fight with injuries he suffered at Ocala Speedway after hitting the wall wide open and implanting part of his car in the concrete wall. Fans and drivers prayed for McCullough's recovery but a few weeks after the accident, McCullough died.
Rennie Wilbanks, former tech inspector at Ocala Speedway, and his wife Carleen, track photographer for a few years at Ocala, lost their 13 year old son J.R. Wilbanks to cancer. J.R. was well known and loved by Ocala Speedway fans and drivers and the racing community was saddened when J.R. lost his valiant fight with cancer. Once again, the racing family proved that they were the best with money to help the Wilbanks thru J.R.'s illness.
Steve Griffin, from Citrus County Speedway, came back to his No. 3 Mini Stock in 2003 after an almost fatal accident after the races in 2002. Steve proved that he was back to his old self at the end of 2003 and expect to see Steve in the Winner's Circle in 2004.
Travis Kittleson came very close to winning the $50,000 Rookie of the Year in the ASA Series in 2003. Kittleson lead for quite awhile getting beat out by Reed Sorensen of Georgia. Travis did Florida proud by coming home ninth in the overall points in ASA.
Scott Lagasse also participated in ASA in 2003 and proved that he could race with the "Big Boys". Only lack of sponsorship kept Scott from being one of the top ten drivers. Other Florida drivers in ASA were Ed Brown, Justin Drawdy, and Mike Cope.
Kenny Adams of the U.S.C.S. Sprints made his presence known winning a number of races out-of-state and at Eastbay Raceway, Putnam County and Volusia County Speedway. At the end of 2003, Kenny was given a blow to his racing career when one of his crew members and car owner were killed in a helicopter crash at the Goodson Farm in Georgia. In spite of the deep hurt Adams was feeling, he went on to win races for his fallen friends. Kenny was the 2003 U.S.C.S. "Asphalt Thunder" Champion and was rated third nationally in the U.S.C.S. points.
In spite of the bickering and name calling, the racing family never failed when a driver, owner, crew member or just fan needed help. Once again they proved that racing builds a family that is strong and loving in spite of any differences on a track. It is not the race that counts but the love between each other.
2004 promises to be a great year and hopefully less rain than 2003.
KARNAC wishes everyone a very Happy New Year and see ya at the races in 2004!!!!
