Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modifed Series takes on Ocala Speedway Saturday, June 5 | by Jane Smith
Samsula, Florida (June 1, 2004) The Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modified Series will go for race number five this weekend at Ocala Speedway. The May 1 race was rained out at USA International and has been rescheduled for August 7. Lee Collins of Felda leads the series in points with 336 but will be "missing in action" this Saturday at Ocala. Collins leads the points also in the Gulfcoast Modified Series which also has a race this Saturday at Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda. Since the Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modified Series allows the drivers to miss one race or drop their worst finish, Collins decided he needed to go to Charlotte County instead this weekend. Collins has been on a roll since the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in February when he won the Fla/IMCA Modified Championship. Collins is expected for the July 10th race at Columbia Motorsports Park. Kevin Durden has one win under his belt and sits only 12 points behind Collins in second. Durden has many laps under his belt from Ocala Speedway and is expected to be the "one" to beat. Alan McCafferty of Clermont comes home third with 287 points and is always a strong contender along with J. F. McClelland of Starke who runs fourth with 265 points. Both of these drivers are hungry and looking for their first feature wins in 2004. John Gerstner of Tampa comes home fifth with 260 points and also has lots of experience and laps at Ocala Speedway. Gerstner was a regular at Ocala and ran in the United Promoters Modified Series last year. Gerstner has high hopes of a good finish and more points. Wayne Jefferson of St. Pete sits sixth with one win under his belt. Jefferson, who has 241 points, is expected at Ocala although he has run both series in the past. Jerry Symons of New Smyrna hopes to finally have his No. 66 dialed in for a win. Symons, who has struggled this year with a new modified, comes home seventh with 208 points.
Said Gene Kelly, Symons's car owner, "I think we finally have a car that will be the one to beat, at least, I hope so. This has been a really bad year for us thus far." Mike Johnson of Tallahassee drives quite away to compete and with today's gas prices that is saying alot. Johnson stands eighth in points with 178 points and is expected this Saturday along with ninth place points holder Alan Bruns of Clermont. Bruns, at 163 points, is having a ball and just loving the joy of racing. Completing the top ten is Jeremy Gerstner of Tampa, John's brother, who comes home tenth with 157 points. Jeremy, who was unable to compete at New Smyrna Speedway due to engine problems, also has many laps at Ocala Speedway. Ocala Speedway will open their grandstands at 4 p.m. with racing action at 6 p.m. The Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modified Series will qualify at 6 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!
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