| Casting Doubt Aside; Charlotte Readies For Re-Opening | By CLAUDE LEWIS
 "It's been a long time since we last raced," Davidson said. "Between the hurricane and the fact that we haven't raced for six months, I think people are hungry for racing. I expect a big crowd."
It's less than a week away before the grand-reopening of Charlotte County Speedway.
One look around the expansive 22 acres located in the Airport Industrial Park will tell you that there is still a lot of work ahead before racing can resume at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval.
Thanks to Hurricane Charley, the race track suffered in the neighborhood of $1 million in damage and had to scrap its fall racing season.
Owner/promoter LeRoy Davidson has chosen the weekend of Dec. 11-12 for engines to roar again.
Charlotte County Speedway track personnel are working feverishly to have the 3/8-mile paved race-ready for the grand reopening the weekend of Dec. 11-12.
Lights, flag stand and press tower are three final obstacles being tackled by the work crew. New aluminum bleachers are already in place.
The Punta Gorda race track suffered close to $1 million in damage from Hurricane Charley.
There are two days of racing scheduled for the grand reopening. The first is Saturday night, Dec. 11, beginning at 7 p.m.
There is a full race card on the slate. The headline race is a 50-lap feature by the Corteco Gulfcoast Modified Series. This is the final points race of the season for the Corteco series.
Also scheduled are Late Model Stocks (formerly sportsman), Super Stocks, Thunder Trucks, 4-Cylinders and TQ Midgets.
There will be Limited Late Model qualifying for the Brian Davidson Memorial, which will be run Sunday afternoon, Dec. 12. The top 10 qualifiers will race in a 10-lap Race of Champions. Its a winner-take-all for $1,000. How they finish in the Race of Champions is how they will start in Sundays 150.
There will also be a Christmas party for kids on Saturday night, Dec. 11.
Sunday, of course, will be highlighted by the 150-lap Davidson Memorial.
There are two other features on the afternoon card beginning at 2 p.m.
The Outlaw Figure 8 cars will make their debut in a $700 to win race. These are older Monte Carlos modifieds to take the rigors of Figure 8 racing. The top drivers from Sunshine Speedway will be there to wow the crowd with thrills at the X.
Also, there will be a 40-lap Road Warrior feature.
Davidson and his crew of workers have been busy putting the pieces back together. The curious have been stopping by to check on the progress.
"People have been saying no way we'll get it done in time to race by December 11th," Davidson said. "I tell them watch and see. We have a lot to do in a short time, but we'll get 'er done."
The good news is, a good chunk of the new bleachers are up. The aluminum benches came over from Sunshine Speedway, which held its final ever last month.
On the other hand, there still are boats and RVs strewn about the pits. They'll have to be moved. The catchfence around the track still needs repair. A new press tower is being built. A new flag stand is also needed.
Most of the light towers came down in Charley's 140 mph winds.
Track electrician Bob Mitton is working feverishly to get those units back in place.
"It's been a long time since we last raced," Davidson said. "Between the hurricane and the fact that we haven't raced for six months, I think people are hungry for racing. I expect a big crowd."
All Davidson has to do is take care of his end and have the track race-ready.
Admission each day is $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 6-11.
Charlotte County Speedway is located on Piper Road in the Airport Industrial Park. It is just off Exit 161 (Jones Loop) of I-75.
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