Spencer Taylor & Tommy King Are Winners At Hialeah Speedway
by Bill Green
Hialeah, FL (June 18th, 2005) Doomed Hialeah Speedway showed it still has a lot of life left in it and the final month of shows should be very special events. Visiting the world famous asphalt and such hallowed ground is awe inspiring for us die hard Florida race fans. Knowing it has only weeks to live, can actually choke up it's long time participants.
The Fast Truck Racing Series visited Hialeah Speedway for what will be a prelude to the final night of racing on the sacred oval on August 13th, 2005. Running a Fast Kids 25-Lap Feature and a 75-Lap FasTruck Pro main event this week gave 36 teams a look at the track and might just pay dividends for them come the Spectacular Final event August 13th.
The Fast Kids qualifying went to crowd favorite and local 12 year old hot-shoe Drew Brannon out of near by Miami, Florida. He piloted the #08 full-sized truck around the Hialeah 1/3 mile in a quick 18.222. Second fast would be the red hot #97 Star Racing Supplies entry of Patrick Staropoli at 18.402 and third fast would go to Spencer Taylor's #46 Advanced Auto Parts ride at 18.405. The Fast Truck Pro's were not going to be shown up by the students and click off over all faster laps. It was veteran driver Tommy King putting the P&H Mining #16 on top of the time chart at 18.194. Leaving Tim Shaffner second at 18.217 in his Auto Spritz Inc machine. Rounding out the top-3 in Pro qualifying would be the #M1 (tank?) of Jake Reedy from Cutler Ridge at 18.249.
The Fast Kids had 12 trucks arrive at Hialeah, but only 10 would start in the 25-lap feature.
This one would go all Spencer Taylor's way as he did a masterful job on several restarts and held off a few late race challengers at each attempt. Second would go to young Drew Brannon to the crowd's delight, with Patrick Staropoli keeping his top 5 finishing streak alive in 3rd. Fourth under the checkered flags would be David Wilson, with John Kidwell salvaging a fifth after starting in the back of the field for not registering prior to qualifying.
The Pro division of the Fast Truck Racing Series brought 24 trucks to the tight little 1/3 mile known as Hialeah. Tommy King would dominate the 75-Lap feature for the win, with most of the best action happening close behind him. Tim Shaffner, George Gorham and George Morales were early contenders for the front spots behind King, but Gorham was sent to the back after contact with another truck that resulted in a yellow and Morales just got shuffled backwards in tightly bunched racing.
One red flag did appear as Curt Haywood from Ft. Lauderdale, FL took a wild ride down the front stretch, rolling over twice and landing with his truck's nose perched on the outside wall. Driver was OK, but the new truck body will be replaced before another outing.
Back markers made for an exciting race. On two occasions cars attempting to pick up the pace to stay on the lead lap would get into trouble and spin in front of the leaders. King continued his quiet domination of several of the tracks that the series visits and I'm sure he'll be sad to see Hialeah Speedway close.
Last lap excitement got the fans on their feet, as Tim Shaffner, who had ridden Tommy Kings bumper for 30 plus laps, decided to try an outside run for the lead off turn two. Leaving Sean Bass' Florida Landscape Services #20 to squeeze through for second place finish.
And opening the door for Mike Powers to bonsai to the bottom in the Cairo Lane Used Auto Parts #03 steeling third. Both, hanging Shaffner out to dry and finish fourth in his Auto Spritz INC #29 after such a great run all night. Fifth would go to 58 year old Charlie Worth in his Loxahatchee, FL based and unsponsored #03 proving your never to old for Fast Truck Pros.
Next up the FasTruck & Fast Kid racers go to Albany, GA for another taping of the Fast Hour for Sunshine Network. Visit www.fastruckracingseries.com for the latest info on Friday night practice and FREE campground accommodations for race haulers and teams. Call 813-817-RACE (7223) for more information about FasTruck racing and coming events.
