| Florida Drivers and Promoters of the Year Named | KARNAC MEDIA
 On Real Racin' USA's "Inside Florida Racing" show on Monday night, Phil and Liz Guadagno, operators of the North Florida Speedway were announced as the recipients of the 2007 Florida Promoter of the Year award. This hard working couple have completely turned the speedway, located near Lake City, Fl. around from where it was two years ago.
"We work very hard everyday up there, just trying to give these local boys a very nice facility, and a family oriented facility", Phil Guadagno said in an interview Monday night.
Some of the improvements the couple has made to the track are refurbished grandstands, remodeled the scoring tower, replaced out dated concession equipment, replaced the bathrooms, added pit side bleachers, concrete barrier walls, added new aluminum bleachers in the front grandstand area, a new scoreboard (there was none for years), new fencing to protect the pit area and many more.
The car count has gone from an average of six cars per class to twenty, and the drivers and fans have benefited from the new clay and the new lighting. Phil explained that in the beginning "We weren't sure what to run, we just opened the doors and ran anything that crossed the gate."
Liz Guadagno said, "We can tell you right now if we didn't have the wonderful help that we have out there, we would probably struggle, they're fantastic people."
LINK: In their own words: Phil & Liz Guadagno
The duo is looking for another great year in 2008, opening their season with the All Star Circuit of Champions Sprint Car show on February 1st and 2nd.
There are some other Promoters that should be commended for drastically improving the image and racing programs at their tracks in 2007. Terry Roberts, New Smyrna Speedway, especially for his work in getting the business community involved at his track. Rex Guy and family for the turn around at Auburndale Speedway, improving the racing program, bringing back the fans and reviving the excitement of one of the state's most family oriented tracks. Bobby Diehl for a complete makeover at Charlotte County Speedway, and excellent work in the community with civic leaders. Chris Ponsoldt for literally saving Hendry County Speedway in Clewiston from extinction.
 Robbie Cooper was named the KARNAC.com Florida Asphalt Driver of the Year. There were a number of drivers who performed well in 2007 around the state, but in the asphalt ranks, nobody dominated their class more than Robbie Cooper did in the Open Wheel Modifieds. Besides winning both the FASCAR Gulfcoast Modified Series and FASCAR Extreme Modified Series Championships, he won most of the big races.
Wayne Jefferson, Lee Collins, Jerry Symons and Jason Garver are of course always tough and to win against these guys head to head consistently is a tall order. Robbie did it all year long. "This is a total surprise", Robbie said Monday night on the "Inside Florida Racing" show. "The last year [2006] we actually ran really good, i either left in a helicopter or with a trophy." Cooper said. "This year I got my stuff together mechanically, I learned a lot the first year and as a driver I was way more patient this year. There was a lot them races that I didn't take the lead until the end of it. I matured a lot."
LINK: In their own words: Robbie Cooper
Robbie Cooper raced 38 times in 2007. He explains, "We raced a lot, it was really a lot of hard work. We raced at nine or ten different tracks, I am really proud of what we did", Cooper gave a lot of credit to his team members.
 The KARNAC.com Florida Dirt Driver of the Year is Shan Smith of Dade City. Shan Smith races crate late models, winning big at Hendry County Speedway in 2008, taking the Fall Nationals and the $5000 winners purse. He took home eight first place trophies including the Ponce DeLeon Classic and was the
Central Sheds and Trailers Challenge Series Champion.
He races the number 17 SS Performance Enterprise Racing late model and was named the East Bay Raceway Park Rookie of the Year in 2004. Shan also races at East Bay Raceway Park, Putnam County Speedway and in known by friends and competitors as "Showtime".
"I haven't been driving but for a couple of years, but I have been around paying my dues and working on everybody's stuff, now I get the opportunity myself.", Sean said.
LINK: In their own words: Shan Smith
In 2008 fans can catch Shan in the new United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series which opens at Ocala Speedway on Feb 29.
This year KARNAC.com made a major change in the way awards for outstanding accomplishment in the previous year are decided. In the past there have been surveys of various kinds, and these are fun for fans but were only 'popularity contests', often decided by who can get the most submissions by repeated postings. Instead we decided to reward real accomplishment throughout the year.
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