| Modified Mini Stock 100 Moving Forward At Citrus County Speedway | by KARNAC Media
Jim Curry, former mini stock champion at Citrus County, has a tiger by the tail and he knows it. Curry is the promoter that created the Modified Mini Stock 100 at Citrus County Speedway scheduled for April 11, a race he feels will bring the mini stocks back to being front page news.
While it is true that mini stock racing is alive and well at several of the asphalt speedways in Florida, they have certainly faded from the spotlight since the day Todd Hutto gave up the Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series (FMSC). We remember the 38 of the best looking race cars in Florida lining up to take the green at New Smyrna Speedway back in 2002.
That was a Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series race won by Matt Watts in April of that year.
Then there was the 36 car field on November 22, 2003 that left Steve Griffin stunned as Rick Sirmans passed him as they came to the finish line, Sirmans winning by mere inches. Sirmans, who has had his cars parked for a while, is busily preparing to return to action on April 11, along with many of the other stars from the heydays of FMSC action.
The first time we saw a huge field of sharp dressed mini stocks was in late 2001 at Auburndale Speedway. Promoter Todd Hutto, owner of the FMSC, had the cars lined up an at angle on the front straight for driver introductions; the cars all had sponsors logos and looked as professional as any late model series.
There was pride in the class than continued for the next 5 or 6 years.
Jim Curry feels that pride and wants to bring it back. Thus the big race he hopes will draw at least 40-50 cars to the 1/4 mile banked bullring in Inverness, Fl. "We're trying to bring the mini stocks back up to what they are supposed to be", states Jim Curry, owner of Curry Roofing. "My passion is with the mini stock drivers, in 2004 I was a rookie over there at Citrus, and Citrus is one of the most competitive race tracks in Florida."
The race is designed to be very driver friendly, including no entry fee. Thirty cars are to start the feature, but Curry insists every driver will go home happy.
There are contingency prizes coming from Race Car Engineering and Phantom Graphics. KARNAC.com is sponsoring the Hard Charger Award, and Fastcats (owned by Kim Sirmans) is sponsoring a $50 prize and memorial plaques for the leader of lap 31 and 45. Those two laps are special tributes honoring John Henderson and Ray Luecke Jr. In addition Fastcats is also sponsoring $20 each for laps 4-5-6-9-24 and 61.
The speedway has set aside a place at the track for a post race party for all the drivers and their crews and sponsors at the speedway. The race itself pays $1200 to win and $75 to start.
Don Cretty, GM at Citrus County Speedway, has been one of Jim Curry's biggest supporters. He has ordered a huge shipment of tires which will be available for drivers when the track reopens on March 28th. The speedway is closed until then for the Citrus County Fair.
Curry makes it very clear where his emphasis is. "The drivers is what brings the fans to the track, the drivers is what brings the money to the tracks, and the focus needs to get back on the drivers, and the tracks will make money if they put the focus back on the drivers."
Curry was a recent guest on the Inside Florida Racing radio show, and he explained in detail the plans for the race and why this race is so important to the drivers. His interview can be heard at this link.
Monday March 9th, Rick Sirmans will be on Inside Florida Racing, the show can be heard on www.realracinusa.com 7-9 PM.
The flyer for the Modified Mini Stock 100 can be seen here, and Jim Curry can be reached at 352-220-7625.
-article prepared for KARNAC Media by Jack Smith
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