Hialeah Packs the House For a 'Wild and Crazy Night'
Although the weather was bleak and chilling, it didn't stop the South Florida racing fans from coming out for the first 2001 night of action at Hialeah Speedway. Traffic was backed up on the Palmetto Expressway as they slowly made their way into the historic stock car facility.
They huddled under blankets and whatever they could find to keep themselves warm from the harsh conditions, but they came to see a show and that they certainly got.
The race card included a Blind Fold race, an electrifying Figure Eight race, Kids race, Limited Late Model preview, School Bus Figure Eight show and a demolition derby. Several hundred youngsters were allowed to pile into the school buses for some laps around the track prior to the start of the feature events. The American flag in the infield was flying at half mast in honor of Jack St.Clair and George Sweeting, two Hialeah oldtimers who recently passed away. Eddie Miller, a SARA late model driver in attendance, said "this is the biggest crowd in at least 10 years".
Opening the speedway's "Wild and Crazy Night" were the Cyclones, and with the 17 car field only a few laps into the race, a horrendous crash on the front stretch sent one car flying, cracking a light pole nearly in half and resulting in an hour long red flag.
The driver of the number 7 cyclone was not injured in the crash. As the speedway crews were busily working to ensure the fan's safety from the dangling pole, Speedway director Mike Powers announced next week's show would only cost the fans $5.00, a reward for their patience during the extended (and frigid) delay.
After the pole had been secured, Bruce Moerlins went on to take the Cyclone checkers in the black #41.
Moerlins was never seriously challenged in his wire to wire victory.
The blindfold race was hilarious and had the fans rolling as drivers tried to negotiate the flat track with the only the eyes of their co-pilots to guide them. Several times cars darted down into the infield or made a beeline straight for the wall.
The Hornets, which are driven by some kids possibly too short to reach the pedals, put on a great show. These kids can drive, and the flat track expertise is sure make some tough competitors in the future.
The cars they drive are the cyclones, with Tommy Styer crossing the finish line ahead of the field.
With the humid air blown by a biting wind, the action on the track contused to heat up as a full field of Figure Eight drivers fired into action. Breathtaking near misses highlighted the early going, with all eyes on Rodney Davis of Seffner, Florida storming to the front as he has done so often at Auburndale and DeSoto Speedways. Davis had moved from the sixth spot into second and was flying through the 'X' on the bumper of leader Mike Borghi when he crashed full speed into a stalled car.
The bone crunching crash brought silence to the stands and worried looks to the faces of the fans. When Marty Little made the announcement that not only was Davis alright, but that he would continue to race and keep his spot, the crowd roared it's approval. After the restart, it was clear either Davis had severely damaged his #89 rocket or himself, as he couldn't get the speed he had before and his night ended in the infield after a few more laps.
Mike Borghi, who had made the trip from his home in North Carolina, continued on to take the win and was all smiles in the Winner's Circle.
After a very brief Limited Late Model preview, the event of the night got started with the School Buses rolling onto the track. Thirteen buses took the green flag, and the fans were treated to 20 laps of pushing and shoving match, which left two buses mired in the wet infield and a few more down for the count with mechanical difficulties.
Victor Leo ended up the winner in the bus race, the fans who braved the cold night got their money's worth and more, and the speedway was a big winner as they showed six thousand race fans the speedway was back for real.
Next week Hialeah begins it's regular season with a full slate of features with drivers beginning the points race, which this year is split into two seasons. What is being called the Winter Season runs through June 23rd, followed by a two week break and then on July 14th, the Summer Season begins with a whole new points race. The Summer season ends on December 15th with double points and the Marion Edwards Memorial 100 Late Model event.
