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February 23, 2003

FSCR

Gary Padula Wins Opening Night Late Model Sportsman at Hialeah

by Marty Little
HIALEAH, Fla. - Hialeah Speedway kicked off its 49th season of auto racing Saturday night with Gary Padula taking home the victory in the late model sportsman feature event.
Following a dismal 2002 season there was no guarantee the track would even open this year but a new management team lead by Bill Ogden and Chuck Wilson made sure the historic Miami-area oval would in fact be in operation and racers and fans alike turned out in good numbers.
For Padula, a grad of the street stocks, it marked his first career win in the LMS ranks. David Weaver led the opening four circuits before Padula took command hustled to checkers in the 15 lap main. Danny Maddox was second over Weaver, Stuart Robertson and Gary McGoron.
Veteran David Russell notched a rare double this night as he led wire to wire to win the 25 lap street stock headliner ahead of T.C. McElyea, Sean Bulaskas, Travis McCoy and Greg Gorniak. Out of the street stock and into the mini stocks where Russell and his familiar Toyota held off the charges of Tommy Styer for the score in the 25 lapper. Kenny Strong, Bill Calder and Jerry Adkison rounded out the top five.
The cyclone headliner saw 32 cars take the green flag but no one had anything for George Morales and his new Chevy as he outdistanced Victor Leo, John Pettit, Mike Powers and Bob Regula to the checkers in the 25 lap main.
Leo was the best of the both ways racers in topping the light figure 8 field ahead of Regula, Lynn Reid, Tony Barreca and John Bentley.

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