Volusia Speedway Park Opens 2003 Season with Action Packed Night
by Shelley Doyle BARBERVILLE, Fla. (March 17, 2003) - Volusia Speedway Park's 2003 Season Opener didn't fail it's fans as it was a Spectacular Action Packed Night of Racing.
There were over 130 cars and drivers racing to give the fan's a night to remember. Certified Auto World of Daytona Beach gave $500.00 to a random picked driver in the Mini Stock giving this a great night for all. Written by Shelley Doyle
Pure Stocks Brett Weber #15 led the 29 car field feature from lap 1 until the white flag lap when Rick Picard #9 took the lead only to lose it back to Weber before the checkered was thrown. The caution plagued race took it's toll field as only 15 out of the 29 cars.
Top Ten: Brett Weber #15, Rick Picard #9, Mark Reiter #23, Shawn Pawlak #75, Ray Hunter #79, Shane O'Quin #78, Dalton Lanick #11, Rodney Wright #43, James Latremouille #175, Chris Heaney #00
Mini Stocks Ryan Vansickle #3v won the feature after winning the lead from the hard battling Jake Hartley #72 and Donnie Ashford #66. All three drivers had been involved with incidents that caused them to return to the tail of the race and all three charged back to the front. Certified Auto World of Daytona Beach, Mini Stock 2003 Sponsor gave $500.00 to Bobby Richardson #45 after his name was drawned by the feature winner Ryan Vansickle.
Top Ten: Ryan Vansickle #3v, Donnie Ashford #66, Jake Hartley #72, Art Souther #21s, Lance Lee #00, Bruce Martin #32, Jim Nichols #23, Jackie Rhames #11, Ken Mason #777, Stanton Mills #7
Hobby Stocks A-Main Feature was won by Alan Peacock #15 after taking the lead on lap 12 and not looking back. A red flag caution on lap 18 put several cars to bed for the night but no injuries. Alan had the lead but the battle between the remain field was intensive, 3 car wide, nobody giving an inch and all wanted the lead.
Top Ten: Alan Peacock #15, Danny Cline #71, Dennis North #88, Johnny Westfall #44, Steve Oldaker #51, Richard Price #18, Pat Taulbee #50, Tim Hughes #54, Grady Christian #36, Kenny Waters #32.
Steet Stocks Trevor Gamble #64 took the lead with George Lane #26 in a close 2nd on lap 1. The two took a commanding lead ahead of the rest of the field until cautions put the field in a close tight bunch. Lane #26 and Ponce #007 tangled in turn 1 causing Lane #26 to be finished for the night. Frank Sharpe #66 took a hard hit on the front straight wall. Driver was fine but car had to be pitted by two towing wreckers.
Top Ten: Trevor Gamble #64, Chris Vogel #4, Joey Haslauer #14, Todd Ponce #007, Mike Lanich #71, David LeBeau #14, Ken Smith 7K, Eric Arminio #8, Dale Shade#77, Mike Camponian #43
Late Model Ro Ho Sims #11 led the entire race from start to finish. That experienced old dog sure showed the young pups, he is here to stay. Lawton Minchew #23 could only follow the lead dog as the field behind him fought furiously to try and catch the top two. Three cars wide and hard charging were Joe Kump #J17, Mike Eubanks #18 and Brett Carlton #22 battling for 3rd. Carlton took the position after Kump & Eubanks entangled causing both to the tail. Ro Ho #11 kept the lead showing his sponsors Alfie's, Rawhide, Koury and Uncle Roy's MobileHomes hat he was their man. The entire field battled incoming fog ran 3 cars wide and put a great show on for their fans.
Top Ten: Ro Ho Sims #11, Lawton Minchew #23, Brett Carlton #22, Wayne Shugart #1, Rick Singler #4, Kent Corbin #7, Jeff Henry #15, Scott Thompson #38, Bill Littell#56, Chuck Atkins #74
