IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 1, 2008 Opening Night at Ocala Speedway Thrills Local Fans by BJ Cavin In November of last year, Ocala Speedway owners Michael Peters and Angie Clifton announced that their historic race track would return to its dirt roots for the 2008 racing season. On Friday, February 29th of 2008, their dream came true, and so did the dreams of thousands of dirt racing fans from all over the central part of Florida. And those fans, along with a throng of excited racers, made certain that the decision to return to dirt was the correct one. The grandstands were filled to overflowing, the pits were expanded into the area jokingly called the "south 40," and not another spot remained on the back 20 acres that was not occupied by a passenger car, a race hauler, or people. It was the biggest and most enthusiastic crowd at Ocala Speedway in decades, and they saw an awesome show. The United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series accepted the offer to debut their new dirt racing series along with the new clay at Ocala, and they were up to the challenge. After five heat races and two B main events, 28 top caliber dirt late models took the green flag and wowed the crowd for 40 hard fought laps. Shawn Smith early from the pole position but it was Shane Williams, Mark Whitner, and Ivedent Lloyd, who came from behind to show that they had the cars to beat. Ivedent Lloyd wasted little time in trying the outside line through turns 1 and 2 as earlier races had left the bottom of those turns a bit ragged. It took him a few laps, but eventually he was joined by Whitner in the higher line, the grip came to them, and together they gave Shane Williams a fight for the lead. Lloyd at one point managed to pass Williams on the outside in turn 2, but Williams's car was adapting well to the rough conditions at the bottom and was able to maintain the lead. The race also featured one major pile up in turn 3 on the first lap of the race. A couple of cars attempted to use the same patch of dirt at the same time and the result was a double spin that blocked the turn in front of the back two thirds of the field. At least three other cars were involved in the melee before all was said an d done as most drivers tried to dodge the wreck and went ever which way. Several cars ended up with damage, but only three went to the pits unable to continue. Noticeably missing from the main event was local favorite Rich Pratt. Pratt had looked very fast for a few brief laps in his heat race before contact with another car ended the night for him. Pratt had been hanging around Ocala Speedway ever since the first loads of clay were dumped in turn 3, waiting for his chance to put his late model out there and challenge his home track. But opening night was a very short one, and Pratt ended up venting his frustration and disappointment on the track toward who he saw as the offending driver. It resulted in excitement for the fans, who can rest assured that Rich Pratt will be back on the clay at Ocala Speedway at the first chance he gets. Shane Williams put his late model out front just before the halfway point of the 40 lap feature race and never looked back from there. Ivedent Lloyd used the high line to challenge him but Williams held on for the win. Lloyd came home in second place followed by Mark Whitner, Marshal Austin, and Jeff Mathews. The mini stocks actually ran their feature race before the late models did, and they proved to be ready to warm up the crowd. The 82 of Mason Pace jumped out to an early lead followed closely by Steve Bennett in his 36 machine, but a lap 2 caution reset the field after Sean Babcock had a brush with the turn 4 wall. The second restart of the race saw Jim Courson, Bennett, and Mason Price running up front before Price slowed things on lap 5 with a spin in turn 4. And after a third restart it was Steve Bennett's turn to slow things down thanks to a loose wheel. Still another caution came on lap 8 as Larry Reynolds spun. But after the caution-fest early on, things settled down for the second half of the race. In the end it was Jason Intoppa who made his way forward to claim the win, followed by Cole Richardson and Mason Price. Sean Babcock and Larry Reynolds rounded out the top 5 with Jim Courson earning a DQ. Of the 39 hobby stocks that made their way to Ocala Speedway, 24 survived to run in the feature event. Unfortunately, survival became the word of the night as multiple incidents on the first lap of the scheduled 20 lap race repeatedly slowed the action before it could officially get started. Even the pole sitter, Floyd Martin, became a victim of a first lap incident in turn 2 involving several cars, ending his night before it even began. But after 5 restarts before a lap was completed, followed by yet another in the initial laps, the hobby stocks finally got to race. Unfortunately by that time the allotted time had expired and the race was shortened to 10 laps. Of those who survived the opening hiccups in the hobby stock division, it was the A2Z machine of Chuck Mottone that raced out front and went home with the 1st place trophy. He was followed by Grady Christian in the 36 car for second, and the XX of Shawn Daugherty in third. George Richards placed in the 4th spot while Jeff Stalnaker Jr. came home in 5th place. The final race of the night was a 15 lap affair featuring the new gladiator division cars. Wally Douglas had his car on the pole and managed a 5th place finish, while Casey Feaster made a pass for the lead on lap 13 of the scheduled 15 and went home as the winner. Feaster's pass relegated Robert Long to a 2nd place finish while David Knight finished 3rd. Art Souether came home in front of Douglas to claim the 4th finishing spot. While it was a long night thanks to the overabundance of racers and fans, it was an awesome exhibition of what is to come in the future for the oldest race track in Florida. And while Mike Peters and Angie Clifton both were showing the symptoms of a very hectic night when it was all over, they both made sure to express their appreciation to every fan and driver who made their way to Ocala Speedway for the grand reopening of the newest dirt track in the state. Mike and Angie will not be getting any rest just yet as the AHRMA and AMA flat track motorcycles invade Ocala Speedway on Sunday evening and all day on Monday. The racing for the AHRMA bikes gets underway Sunday at 5PM with admission just $8 for adults and $5 for students. Kids under 12 will be admitted free of charge. The AMA bikes will begin racing Monday at 1PM with the gates open at noon. All admission for Monday's events is $10. More outstanding dirt stock car racing returns to Ocala Speedway on Friday night featuring "All Scouts of America Night." The Florida Mini Sprint Series will be racing along with the open wheel modified cars, hobby stocks, mini stacks, and the debut of the V8 Thunder Stock division. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!