March 24, 1999
ASA DeSoto Speedway Schedule On Friday the ASA comes to Bradenton, Florida for it's opening race of the 1999 campaign. This should be quite the event with the combination of tested talent and rookie's on DeSoto Speedway's 3/8 mile high banked speedway, affectionately know locally as 'the fastest short track in the south'. ASA's AC Delco Challenge Series late models which saw Darrell Waltrip win it's inaugural race in1972 , will begin the weekend Friday with driver registration beginning at 8 AM. Rookie orientation will begin at 3 Pm. After that, while the teams continue to arrive and the behind the scenes sweat of championship racing comes to the fore, some will find the local scenery of Florida's Gulf Coast. And there is plenty to take in with the pristine sandy beaches and the internationally acclaimed nightlife of Sarasota only a half hour from the speedway. But now it's Saturday and the 9 AM drivers meeting, and by 9:30 the drivers will begin to learn the feel of the 12 degree banking, and coping with turns three and four. Learn it now guys, because on Sunday Gary St. Amant and others in the field who have been here, done that, will wait for you to falter in those final two turns. By 2 PM it's time to rumble. Qualifying begins and you will see who has learned a bit about the track and who still haven't figured it out. It's only $5 for Saturday's entertainment. A bargain for the entertainment value of watching top late model racers prepare to compete on a track that racing history etched deep in it's foundation. Gary St. Amant, Trickle, Bickle, Dickie Anderson, Butch Miller, Pete Orr, Mike Eddy, champions all, found victory lane here and worked for it each and every time. DeSoto smells like racing history, you feel it in the air. And Sunday the magic comes again as the 8 AM drivers meeting unfolds amid the smell of coffee, I imagine a few Turner Donuts, and of course the early beauty of a Florida spring day. By 10 AM the drivers will be signing autographs on the front straight for the fans who have waited a year for their return while the crews fret over the loosening or tightening of their setups. Two hours later, enough anticipation for everyone, a green flag will wave in the air and for the ASA it will again be Showtime. 32 late model race cars will roar out of turn three and four for the front straight, fans will be on their feet, and DeSoto Speedway will once gain feel the thrill of being the best there is. I hope if you don't have the opportunity to see this first ASA race of 1999, you can at least watch it on television's TNN at noon. But if you miss out on both of those you will find the whole story, along with the sensations right here on KARNAC.com's Short Track. - - Jack Smith Be sure and stop by Short Track for all the ASA news |
