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March 2, 1999 By: Donnie Helmly Jax Raceway Kicks Off 1999 NASCAR Season
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - The repairs have been made to the facility, the competitors have fixed, rebuilt, or bought new chassis, and the fans are ready to release some cabin fever. This weekend the stands will be packed, and the pits will be full of racecars, as Jax Raceways NASCAR Winston Racing Series begins the 1999 Points season on their ½ mile dirt track.
Last years action saw 58 different winners making their way to victory lane,
in 5 different divisions and track owners and promoters hope to top that
within the next 32 weeks of racing action.
Late Models, Hobby Stock, Pure Stock, Open Wheel Modified, Powder Puff and the new Mini Stocks division will make up the tracks 6 divisions competing for the points championship. The Late Model division is the premiere division, and
competes for regional and national points. The National Champion won over
$130,000 last season for his efforts.
A new format will be put in play for the new year, as the Late Model division
will Qualify every week at 6:30PM, followed by one of the other division,
which will change from week to week. Those two divisions will then start the
feature as they qualified. The other divisions will run heat events, which
will set, up their starting positions for the feature event.
The track will have the first double point's event next weekend, an event that
could make or break your point's battle. Last season the Hobby Stock division
saw a tie for the Championship title at the end of the season between Tony
Callaway and Bobby Padgett. Callaway came away with the crown with the tiebreaker being the most races won.
Special events will be held through out the season, which will last until
November 20th. Jax Raceways also holds NHRA Drag racing and go-carts on Friday night, and will be hosting a Mud-Bogging this season as well.
Pit Gates for the Stock Car racing Open at 4:00PM Grandstand at 5:00PM. Jax Raceways is located on Pecan Park road at I-95, one exit north of the airport. For more information call 904-757-5425
(Donnie Helmly host "The Race Report" Monday nights @ 7PM on 1320 AM WJGR)
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Lake City Speedway
Lake City speedway will run on Friday nights during the regular season on
their 3/8 Mile Dirt track. They will open the season Friday night March 12th
with a two day show which will feature The National Late Model Sportsmen
Series. The regular speedway divisions will compete as well. The new track
owner has really done a lot of good things at the little track. They have
remodeled most of the facility. They still have a lot more to do, but it looks
better every time I make a trip over there. The divisions that they will be
racing is Late Models, Street Stock, Open Wheels, Pure Stock and Hobby Stock.mZimmie Petty is currently handling the everyday running of the track.
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St. Augustine Speedway
The Newest Track in the oldest City has a new owner for this season at St.
Augustine Speedway. John Huffman of Columbia South Carolina purchased the 1/2 NASCAR Sanctioned track for a undisclosed amount on February 18th. Huffman now known by many as "Mr. Short Track" also owns 4 other tracks around the Southeast. St Augustine Speedway will hold open practice every Saturday night from 4PM to 7PM until there opening night on March 27th. They will host 7 divisions this season, Late Models, Florida Modified, Pure Stocks, Sportsmen, Hobby Stocks, Trucks, and Mini Stocks. The NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series, the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series and the Florida Pro Series are among the special events that are on the racing schedule for the season with many more to be announced at a later date. -Donnie Helmly |
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