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| Sunbelt Super Late Models & FMSC at Ocala Speedway | by Dave Westerman
OCALA, Fla. (March 12, 2003) - It may only be the second week of the regular racing season, but Ocala Speedway is set for one of its biggest shows of the year Friday night as the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series and the Florida Mini Stock Challenge run for the first time ever at Ocala in what should be a crowd-pleasing doubleheader.
Wildwood's Wayne Anderson established himself as the favorite for Friday's 125-lapper by winning last weeks Super Late Model regular season opening 50-lap race here. Anderson comes into this race as the Sunbelt Series point leader by virtue of his win last month in the Pete Orr Memorial/Orange Blossom 100 at New Smyrna Speedway.
James Powell III of Astor will be another favorite at his "home" track along with Ocala Speedway regulars Patrick Williams and E.J. Wise who are both coming off strong showings last week.
Young Brock Oglesby could be a surprise as the 15-year-old Ocala leadfoot was runner-up to Anderson last week and seems to have his car dialed in pretty well.
2002 Sunbelt Champion Michael Williams of Mims will have two immaculate South 40 Motorsports Monte Carlos at his disposal for the Ocala race as he prepares to defend his championship.
Other possible entries include Barry Willoughby, Mike Good, Bruce Lawrence and his son Bruce II, Chris Fontaine, Mike Good, Eric Black, Bobby Beauchemin, Larry Osteen, Johnny Kay, Jay Middleton, Lee Collins and a host of others as 30 or more cars are expected.
It will also be the second race of the year for the Florida Mini Stock Challenge and well over thirty cars are expected to do battle at Ocala too.
Hernando's Robbie Yoakam took the season opener at Auburndale Speedway but knows he'll have his work cut out for him at Ocala, especially dealing with the likes of Ocala regulars like Clint Foley and Larry Goolsby as well as the father-son duo of Jeff Stalnaker Senior and Junior.
2002 FMSC Champion Robbie Storer of Zephyrhills is tough wherever he races and Rick Sirmans of Pinellas Park will be another favorite if he can get rid of the mechanical gremlins that have been bugging him lately.
Other possible FMSC entrants will be Richard Kelley, Jr., Darren "Action" Jackson, Tom Jones, Tom Zimmerman, Lee Davis, Mike Mitrisin, Marty Neikens, Tom Clark, Sean Bass, Chris Hooker, Tim "Missleman" McPhail, last weeks Ocala Speedway winner Jimmy Wear, and many more.
Three of Ocala Speedway's regular Friday night classes will be in action as well including the Diamond H Air & Heat Sportsman, K Country Street Stocks, and the Four Cylinder Stocks who put on such an outstanding show last week.
Due to the large fields expected, pit gates will open at 2PM followed by Sunbelt/FMSC practice from 3-6PM. Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Four Cylinder Stocks will begin practice sessions at 6:05PM.
FMSC qualifying is slated for 7:30PM followed by Sunbelt SLM qualifying. The K-Country Street Stocks will open the racing action with a 20-lap feature followed by a 20-lapper for the Diamond H Air & Heat Sportsman. The Sunbelt series 125 is slated as the third race on the card followed by 20 laps of Four Cylinder Stock racing. The Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series will wrap up the evening with a 50-lap event.
For more information, call Ocala Speedway at 352-622-9400 or visit www.ocalaspeedway.com.
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