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| Fun, Prizes, Lots of Racing, and Cheap Beer Await Fans Frioday at Ocala | by Dave Westerman
Fans will be in for plenty of racing action Friday night at Ocala Speedway and many may be feeling "pretty good" by race time if they show up at the track early for "Summer Bash 2003."
The track will be selling 50 cent draft beer from 6-7PM and two for one drafts between 7 and 8PM. Loads of contests will be held throughout the evening and a host of prizes handed out as well.
Racing action begins with time trials for the Steven A. Bagen Super Late Models at 7:30PM. The first race at 8PM will be the postponed 50-lap K-Country Street Stock special from last week followed by last week's Mini Stock feature event. WIND-FM Open-Wheel Modified qualifying will follow the make-up features followed by this week's feature events for Steven A. Bagen Super Late Models, WIND-FM Modifieds, Diamond H Air & Heat Sportsman, K-Country Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, and Four Cylinder Stocks. No heats will be run.
OCALA SPEEDWAY NOTES:
Fans will be able to sign the hood off of injured driver Leo "Mac"
McCullough's Super Late Model during the evening. The hood will be presented to McCullough later in the week as a special "get well card."
Despite paralysis from the chest down, McCullough is improving steadily and his spirits are said to be good.
Sportsman driver Big John Smith was back at the track last week and in competition despite being severely bruised and having to wear a neck collar following a bout with the wall the previous week. Smith and his crew worked up to the last minute to get the car ready. "I think that crash bent everything including the gas in the gas tank," said Smith.
Qualifications for the 50-lap K-Country Street Stock race will stand and the field is already set for the race. the 50 lapper will be the first race on the card, while the Street Stocks will go at it again for their regularly scheduled event later in the show. Frank Buchanan of Belleview was the fast qualifier last week.
Buddy's Home Furnishings has signed on as sponsor for the National Late Model Sportsman Series race to be held at Ocala Speedway on May 2nd. This dirt late model series always gets rave reviews when they run on the "hard stuff" at Columbia Motorsports Park near Lake City and they are expected to put on quite a show at Ocala. Look for NLMS regular and Ocala native Ivedent Lloyd to be the favorite.
Tallahassee's Mike Johnson scored the biggest win of his career and became the fourth different winner in four races as the United Promoters Modified Tour raced at Columbia Motorsports Park last week. Another stellar field of cars greeted fans at Bert and Leila Ashelman's speedy half mile track. The UPM tour next runs at Ocala on June 13th.
The Classic Auto Racing Series is hoping to make up last week's event as soon as possible, perhaps as early as May 16th. the Classics are not able to come back this week since they are scheduled for a dirt track race Saturday at East Bay Raceway Park.
Race fans can keep informed with all the happenings from Ocala Speedway, NASCAR, and other Florida short tracks by tuning in to "Speedcenter" every Friday afternoon from 3-4PM on "The Game," ESPN Sports Radio 900AM, WMOP in Ocala and Gainesville's WGGG at 1230AM. Ocala Speedway Announcer/PR Director Dave Westerman hosts the show and takes calls from race fans. Low cost sponsorships are available by calling (407) 340-4194.
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