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| Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series Set for 50 Laps of Hot Action at Orlando SpeedWorld May 23 | by Jane Smith
Bithlo, Fla (May 20, 2003) - Some of the best Mini Stockers in the state of Florida will hit the 3/8th mile oval of Orlando SpeedWorld this Friday night for 50 action packed laps in the Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series.
Last week at SpeedWorld, the Points Leader for the FMSC Series Robbie Yoakam, came for a night of practice and walked away with the Mini Stock feature win. Yoakam, who is a Mini Stock Champion at Citrus County Speedway, will definitely be a major factor in the race.
Richard Kelly, Jr runs second in points in the series followed by Lee Davis in third. Davis has also raced at SpeedWorld some this year and has won a feature race. Robbie Storer and Jimmy Warram round out the top five in points.
Expected to enter the race will be the 2002 Mini Stock Champion at Orlando SpeedWorld Bobby Orr. Orr was going to practice last weekend but did not get the car ready in time. Also Tim "Missileman" McPhail, points leader in the 2003 season in Mini Stocks, and Dick Laszlo, the only Mini Truck at SpeedWorld, will probably showcase their racing talents in the feature event.
Qualifying for the Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series Race will be at 7 p.m. depending on car count could be earlier.
Also on the program Friday night, May 23, will be all FASCAR divisions except Open Wheel Modifieds who have the night off.
Derrick Wood is on a roll in the Bandolero Bandits divisions and holds the points lead with 308 points. Derrick has gotten stronger and stronger and has found that the lead is not such a bad place to be. Coming in second, 68 points behind Wood, is Matt Bowers. Only 4 points stand between Bowers and third place Gerald White, Jr. Chad Atkins and Matthew Jarrett round out the top five.
Kevin Henry leads the Bandolero Young Guns with 324 points. But Brandon Thompson has been doing a really good job and has moved into second place with 268 points. Tied in third and fourth are Troy Atkins and Scott Jarrett with 240 points each. Rounding out the top five is Jessica Murphy with 184 points.
B.J. McLeod leads the points in the Super Late Model division but Rusty Ebersole has proven that it won't be just a walkaway to win the Championship. Only 16 points stand between McLeod and Ebersole. These two are great friends and put on a really good show for the crowd as they race each other side-by-side without ever touching.
Ricky Wood comes in third in points with 140. There is nothing Wood would like more than to beat either Ebersole or McLeod but they won't be an easy task although if anyone is up to it, Wood is. Rounding out the top five are Ronnie Roach and Aric Almirola.
Richard Hight took over the Sportsman Points lead with his second place finish last Friday. Previous points leader Doug Samion was a no-show which cost him the lead.
Hight has a 19 point lead over Samion who sits in second with 252 points. Michael Albert holds third with 200 points followed by Justin Hall and Erick Traves who missed last week due to damage suffered the week before on their machines. Hall sits fourth with 128 points and Erick Traves holds fifth with 112 points.
The Open Wheel Modifieds were off last Friday night due to the 50 lap Pro Modified race. However the Mods will be in action next Friday, May 30th. Leading the points is Shane Held with 216 points. Matt Wheeler sits in second with 188 points. Jason Boyd sits in third with 152 points followed by Glen Bradley in fourth with 116 points over Lynn Dicandio in fifth with 108 points. Dave Riley comes in sixth only 8 points behind Dicandio. Watch for plenty of action as these guys battle hard each week for the win.
Tim "Missileman" McPhail, the 2001 Mini Stock Champion, has the lead for the Mini Stock division. When they return to action next Friday, May 30, we will see a new second in points as Dick Laszlo moved into second last week twenty points over third place Sean Bass. Chad Pierce sits in fourth with 80 points due to his win in the #30 he was tuning up not long ago on our "double" points night. Randy Blakeslee moved into fifth last week with 72 points with newcomer Mike Williams in sixth with 64 points.
Cory Freed holds a 20 point lead over second place Bob Wines in the Super Stock division. Freed, the 2002 Super Stock Champion at SpeedWorld, has been strong week after week but Wines also wants the Championship too. This will be a good battle to the end. Billy Cuddy sits in third with 196 points followed by Mike Soukup in fourth with 144 points and Ron Whaley in fifth with 140 points. This class has a number of great cars and anyone could end up the 2003 Champion.
Strictly Stocks will also be on the program with our young and upcoming drivers. Plus watch for the 4 cylinders which have put on quite a show against the 8 cylinders. Proves that bigger is not always faster.
The big event this Friday at SpeedWorld will be the Kids Bike Races. Winners will win a new bike for a girl and a boy. Also trophies will be given out and a few surprise gifts from Rick Bristol, the track announcer. So bring your kids and their bikes. Make sure they have their helmets and long sleeves and long pants will help in case they should fall but LET EM RACE. It is Kids Bike Race Night.
Grandstands open at 6 p.m. with qualifying for the Florida Mini Stock Challenge at 7 p.m. depending on car count. Racing begins at 8 p.m.
Orlando SpeedWorld is located between SR50 and SR520 in Bithlo, Florida. Come join the fun and spend a night with us!!!!
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