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| FASTRUCKS Head up Big Night of Action at Ocala Speedway | by Dave Westerman
They'll be something for everyone this Friday night at Ocala Speedway
including the first 2003 visit from the FASTRUCK Race Series, a 50-lap
shootout for the Diamond H Air & Heat Sportsman cars, and Extreme Stunts will help get the Memorial Day weekend off with a bang in more ways than one.
The FASTRUCKS always put on a wild show each time they race at Ocala, and this week should be no exception as the trucks are well known for knocking the fenders and tail-gates off when they race here. The trucks will go 50 laps after they qualify earlier in the evening.
Competition has been keen in the FASTRUCK Series in 2003 with eight
different drivers taking the checkered flag in eleven races. Sarasota's Todd Bontrager, Jeff Firestine of Nokomis, and veteran Paul Grynewicz of Hudson have visited FASTRUCK victory lane twice this year while single victories have gone to Jimmy Gill, Bobby Owens, Paul Grynewicz III, Tim Shaffner and Shane Russ.
Despite being shut out of the winner's circle so far this year, Bartow's Tommy King and his P&H Mining Equipment Ford have been the picture of consistency and lead the FASTRUCK point standings by 41 markers over Jimmy Gill. Tim Shaffner, Wendell Bristol and Paul Grynewicz round out the top five in the standings.
Other drivers expected for Friday's FASTRUCK action include James Wright III, Marty Wolf, Gary Foxworth, Big Al Neumann, Racin' Mason Love, Jeff Guilbault, Kelly Caudill, Bill Stacy, John Mitchell, and a host of others.
One of the most competitive classes at Ocala Speedway, the Diamond H Air & Heat Sportsman, will get a chance to showcase their talents in a big 50 lap run that should keep the fans on the edge of their seats.
While several drivers in the top five had some problems last week, Patrick Mennenga used his second place finish to move out to a 13 point advantage over Tom Posavec, who took over second in the points after Frank Buchanan was forced out of the race. Buchanan is now third in points over Roger Damron, who also saw his car leave on the hook last week. Kathy Ray remains fifth in points, but right behind her is Rob Cooper. Cooper, who got off to a late start this year, has won two in a row and has really been getting dialed in to
the Ocala track.
The WIND-FM Modifieds are back after a week off with Anthony's David Baxley and his Heat Treating, Inc. machine holding just a five point edge over Tampa's Jeremy Gerstner. One guy to watch in this class is John Foerg of Clermont. Foerg drove Don Emberson's Don's Paint & Body open-wheeler to his first career Ocala win two weeks ago and is getting used to the tricky Ocala asphalt in a hurry. Foerg is looking to make it back-to-back point championships as he won the Modified title at Orlando Speedworld last year.
Johnnie Newsome and Jamie Tinkham are fourth and fifth in the Modified
standings.
The point chase for the K-Country Street Stocks is becoming more like a game of musical chairs as Mark Mitchell of Anthony has the point lead this week by just two markers over Ocala's Doug Webster. Last week's point leader Kyle Maynard slipped to third but only two points behind Webster and Tommy Roberts is just five points behind Maynard. David Chastain's win last week solidified his fifth place spot in points and moved him within striking distance of the front-runners. It's obvious the fat lady won't be singing in this class until the last checker falls this year.
Larry Goolsby's DQ for an improper intake last week has really tightened things up in the Modified Mini Stock class. With no points earned, Goolsby slipped to second in the standings, 20 behind new leader Marlon Durbin. Rick Sirmans all of a sudden is a factor for the championship, now third in points just three markers in back of Goolsby. A.J. Schreier is fourth in points while Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. has moved into fifth.
After being out of the top spot for just a week, Tom Ellis is back at the head of the Four Cylinder Stock points chase. A last lap tangle with Ric Fort in last week's feature cost Rick Kuhn the point lead as he's now three points behind Ellis. Joel Byall picked up his first career win last week and sits third in the standings just in front of Harold Barup and Harry Drier. This class gets more competitive every week with several drivers including Barup and Jeff Oglesby close to getting their first win too.
OCALA SPEEDWAY NOTES:
Along with the racing action this week, Extreme Stunts will be on hand to add even more excitement to the evening. One stunt driver plans to drive through a wall of cars, another will attempt to jump over a school bus, and another will get into a car then have it blown up. All in all, it should make for a fun night for the fans.
Ocala Speedway would like to send its condolences to FASTRUCK Race Director Bobby Diehl whose mother passed away on May 18th at the age of 88.
Ocala's E.J. Wise extended his Steven A. Bagen Super Late Model point lead to 20 over Patrick Williams last week after finishing second to Wayne Anderson. The Super Lates have the week off, but look for a larger than normal field next Friday as several drivers will be tuning up for the Powell Memorial on June 6th.
Happy birthday wishes are extended to Modified driver John Foerg this Saturday, Sportsman driver Ray Reavis on May 29th and Four Cylinder Stock driver Clark Pittsley on May 31st.
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