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| Double Your Pleasure for Florida Pro Late Model Fans this Weekend | by Jane Smith
Fans of Super Late Model Racing have quite a weekend in store for them in North Central Florida as the Florida Pro series visits two vastly different race tracks on back to back nights for a pair of 100 lap events.
FPS drivers start the weekend off at Ocala Speedway on Friday night then move to Citrus County Speedway near Inverness Saturday evening.
Drivers and crews will be dealing with two of the more difficult tracks to set up for in the State of Florida.
Every turn is considerably different at Ocala Speedway, in fact most drivers say there are really five turns to the odd-shaped Marion county race track. Most of the drivers agree you can't really set your car up for this track. It's more of a compromise set-up to try and be fast at the beginning and end of the long races which is difficult to do.
The tight "bullring" atmosphere of Citrus County Speedway puts a premium on qualifying and starting as close to the front as possible because passing is so difficult. One veteran driver states the bumpers and fenders are "just as important as the tires" in each teams "handling package" at Citrus. "The term rubbin' is racin' is never more true than when you run at Citrus County Speedway," says Florida Pro Series Promoter Bert Ashelman.
Right now it's the "young guns" leading the way in the Florida Pro series point standings. Defending FPS Rookie of the Year Jay Middleton of Lake City and his North Florida Medical team have the point lead going into this weekend's action. Middleton "tuned up" for this week with a third place effort last Friday at Ocala.
Just fourteen markers behind Middleton is second generation driver Mike Faulk of Gainesville who also leads the 2003 rookie standings. Starke's Doyle Boatwright is only 15 points behind Faulk in third with David Froelich of Loxahatchee and Merritt Island's Brian Finney fourth and fifth. All five are expected to be in action this weekend.
Orange City's Mike Fritts hopped in Tommy Sytsma's "South Florida Silver Streak" for the first time last week and came home a winner in the regularly scheduled 30 lap Super Late Model feature at Ocala. Fritts has become one of the premiere Super Late Model chauffeurs during the last couple of seasons scoring many big wins including last years Governor's Cup race at New Smyrna Speedway.
Fresh from a great seventh place effort in ARCA competition at Nashville Super Speedway last week, Wildwood's Wayne Anderson is expected back in action with the Florida Pro Series this weekend. Anderson hasn't competed much at his "home" track, Ocala Speedway this year, but when he does, most of the drivers are looking at his rear bumper. Wayne has started five SLM features at Ocala this year, winning four and finishing second in the other. He has competed in two of the four Florida Pro events held this year, winning the
season opening event at Charlotte County Speedway and finishing second in his other race at Columbia Motorsports Park.
Wayne Anderson's dad, the legendary Dick Anderson, is expected to compete at Ocala but it's not known if his self-imposed "semi-retirement" will allow him to compete at Citrus.
The Florida Pro Series regulars will have to contend with a host of local area "hot shoes" that should make for the biggest fields of the year.
Ocala's E.J. Wise and Patrick Williams of Archer, who finished 1-2 in the first half season point chase at Ocala Speedway should be strong contenders along with Anthony's Rich Pratt who competes on a regular basis at Ocala as well as traveling with Florida Pro. Scott Grossenbacher of nearby San Antonio has hopefully shaken off some early season engine woes and always runs strong at Ocala.
At Citrus County Speedway, Mike Bresnehan, Jim Smith, Ricky Carlton, Danny Johnson, Rex Struble, and Herb Neumann, Jr. should provide stiff competition and many of the Ocala/Citrus regulars plan on running both events.
As usual, South Florida will be well represented by the likes of Steve Lamb, Joe Winchell, and Steve Godlewski while David Hodges, Jr. will make the trek south from Georgia with a new car. Fellow Georgia drivers David Hussey and Jeff Gordon are also possible entries.
Other top drivers who may compete include Gainesville's Kevin Durden, David Browning of Jacksonville, Newberry's Mac Johnson and young Fain Skinner of Live Oak.
Pit gates open Friday afternoon at Ocala Speedway at 2PM with practice laps beginning at 4PM. Grandstand gates open at 6PM with Florida Pro Series time trials at 7:30PM and racing at 8PM.
Saturday at Citrus County Speedway, pi gates open at 1PM, practice begins at 2PM, Florida Pro Series qualifying is at 5:30 PM and racing begins at 6PM.
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