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| Ocala Speedway Gears up for Fall Festival this Weekend | by Dave Westerman
Super Late Model and Open Wheel Modified drivers are getting set for one of the biggest racing weekends in the State of Florida as Ocala Speedway hosts its annual Fall Festival this weekend.
Action gets under way on Friday evening with an open practice for both divisions from 6-10PM. Saturday, its practice for the Modifieds from 10AM-1PM followed by Super Late Model practice from 2PM-5PM. Modifieds will qualify beginning at 6PM followed by Super Late Model qualifying at 7PM.
Sunday is race day with pit gates opening at 9AM with open practice from 10AM-noon. Grandstand gates open at 11AM.
The Modified B-main takes the green flag at 1PM followed by the Super Late Model B-main at 1:30PM. Feature events start at 2PM and include twin 50-lap races for the Modifieds paying $2500 each to win and twin 100-lap events for the Super Late Models, each paying $7500 to win.
First and second half Super Late Model Series point champions E.J. Wise of Ocala and Rich Pratt of Anthony will face plenty of top competition this weekend.
Veteran Dick Anderson has been getting some extra practice this week trying to loosen up the "old bones" in hopes of showing the "youngsters" the quick way to the checkered flag Sunday.
Dick's son Wayne Anderson has had a fantastic 2003 season and virtually wrapped up this year's Sunbelt SLM Series championship with his win last week in the second leg of the Florida Super Late Model Triple Crown at Citrus County Speedway. On top of that, Wayne has five wins in seven starts this year at Ocala.
Archer's Patrick Williams will be another driver to contend with. Williams won the opening leg of the Triple Crown at Bronson two weeks ago and leads the Triple Crown points. He'll try for the big money at Ocala this week before hoping to secure the TC championship next week at New Smyrna Speedway's Governor's Cup race.
ASA Series Rookie of the Year runner-up for 2003, Travis Kittleson, has entered the Fall Festival along with 2003 Citrus County Speedway champion Mike Bresnehan.
Other drivers that have entered include Defending Florida Governor's Cup champion Mike Fritts of DeBary, Astor's James Powell III, "Super" Mario Gosselin of Lake Wales, St. Pete veteran Dwayne Dempsey, Merritt Island's Brian Finney and Herb Neumann of Inverness.
Other possible entries include ASA champion Gary St. Amant, Florida Pro Series point leader Jay Middleton, and the hottest driver at Ocala right now, Scott Grossenbacher of San Antonio, who ended the year with back to back Super Late Model wins.
Many other teams from as far away as North Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina have been calling the track requesting information according to track spokesman Denny Armstrong. "Since we're not making it a requirement for them to pre-enter, it's hard to gauge just who is going to show up, but I can tell you the phone's been ringing off the hook," said Armstrong.
A strong field of Modifieds is expected led by David Baxley of Anthony, the first half champion and second half high point man Jeremy Gerstner of Tampa.
Wesley Chapel's Troy Robinson will do double duty running both his Super Late Model and Modified and Dwayne Dempsey is expected to do likewise.
Possible Modified entries include Red and Raymond Vann, Johnnie "The Rat" Newsome, John Gerstner, Kevin Durden, Larry Goolsby, John Foerg, Mark Emberson, Darren "Action" Jackson, and a host of others.
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