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| Goodyear Challenge and Super Stock 50 Highlight SpeedWorld Weekend | by Dave Westerman
Fans will have plenty of racing action to see this weekend at Orlando Speedworld as the Good Year Challenge Series Late Models open their 2004 campaign and the Super Stocks go front and center on Saturday night with a big 50 lap race.
Several Goodyear Challenge machines were getting in some much-needed practice laps at Speedworld on Wednesday evening including defending Goodyear Challenge champion Jerry Artuso of Sault St. Marie, Ontario in his Alcoma Industrial Ford Taurus.
Artuso, who turns 40 in May yet is in just his sixth year of racing, looked strong in practice as did 2003 Series runner-up Rich Clouser in his Bobby Sears owned Chevrolet. Jason Boyd was also turning some very quick laps along with teammates Bobby Newton and Charles Kopach.
All of these drivers and a host of others are set to challenge the 3/8ths mile Speedworld track for 100 laps Friday night.
Along with the Goodyear Challenge Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Mini Stocks, Super Stocks and Strictly Stocks will be on the Friday docket.
Pit gates open officially at 2PM, a special Goodyear Challenge Series practice session is slated from 3-4:30PM followed by open practice for all divisions. Goodyear Challenge qualifying is set for 6:30PM with racing starting at 8PM.
Saturday night, the Super Stocks get their chance to shine with a special 50 lap event paying $500 to win. With the Hooters Pro Cup event being run at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday, the Super Stocks originally had the weekend off, but Speedworld GM Dick Westfall decided to bring the Super Stocks in to give the drivers a chance to showcase their talents and headline the Saturday show.
As always RE/MAX Legends cars will be at the forefront of the Saturday program along with the Bandeleros and the new stock four cylinder Hurricanes.
Pit gates open on Saturday at 3PM, grandstands at 6PM and racing starts at 7PM. Fans are reminded it costs only $5 for grandstand seating and kids 11and under are always free both Friday and Saturday.
SPEEDWORLD NOTES:
A couple of cars that had been in moth balls for about two years race one-two in last weeks' season-opener for the Modifieds. Ricky Wood drove Mike Samples' car to the win followed by veteran Wayne Heckle. Heckle, who turns 60 later this year, got his start in the mid sixties at the old Orlando Raceway in Taft.
Winning Modified car owner Mike Samples says look for a banner year for the Modifieds. "When they did away with the gear rule, it made my car and several others competitive again. I think you'll see a lot of Modifieds running here this year," says Samples.
Both Chad Pierce and 2003 Florida State Bandelero Young Guns Champion Brandon Thomson got in some hot laps on Wednesday night in a Legends car owned by Brandon's dad Russ Thomson who runs the parts trailers at Speedworld. Look for Pierce to drive the car in Legends action Saturday night and add driving a Legend car to his resume which includes running Super Late Models, Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman and Super Stock cars. Pirece's "day job" is driving tourists around Walt Disney World Speedway in Nextel Cup cars.
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