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| RE/MAX Legends Cars get their Chance to Shine this Weekend at SpeedWorld | by Dave Westerman
Drivers from throughout the southeast are converging on Orlando Speedworld for the RE/MAX Legends Car Regional Qualifier which will guarantee the winner a starting spot in the National Championship feature race at the INEX/600 Racing Legends Car Nationals in Las Vegas later this year.
Rain put a damper on the scheduled practice session Thursday night, however, by dark, Larry Friddle of Greenville, NC (just back from a racing weekend in Texas) and former Floridian Jason Reisman of Mooresville, NC were already in the pits along with local drivers like Wesley McLeod, Bobby Byars, Jeremy Colangelo, Kyle Dombeck and Tom Clarke. Many other haulers were brought in after dark to secure pit parking spot for the weekend.
It's expected that several drivers who participated in the regular "Thursday Night Thunder" program at Atlanta International Speedway would make the trip down to Florida for a little "racing vacation."
Speedworld competitors expected to take a shot at the trip to Las Vegas include ten time winner Patrick Conrad (who will also debut a new Super Late Model ride Friday night), Kevin and Kory Abbott, Sam Watts, Brandon Thomson, Derrick Wood, A.J. Fulgenzi, Mike and Mitch Verhaagh, Doc and Gus Richardson, Jarred Cawley, Spike Sabo, Kevin Howard and many more.
The RE/MAX Legends will see action on Friday night with heats and a 25 lap feature race. The Bandolero Bandits, Young Guns and Outlaws will also race Friday night along with the FASCAR Super Late Models and Mini-Stocks.
"I've been wanting to showcase the top Friday night division (Super Late Models) with the top Saturday night class (Legends) all year long," says Speedworld General Manager Dick Westfall. "This will give the fans a chance to see both divisions on the same night and I'm sure they'll be treated to a fantastic show," he says.
Westfall also says the reason he chose the Mini Stocks to race as well on Friday was the fact the class has rebounded so well this year car count-wise and because of the great competition they've been providing.
Saturday afternoon, the RE/MAX Legends will time trial starting at 3:30PM, followed by racing action at 8PM culminating with a 50-lap $1,000 to win feature race with the guaranteed starting spot in Vegas to go along with the prize money and trophy.
The Bandoleros will also be in action with savings bonds going to the winners of the Bandit and Young Gun features.
Auto Parts of Taft is sponsoring a special Bandolero Outlaw "Challenge" and that race will pay $200 to the winner.
Pit gates open Friday at 3PM with grandstand gates opening at 6PM and racing beginning promptly at 8PM.
Saturday, pit gates open at noon and fans can watch the 3:30PM time trials before the grandstand gates open officially at 5:30PM. The first race runs at 7PM.
Adult admission is $10 on Friday night and just $5 to watch the Regional Qualifier Saturday. Kids 11 and under are free both nights.
Should Mother Nature interfere on Saturday, the Regional Qualifier and the entire Saturday show will be run on Sunday at a time to be specified.
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