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| RC Roper Bids a Special Farewell to USA Sprints | The following letter was sent to Florida Stock Car Racing from RC Roper, the creator and promoter of the USA Sprints over the past several years:
March 28, 2006
 It has been very hard for me to write this last article but I guess now is as good a time as any for me share my thoughts. Firstly, I want to thank all of you whom have called when I was sick and sent e-mails asking about my condition and giving me encouragement to get thru the tough times.
Most people are not aware what has transpired over the last few months. I am not very proud of that as I have prided myself for being in pretty good shape for a almost over the hill 47 year old Sprintcar driver. (smile)
Seriously though I want to thank those of you all very much for the kind words as I appreciate them very much. Well it is true that I have sold/turned-over the USA Sprints Organization to another person. These following circumstances dictated it basically. I have had a terrible time of things over the last several months with my health.
In and out of the hospitals with staff infections from a simple foot surgery followed by a subsequent blood-clot in my left lower leg. Then to top it all off I had a mild stroke. I wanted and needed someone to carry the torch for me and to continue what we had started with USA Sprints over the last 4 years.
Well I found someone who was willing and excited about that porspect but I guess I was wrong because as we have all seen not much has been done to this point. Anyway there is nothing that I can do about it now I guess. It does bother me and many others that after all the hard work that so many of us have put forth that it may possibly end like this.
I can only surmise about the end of USA but it doesn't look good to many others and me at this point. Hopefully someone will do something sometime soon if not with the USA under the new leader then maybe someone else with a new promotional idea.
From our humble beginnings we raced at Thundercross Motorsports Park, to then racing all over the State of Florida as well as in other states too! We raced on both pavement and dirt using dirt cars. The racing was competitive and exciting to say the least.
USA Sprints has had approximately 44 different winners in the 60 or so races we ran including our special match races in which we always fared very well against the competition. In addition I would like to thank all the Drivers, Track Owners and Fans and other Sanctioning Organizations for this fabulous experience. I wish I could have concentrated on racing a bit more though>>>(hehe)
I would also like to hand out Special Thanks to Dean Bartholomew, Gary Gimmler, Chip Stick, Andy Kelly and all the Sponsors who supported the USA Sprints over the years as well. I also want to thank the car owners whom had to put up with my tiresome ways.
In addition I also want to Thank Doug Benware, Don Wilshe, Jim Dygert, Jack Smith and Casey Ebsary for their help, advice and time. Hopefully sometime soon I will be back behind the wheel of the Keels & Wheels # 92 360 Sprinter, Lord willing.
My final event with USA Sprints Florida will take place sometime in the near future when I can actually make the necessary arrangements and get the leg work done which I cannot do now. It will be the 2005 awards ceremony. We never had one because I got sick and could not take care of all the preparations and such.
Look for upcoming news on the USA Sprints Florida website for the actual date and time. If anyone has any ideas for this final event please contact me as I could use any advice and or suggestions.
Sincerely Yours,
RC Roper
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