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| North Florida Speedway breaks in new surface | by Jon Harney
LAKE CITY, Fla. -- North Florida Speedway returned to racing action last Saturday night to a packed house of fans and a strong field of cars. This was the first opportunity for race fans to witness the many changes that have taken place on the semi-banked 3/8-mile dirt oval. Changes such as the new clay surface, the revamped concessions, and the completely replanked grandstands met with overwhelming approval from the many in attendance.
The drivers faced a challenge with the new surface that replaced the familiar oil-based dirt that had been a trademark of the old Lake City Speedway for years. Some found the new surface made to order while others will need some time to work on their setups to find the winning combination.
Modifieds saw Carlton Allen and Ronnie Soltis on the front row. Each had dominated their heat races and was looking to extend that dominance to the feature. Allen jetted out to the early lead with Soltis in close pursuit. As the laps clicked by, Soltis began to drop off of Allen's pace while Hollywood Owen was getting his groove on. Owen sped past Soltis in the middle stages and for a moment appeared to be a direct challenge for the leader. Allen wasn't about to let Hollywood star in his show and stayed consistent all the way to the checkers. Owen settled for second while Ronnie Chance also showed strength at the end by passing Soltis for third. Phil Guadagno trailed Soltis for fifth.
Twenty-three Hobby Stocks answered the call for tonight's feature and gave fans their money's worth in their race alone. David Dowling Sr. took the lead from the first lap but was hounded unmercifully by Heath Walker and Sammy Hatcher. There were surprisingly few caution periods considering the number of cars on the track and a surface that was new to all. The lack of cautions, however, certainly didn't translate to a lack of door-banging and paint-trading. None of the Hobby cars left without battle scars this evening. Dowling took all that his rivals could give but was able to dish out victory in his #66. Walker and Hatcher were second and third with Scott Booth finishing fourth over polesitter Paul Webb's Ford.
The Winged Sprint Cars brought almost twenty cars to the track, but only twelve saw the opening green flag. Mike Love led the first half of the event but was no match for Wes Scrape once the latter sorted his way through traffic. Scrape, who wrecked in practice, showed no ill effects of his earlier mishap as he kept the throttle wide open throughout the event. Brett Cole got around Love with two circuits remaining and managed to get close to the leader at the finish. Had the laps not run out, he may have taken all the marbles. The finishing order was Scrape, Cole, Love, Dan Pickett, and Corey Clark. The Sprint cars will be a regular class at North Florida Speedway in 2006 and they will race on alternate weekends.
Jason Price started on the outside of the first row and beat his rowmate to the first turn for the early Street Stock lead. Dewey Hall worked his way to second on the fifth lap and was gaining ground when Price lost the handle on his #24 on lap eight. Price's loss was Hall's gain. Jimmy Peele made a valiant charge from the back of the field to take the runner-up spot, however, he had nothing for the first place car at the end and Hall won going away. Price recovered from his late race trouble to finish third ahead of Scott Spears and Cliff Crawford.
Limited Late Models saw Brian Scott convert his pole starting position to the lead and then saw Lonnie Roberts catch and pass Scott on lap five. Scott maintained pace afterwards, but the damage was done and that was the difference in this race. Roberts and Scott crossed the line one-two with Travis Saunders trailing a few lengths behind for third over Lee Brinkley and Clyde Herron.
The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association gave the fans a show with a pair of races featuring their vintage Stock and Open Wheel cars. Lonnie Roberts earned the checkers in the Stock feature and Bill Wendt took similar honors in the Open Wheels.
Exciting racing action returns to North Florida Speedway this Saturday night as the Sprint, Pure Stock, Street Stock, Limited Late Model and Mini Stock divisions square off. The Hobby Stocks have the night off.
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