by Dave Westerman

The Open Wheel Modifieds return to Auburndale Speedway this Saturday night as part of a big show featuring nine racing divisions.

Competition has been keen in the Modified class at Auburndale this year. In eight races, there have been seven different winners. Only Keith Lilley, who won the first two races of the season, has been able to visit the winners circle more than once. Kyle Bookmiller won the most recent OWM race at Auburndale joining Lilley, Dave Dunkin, James Glover, James Wilkins, Tonny Carreno and Bobby Blake as drivers who have tasted victory in the class this year.

Although without a victory to his credit, Von Pope has been consistent all year and leads the Modified point standings by 73 over David Grogan while Grogan is just 13 markers ahead of Billy Bectelheimer.

The Sportsman cars return to action this week as well and the point race couldn't be tighter as young Brandon Morris holds a slim 16 point advantage over ageless veteran Dave Dunkin. Aaron Williamson is within striking distance just 40 points back of Dunkin.

Also back in action this week are the Mini Stocks which feature the closest points race at the present time. Fred Harrison, Jr. is just six markers ahead of Chris Spring. Donnie Guy is 94 points behind the lead duo but still within shouting distance.

The Dwarf Cars return this week as well with Johnathan Guy comfortably ahead in points over veteran racer Sonny O'Sullivan.
Also in action will be the V-8 Bombers with John "Easy Money" Clark well ahead in the points race after his big win last week. The Sceamblers will also see action once again with Matt McCrary currently holding a large points advantage over Ronald Norman and Ashton Hunt.

Rounding out the show will be the Legend Cars, Bandoleros and Kids Club. Legend Car driver Alex Kempf of Vero Beach should be back in action this week after two weeks away running both the INEX/600 Series Legend Car Asphalt Nationals at Lanier Speedway in Georgia and last weeks Dirt Nationals at East Lincoln Speedway in North Carolina.

Kempf destroyed his primary car in practice at the Dirt Nationals last week trying to avoid another car that had lost a drive shaft. He soldiered on to a 15th place "A" Main finish in his back-up car though. The week previous, Kempf qualified for the Asphalt Nationals "A" Main in the Pro division and took the checker in 12th place out of a starting field of thirty cars.

Several other Auburndale Speedway Legend Car "regulars" also made the trip to Lanier for the Asphalt Nationals including Gerald White, Jr., last weeks Auburndale winner Jake Perkins, Dave Gleason, Mason Ketterman and Gary Verdier.

The pit gate opens for race teams at 2PM Saturday, Grandstands open at 5PM and racing begins at 7PM.


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