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| Auburndale Ready for Change! | Tuesday, Auburndale Speedway becomes the latest race track in the State with new ownership in the changing landscape of Florida stock car racing.
J.T. Beard purchased the Auburndale Speedway and adjacent properties for 1.1 million dollars nearly a year ago, and has already begun the process of refurbishing and painting a new face on the speedway. The track is part of the what has been the Polk County Fairgrounds, and the property also has a 45,000 square foot building among other structures. Beard, originally from California, owns mini storage facilities and along with his wife and partner Debi Beard will manage the day to day operations of the speedway.
This Saturday 300 to 500 fans have volunteered to help out in what Beard calls "a massive clean-up" effort at the speedway. "I purchased new wood for the bleachers, a new PA system and lighting, to start. I've got 16 days to put all this stuff in and then after the six week series I'm going to re-pave the track." Beard said.
The six week series is called a "Getting to Know You Series" which begins Saturday October 21 and runs through November 25. Three 50 lap events are scheduled during the Series, Street Stock, Mini Stock, and Limited Late Models. Other classes include the Open Wheel Modifieds, Pro Trucks, as well as the 4 and 8 cylinder entry classes. Several special events are planned for the mini-season. Gunslinger, the popular Monster Truck, will be crushing and smashing other vehicles on the 18th of November. The Lawn mower racers will put on a show on the 11th of November, and Dwarf Cars will race on November 4. Figure Eights will close out the Series at the end of the November 25th show.
"We have a lot of exciting stuff planned for the fans," and then added with what must have been a twinkle in his eye, "and some surprises for everybody else, but I'll let those come out when they need to." Beard says his wife Debi is the "driving force" and believes they are a good team together.
The car counts have by all reports dropped considerably in the last year or so, and there has certainly been an air of excitement building all year for the ownership change. With the restoration of the physical structure of the speedway and the excitement that the new owners bring, Auburndale Speedway seems destined to raise a few eyebrows in the coming months.
With the change in ownership at DeSoto Speedway and Auburndale, the interest that Galaxy Motorsports has shown in Florida, the expansion of Thundercross and Hendry County plus new speedways seriously being contemplated, the landscape will no doubt continue to change.
And for most fans we talk with, the changes and excitement are very welcomed.
-Jack Smith
For more information check out the new
Auburndale Speedway website
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