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2000 News

1999 News

February 2000

BRONSON, FL (Feb. 28, 2000) — Boy, where did the winter go? Of course, here in Florida, they are short anyway and way too long for the anxious racing fraternity and loyal fans to wait to "crank it up" at the Bronson Bullring.

Yes fans, the wait is over. Get out the racin' clothes and pack the crew in the car. Bronson Motor Speedway kicks off the millennium this coming Saturday night. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and racing is at 7:30 p.m. sharp.

The stars and cars are ready. Many teams have rebuilt last year's machines and some have started from scratch to bring out new cars that will battle three-wide at times to chase the elusive victory that everyone wants to be theirs.

An exciting schedule includes the Bronson Race Series cars, dwarf cars, the Daytona Antique Racers (they will be with us twice this year), a special Late Model Sportsman series, and a host of other exciting events and surprises. Be sure to be with us this Saturday night - anything can, and usually does happen on opening night!

Last year's track champion and winner of the Super Stock class, Wesley Keller will be out to defind his title in his super fast #34 Camaro. Look for Swain Norris in his familiar, red and white #6 from Old Town, Fla. Jack Dampier, the 1999 Pure Stock champion, will be back with his familiar #14 Monte Carlo. His wife, Pam, created a Web page for him on the Internet, so it will be even more fun to follow him this year.

Speaking of websites, Bronson Motor Speedway has one also. You can find us at www.bronson-motor-speedway.com. Expect a strong challenge to Jack from his teamate Jackie Thompson in the #55 Chevrolet. Both of these drivers are top contenders for the Pure Stock title this year. Larry Davis and Tony Dorman join these drivers and many others who make a long tow each and every Saturday nite to race.

One thing is for sure: everyone will be treated to action each week at the high-banked asphalt "bullring." We're all proud to share with you America's most spectacular spectator sport. See you Saturday night!

By Gil Peck

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Joe Boyd Picks up 1st Win of the 2000 Racing Series
The BMD Title Loan Late Model Sportsman Series started off the 2000 racing series with some surprises. Forty-One teams would qualify for the 50-Lap event at the USA International Speedway in Lakeland, FL. Favorites to win the race included the 1999 Series Champion, Dwayne Dempsey, Mike McCreary, Jr., who won twice in Lakeland last year, and veteran Florida driver from Mulberry, FL., Wayne Morris. But none of these drivers would figure into the finish of the race.
Brad May won the "Fast Qualifier Award" with a time of 21.756 and an average speed of 117.40. Bobby Beauchemin would qualify second and Mike McCreary, Jr. third. After pills were drawn for the top ten drivers, it would be Dwayne Dempsey who would start on the pole with Beauchemin on the outside row one. Chip Shell and Joe Boyd would make up the second row, and McCreary, Jr. and Jason Boyd would start on the third row. Larry O'Steen, Wayne Morris, Brad May and Chris Lawrence rounded out the top ten. But halfway through the race, most of the top ten would be either out of competition, or out of the race altogether. Dempsey would go out after a caution, Morris and Shell would get together to end their hopes for a victory, and McCreary would battle an overheating problem all night, finally causing him to take the Richards Motorsports Chevy behind the pit wall.
Jason Boyd would make contact with Beauchemin, bringing out a caution and sending Jason to the rear of the field.
Now, Beauchemin, Joe Boyd, Brad May, Jeff Scofield, Jimmy Castleberry, Michael Faulk, and Marlon Lynn would battle for the top five positions.
Boyd would finally get around Beauchemin and check out on the rest of the field. Jeff Scofield would cross the stripe in second place after a tough battle with Beauchemin, who would finish third. Jimmy Castleberry would take fourth and Marlon Lynn, who started in 26th position, would finish fifth.
"I knew I had a good car during practice, but the track changed so much by race time, we weren't sure. There was some heavy-duty competition out there and we worked hard for this win" Boyd said.
Jack E Smith

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Speedweeks are over and most of the visitors have packed up and gone back home. The racers with names we usually only read about have gone back to their respective tracks and series......Just what are we left with?
FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING THATS WHAT!!!!!!!! I had the pleasure of being at opening points night of "The South's Fastest Short Track" to watch some action packed stock car racing like it was meant to be....

The Dwarf cars came out first in fast paced 25 lap feature with Michael Fortin powering his way through the field to take the win followed by Mario Girad in 2nd also from Hollywood and Allan Paradin from Clermont 3rd.

Attrition was the name of the game in the Mod-Minis as most of the initial top runners either ran into mechanical problems or the wall!!! #17 John Cohee survived the melee's came home with the checkered flag, 2nd place was the #98 Mike Mirtrisin and 3rd #33 Tim Rivere.

#7 "Cowboy" Howard Higgins in a Dodge looked like the car to beat in the Pure Stock Battle as he powered by the field and appeared to have the feature in hand when his car began to slow and as he pulled into the infield it was apparent that his Mopar was overheated. This left the door open for Peggy Hurst in her #3 Chevrolet who in her 3rd year of racing at DeSoto took her first victory following her across the finish line was #57 Gary Flinn 2nd and 3rd #56 Gary Flinn.

"The Rocket" Teddy Nelson #17 came back with a vengeance after last weeks motor problems to power his way to front and take the victory in the fast paced Open Wheel Modifieds, Steve Hauser jr. #52 in a fast new car came home in the 2nd spot 3rd went to #89 "the Felda Flash" Lee Collins, 4th #72 John Grimm and rounding out the top 5 was #15 Bill Davis.

Sportsmen were up next and what a slug fest it was as #11 "ChickenMan" Joe Shaver( who its said races with a live chicken strapped into his race car) and #41 Gus Coorssen swapped paint racing for the lead until they spun each other out and were sent to the rear. The infield crew got quite a scare as Shaver running full bore apparently lost his brakes and headed right for them narrowly missing the pace car and a broken #03 "Bear" Carlsons car. #98 Lonnie Miller who is wowing them all in the sportsman class made his way to the front and never looked back at the battle behind him to take first points feature win Coorsen raced his way back up to a 2nd, #18 George Shaver of Arcadia was 3rd.

Limited Late Model action saw the #23 of Mike Abbott totally dominate the race from green to checkers. Jeff Wogoman the #01 looked like the favorite as he blistered qualifying but apparently had a transmission problem that kept him out of contention. Also with problems after an early strong run was the #18 of Brian Mansfield who pulled it into infield. Jimmie Best in the #67 held on and came in 2nd, John Shields got 3rd.

The Street Stocks came out next and what a show it was, #33 Scott Faulkner, #3 Duane Best and #05 Bruce Sherwood jumped out the early lead breaking away from the field that was nose to tail and side by side all the way back bumping and grinding their way around the high banked 3/8th mile track. Then Best spun coming out of turn 2 bringing out the caution but the spin was caused by oil leaking out of the Faulkner machine ending the #33's bid for a win. On the restart Sherwood was able to get by a hardcharging Best and take over the lead but Battling up through the pack was the #42 of Dennis Wilson jr and after a nudge to Sherwood Wilson was able to get by bringing with him the #8 of Rich Closer with Sherwood close in toe. Wilson was able to hold them off for the win, Closer was 2nd and Sherwood who broke an axle coming out of turn four, lost a wheel in the process went airbourne and crossed the finish line backwards for a dramatic 3rd place finish.

Arlin Pope in the #98 drove his way from mid-pack to take the win in the Mini-Stock feature with after running door handle to door handle with the #95 of Clay Joseph who took the 2nd spot, Syndee Brown #17 came from the rear of the field and took a well earned 3rd place.

It was great being back good Florida short track racing, the improvements made at DeSoto are really fan friendly and the show went off very timely and without any hitches.

From Bradenton......Rick Anges

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Green Bay, Wis. native Scott Hansen powered to his fifth career Slim Jim All Pro Series, NASCAR Touring win as he bested 29 other drivers to win the $95,050 Miami 150 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Saturday afternoon. The AFCO Racing Products/Structural Transport Ford driver pocketed $14,625 to kick off the 10th season for the touring late model series.

Hansen earned his second career Bud Pole as he blistered the track record set by Sean Studer in 1998. Hansen wheeled his Thunderbird to a new track record of 36.960 seconds at an average speed of 146.104 mph.

At the drop of the green Hansen shot into the early lead but was overtaken by Pensacola, Fla.'s Scott Carlson on lap 13. The Advance Construction Chevrolet driver set the pace until lap 32 when Hansen once again took command. On the 44th circuit Summerville, S.C.'s Benny Gordon took over the lead, but maintained the top spot for just four laps.

On lap 48 Hansen again assumed command as his Goodyear-shod car appeared to be the class of the field. He kept his car out front through the race's halfway point on lap 50, ultimately leading until lap 79 when he pitted for fuel and new right side tires. The caution waved when the gas catch can was not removed from the cars of Homestead, Fla.'s Mike Franklin, Jr. and Naples, Fla.'s Billy Bigley, Jr., with the catch cans dislodging from the cars when they returned to the track. Both drivers received stop and go penalties.

When green flag racing resumed Greer, S.C.'s Steven Howard, who had pitted earlier in the race, assumed command but was overhauled by Hansen, who restarted in the fifth position, in just two laps. From that point forward Hansen cruised to a 3.761 second victory over Gordon.

Gordon settled for second over Brian Smith and top finishing rookie David Stremme. All three drivers registered their best career finishes. Milford, Oh.'s Jeff Fultz rounded out the top five. Completing the top 10 were Bigley, Lee Tissot, David Reutimann, Conrad Burr and Carlson. All but Carlson completed all 100 laps.

The 100 lap, 150 mile race was completed in one hour, 19 minutes and 25 seconds with Hansen's winning average speed equating to 114.504 mph. There were a total of three caution periods for 18 laps and six lead changes among four drivers.

Hansen, although not expected to complete for the Slim Jim All Pro Series points title, takes the early lead in the Gatorade Front Runner Award standings, earning three points and $500 for leading the most laps. He paced the field for 68 laps while Carlson, Howard and Gordon each notched one point for leading 19, nine and four laps respectively Franklin, Wis.'s Craig Smokstad, having tuned Hansen's mount to perfection, earned the $300 Jasper Engines and Transmissions Crew-Chief-of-the-Race Award. Elkhart, Ind.'s Stremme takes the early lead in the Moroso Rookie Standings and picked up an additional $250 for his top rookie finish of fourth.

Carlson earned an additional $100 for winding up with the second best
rookie finish.

The next race for the Slim Jim All Pro Series will take place on March 25at Coastal Plains Raceway in Jacksonville, N.C.

NASCAR Slim Jim All Pro Series
FIN ST Car# DRIVER LAPS
1 ( 1) 52 Scott Hansen 100
2 ( 4) 72 Benny Gordan 100
3 ( 2) 20 Brian Smith 100
4 ( 5) 35 David Stremme 100
5 ( 7) 54 Jeff Fultz 100
6 (15) 28 Billy Bigley Jr. 100
7 (17) 01 Lee Tissott 100
8 ( 6) 00 David Reutimann 100
9 (24) 33 Conrad Burr 100
10 ( 3) 57 Scott Carlson 99
11 (13) 09 Randy Gentry 99
12 ( 8) 7 Mike Franklin Jr. 99
13 (21) 8 Casey Yunick 99
14 ( 9) 3 Gary Terry 99
15 (26) 62 John Gerstner 99
16 (14) 86 Wayne Anderson 99
17 (10) 19 Steven Howard 98
18 (22) 63 Gregory Pope 98
19 (28) 10 Ryan Crane 97
20 (11) 11 A.J. Frank 96
21 (29) 66 Tina Gordan 95
22 (27) 18 George Ingole 94
23 (23) 98 Kevin Bryant 94
24 (30) 75 Billy Mills 91
25 (25) 34 Ken Weaver 19
26 (18) 31 Ronnie Burkett 17
27 (19) 77 Chad Bland 17
28 (16) 38 Shane Sieg 17
29 (20) 9 Patrick Lawler 2
30 (12) 64 Bobby Newling 0
31 (31) 71 Ray Skillman DNS

Time of Race: 1 hour, 19 minutes, 25 seconds.
Winner's Average Speed: 114.504 mph.
Margin of Victory: 3.761 seconds.
Caution Periods: 3 for 18 laps.
Lead Changes: 6 changes among 4 drivers.
Lap Leaders: Scott Hansen 1-12, Scott Carlson 13-31, Hansen 32-43, Benny
Gordon 44-47, Hansen 48-78, Steven Howard 79-87, Hansen 88-100.







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LARRY IS TO BE RELEASED FROM HIS JACKSONVILLE ,FL. HOSPITAL TODAY..HEWILL REQUIRE OUT PATIENT TREATMENT WHEN HE RETURNS HOME....HE SUFFERED ABROKEN COLLAR BONE , RIBS , ELBOW , AND ARM ALONG WITH A CONCUSSION IN A RACING ACCIDENT IN ST. AUGUSTINE FRIDAY.......
HIS ADDRESS FOR CARDS IS:

LARRY TYLER
4213 KING ALFRED DR.
TAMPA , FL. 33610


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After winning all 6 of the prior All Star races Danny Lasoski and team came in 3rd Friday night and when they called team owner Tony Stewart at Daytona he said "well I guess I need to get over there!" and sure enough Stewart flew in after happy hour for the Daytona 500 to mechanic his car and Lasoski to another win, but this one was a well earned victory....

Lasoski who won the dash for cash said that the track was real fast and it would take all he had to pass the guys who were starting in front him. His hands would be full this night as Craig Dollansky had shattered the track record the night before with a blistering 12.183 seconds a little over a 104 mph average around the EastBay 1/3 mile.

When the green flag dropped it was Terry McCarl who jumped out to the early lead and by lap 4 had started lapping the field while Lasoski who started 5th had moved up to 3rd and was in a heated battle with former "World of Outlaws" star Joey Saldena for the 2nd spot. Several cautions bunched the leaders up for restarts but everytime it was McCarl who jumped out and pulled away, his car was hooked up and flying! With lapped cars between him and Saldena and Lasoski it looked like McCarl had this one in the bag when 77 Craig Rankin and the 88w of Travis Whitnety hooked up literally coming down the front stretch causing a wild crash sending Whitney flipping end over end into the turn one wall collecting Rankin and McCarl. All the drivers escaped ok and amazingly McCarl was able to borrow a wing from the 1a of Robbie Smith during the clean up and get back out onto the track but unfortunately his car was to banged up and after 5 or so laps he retired his former front runner. This left the battle to Saldena and Lasoski. Lasoski was using the whole race track trying to get by 92s of Saldena finally getting by him and never looking back to take his 7th win out of 8 races Saldena got a hard earned 2nd, #1z of Greg Hodnett hung on for 3rd,track record holder #7d of Craig Hodnett took 4th and rounding the top 5 was the #18 of Dean Jacobs.

A beaming Tony Stewart who in just 12 hours would be buckling up for the Daytona 500 was in the winners circle shaking hands and giving hugs as Lasoski was giving his victory speech.

After 16 solid days of some hard core racing the banged up EastBay Raceway provided some exciting racing for people from all over the country. Hats off to Stan Kolan and Tom Hall and their fantastic crew it was a winternationals that will be long remembered......From EastBay...Rick Anges

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February 19, St. Augustine, Fla.- Fast qualifier Rodney Childers of Mooresville, N.C. took the lead on lap 139 and went on to become the first winner ever in the inaugural ARA All Star Late Model Touring Series event at Florida Speed Park this weekend.

"The car was awesome," said Childers. "These guys have worked so hard to get this car ready to come down here. I owe it all to them. If Steve (Mendenhall) hadn't had some problems, the outcome might have been a little different. He was real strong. We would have had our work cut out for ourselves."

Josh Richeson, who led a good portion of the middle of the event, followed Childers across the line to nail down the second spot.

"This car just kept getting better and better in the first half of the race," said the Davidson, N.C. driver. "I thought we were going to be the car to beat but then it started to fade. There at the end it was really getting to be a handful."

"Catfish" Parker of Denver, N.C. made a big charge in the second half of the race to pick up the third position followed by Frampton Ferguson and J.R. Robbs.

Steve Mendenhall of Clayton, N.C. led the first 26 laps and again from lap 54-66 but was eventually forced to retire on lap 110 with overheating problems.

In the Super Late Model event, "Big Jim" Kelly of Newport, N.C. won for the second night in a row followed by Mac Johnson and Tom McCann. Randy Fox and Greg Carby rounded out the top five for the Super Lates and Alaskan driver Corey LaCosta posted his best SpeedFest 2000 finish with a sixth.

Jimmy Britts of Orange Park, Fla. held on for the Modified win in a less than spectacular handling car over Coldwater Mich.'s John Gearhart. Kim King of Cincinnati picked up her best SpeedFest finish posting a third in the 35-lap feature and then emotionally dedicated her podium finish to her recently deceased mother.

John Raney of Ft. Wayne In. and Jon Campagnone of Orange City, Fla. finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Saturday's events brought to a close the first ever SpeedFest at Florida Speed Park and judging from the remarks made by all the drivers visiting the facility for the nine-day event, it went very well. Virtually every driver, at every opportunity praised the officiating, management and staff for a job well done.

Nine days of coordinating, feeding, teching, promoting and racing with more than 150 different teams is a daunting task to undertake. But it's safe to say that over the past nine days the short track racing world was formally introduced to Florida Speed Park and the city of St. Augustine, Fla. the first impression was a very good one.


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February 17, St. Augustine, Fla.- The Tampa Bay Area Racing Association Winged Sprint Cars thundered into Florida Speed Park Friday night as part of the SpeedFest 2000 racing program and immediately set themselves to the task of dismantling the track records.

Wayne Reutimann of Zephyrhills, Fla. personally broke the record set by Steve Kinser in 1996 three times in one night. Reutimann turned laps of 14.854 in practice, 14.712 in his heat race and 14.700 in the 35-lap main, all three laps bettering the 14.944 record by Kinser.

Reutimann put a little more frosting on his own cake by winning the 35-lap feature for the winged wonders, just edging out the father and son driving team of Stan and Keith Butler.

Larry Tyler of Tampa stunned the near capacity house into silence after a scary incident in turn four on the second lap. Tyler's car slammed the outside retaining wall at nearly full speed and came to an immediate stop. Tyler was airlifted to University Hospital in Jacksonville conscious, stable and was later diagnosed with a broken scapula.

Dude Teate and Tracy Heims rounded out the top five for the TBARA Sprinters.

In the Super Late Model event, "Big Jim" Kelly finally made his way to victory lane after beating on that door all week. Kelly was locked up in a classic battle with young Jeremy Rice of Royston, Ga. and Randy Fox of Lehigh Acres, Florida. After leading much of the first half, Kelly was forced to relinquish the lead to Fox, but the Newport, N.C. native came storming back to reclaim the top spot just before the checkers.

Jeremy Fitch made the trip up from Edgewater, Fla. to take on the FloridaSpeed Park regulars in the Limited Late Model division and drove away with the winner's hardware, beating out Clermont, Florida's Larry Osteen and Donnie Oden of Lake Butler, Fla.

In the FSP Sportsman division, Jason Garver, Joey Haslauer and Nick Pilinko all took a turn at the point before Garver finally settled the issue by picking up his second win during this nine-day celebration of speed. Garver was followed across the line by Haslauer, Pilinko, Kenny Hall and Ronnie Tillman, in that order.

The Modified division went to John Gearhart of Coldwater, Mich. in a flag to flag affair over Jeff Lane of Knightstown, In. and Robert Deal of Jacksonville. Cincinnati's Kim King posted her best finish of SpeedFest 2000with a fourth and John Raney of Ft. Wayne, In. rounded out the top five.

The Thunder Truck event went to visitor Eddie Van Meter of Indianapolis ahead of Mark Lento of Palm Coast, Fla., Ron Thomas of Elkton, Fla., Wade Lynn of Jacksonville and St. Augustine's own Mike Lowe.

Mickey Leth, sporting a brand new No. 9 racecar, captured the Tattoo Dee's Old Rooster Mini Stock feature over 1999 Top Gun Challenge champion Jay"Mayday" Ferris of St. Augustine and Matt Hartley of Jacksonville.

The Alpha Communications 20-lap Hobby Stock main event went to Jody Stratton in a hard fought battle with fellow St. Augustine native Bobby Thornton. Teammates Shea Clay, Rodney Norman and Bart Heck lined up to follow Stratton and Thornton across the line.

The full night of racing action also included two 10-lap events for the Daytona Antique Auto Club's divisions. The nostalgic flair of the old style race cars circling this modern facility was in stark contrast of the eras represented by each.

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When the time came to head south from his icy winter home near Milwaukee, WI Dan Schlieper had hopes of picking up where he had left off prior to suffering a broken neck at the end of last summer. Schlieper, who had displayed phenomenal success as an independent driver/owner in the 1998 season when he claimed the (HAT) Series rookie of the year award, had hurdled his dirt late model into the spotlight when suddenly the road to success met an abrupt halt. Call it a sophomore jinx or a period of growth in the talented young driver's life, but the off-track injury proved to provide some scary moments in what had proven to be a rapidly escalating career.

The remarkable road to recovery and trips back to victory lane for Dan Schlieper have seen the hard charging driver score three big wins in the first week of the new season. Schlieper picked up where he left off prior to a severe broken neck by winning in only his third race back in action. The Pewaukee, WI driver picked up over $5,000 in a winning run at Jax Raceway in Jacksonville, FL last Sunday, then roared through the pack on Tuesday night to pick up his first career win on the STARS Series at East Bay Raceway in Tampa, FL. Two nights later,Dan the Man' was back in victory lane at East Bay Raceway by winning his fourth career win on the HAT tour.
"We had only one chance to win this race as far back as we started and I just made up my mind that were going with the attitude of do or die," said the elated Schlieper.
"Everybody on this team earned this. I'm just thrilled."

In just his first week back in his 700 horsepower dirt late model Schlieper has earned over $25,000 and has served notice to his competition that he will be a force to be reckoned with on America's dirt ovals. "I didn't know what was going to happen, whether I was going to be able to do it again or not," noted Schlieper. "You never know. You don't know until you try it and that's what I was banking on, my own instinct to be able to do it."

Dan Schlieper's rise to the top of the dirt late model ranks has also seen success on asphalt tracks in his native Wisconsin. The well-rounded background of this racer coupled with his revitalized success on dirt may very well pave the way for a long road of success in Schlieper's life in auto racing. Schlieper, a tall and tenacious dirt daredevil who honed his sense of victory as an all-state quarterback in his high school years hit the road in 1998 to pursue the lucrative (HAT) tour. He loaded up his one racecar into an enclosed small trailer towed by a revamped bread truck and persuaded longtime friend and crew chief Rich Golembewski to join his efforts. The result became a literal ‘outhouse to penthouse' tale of perseverance and determination. The Milwaukee area driver was awarded the ‘Alan Kulwicki Achievement Award' by the Wisconsin Fans of Auto Racing. The year prior Schlieper had competed regularly at several upper Midwest bullrings and had tagged onto the (HAT) circuit when the series visited LaSalle Speedway in Illinois and a pair of Wisconsin events at Beaver Dam Raceway and Cedar Lake Speedway. The chassis used by Schlieper at that time in 1997 was an Outhouse Chassis manufactured on a limited basis for a few midwestern drivers.

During the 1997 action, Schlieper was noticed by several of dirt late model racing's most noted authorities as a potential star for the future. With his performance on the track, which included a lot of raw talent and a right foot that threatened to kick the firewall down, Schlieper geared up for the 1998 season with a C. J. Rayburn prepared Chevrolet Monte Carlo. With Rayburn's assistance and horsepower provided by Schlieper's brother Bill who owns Pro-Power Engines of Franklin, WI, Dan Schlieper's name began to become noticed with more frequency in weekly dirt late model finishing orders and results. Schlieper, who also receives support from associate sponsor Performance Roofing Systems of Milwaukee, is avidly seeking added sponsorship for his year 2000 efforts.

By mid-summer of 1998 Schlieper's number s9 Chevrolet Monte Carlo had mounted several serious challenges to score a career first win. That goal was secured with a dramatic run for Schlieper and company at the high speed half-mile oval in Davenport, IA when Dan brought the packed house to their feet in his run to his first win on the cigar sponsored tour. Later that season Schlieper would return to the HAT winners circle with a victory in the Iron Man 100 at Florence Speedway near Cincinnati, OH. Schlieper continued to turn heads throughout the 1998 season and again through the early portion of the 1999 campaign scoring a third career HAT triumph with a win at Tri-State Speedway in Haubstadt, IN. Shortly thereafter the dream of this young racer came crashing down as he suffered a broken neck in a freak all-terrain vehicle accident. Schlieper held onto his quest for success as a racer through rehabilitation and treatment with renowned race physician Dr. Terry Trammelof Indiananpolis, IN.

The disappointment of the injury and the fact that he might never race again only served as added inspiration for Dan Schlieper's speedy start to the new season. Schlieper's pursuit will continue throughout the year 2000 season with a full run on the HAT Series plus additional big events at other tracks across America. The young charger is scheduled to unveil his new web site on the Internet within the next few weeks and added information on Schlieper is currently posted at the official HAT web site at havatamparacing.com and at TheSpeedzone.com.

-Ozzie Altman
victory.lane@prodigy.net

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The half mile asphalt speedway, built in 1966 as a dirt track, is celebrating it's 34th annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing held every year during Speedweeks, but the fans, drivers, and track officials are also celebrating much needed track improvements. New Smyrna Speedway has undergone some major physical changes in recent months and though the work is still ongoing, much has already been done.

The FMRA began the season Sunday at the big track near Bradenton FL. At the drop of the green Ralph Wheeler jumped out front and paced the field for two laps before Mark Gimmler dove under him to steal the top spot. Gimmler, a veteran midget shoe at Desoto, slowly pulled away from the pack to eventually win with a little more than a straightaway lead.

The race for second was anything but a runaway however. Wheeler held second for a few laps before Bradenton's own Mike Elder got under him for second. Elder would not pull away however as Wheeler followed closely looking to hard to grab second back. With 2 laps to go the duo was followed closely by #4 Ted Durfee and #21 Gary Gimmler in a fine new ride coming from last place to join the fray. Going into turn 3 Wheeler tried Elder on the high side but the two drifted high and Wheeler swung low and slightly ahead coming off turn 4 and down to the white flag. But the two were quickly approaching lapped cars, and Wheeler was now trapped in the slow groove. But the #52 of Elder bobbled, bouncing off a lapped car and spinning. Wheeler had to check up and veteran Gary Gimmler swept around to grab second. The two screamed into turn 3 with no cautuion light on, and to Wheeler's good luck, G. Gimmler's car was leaking oil and Gary spun in his own oil. Wheeler and Durfee squeezed by to grab 2nd and 3rd for their best ever midget finishes.

The midgets return to Desoto next month for their next race.

1. #51 MARK GIMMLER, PALM BEACH GARDENS
2. #15 RALPH WHEELER, ROYAL PALM BEACH
3. #4 THOMAS DURFEE, BRADENTON
4. #61 BEN FRITZ, OCALA
5. #80 WENDY MATHIS, OCALA
6. #54 NORMAN JOHNSON, ZEPHRYHILLS
7. #10 SHAWN NAMOR, CORAL SPRINGS
8. #52 MIKE ELDER, BRADENTON
9. #21 GARY GIMMLER, PALM BEACH GARDENS


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Saturday night, fans at East Bay Raceway's Hav-a-Tampa Late Model race witnessed a few hot laps by one of the strangest looking race cars around. Brett Hearn turned a few laps in his red #3 Budweiser DIRT modified. Along with Late Models and Sprint cars, DIRT modifieds are here in Florida for Speedweeks, this year racing at Volusia Speedway Park (VSP) in Barberville.

Just what is a "DIRT modified?"

Drivers Independent Race Tracks, aka DIRT, formed in 1976 in upstate New York with two weekly tracks running modifieds. Will Cagle won the first DIRT title that year. Since that time, DIRT has expanded to over thirty tracks in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Canada. It is one of the most successful regional sanctioning bodies in the United States. Each year, the Mr. DIRT Modified championship is awarded to the driver who amasses the most points during the season. Points are awarded through a system of track championships, weeknight summer specials, and year ending extra distance events. Some of the special events are televised.

DIRT currently sanctions four racing divisions, the highest of which is the big block modified class. Modifieds were originally coupes with the fenders removed. In the 1970's, asphalt modifieds moved toward the Ford Pinto body style. DIRT modifieds, however, gravitated towards a wedge shaped, Gremlin body style.

Today, DIRT modifieds are pure racing machines. Sheet metal covers a tubular steel frame. Big block modifieds can run up to a 467 cubic inch engine, fed by a four barrel carburetor that averages 750 horsepower. The car must weigh a minimum of 2550 pounds. A two speed transmission delivers power to the large rear tires. Smaller tires are used on the front. Like all modifieds, DIRT modifieds have no fenders and this allows them to kick dust into the air like no other racing series.

While the Florida Speedweeks Tour does not count towards the season ending Mr. DIRT championship, it is a title of its own. The Tampa Fairgrounds, East Bay Raceway, St Augustine, and Volusia Speedway Park have all hosted DIRT races dating back to 1978. With Brett Hearn's test at East Bay, one can only wonder if New York native Stan Kolan will host a DIRT raceat East Bay in 2001.

Of the thirty-six pre-registered drivers for VSP's Speedweeks, three rise to the top of the list. Danny Johnson from Rochester, NY drives the #27j Sweeteners Plus modified. Johnson is the 1999 Mr. DIRT Champion, the third time he has captured that honor. In 1999, he also captured track championships at Canandaigua and Rolling Wheels.

#3 Brett Hearn is always a threat when he is on the track. Brett "the Jet" has over 500 career DIRT feature victories, and like Johnson, three Mr.DIRT championships, the last coming in 1997 when he tied Johnson. TheSussex, NJ native won the 1999 Orange County Fair Speedway championship driving his Budweiser sponsored modified.

Finally, no one can count out West Sand Lake, NY's Kenny Tremont. Tremont lead all DIRT drivers with eighteen victories in 1999, including the Mr. DIRT Track USA title race and the Eckerd 300 at Syracuse, NY, DIRT's biggest race. Driving the #115 Fane Concrete modified, Tremont also opened the '99 season with six consecutive victories at Lebanon Valley Speedway on his way to the track championship.

The DIRT modifieds opened Speedweeks Tuesday night at Volusia Speedway Park. They will return to action on the fast half mile Thursday, Friday,and Saturday nights. Don't miss your chance to see this wild group of racers. DIRT and speed, what a great combination!

--For Florida Stock Car Racing I'm John Matthews

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Stock car racing for the 2000 season gets underway at
Charlotte County Speedway on Saturday, February 26 with all seven regular divisions running feature races. Limited late models, open wheel modifieds, sportsman, pure stocks, mini stocks, road warriors and Cowboy Cadillac drivers will compete in their first race of the Millennium.

Pro Late Models return for monthly visits after a several year absence to the Speedway. Late model drivers including Daryl Shelnut, Dickie Anderson and Randy “Hondo” Fox will run in their first 150-lap race on March 18, which will also be the Second Annual Do the Right Thing night at CCS.

In celebration of the opening weekend of racing, Gator Lanes at 7050 Crystal Drive, Fort Myers, phone 941/939-0048, will be having a fund raiser for the March of Dimes. The cars and stars of Charlotte County Speedway will be on-hand from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. for autographs and picture taking.. Charlotte County Speedway is located at 8655 Piper Road, I-75 exit 28, follow the Charlotte County Airport signs. Gates open at 4 p.m. and racing begins
at 6:30 p.m. For more information, please call 941-575-2422 or visit our Website at www.charlottectyspeedway.com.


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February 14, St. Augustine, Fla.- Ray Hawk of Newport, Tenn. led every lap and lapped the entire field of 26 starters to take the 150-lap Enduro feature at Florida Speed Park Monday night.

Hawk, a more or less professional Enduro driver has won 37 out of 69 Enduros entered and was the only driver entered from outside the state of Florida.

Robert Ray of Floral City Fla. came in second and Matt Scheffler of Auburndale finished third.

Tim Felver of Owosso, Michigan finally shook the monkey off his back by picking up his first SpeedFest 2000 win in the 50-lap Super Late ModelFeature.

"This is probably the worst car we've had out here," said Felver. "It just didn't feel right all day long but it was just good enough to get us to Victory Lane."

Runner-up "Big Jim" Kelly of Newport, N.C. likes his chances for tomorrow night's Super Late Model feature. "We've had a fourth, a third and a second in the last three races here," said Kelly. Pointing at the winner's spot in the Victory Lave ceremonies, Kelly continued, "The way I figure it, that means tomorrow we should be up there."

Friday night's winner Scott Hantz of Angola, Indiana finished third ahead of Mark Reedy of Middletown, Ohio and Lehigh Acres, Florida's Randy Fox rounded out the top five.

The 35-lap Modified feature, Robert Deal of Jacksonville, Jeff Lane of Knightstown, Indiana and Jacksonville's Chuck Cumby kept the weather-depleted crowd on their feet for the entire 35 laps as the battled their way around
the Florida Speed Park ½ mile. Bumper to bumper and side by side this trio weaved their way through lapped traffic while all the time keeping an eye on each other and trying to snooker the next guy.

In the end it was Deal, Lane and Cumby in that order with Jon Gearhart and Joe Beaver bringing up the fourth and fifth positions.

In the SpeedFest 2000 Truck division, Eddie Van Meter of Indianapolis picked up the win followed by Wes Bullock of Cicero, Indiana, and Morris Coffman of Plainfield, Indiana. Rob Miller of Toledo and Andrew White of Indianapolis
rounded out the top five.

Tuesday's SpeedFest 2000 action at Florida Speed Park will feature the Allison Legacy Series, the Modifieds, the Sportsman division, the Trucks, the Baby Grands and the Super Late Models. Grandstand gates open at 4pm and the racing action gets underway at 7:30pm.

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February 11, St. Augustine, Fla.- Shane Sawyer of Palm Beach, Fla. came from his fifth starting position to take the 150-lap inaugural Florida Cup for the Super Late Models at Florida Speed Park.

"The car really came in during the last half of the race," said Sawyer. "For the first half we were struggling a little. But there at the end it was ready to go."

Goodson led the first half of the event from his pole starting position but was getting constant pressure from Tim Felver of Owosso, Michigan. Felver was finally able to wrestle the lead away from Goodson on lap 83 only to have his evening come to an abrupt end on lap 106 when all three of the leaders found a streak of rear end grease in turn three. Felver and Gary Jones of Jefferson, Ga., running third at the time, received the worst of the incident slamming the outside wall. Goodson spun his No. 16 but was able to stay off the wall and dropped back in to the third spot.

The incident put Scott Hantz of Angola, Indiana on the point where he stayed until Sawyer took the lead on lap 133 by pulling off a daring move coming off turn four. In front of a crowded, cheering throng of race fans, Hal Goodson was in position to freight train Hantz down the front straight but that hole closed up at the entrance to turn one and Hantz was sent spinning. Hantz was later collected by a speeding Larry Osteen, eliminating both cars from further competition.

Sawyer and Goodson were followed across the line by "Big Jim" Kelly of Newport, N.C., B.J. McLeod of Wauchula, Fla. and Randy Fox of Lehigh Acres, Fla.

The win netted the Palm Beach driver the $3,000 winners share of the purse.

In other SpeedFest 2000 action, Wes Bullock of Cicero, Indiana held off a very determined Eddie Van Meter to win the Sunshine Classic Truck event. Andrew White of Indianapolis, Bill Harkins of Painesville, Ohio and Clay Keim of Freemont, Ohio rounded out the top five.

The Florida Speed Park Sportsman division saw Todd Ponce pick up his first win of 2000 over Kenny Hall, Jason Garver, Nick Pilinko and Shaw Hallman.

The Florida Speed Park will remain quiet Sunday but it will come roaring back to life Monday, Feb. 14 with a 150-lap Enduro event dubbed the Valentine's Day Massacre, a 25-lap Powder Puff race, Super Late Models, Modifieds and Trucks. Gates Open at 4pm and the features will start at 7. SpeedFest 2000 continues through Saturday, February 19th, culminating with the first ever American Racing Association Late Model All-Star 200 lap event.




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February 10, 2000 (Barberville, FL) - Danny Lasoski of Dover, MO passed Paul McMahan on lap 16 and held on from there Thursday to win the opening night All Star Sprint Car event of Speedweeks 2000 at Volusia Speedway Park. Lasoski's Maxim chassis carried the colors of its new sponsor Home Depot to victory lane where Lasoski posed with NASCAR star Tony Stewart after the race. In the support race, Scott Orr from Columbia City, IN captured the UMP Modified feature.

Volusia Speedway Park (VSP) laid down a clay surface on the low banked, half mile track during the off season. Thursday night, the surface appeared to bein excellent shape. Lasoski set fast time in All Star time trials, clocking in at 13.633 seconds, 132 MPH. Twelve of thirty-six cars broke into the 13 second bracket. The All Stars helped to create a well defined top groove, ararity at VSP, which provided for two groove racing during the entire 15 race event.

Brian Ellenberger, Frankie Kerr, Kenny Jacobs, and Terry McCarl won All Star heat races. Greg Hodnett won the B-Main which helped to set up the 24 car field for the 20 lap A Main.

Lasoski started sixth in the feature. At the drop of the green flag, Lasoski worked up to third place behind front row starters Craig Dollansky and Paul McMahan. The only caution of the night flew when race leader Dollansky lost his left rear wheel in turn four. Dollansky rolled the car,but ended right side up. He was not injured in the crash.

On the restart, McMahan and Lasoski pulled away from the pack. McMahan stuck to the high groove while Lasoski worked the bottom groove. McMahan held back several attempts, but Lasoski powered under McMahan in turn 2 onthe 16th lap. Danny Lasoski help on from there to win $4,000 for first place. McMahan, James Chesson, Billy Pauch, and Joey Saldana rounded out the top five. The entire feature took 9 minutes and 20 seconds to complete, including the caution. After the race in victory lane, Lasoski's car started steaming. He probably had only a couple more laps left. Tony Stewart joined Lasoski in victory lane for photos.

Six heat races and two consolation races whittled almost 60 Modifieds down to the twenty-four car field for the United Midwest Promoters (UMP) Modified 25 lap feature. Scott Orr jumped from his outside pole starting spot and ran away from the field. Three late race cautions allowed the competition to close, but Orr held back all attacks. Mike Smith, Dan Hamstra, Steve Eisenberg, and Chad Ogle rounded out the top five. The entire 25 lap feature had intense side by side racing action. The UMP Modifieds put on as good a show as the All Star Sprints.

Volusia Speedway Park will next be in action through next Saturday night, February 19 as Speedweeks 2000 continues. Last year, all the races at Speedweeks yielded only one repeat winner. Can either Lasoski or Orr accomplish that feat this year? This Friday night's show starts at 7:30w ith more UMP Modified and All Star Sprint action.

Volusia Speedway Park is located on State Road 40 in Barberville, FL, 15miles west of I-95. Call (904) 985-4402 or visit their web site at www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com for race information.

I would like to extend a special thanks to the All Star officials and the entire VSP staff for a great night of racing. I don't honestly believe you can say you have seen racing until you witness sprints on a fast half mile such as Volusia Speedway Park. It is truly unbelievable!

For Florida Stock Car Racing Online, I'm John Matthews

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February 6, 2000-(Barberville, FL) Late Model Sportsman driver Ivedent Lloyd has maintained a love-hate relationship with Volusia Speedway Parkover the years. Some nights, the Ocala native has things his way on the fast, half mile clay track. Other nights, things haven't gone well. Sunday night was not one of those nights as Lloyd won the 100 lap National LateModel Sportsman (NLMS) series race in style and captured $5,000.

Volusia Speedway Park hosted their first annual Kickoff to Speedweeks Saturday and Sunday. The highlight of the weekend was the 100 lap NLMS raceSunday afternoon. Qualifying on Saturday and a slew of support races filled out the card over the weekend. It was also the first opportunity for drivers to race on the new clay surface. Sixty-one Late Model Sportsman attempted to qualify for the event. Lloyd captured fast time, one of only two drivers to break into the 19 second bracket. Five heat races locked infifteen cars for Sunday's event. Two consolation races filled the balance of the field 25 car starting grid. Lawton Minchew and Keith Edge captured the consolation wins.

At the drop of the green flag for the feature, Lloyd jumped ahead of outside pole sitter Keith Philman. Meanwhile, the majority of the field engaged in a bumper car duel that involved over ten cars on the first lap. Early season jitters were out in force as several cautions slowed early action. Frontrunner #16C Johnny Collins had a massive engine failure on lap 6.Collins became one of several top NLMS stars to retire from the race.

When the drivers settled into a groove, Lloyd advanced to a steady lead over Philman and #20 Billy Godowns. Meanwhile, Minchew, Wendall Durant, and Rod Burton advanced up through the field. Godowns slipped past Philman on lap42 but was unable to close on the leader. At the crossed flags, the top five were Lloyd, Godowns, Philman, Mike Carter, and Chris Usry.

As the laps wound down and the attrition continued, Lloyd appeared to have the race locked up until a caution on lap 94. Lloyd pulled away on the restart but an accident in the field damaged three cars, setting up the final restart on lap 96. In the four lap dash to the finish, Godowns was unable to challenge for the lead. Ivedent Lloyd won by a comfortable 2.4 seconds.

Billy Godowns finished second with Chris Usry, Henry Carter, and Mike Carter rounding out the top five. Lawton Minchew, Keith Philman, Wendall Durant,and Rod Burton rounded out the cars finishing on the lead lap. Only 12 cars were running at the finish.

The Florida Mini Sprint Association (FMSA) was also on hand Sunday. Thirty cars took the green flag for a 20 lap feature. John Craddock from Orlando survived a late red flag to capture the checkers. Jeff Gaudlin finished second with Jesse Teed, Mike Schroeder, and Mike Sprague rounding out the top five. The Mini Sprints were running lap times during the feature that were faster than the Late Models in qualifying. Kelley Thornton, Teed, and Craddock captured heat race victories. The FMSA will appear next Friday and Saturday at Thunder Cross Motor Park in Okechobee, FL. I would like to extend a special thanks to Terry Schaeffer who helped with the Mini Sprint results.

Eleven year old Brock Ogelsby from Ocala, FL won the 15 lap Pure Stock feature. This was Ogelsby's first victory on dirt. Shannon Cleveland and Gary Hotelan rounded out the top three. Doug White turned in the wildestride of the night flipping onto the guard rail in turn two while battling forthe lead. White was not injured in the incident.

Twenty-one cars started the OB's Restaurant Hobby Stock feature. Dave Kinsey worked his way up through the field for the victory. Tim Hughes, RonSoultes, George Richard, and Garry Flynn completed the top five. Volusia Speedway Park will next be in action this Thursday night, February 10 when the officially open Speedweeks 2000 with All Star Sprints and UMP Modifieds. It will be a show you won't want to miss.

Volusia Speedway Park is located on State Road 40 in Barberville, FL, 15 miles west of I-95. Call (904) 985-4402 or visit their web site atwww.volusiaspeedwaypark.com for race information.

ForKARNAC.com
Online, I'm John Matthews


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What a show it is turning out to be, from the longest tow, to the rookie runners, from the gentlemen racers who have made STARS racing, to the never say die attitudes we see each night. Tuesday's Feature event will rank as one of the best 75 lap, $7000 to win A-Main's of all time.

But to get to the feature event of the evening we must get through 90 time trials, 5 heats, 3 B-mains, and a Start Position Dash. No fan of racing would have been disappointed in Tuesday's ACTION packed program. From the STAR studded heats that read like a who's who of dirt Late Model racing, to the flat-out pure gut performance of a young kid named Rick Eckert. The SHOW was on, as Eckert made the feature by way of his qualifying time, (fastest of the non-qualifyers), then began a march toward the front from his 25th grid position. Eckert and Booper Bare's #00 were moving forward in the 26 car field, performing the dirt ballet of slide jobs and horsepower turns. On lap
8, as the two cars reached 12th and 13th positions, Bare's #00 slide under, into, and then up on to the Eckert #24. After visiting the infield for crew inspections, both returned to the rear of field, with Eckert looking closer
to an open wheeled modified, than Bare. Driving with the heart of a hero, Rick Eckert work through the field like a master. By lap 35 he is 8th.He makes it as high as 3rd before the sprit of the crowd would be broken. On lap 66 of the scheduled 75, as every fan looked on in disbelief, the #28 of Dennis Erb got a flat and Eckert was collected by the #30 of Steve Shaver, as they both tried to miss the slow moving Erb. This left Eckert frustrated, but still driving his heart out as he once again dropped to the rear of the field, and with only 9 laps left, Rick would come from the rear a second time to claim the 11th spot. THANKS Rick Eckert, for a GREAT SHOW!!!

The winner of the Feature event and $7000 dollars was #s9 of Dan Shlieper of Pewavkee, WI. Here is the complete run down of runners for day 2 of the STARS:

FAST QUALIFYERS
14.816 - 1 Steve Lucus
15.029 - 28b Dick Barton
15.032 - 24 Rick Eckert
15.070 - 6m Wendall Wallace (Monday's $5000 Feature Winner)
15.113 - 30 Steve Shaver

A-Main FEATURE RESULTS
1. s9 DAN SHLIEPER (first STARS Win)
2. 71 Don O'Neal
3. 31 Skip Arp
4. 1* Chub Frank
5. e1 Mike Balzano
6. 0 Scott Bloonquist
7. 12a Rick Aukland
8. 29 Darrell Lanigan
9. b12 Kevin Weaver
10. 02 Keith Nosbisch
11. 24 Rick Eckert
12. 33 Al Purkey
13. 1 Steve Lucas
14. 00 Booper Bare
15. 32 Greg Lucas
16. 99 Donnie Moran
17. 71r Rod Conley
18. 71d Dalmas Conley
19. 42 Todd Andrews
20. 77b Barry Bargdon
21. 71m Lance Mathees
22. 30 Steve Shaver
23. 28 Dennis Erb Jr.
24. 28b Dick Barton
25. 66 Bill Frye
26. 17m Dale McDowel

TOP 10 POINTS after 2 Rounds

550 Don O'Neal
510 Rick Aukland
430 Chub Frank
410 Mike Balzano
400 Keith Nosbisch
360 Dale McDowell
360 Darrell Lanigan
360 Todd Andrews
350 Wendell Wallace
350 Dan Shlieper

-byBILL GREEN


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St. Augustine Speedway officials are busy in preparation for SpeedFest 2000, a ten day event running from Thursday, February 10th through Saturday, February 19th at Florida's fastest paved 1/2-mile speedway, formerly St. Augustine Speedway.

With over fourteen different divisions scheduled over the course of ten days, SpeedFest 2000 is shaping up to be a race fan's dream week. Kicking off the event is an Open Practice on Thursday from 5pm to 10pm. Admission is a $2 donation or $1 with 2 cans of food. Friday the 11th brings on the Super Late Models, Modifieds, Thunder Trucks, Late Models, Mini Stocks and Hobby Stocks.

Saturday the 12th is the running of the first annual Florida Cup, a 150-lap
$3,000 to win Super Late Model event. A 75 lap Florida Race Trucks event and Sportsman show complement the night. The speedway will be closed on Sunday.

Saturday night's Florida Cup event has attracted such names as 1999 NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro Champion Wayne Anderson, his father, Florida short track legend Dick Anderson, 1999 Southern All-Star Rookie of the Year and sixteen-year-old BJ McLeod, among other notable drivers from Florida and the southeast and midwest.

"The caliber of talent that is collecting here for these races, especially the Florida Cup event, is amazing," says speedway General Manager Louis Smith. "There is obviously a lot of desire among Florida drivers to keep this prize in-state."

Monday, February 14th, brings on the Valentine's Day Massacre, a $5,000 to win Enduro race. Super Late Models, Modifieds, Trucks and a Powder Puff race are also scheduled.

Tuesday, February 15th, in addition to Super Late Models and Modifieds, who run every night, are the Allison Legacy Series and Baby Grands. Trucks and Sportsman are also scheduled. The Allisons and Baby Grands will compete through Thursday night.

The Championship Auto Racing Series, out of Indiana, will add to the schedule for Wednesday and Thursday, running 50 lap features.

The long-awaited winged outlaw sprints of the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association invade the speedway Friday, February 18th. Fans are encouraged to dress warmly, because these cars will create enough speed to send the wind chill factor to new lows. Joining TBARA is the American Racing Association Late Model Stocks qualifying, plus a full field of local Florida Speed Park racing divisions.

Saturday, February 19th, caps off SpeedFest 2000 with a 200 lap ARA Late Model Stock All-Star feature. Referred to as the "Carolina" Late Models, these cars traditionally serve as the breeding ground for many of NASCARs top drivers. For this special ARA event, the cars will be given a 100 pound weight break and fresh air box, which will push them to faster than normal speeds.

"I can hardly wait," says speedway General Manager Louis Smith. "St.Augustine is such a beautiful area, and this is a state-of-the-art facility, only one hour away from the racing going on down in Daytona. We really believe both racers and fans will appreciate this program. Everyone here is very excited."

2000 marks the first such SpeedFest event ever held by the speedway since it was paved in 1997. Entries to the event have poured in not only from Florida but from all over the southeast, midwest, and up north.

"Hosting such an event here not only benefits all of the racers," says Smith, "but the people in the St. Augustine area have been more than accommodating in welcoming this event. It's been a tremendous outpouring ofsupport from all over."

For more information on SpeedFest 2000, call the speedway at (904) 825-2886 or visit the official SpeedFest 2000 web site at "staugustinespeedway.com."

To obtain Media Credentials, please contact the speedway office at (904)825-2886, or e-mail LZ2K@aol.com.

SpeedFest 2000 Schedule

Friday, February 11th -
Sunshine State Classic Day I
Noon-5pm: Open Practice
6pm Qualifying
7:30pm Features:
Florida Race Trucks Qualifying Heats
Modifieds (35)
Mini Stocks (20)
Late Models (35)
Thunder Trucks (25)
Hobby Stocks (20)
Super Late Models (50)

Saturday, February 12th -
Sunshine State Classic Day II
Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisions
4-5:30pm: Open Practice
6pm Qualifying
7:30pm Features:
Sporsman (35)
Super Late Models Flordia Cup (150)
Florida Race Trucks (75)

No races on Sunday

Monday, February 14th -
Valentine's Day Massacre
Noon-2pm: Practice for day's divisions
2-4pm: Enduro Practice
4-5:30pm: Open Practice
6pm Qualifying
7:30pm Features:
Super Late Models (50)
Modifieds (35)
Trucks (35)
$5000-to-win Enduro (150)
Powder Puff Race (25)



Tuesday, February 15th
Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisions
4-5:30pm: Open Practice
6pm Qualfying
7:30pm Features:
Allison Legacy Series (50)
Modifieds (35)
Sportsman (35)
Baby Grands (25)
Super Late Models (50)
Trucks (35)

Wednesday, February 16th
Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisions
4-5:30pm: Open Practice
6pm Qualifying
7:30pm Features:
Super Late Models (50)
Baby Grands (25)
Championship Auto Raciing Series (50)
Modifieds (35)
Trucks (35)
Allison Legacy Series (50)

Thursday, February 17th
Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisons
4pm-5:30pm: Open Practice
6pm Qualifying
7:30pm Features:
Championship Auto Racing Series (50)
Allison Legacy Series (50)
Trucks (35)
Baby Grands (25)
Modifieds (35)
Super Late Models (50)

Friday, February 18th
Noon-2pm: ARA Late Model Stocks Practice
2-3:30pm: TBARA Sprint Cars Practice
3:30-5:30pm: Dvision Practice
6pm ARA Late Model Qualifying, TBARA Heats
7:30pm Features:
Thunder Trucks (25)
Mini Stocks (20)
Sportsman (35)
TBARA Winged Sprint Cars (35)
Hobby Stocks (20)
Super Late Models (50)
Daytona Antique Autos
Late Models (35)
Modifieds (35)

Saturday, February 19th
Noon-5:30pm Practice
6pm Qualifying
7:30pm Features:
ARA Late Model Stock All Stars (200)
Daytona Antique Autos
Modifieds (35)
Trucks (50)
Super Late Models (50)

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For the second week in a row, "Short Track USA" Radio Show proves to be a lucky visit for feature winners. Last week, Jan 29th Art Calkins visited "Short Track USA with Bill Green" and went on to win the 1st Annual "Wild" Bill Revard Memorial Race at Sunshine "ACTION" Speedway. This week the Good Luck continued as Ronald Laney of Humble, TX. visited the studios just hours before winning the highly competitive "King of the 360 Nationals" at East Bay Speedway.

The 28 year old pilot of the Sunbelt Tractor, Griffith Trucking, Humble Paint & Body, Snap on Tools #52, lead 2 laps of the 40 lap final night event. The last two, cashing in on a $10,000 pay day with another $1000 dollar bonus for having raced in last years "King of the 360 Nationals" event. Breaking a string of Gary Wright wins that at times looked untouchable, Laney survived a caution and red filled main event.

As track conditions changed rapidly several front runners were kissing the walls at the first and third turn entrances. Laney ran a steady but quick pace using the middle of the track as his groove, and found himself on the rear nerf bar of Gary Wright with 3 to go.

Making his move through 3 and 4 on the next lap, Leary pulled off a mild up set, as Wright had won last years 360 National event, and both Thursday's and Friday's feature events. CONGRATULATION'S Ronald Leary!!!

-Bill Green Host of "Short Track USA"

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Sixty plus race cars and teams made it to Citrus County Speedway for the largest practice session ever held at the speedway. It was the first practice of the year and it was amazing to see the enthusiastic attitude of all concerned as preparations were being made to open the speedway's 44th season on February 26th.
Promoters Billy Hooker and Steve Ziebarth made several beneficial driver announcements at the practice session. Late Model drivers will be going for increased purses with a weekly win purse of $1,000. Any driver who can win three weeks in a row has an additional $1,000 bonus waiting for them. Management also announced that at least 12 of the 30 Late Model races are sponsored by local businesses and that will bump the win purse to $1,300. Second and third will pick up an additional $100. The sponsored race list continues to grow and the goal is to have all 30 races sponsored.

Sportsman, Street Stock, Mini Stock, Hobby Stock and Figure 8 racers can pick up an additional $200 for triple wins in a row. The incentive bonus should keep everyone on their toes and the competition at top speed. Fans will be getting a bonus too. Families will benefit from the new policy of this family friendly race track. For each adult admission, that adult can get their 12 year old or younger child in free. Citrus County Speedway, Friendliest Track In the South has vowed to become, and is rapidly becoming, more driver and fan friendly. Friday, the first coat of a new sealer was applied to the track in an effort to bring in a second and third groove. The second and third coats were applied Saturday and Sunday with a tested compound that has worked well at major speedways around the country. Improvements continue to be made as Racing Fever is hitting Citrus County Speedway, BIG TIME!

-Larry MacMillan

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Following the 1999 Snowball Derby which many fans felt was won by Bobby Gill not Rich Bickle, the controversy started and has continued to brew. There were huge disagreements among the competitors and of course the fans. The Snowball promotion group says, it's over Bickle won. The following is CIA Sports Promotion News Release:

We would first like to apologize for the delay in answering messages and updating the web page. As most of you know we are a photographic company from North Carolina and our involvement at Five Flags Speedway is more of a caretaker. A lot of you have questions about the future of the speedway and some of you have complaints. We will try to address all of your questions and concerns.

1) Rich Bickle did win the 1999 Snowball Derby. As many of you know we had some of the best short track officials working the 1999 Snowball Derby. Their experience and knowledge is better than what you would find at any
similar race. Our officials make their respective calls in their selective jobs. However, I want you to know we had the tapes, scorecards etc. reviewed over and over before a final decision was made. I also want you to know our scoring officials were not responsible for any errors during the race. They did their job. No race is official until all scoring is complete, checked and the chief scorer makes it official. A driver must pass tech and scoring after the checkered flag to be declared the official
winner.

2) We are trying to be as fan, driver and media friendly as we can. We know there are a lot of you that believe this as you have experienced it from our staff. For you that feel differently we can only say we're sorry, we tried but maybe there is no way we could ever live up to your
expectations. Remember we are not promoters and do not claim to be. We are only here for one reason (help save racing and the Snowball Derby in Pensacola). We are fortunate that a lot of you have supported us and we
thank you! For you that love racing and want this track to continue please keep supporting us. As many of you know FIVE FLAGS SPEEDWAY IS STILL FOR SALE OR LEASE! Rest assured that if a buyer is not found we will return and
run a limited schedule. We have tried to find support and sponsorship to do more racing in 2000 but with our limited time and staff we have not had the success to warrant a full race season. What we are saying is that without
community businesses and their sponsorship we can not do any more than a limited schedule. For you that are making plans to race or attend in 2000
all we can say now is racing will be in June, July, August and, of course, the 33rd annual Snowball Derby will be the first weekend in December as it always is. We will post more information on dates etc. as they become available. We have no plans on changing rules and any changes would be
very minor, if at all! (Fritz Augustine writes our rules, keep in touch with him for any change, if any)!

3) We are a photo agency except when we are at Five Flags Speedway! We only take pictures for our own advertising and promotional purposes. We are not trying to be selfish but we need to keep our minds on the business of running the racetrack. We have tried to find an honest individual that would like to photograph the races and drivers for the benefit of the drivers, sponsors etc. This individual would work directly with the sponsors and teams. Anyone interested please contact us at this web site.
The only photos we will release are those posted on our web site and then only to the team pictured. This is for legal reasons. Sorry! Please, be patient on these requests.

4) The 33rd annual Snowball Derby will have a change for the Saturday night race. We will, to our best ability, try and make the Saturday program better than it has ever been. We do apologize to the fans for the 50-lap race. We expected more cars and were only trying to offer an additional 80 late model cars to race. After 1998 and having to send too many good cars home without ever competing in a race we tried to fix it. We are planning
but we are also listening! E-mail us, we do listen and we do care!

Thank you for your continued support and we, once again, we apologize for our delay in responding to your concerns and questions.

-CIA Sports Promotions and staff of Five Flags Speedway

Thanks to Don's Short Track Racers for this report.

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This weekend, race fans will be treated to some of the best racing action this area has seen in years, as drivers and fans alike will flock to South Georgia and North Florida, for three nights of Dirt Late Model action at three different race tracks.

The top Dirt Late Model drivers in the country are ready for a busy winter schedule to begin the $4-Million 2000 United Dirt Track Racing Association Hav-A-Tampa Dirt Late Model season. The 11th season begins with seven races
at three different tracks here in the South Georgia and Florida area, beginning tonight at Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick, Georgia, for two single day events on the fastest dirt track in the South.
Over 80 of the top drivers in the country are expected, including the 1999 race winner, and former Winston Cup driver Jack Pennington, as well as current Busch Grand National driver, Jeff Purvis.

Dale McDowell of Rossville, Georgia is the defending Hav-A-Tampa Champion, and is ready to contend again in 2000, driving his #17 GRT Chassis, which is headed up by his brother Shane McDowell as Crew Chief and Mike Price.

"We're going to prepare for this season the same as we did for last season," McDowell said. "We have a new race car, one car with five races on it, and five new engines. There's not as much pressure as there was last year
because we've got more product support than we had last year, so our confidence might be a little higher, being the defending champion. We'll just take it one race at a time with a goal of finishing in the top five at each race. That's what we did last year, and the points took care of
themselves."

Last season, McDowell won a record amount of money on the cigar-sponsored series winning over $300,000 and claiming six victories. The last event of the season was the Hav-A-Tampa Shootout at Dixie Speedway in Woodstock, Georgia, where McDowell won the 100-lap race, and overcame a 31-point deficit to beat Wendell Wallace of Batesville, Arkansas for the title. McDowell took $50,000 for winning the championship, $52,000 for winning the event, and
Dixie Speedway owner Mickey Swims paid a $20,000 bonus. McDowell earned $122,000, a record single-event win total. Gates at Golden Isles Speedway will open at 5PM tonight, and 3PM tomorrow.

The racers and fans won't have far to travel on Sunday, as they make their way 45 minutes south to Jax Raceways, as the Southeast Motorsports Dirt Racing Series will hold it's season opener. The event postponed from last Saturday, was advertised as a 75-lap event paying $5,000 to win. Series
officials decided to reduce the number of laps to 50, while keeping the purse the same. The reduction in laps will slightly shorten the program to allow the competitors an opportunity to pack up at a reasonable hour to make the
trip to Tampa for the beginning of their week long racing schedule the following day.
"We have worked extremely hard to get this Series off the ground and want to thank everyone for all their effort and participation." said Timmy Carter, series promoter, "We can control just about everything but the weather. Sure,
we may have had a clear race day last Saturday, but the forecast all last week called for rain and cold weather. We just couldn't have expected everyone to make his or her way through such bad travel conditions to possibly sit at the gate in the rain. With Golden Isles Speedway in Brunswick
having their season opener tonight, the teams will already be in the area. Cutting the laps and keeping the purse intact will allow the teams to get an earlier start for East Bay and is our way of showing the appreciation for
everyone's understanding."

The Southeast Motorsports Dirt Racing Series has scheduled the second of twelve events for the inaugural racing season, on Saturday, February 26, 2000 at Waycross Motor Speedway in Waycross, Georgia. This event will close out
Speedweeks 2000. Additionally, Series President Timmy Carter, has also offered a special bonus of $2,500 to any driver who can win both Southeast Motorsports Dirt Racing Series Speedweeks events. The Jax Raceways local Pure
Stocks will also be on hand for heat races and feature events, gates open at noon, racing will start at 5.

Volusia Speedway Park, just 70 miles south of Jacksonville, will also be in action this weekend. The half mile clay track, located in Deland, Florida will hold the season opening Late Model Sportsmen event. Track officials are
expecting over 30 of the top Sportsmen drivers in the South to be on hand for the event. Practice will be tonight, with qualifying and heat races tomorrow, and the 75 lap feature event to be held on Sunday afternoon.

(Donnie Helmly can be heard on Monday nights @ 7pm on 1320AM WJGR as the host of "The Race Report")

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While traveling the pits at East Bay on Thursday, I ran across a few interesting stories. Here is a copy of my notes: First I must say it was GREAT to see Karla, Billy Jr., and James at East Bay for the night. Hope they enjoyed themselves and Thanks to all the East Bay folks for treating them so very nicely.

Bucky Milum say he's selling off all the Dirt cars to go T.B.A.R.A. racing.Basically $25,000 per dirt car ready to run. He will see the 360 Nationals and the upcoming 410 show through. He has partnered with Doc Miller to provide Sport Allen an opportunity to run with the 410's.

There are some really good dirt drivers without rides for the moment, that with a good sponsor, could win races everytime they suit up.

Speedo the Race CLOWN, still WOW's U'm. After three decades of entertaining race fans with his comic stick,SPEEDO is as loved by children and adults today as he was when you were little. He appears each night this month at East Bays events.

Bad Luck Vs Good Luck, tough going the first night of 360's for the East Bay regulars.Most of which started out nicely, but 1 by 1 were battling the bad guy on the luck side. The old track record for 360 Sprints at East Bay was 13:518, a very fast Kenny Adams lap from last year, but the new surface at East Bay allowed several runs faster than that mark, with Kenny himself,topping the list in the end at 13:017, a full half second off the old mark and 2/10's
short of the 410 mark. Adams was bitten by the bad luck bug in the A-Main with a 2 spins in turn 4, twice, the second collected Greg Leonard. Gene Lasker excited the crowed several times,winning the C-Main after the hard luck of loosing a drive belt in the heat, then was set to FLY to the front on the High-Side run of the night, when a slower car would force him into the turn 2 wall, 5 flat spins later a twisted 02 was flat-beded off the raceway.

Christi Passmore, was a class act through a loose rocker and flat running motor, she held on for a 3rd place finish in the C-Main, after which, the problem was discovered. The GREEN 4 of Darrell Hyde, from LA. took a tumble in turn 1 and was pulling out a new wing and other various parts to prepare for Friday action. Robbie Smith was the best finish in the A-Main for the local boys, he was 10th.

This weekends 360 purse has risen from $58,865 to $66,365, as Stan Kolan has added $2500 to each nights winners share,to make it $10,000 to win every night. Sixty-Two 360 Winged Sprints were on hand forThursday nights action, more are expected tonight as folks leave their day jobs and get here for the weekend.

Today, Feb 4th is Bar-B-Q Day for the 360's, as East Bay OPENS the gates at 10AM for the racers to set up and prepare for tonight's races, and they will also be treated to a Feast to befit a KING of 360's.

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!
Bill Green
Host of Short Track USA
For Complete daily results check the Eastbay track section!!!





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In 1984 the Central Florida racing season opened like so may others, cool and damp. One young man remembers it like it was yesterday. It was the year he would have his first sprint car win. First wins are always etched in stone on
every driver's memory, but when you're only 13; you'll carry that stone for a long time. Sport Allen is not your normal driver, by far. He proved that in the same year at the age of 14. That's when he would become the youngest
qualifier ever for the famous LITTLE 500 at Anderson, Indiana's high-banked quarter mile.

In 1985, young Sport Allen sought to raise the standard by which sprint car drivers were judged on asphalt and dirt. Starting off in a Harry Campbell chassis, Sport was on his way to doing just that. Then a sudden rules change by K&K Insurance, excluded his age group from racing the high powered machines. Luckily, K&K did not control all raceways, but did control most.

At that point, Sport was forced onto a few local speedways thwarting his efforts to further his driving dream. Only able to secure rides for a few major events, Sport trudged along in mediocrity, until 1992. This turned out to be the last year Sport would run with the TBARA asphalt and dirt series.

Finishing 10th in ninety-two's points, Sport would walk away from racing for almost five years. Sport returned to racing in 1997 in what he would describe now as, "the best ride of his life up to that point." Shouldering new pressures and dealing with being a one-man pit crew, Sport moved on at years end forming his current racing alliance with car owner Bucky Milum. In 1998, this partnership propelled Sport back into the winner's circle twice. Driving a Wolfgang chassis into 1999 would bring Sport his current East Bay Raceway crown of "Superman." Breezing to 18 feature wins in 30 races, Sport dominated the famous Gibsonton, Florida 1/3 mile this year. Winning the
points championship going away.

When the call came from Pennsylvania, Sport's first thoughts were, "Take it now, you may never get another chance." But, Sport went onto explain, "I want to race 410s like the World of Outlaws for a living, but this was more of a lateral offer. It was, after all, in the hotbed of racing, Pennsylvania. Great, but, still only another 360 ride. The U.R.C. series in Pennsylvania is a very competitive series, yet I would not be getting the 410
experience or exposure I feel I need at this point."

Sport's friend and fellow competitor, had made a similar move a year earlier. Things had not worked out for him and he had returned to Florida in mid-season. Sport was no longer a boy of 13 behind the wheel, but a man of 28, seasoned and mature, built of a different character than the adrenaline driven young man of his youth. To make this move Sport would surely endanger his position with his current team, but he would also be required to jeopardize a job with one of the nations premier delivery services.

Character is defined as the combination of qualities or features that distinguishes one person from another. Sport Allen has shown his true character. He realizes every decision has its consequences. We all have our dreams, but Sport Allen understands dreams come with a price. The price of saying yes is often too high. If this same offer had presented it's self at any other time in his life, Sport would have jumped at it. As would most sprint car drivers across the country.

Not everything in life has perfect timing. Something's never seem to have their time at all, while others are missed but never known. So remember,
"Change is good, but good changes are even better."

- Bill Green
Host of Short Track USA

No one has ever seen a race quit like it, and no one ever will. It was just another Saturday night at the races. Like most new season kickoffs, it was billed as the 2000 WinterNational, but would become known as the 2000
Supernatural. What race fans witnessed will be debated for years, was it a promoters trick to get more attention, or the hand of fate reaching down from a fallen fellow competitor.

"WILD" Bill Revard was well known and like in the racing circles at Sunshine "ACTI()N" Speedway in St. Petersburg, Florida. He was so easy going thatfellow competitors were often frustrated at their attempts to ruffle his
feathers. He lived for three things, his son, his Mom, and entertaining race fans in the "Wild" world of figure 8 racing. Bill had passed through the
figure eight X literally thousands of times, having driven in figure 8 races for more than 10 years. He was a past Champion and back-to-back winner of the 1998 and 1999 Sunshine Speedway WinterNational 50 Lap Figure Eight races. The tragic loss of"Wild" Bill on November 13th will forever be etched in the minds of those attending that evening's event.

The tribute race planned for the 2000 WinterNational was modest by most standards. Only sixteen cars took to the track for what is sure to become the most prestigious race in local figure eight ranks. As "Wild" Bill watched
down from above, his long time friend and fellow competitor, Art Calkins won the Ist Annual "Wild" Bill Memorial, holding off a hard charging Jimmy
Thompson on the final lap. As Art stood in the winner's circle with tears in his eyes answering my traditional questions, I felt the chill of"Wild" Bill
standing there with us. The crowd of over 5000 and I would come to believe in more than just miracles before this night was over.

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