by Ocala Speedway Media

OCALA, FL- Fans and racers at Florida’s oldest race track will have a shot at getting a cash bonus this Friday night as Ocala Speedway presents the debut of Pepsi Wheel of Fortune Night.  A lucky fan will spin the wheel to determine who gets a hefty cash bonus from Pepsi, the official soft drinks of Ocala Speedway.  The cash could be distributed to one racing division, plus some lucky fans, depending on where the Pepsi Wheel of Fortune indicates.

Ocala Speedway’s Late Model Division is currently running in the shadow of champion racer and local favorite, Ivedent Lloyd Jr.  But Lloyd is sometimes lured away by major races in other locations, so his points lead is merely 2 over Mark Whitener.  Whitener drives for another local stable, wheeling the 58 Big Frog Motorsports, Dave’s Towing machine, within rock throwing distance from the speedway.  Just five points back stands Keith Nosbisch who has been strong in 2010, and Lake Helen’s Joe Kump is only 9 points behind Ivedent Lloyd.  With the race this close, a lot could change depending on who shows up on Friday night, and what transpires on the track.

With a week off to think about it, the Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants Thunder Stocks will be back in action with an equally tight points race unfolding.  Jerrid Bennett of Palatka holds onto the points lead, but Ocala’s Michael Stalnaker is only 6 points shy and gaining fast as he continues his winning ways.  Stalnaker needs to watch his back as well, as Eddie Lentz is within two points of tying him for second, and Brian Shea is just a point behind Lentz.  And if you add Jason Gamble, Augie Burttram, and Sean Babcock to the mix, that makes seven racers all within 20 points of first place.

The last remaining Mini Stock Division on dirt is going through some changes at Ocala Speedway as racers and the track staff work to make this group a success again.  And as the changes take shape, the points race has remained tight along the way, with Paul Combast currently holding the lead.  But despite getting a win last week, Combast can’t seem to shake Nick and Dan Kerr who are lurking just 4 and 5 points behind him.  And Combast also is wary of Keith Briggs, who has battled everything from a bad back, to a broken race car, to plain old lousy luck.  Briggs sits only 11 points shy of the leader in the forth spot, and seems to be having more success each week.

Casey Feaster has emerged as the man to beat in Ocala’s Gladiator Division in 2010, but last Friday night his “win” lasted only as long as it took the tech officials to find an illegal part, so the 20 car earned a DQ and a goose egg in the points battle.  That transgression sent Feaster plummeting in the points, 46 points out of first and 6th in line.  And sitting on top of the points list is Steven Johnson who inherited a win after the tech officials finished their work on Friday, but his seat may not be as comfortable as it seems, as young Kody Fisher is in second place just 4 points out of first, and Lasoski Racing’s Devin Walker is just 5 points shy of Fisher.  So while an adult may be in charge for the moment, it looks like the youngsters may be taking over the game.

Race fans can enter the grandstand gate on Friday night at 5PM, and heat races will get underway at 8PM.  Fans are also reminded to get their advance tickets to the Annual Monster Jam Summer Tour, featuring the most popular Monster Truck on the planet, Grave Digger!  Monster Jam will take over Ocala Speedway on April 30th through May 2nd.  For a complete schedule of events, or to check ticket prices, please visit www.OcalaSpeedway.com, for more information. 

Brett O’Donnell was the class of the field at the last outing for the Florida Mini Sprints at Volusia Speedway Park, and last year’s Rookie of the Year is currently at the top of the points battle as the FMSA returns for another round of high speed action.  Jessie Teed scored a second place finish at VSP and hopes to outpace the youngster this time around, while Brett’s father, Tim O’Donnell, looks to regain the consistency that won him the 2009 FMSA Points Championship last season.

Anyone who is into the history of racing will enjoy seeing the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association hit the track this weekend, as their restored racing machines turn laps at the south’s fastest half mile.  DAARA racers will be sporting machines that will educate the young and bring back exciting memories to the old, and will offer the chance for fans of all ages to experience a vast collection of racing history without going to a museum. 

And after taking a week off, the Budweiser Modifieds will be back in action at VSP with Jamie Carter still working to extend his points lead over the rest of the competitors.  Jeff Mathews is trailing Carter by 39 points going into this week’s action, and hopes to chip away some of that lead with a solid performance without having to worry about driving a late model as well on the same night.  Both Carter and Mathews have been solid this season, and undoubtedly will be ready for each other and the rest of the field this Saturday night.

Fans are reminded to come early to catch the wrestling action which gets underway this Saturday night at 6PM, with racing following at 7:30.  For more information please visit www.VolusiaSpeedwayPark.net or call 386-985-4402. And fans are reminded that there will be a special pre event party at the Ice House Saloon in Bunnell, beginning at 7PM on Friday night.