After racing was canceled last week in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, the Desoto-Auburndale Race Truck series (DARTS) will be in action for their sixth points race of the season this Saturday night at Auburndale Speedway. The Truck racers will go for 50 laps and be joined by the Legend Cars, Mini Stocks, Scramblers and Mini-Cup cars. The V-8 Bombers and Mod Minis will have the night off here so that drivers who are also racing for points in those classes at DeSoto Speedway in Bradenton can compete there Saturday night.
Among the drivers expected to take part in the DARTS race are point leader Becca Monopoli of Lakeland, Derek Pugh of Crystal River.
Arcadia’s Cody Martell, Jason Lester of Palmetto, Big Donnie Burkhalter of Ocoee, Bradenton’s Danny Anderson, Cody McDuffie of Lakeland, Lehigh’s Michael Kohut, Billy Carlbert, Jr. of Palmetto, Naples driver Michael Goddard, Cody Carlbert of Zephyrhills, Tommy Kelley of Myakka City, Kristin Clements of Lakeland, Racin’ Mason Love of Pinellas Park, Lakeland’s Dakota Hunt, Travis Roland of Auburndale, Tyler Davis of Lakeland, Mike Gamache of Tarpon Springs and Lakeland driver Chase Lovelady.
Pit gates open Saturday afternoon at 2 pm with practice starting at 3:45 pm.
Grandstand gates open officially at 5 pm with DARTS qualifying at 6:30 pm and the races get under way at 7 pm with heat races for the Legends, Mini Stocks, Scramblers and Mini Cup cars. There will be an autograph/photo op session with the DARTS drivers during intermission just prior to their 50-lap event followed by feature race action for the Legends, Mini Stocks, Scramblers and Mini Cups.
Adult admission is $15 with seniors 55+ $13. Children ages 5-12 are just $5 and all kids 4 and under get in free. The family 4-pack is just $32 for two adult and two children’s admissions.
Rain checks from September 24th are being honored and can be used for either this Saturday night or Saturday night October 22nd.
On October 29th it will be “Trick or Treat the Drivers” event to celebrate Halloween. During intermission, drivers from all of the classes racing that night will stand by their race car on the track and give kids (12 and under) candy and other goodies along with hero cards.
The track will also be distributing over 3,000 pieces of candy at the Auburndale city Halloween event, providing prizes for the kids costume contest Saturday night and will have around $1,000 in gift certificates to be given away to lucky adult fans.
Don’t forget the upcoming “Championship Weekend” featuring the 75 Lap DASS Sportsman race on Saturday night October 22nd and The Sunoco Challenge Super Late Model 100 on Sunday October 23rd. Plus there will be features for all other Auburndale Speedway classes including the wild-and-crazy Figure Eights.
Double points will be awarded on both dates for all classes and series. Plus don’t forget the exciting “Race of Champions” on Sunday featuring a host of heroes from the past including the likes of Gary “Hot Shoe” Balough, Mike McCrary, Perry Lovelady, Edward Howell, Jim Tuning, Jackie “Turnaround” Brown, Mike Howell and many more “oldies but goodies.” Discount weekend tickets are available by going to Eventbrite.com.