by Dave Westerman

Race fans will enjoy the biggest show of the year so far this Saturday night at Auburndale Speedway as the Late Models take center stage for the AMF Chassis 100 which will pay the winner a cool $3,000.

Jeff Scofield won the first Late Model race held at the track a few weeks ago which was sanctioned by the new Florida All Stars Tour. Scofield’s dominance of the event was overshadowed by the wild action between a pair of tough competitors, Wayne Anderson and Kevin “The Bulldozer” Ingram which created considerable controversy, even well after the race was in the record books.

Scofield will be back in action again this week hoping he has the “perfect”

race car like he had back in March while Ingram also plans to provide his usual thrills.

Around thirty Late Models are expected to vie for the three grand first place prize. One driver making his first start at Auburndale will be former Sunbelt and Brighthouse Series champion Tim Russell of Longwood. Russell was at the track practicing last week and it was reported he was turning some very fast times.

Defending Orlando Speedworld Super Late Model champion Jared Allison is expected to be here along with such notable veterans as Joe Boyd, George Gorham, Jr., Perry and Raymond Lovelady, Chris Fontaine, Daryl Shelnut, Rusty Ebersole, Danny Maddox, David Weaver and Joe Winchell.

A number of Late Model racing’s “young guns” are expected including Jason Vail, Jonathan Guy, Cody Lane, Tyler Laing, Ross Chastain and others.

Local hot shoe Keith Lilley has already won in the Open Wheel Modifieds and Trucks this year and has picked up a Late Model ride for the weekend. He’ll be joined by other “locals” like Ron Lofquist (who had a great run in the FAST race), Steve Avinger, John Markovich, Brandon Duchscherer, and David King who is hoping for a better day than he had in March when the throttle hung wide open on his car during time trials resulting in a serious altercation with the turn one wall.

On a disappointing note, Orlando’s David Rogers was hoping to be in action here this week but suffered a terrible crash in Pensacola last week while practicing for the Blizzard Series race at Five Flags Speedway. Rogers’ car was so badly damaged that his team is still unsure just what broke on the car causing it to veer directly into the wall. Rogers is still nursing a sore knee and a few other “bumps” but expects to be back in action before too long.

Along with the top prize of $3,000 to go with a great overall purse, several other awards will also be up for grabs. The fast qualifier will receive $100 from JPL Auto Empire. The leader at half-way will get a nice $200 award from BDH Construction. An extra $100 is being offered to the fifth place finisher courtesy Frasier Construction while GGR Roofing is putting up and extra $100 to the tenth place driver. Ingram Construction is also putting up $100 and that will go to the driver finishing dead last. The hard luck driver of the race will get ten gallons of Southern Racing Fuel.

There will be plenty of other racing action to go along with the Late Models.

The Mini Cup class seems to be enjoying a rejuvenation of sorts and another big field is expected for their second outing of 2010. Expect Sam Scott and Brady Marshall to renew their battle from last month with loads of competition also expected from the likes of Tyler Scofield, Harold Crooms, John & Brandon Beach, Carlos Pinto and Mike Holt among others.

The Sportsman cars will also be in action Saturday along with the Mini Stocks, Legend Cars, Scramblers, V-8 Bombers, Bandoleros and Kids Club. Grandstand gates will open at 5PM with qualifying getting under way at 5:30PM and racing at 7PM.

Fans are invited to come out for the Friday afternoon/evening practice session. Only pit passes will be available but they are just $10 and will give everyone a chance to get “up close and personal” with the cars and drivers. After practice there will be hot dogs and hamburgers plus lots of free beer to go along with plenty of bench racing.

A large crowd is expected Saturday, so make plans to be at the track early. Crowds have been outstanding the last few weeks with the 50/50 raffle over $300 two of the past four weeks. Also this week, all kids age 10 and under will get an extra ticket which makes them eligible to win a pair of bicycles which will be given away as part of the “Lindsey’s Little Racers” program.

Updated point standings were not available at press time.

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