Putnam Speedway Closes Doors
Bob and I would like to to thank all the race car drivers all the race fans and our entire staff for coming out each week to support Putnam Speedway. We tried very hard to to give all of you a “HOME TRACK” that was Fun, Clean, Honest and Safe for your children. Unfortunately as of this week Putnam Speedway will no longer reopen. We just could not seem to get the support needed to operate a profitable track and can no longer continue to pay for race nights out of our own funds. We certainly enjoyed our short time together with all of you and wish everyone our EVERY BEST!!!!
Good Bye To All,
Bob and Ingrid McClellan
Ponce de Leon Conquistadors invade the Punta Gorda Speedway May 21st
From Linda Jericka
The Charlotte County Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors will be “sailing” their ship Palencia around the track this Saturday night around 7:00 to 7:30 pm. No other ships are expected to compete in this race, so the Conquistadors will be taking on volunteer crew
members made up of youngsters from the stands during the parade lap, WELCOME ABOARD!!!!!
May 21st will be a night you do not want to miss at the Punta Gorda Speedway, so bring out the kids to ride in the ship during the parade lap.
Open Wheel Modifieds return for 75 laps, who can break the three in a row winning streak of Doug Moff.
Also racing will be Super Stock, SE Champ Karts, Pro 4/ Fab 4 for 40 laps, Road Warriors, T.Q, Midgets.
Front gates open at 5:00pm with racing to start at 6:00
Admission is only $10.00 for adults $8.00 for seniors, children 12 and under are FREE. so bring a friend and come hungry, great food and ice cold drinks and some of the best racing in the state.
Punta Gorda Speedway is located at 8655 Piper Road. Punta Gorda Exit 161 off I-75.
For more info you can call the speedway at 941-575-7223 or visit www.puntagordaspeedway.com .
You can also find us now on face book just type in Punta Gorda Speedway.
LEGENDARY CENTRAL FLORIDA RACE DRIVER PHIL ORR PASSES AT AGE 84
From Dave Westerman Phil Orr, a local legend in Central Florida auto racing has passed away. Orr raced at many of the local tracks throughout Central Florida including Orlando Raceway, Sunbrock Speedway, New Smyrna Speedway, Eau Gallie Speedway and Volusia County Speedway. A local star in Modified and Sportsman cars, Orr also competed in NASCAR Grand National and Modified races on the Daytona Beach and Road Course from 1955 through 1958. He finished 12th in the 1955 Modified event which started 80 cars. 57 cars started the 1957 NASCAR GN race and Orr drove his 1957 Ford to a 13th place finish. He also competed in the final NASCAR GN event on the beach in 1958 driving a 1958 Ford. He returned to the local short tracks and raced for many years even driving a Mini Stock at Volusia County Speedway when he was well into his seventies. Primarily a Modified driver, Orr did dabble in Late Model racing briefly in the 1960s. He won numerous feature races throughout his career. The following is Phil's obituary that was published today: ORR, CYRIL PHILLIP "PHIL", age 84, went to be with the Lord, April 23, 2011. Born in Maitland, FL, September 30, 1926, he was a caring and generous man with a big heart, helping anyone in need, never asking for anything in return. He lived by the Golden Rule, taught to him by his beloved Grandfather - "treat others like you want to be treated". He was a man of integrity, well known in his hometown of Apopka as The Land Man for his career in real estate at Phil Orr Realty. Beyond this profession, Phil played football and graduated from Winter Park High School, served in the U.S. Navy and saw a successful career as a salesman, working at Heintzelman Ford and starting his own business in Maitland, and then owning Florida Gator Motors in Apopka. For fun, Phil loved watching NASCAR and his Florida Gators. and he loved to dance. He was a long time Gator booster, a professional boxer at one time, and was a legend on the racetrack himself. Phil drove the old Beach-Road course in Daytona Beach as one of the legendary NASCAR drivers and then raced at many local tracks well into his 70s. He is survived by his loving wife, family and many friends. A viewing and visitation will be held Thursday, April 28, 5-9 PM at the Loomis Family Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 29, at the First Baptist Church of Apopka, 441 S. Highland Avenue, Apopka, 407-886-2628. Graveside committal immediately following at Greenwood Cemetery, Apopka, FL. Fellowship will be held for friends and family from 1-3 pm at the First Baptist Church. If so desired, donations may be made in Phil's honor, in lieu of flowers, to Hospice of the Comforter, 480 W. Central Parkway, Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, 407-682-0808, www.hospiceofthecomforter.org Services Entrusted to LOOMIS FAMILY FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE, 420 West Main Street, Apopka, Florida 32712, 407-880-1007. Please visit www.loomisfuneralhomes.com to sign the online guest book.
Open Letter From Bubba Clem
Hello Fellow Racers and Race Fans:
I wanted to take this time to thank everybody for the overwhelming support of me and my partners newest venture, Bubba Raceway Park Ocala. I also would like to take this time to express my gratitude towards Mike and Angie. I can not begin to tell you how wonderful Mike and Angie have been and their continued support of this race track. Mike had the vision to turn Ocala into dirt and in turn made it one of the premier dirt tracks in the south.
I would like to take this time to express to you something that I had to do and I want to be up front and honest about it. I regretfully had to raise my late model tire price from $120 to $125. A few days ago I started advertising that late model tire prices would be $120.00. That got alot of people talking, and rightfully so, but I forgot to figure in the shipping costs, so in order for me to break even, I have to raise it to $125.00. Again I am so sorry for this confusion, but unlike most track owners who give racers take it or leave it type options, I want to be up front and fair, and if i make a mistake, own up to it.. I still assure you that you won’t find these tires any cheaper, and my only motive is to make racing affordable, and fun. Thank you for understanding, and please forgive me for my oversight
Bubba Clem
Host/CEO/
The Bubba Radio Network
Bubba Raceway Park/Ocala
Bronson Speedway Has New Owners And Plans A Spring Reopening
By John Berti, Karnac.com Senior News Editor/Writer
Bronson Speedway, after over a year of inaction, will be reopening this Spring in the hands of new ownership. The new owners are Chris and Ann Young from Calverton, NY, a hamlet of Suffolk County, on Long Island. The Young family has had a long association with the sport of auto racing in a competitive nature spanning 40 years.
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ann about the acquisition of the track, their background in the auto racing and their plans for the future of Bronson Speedway. I posed several questions to her and got her responses.
JB – What made you and your husband decide to purchase Bronson Speedway?
AY – We have a love of racing that has spanned some 40 years. My husband, Chris, is a longtime NASCAR modified competitor at Riverhead Raceway in Riverhead, NY. I have been a NASCAR official serving in the capacity of a scorer at Riverhead. Our son, Chris, competes in Legend car racing. We just figured it was time to experience racing from the other side as track owners.
JB – Who will be running the track for you?
AY – Local resident Mike Schenk will serve as our facilities manager. He will oversee the maintenance of the facility and assist us with operations. Chris and I will be hands on promoters and I will be at most events.
JB – Will you and your family be moving to Florida permanently?
AY – We intend to keep our home in Calverton for the time being as my husband and son wish to continue racing at Riverhead. We also have a condo at Daytona Beach and on occasions when we come to Bronson we will be able to reside in one of the houses that came with the track purchase.
JB – Why do you feel you will be successful at Bronson Speedway considering that the track has had many operators in the past and many tracks have closed in Florida.
AY – First let me say that failure is not an option. We plan to bring a humbleness to racing at the track. Our drivers, car owners, crew members, and fans will be treated as if they were clients and guests. They will be treated with the utmost respect. It will be our privilege to serve them. Any employee that does not heed this policy will not be employed for long at this track.
We intend to have several in house cars available to rent. We feel this will help young racers who yearn to get involved in the sport, but don’t have the finances to have their own race teams. Mentoring will be a strong point at Bronson. If there is someone who wants to become a race car driver we’ll be there to encourage and support them in any way we can.
JB – What divisions do you intend to regularly run at your track?
AY – As this is our year of getting into play, we intend to meet with the drivers in the area to get a sense of what they run and what they would like to see us run. We are firm believers in Legend cars so I can assure you that Legend cars will have a strong position in our race programs. Our goal is to build a strong following of our own so as to assure good fields of cars, keen competition, and a great show for the fans.
JB – Do you intend to have traveling series race at Bronson?
AY – Yes, we would like that very much. Our long range plans are to bring in some of the larger touring series to the track.. I’d even like to see us do a North-South Challenge type race down the road.
We intend to work closely with Dennis Anderson of Grave Digger fame who more recently has added King Sling , a monster mudder to his arsenal, for the Mud Truck Series so as to bring a show like that to Bronson.
JB – Do you have any idea of an opening date?
AY – We are not prepared to release a grand opening date as of yet. We have a team of local people working every day to prepare the facility for racing. As you know the facility was vacant for well over a year, so a lot of maintainance was neglected. The grandstands, concession stands and the rest room facilities are in the process of being readied for fans.
We also met with an electrical contractor to repair and replace some of the lighting issues we discovered.
We appreciate all the interest in Bronson Speedway and will release this information as soon as it becomes available. Being racers, we don’t want to have to rescind any dates so it is wiser, we believe, to post the dates after all the work is complete.
Personal Thoughts
It is nice to get a track back for a change considering how many Florida tracks have closed down in recent decades. It is the feeling of this writer that the Youngs will be very successful in running Bronson Speedway. They have a great attitude that shows more of a concern for the racers, fans and the continued regeneration of the sport than for their own self interests. I look forward to the grand opening and wish great success to the Youngs in their new endeavor.
Former named Charity Truckers 200 takes on new name and format for 2011
Orlando FL. 3-11-2011 – Today event promoter Rick Bristol announced that the Charity Truckers 200 will be renamed as the Charity 200 Race Weekend and will now feature a 100 lap Pro-Truck race and a 100 lap Late Model race at Orlando Speedworld.
In an effort to boost attendance and the excitement level of the Charity 200 Race Weekend Bristol is making the change for the event set for December 9th & 10th 2011. The 200 lap Pro-truck race will be reduced from 200 laps, counting yellows with a halfway stop, to a 100 green flag lap, four tire limit event, with double file restarts shoot out style. The costs will be reduced with fewer tires and less crew needed for the event. While the race will be shorter it will still pay a very comparable purse to the 200. A minimum of $2000 to win, with $200 to start and nearly the same payout through the field is set.
Added to the weekend will be a 100 lap Late Model race with same all green flag lap, four tire, and double file restart format. The purse will be the same as the Pro-Truck race. This race will be run under the same type rules as the United Promoters Series, more on that will be announced and up on website.
The minimum purse for each race is set, but we will be selling laps for $40 each this year. $20 of each lap sold will be added to the purse, not the leader but the purse. The other $20 per each goes to the families. We can raise $4,000 for the families before we open the gates by selling all 200 laps. This will also add $2,000 more to each of the races as well. More start money will be added and some more to other top and middle positions as well. There will also be award money and contingencies added as well.
The races will be as said, four tire limit races, all green flag laps and will feature double file “shoot out style” restarts. A free pass will be given to the first truck or car a lap down until lap 50, and then the lead lap cars get to battle it out for the win. Lap cars restart behind lead lap cars double file as well.
The minimum base purse for both races will be as follows: 1. 2000 2. 1000 3. 800 4. 750 5. 700 6. 650 7. 600 8. 550 9. 500 10. 400 11. 350 12. 325 13. 300 14. 275 15. 250 16-24. 200. There will be 24 starting spots in each event.
“I want to first say this change has nothing to do with the truck drivers doing anything wrong, I love the trucks and they have been great to have as the main attraction to our event. I am simply trying to improve and grow the event and its attendance. It also helps us with additional sponsor opportunities and improves what we can raise for the families we help. The purses are the same because with me changing the event, I wanted to make sure it was fair to the truckers so they will both run the same format and for the same purses, bonuses etc.” said Bristol.
“This obviously adds expense to the event so we are seeking some major sponsors, and feel we have some good possibilities. We currently have commitments from the following committed sponsors, Fountain Motorsports Driver Development, MJS Concrete, Biscayne Roofing and Coulter Motorsports, Brun’s Inc. General Contractors, Gary Yeomans Ford, Aaron’s, Subway, Orlando Dodge and Racecar Engineering. If you would like to help sponsor the event please call me at 407-497-0448”.
Also returning for this year’s event will be the South East Champ Kart Series for two 25 lap feature events, one each night. Also back with us will be the DAARA Antique racers, a 50 Lap Super-stock race and the Strictly-stocks for a 30 Lap event on Friday night. One other division may be added to the Friday night card and will be announced later.
Pro-Truck and Late Models will tech, practice and qualify on Friday. Last chance races will be run if needed as well. Top 20 from qualifying will be locked in, 4 from last chance races will be added to field.
On Saturday night the 10th you will see the 100 Lap Pro-Truck Feature, followed by the Champ Karts 25 lap feature. Then the 100 Lap Late Model race will finish out the program. Both 100 Lappers will have a 90 minute time limit on them, so we can get all of the great racing in a timely manner.
There are some things being worked on to try to boost the event even more, watch for special announcements over the coming months. If you can sponsor a lap, award or even a race or division please give Rick a call or e-mail him at rbmini68@aol.com.
You can go to www.carsevents.com for all the information and latest announcements as they are posted. The pre-entries for the Pro-trucks and Late Models will be the following: Pre-enter before November 1st for $75, before December 1st $100 after Dec.1st and at race $150. So get your entries in early. The forms will be up by July 1st. Duplicate numbers and pit parking order will be decided by order dates of pre-entries.
Don’t miss this year’s version of the C.A.R.S. Racing for a Cause Inc. Charity 200 Race Weekend. Ticket prices will be Friday Grandstands $7 seniors $5, children 11 and under FREE, $20 Pits. Saturday Night will be Grandstands $12 seniors $10, children 11 and under FREE, $25 Pits.
Legendary Driver Gene Bergin Passes
Buddies Leo Cleary, Bill Harmon and Gene Bergin
Gene Bergin passed away early this morning February 27th after suffering a major stroke in June. He had been hospitalized since June. Arrangements are unknown at this time.
Gene Bergin was one of the most versatile drivers in New England auto racing history, having driven Modifieds, Midgets, Sprint cars, Indy cars, and Grand National cars in his career.
Bergin first started racing in the early 50’s at the Riverside Park Speedway collecting many feature event wins and the 1962 Modified track championship.
He then in 1964 moved on to the Stafford Motor Speedway winning several features on the still dirt surface driving Sharkey Gaudiosi’s #44, and also holds the distinction of being one of only two drivers to win a feature event on both the dirt and asphalt surfaces at Stafford, ( The other being Ernie Gahan).
Gene also holds the honor of being the first Modified track champion on the asphalt surface at Stafford when he drove Beebe Zalinski’s M6 to the 1967 crown.
In yet another groundbreaking moment Bergin was the first driver to win a NASCAR event at Stafford in a Pinto bodied race car when he drove Bob Judkins # 2x to victory lane in 1971, thus ushering in the Pinto revolution.
Other car owners who Gene drove for were Bob Garbarino and his Mystic Missile #4 and Billy Simons and the Excavator Special #9.
He was successful in the NEMA Midgets with wins at Thompson in Aug. 1969 and Aug. 1973 at the old Lakeville Speedway in Massachusetts. Gene also attempted several USAC Champ Car races in 1968.
In 2008 Gene was also inducted into the Hartford Public High School Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments on both the Football and Baseball Teams.
Special thanks to SpeedwayLineReport.com