by Cindy Cavin

ZUBER, FL- As most residents of north central Florida know, the entire area was inundated with heavy rains yesterday, resulting in flooding in some areas. Ocala Speedway has also endured the precipitation, and the clay is beyond saturation point after more rain fell overnight and continues this morning.

Due to the extremely wet conditions, and due to the forecasts calling for more rain, Ocala Speedway owner Michael Peters has decided to rain out races scheduled for Friday, March 12.

Racing will return to Ocala Speedway on March 19 as the World of Outlaw Late Models make their debut in a $10,000 to win, 50 lap race. Also on tap is the $1000 to win Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks.

Camargo, IL (1-29-10) – By Kelly Brown –Public Relations Director- It was the opening event for the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions Winter Nationals, so there was a bit of chill in the air but not enough to cool down the young guns and veteran drivers. On a night that looked as if the youth would out run experience, there was a cruel twist which sent a seasoned veteran to Victory Lane. The benefactor was Danny Lasoski who did not lead the most laps in the event, but he led the most important one that solidified his twenty-first O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions victory in Winter Nationals History.

On the front row of tonight’s feature event were young guns Brad Sweet and Cale Conley. When the Green Flag initially few it was not for long as Donny Schatz and Sam Hafertepe Jr. would make contact which would end the evening for the 15h and the15 would lose its front wing, but continue on at the back of the pack.

When the Green Flag waved in the crisp night air Conley would grab the lead and set sail with Sweet in his tire tracks. The two would run nose-to-tail until the first Yellow Flag flew over the event on Lap 8. It was for David Gravel who looped his 89g around and ended up in the infield.

After the short caution period, Conley and Sweet picked up where they left off. The duo was close and Sweet was working on Conley, he came close to executing the pass, but there would be another caution period to cool the action on the track. Gravel got low between Turn 1 and Turn 2, and then spun at the base of the track. Once the Green Banner flew, Conley and Sweet resumed their heated battle as seasoned veterans worked their way through traffic and began to catch the dueling duo.

With one lap to go the third through fifth consisted of Dale Blaney, Tim Shaffer, and Lasoski, all veterans in their own right with the two youngsters of Sweet and Conley in front of them. It looked as if the exuberance of youth would win out, but this is when everything took a turn. Going into turn three on the final lap Sweet made his move going high to get around Conley for the victory. Both tried to battle in the high groove and touched which sent both of their 410 racing machines tumbling and brought out the Red Flag.

The incident set up a Green-White-Checker finish for the veterans of the series to decide amongst them who would win. Lasoski inherited the lead and when the Green Flag flew, he defended his position. Once in the lead Lasoski did not look back to collect his first win at Ocala Speedway. Rounding out the top-five would be Shaffer, Blaney, Freddie Rahmer and Tim Kaeding.

The hard charger of the night was Doug Esh who picked up eleven spots on a track that was very hard to pass on. Also after starting at the tail of the field after losing his nose wing, Donny Schatz was able to battle back to finish in the top-ten.

For up to date information as the O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions take on six more nights of racing during the 2010 edition of Winter Nationals visit www.allstarsprint.com.

Kistler Engines Qualifying
Car-Driver
1. 24 Terry McCarl 12.813
2. 15 Donny Schatz 12.863
3. 83jr Tim Kaeding 12.900
4. 13 Paul McMahan 12.904
5. 14 Jason Myers 12.925
6. 30c Lance Dewease 12.961
7. 2 Dale Blaney 12.970
8. 22 Greg Hodnett 12.989
9. 3c Cale Conley 13.006
10. 49 Brad Sweet 13.081
11. 6f Bob Felmlee 13.089
12. 6 Danny Lasoski 13.108
13. 83 Tim Shaffer 13.145
14. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. 13.153
15. 51 Freddie Rahmer 13.170
16. r19 Jac Haudenschild 13.173
17. 7m Mark Smith 13.174
18. 89g David Gravel 13.189
19. 91 Cody Darrah 13.247
20. 1 Stevie Smith 13.252
21. 17 Daryn Pittman 13.268
22. 63 Chad Kemenah 13.329
23. 04 Cap Henry 13.371
24. w20 Greg Wilson 13.379
25. 97 Dean Jacobs 13.396
26. 39 Doug Esh 13.478
27. 22e Brian Ellenberger 13.553
28. 6r Bill Rose 13.723
29. 0 Brandon Wimmer 13.842
30. 12 Jared Ridge 13.855

Heat Finishes (Started)

MSD Ignition Heat 1 –8 Laps
1. 17 Daryn Pittman (1)
2. 7m Mark Smith (2)
3. 83 Tim Shaffer (3)
4. 24 Terry McCarl (6)
5. 3c Cale Conley (4)
6. 14 Jason Myers (5)
7. 97 Dean Jacobs (7)
8. 0 Brandon Wimmer (8)

Kears Speed Shop Heat 2 – 8 Laps
1. 63 Chad Kemenah (1)
2. 89g David Gravel (2)
3. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. (3)
4. 39 Doug Esh (7)
5. 49 Brad Sweet (4)
6. 30c Lance Dewease (5)
7. 15 Donny Schatz (6)
8. 12 Jared Ridge (8)

All Pro Heads Heat 3 – 8 Laps
1. 91 Cody Darrah (2)
2. 6f Bob Felmlee (4)
3. 04 Cap Henry (1)
4. 51 Freddie Rahmer (3)
5. 2 Dale Blaney (5)
6. 83jr Tim Kaeding (6)
7. 22e Brian Ellenberger (7)

Outerwears Performance Products Heat 4 – 8 Laps
1. w20 Greg Wilson (1)
2. 1 Stevie Smith (2)
3. r19 Jac Haudenschild (3)
4. 6 Danny Lasoski (4)
5. 22 Greg Hodnett (5)
6. 13 Paul McMahan (6)
7. 6r Bill Rose (7)

University of Northwestern Ohio B Main – 12 Laps
1. 15 Donny Schatz (1)
2. 83jr Tim Kaeding (2)
3. 13 Paul McMahan (3)
4. 14 Jason Myers (4)
5. 30c Lance Dewease (5)
6. 22e Brian Ellenberger (7)
7. 0 Brandon Wimmer (9)
8. 97 Dean Jacobs (6)
9. 12 Jared Ridge (10)
10. Bill Rose (8)

O’Reilly Auto Parts A Main – 25 Laps
1. 6 Danny Lasoski (7)
2. 83 Tim Shaffer (8)
3. 2 Dale Blaney (4)
4. 51 Freddie Rahmer (10)
5. 83jr Tim Kaeding (12)
6. 6f Bob Felmlee (3)
7. r19 Jac Haudenschild (15)
8. 24 Terry McCarl (6)
9. 15 Donny Schatz (11)
10. 1 Stevie Smith (19)
11. 14 Jason Meyers (14)
12. 63 Chad Kemenah (21)
13. 39 Doug Esh (24)
14. w20 Greg Wilson (23)
15. 91 Cody Darrah (18)
16. 7m Mark Smith (16)
17. 17 Daryn Pittman (20)
18. 22 Greg Hodnett (5)
19. 04 Cap Henry (22)
20. 3c Cale Conley (2)
21. 49 Brad Sweet (1)
22. 13 Paul McMahan (13)
23. 89g David Gravel (17)
24. 15h Sam Hafertepe Jr. (9)

by BJ Cavin

The O’Reilly All Star Circuit of Champions and the Florida Mini Sprint Association were set to provide another exciting night of racing at Ocala Speedway, but nature has proven to have the final say in the matter.  Officials from the O’Reilly All Stars and from Ocala Speedway have determined that the steady rain since 8 AM this morning has soaked the clay beyond the point where racing could be held tonight, and therefore have canceled the Saturday races.  No make up of the events are planned.

Many fans and some racers had expressed a desire to postpone racing until Sunday afternoon, and officials had discussed that option.  However, with the rain that has already fallen and radar indicating the much more is on the way, it was determined that the clay could not be worked into suitable shape for competitive racing in time for that option to be used and therefore was abandoned.

Fans will have a chance to see the O’Reilly All Stars at Ocala Speedway next season for the Winternationals, and the Florida Mini Sprints will appear at Ocala during the regular racing season.