The April Assault Begins At Bubba Raceway Park

Orlando SpeedWorld returns to racing action this Friday night, April 5 for its 39th year of operation. The three-eighths-mile track located in Bithlo, FL between Orlando and the Cocoa/Titusville area on Florida’s East Coast began operation in April of 1974. SpeedWorld is now sanctioned for the first time since the mid-1970s by NASCAR as part of the Wheelen All American Series.
The facility is now being operated by Ozzy and Maria Moya who have been running the Lakeland Dragstrip for several years. This is their first venture into oval-track promotion and they recently also took over operation of the Orlando SpeedWorld Dragway as well. The drag strip located next door to the oval track has been in operation since late-1963.Wes Railing recently took over the chores of General Manager at the oval track and he has been aggressively working to get the facility in shape for the season opener.
Recently, Railing has been operating the Bithlo Mud Bog track located to the east of the SpeedWorld complex. Overall, SpeedWorld’s oval track has seen quite a few improvements made over recent weeks including new paint just about everywhere, a re-vamping and cleaning of the concession area, new fencing and much more. One area that needed attention was the entrance/exit from the track that now has a brand-new concrete surface.
In order to speed up the program, victory lane has been moved to the pit area where winning drivers will receive their trophies and have their pictures taken.
Photo Courtesy: Rick Warren
Putnam County Speedway hosted the First Annual Late Model Challenge Saturday Night before an outstanding crowd of spectators with 22 cars taking the green flag. Ivedent Lloyd jumped to the top spot for several laps but could not hold off Mark Whitener from taking the point. Whitener led the remaining laps of the 50 lap feature for the win and top money. Jason Fitzgerald and Brandon Dewitt battled for the third spot. Dewitt had to pit on lap 22 with mechanical failure and Fitzgerald went to the stripe for third behind Lloyd who took second. J. O. Nobles, Kyle Bronson, Christian Auspburger, Carter Stokes, Travis Rhoden, Jason Burke and Ken Monahan rounded out the top 10. Auspburger was fast qualifier with an 18.202.
The 3 heat winners were Brandon Dewitt, Mark Whitener and Jason Fitzgerald.
Paul Shead went flag to flag to win the 20 lap Sportsman feature. Shead was the pole sittier with Mitchell Wise Sr. outside pole. At the green Shead took the top spot and never looked back. Mike Haney challenged Shead for the position but lost it on lap 3 to Steve Shead. Haney dropped out of the race on lap 11. Steve went on to finish second followed by Ryan Davis, Kevin Mills and Wise. Rounding out the top 10 were Lisa O’Connor, Davy Cline, Cecil Long, John Westbrooke and Derek Hullett Sr. (more…)
March 30, 2013 – Tampa, FL – It was Easter weekend here at East Bay Raceway Park with lots of candy to be given away to kids 12 & under. Before the features were ran, a very special 2 seater ride-a-long was to be given. Ethan Deaton of Zephryhills who has Cerebral Palsy and has always wanted to get in a race car, well tonight his dream came true. Dave Schmauss was the one he wanted a ride with. Dave said it would be an honor to give this young man the ride of his life. After the five laps were complete, Dave did several 360’s and then proceeded to go around the go-kart track and spin to a complete stop. Fans cheered as Dave and Ethan would wind up in Victory Lane. Ethan said he wanted to do it again with a grin on his face from ear to ear. Everyone cheered as the two went off the track. Ethan’s mom Maria got a ride from Dave as well after the races were over and gave a thumbs up to her son as they drove back into the pits.
Jim Rouse, BRP Media, Ocala, FL- Night of a Thousands was upon Bubba Raceway Park for the first time in 2013 with the Bubba Army Late Models, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, Rent-N-Roll Gladiators, and the Florida Mini Sprints. Fans were treated to some intense racing because some drivers will do anything for $1000.
The Florida Mini Sprints opened the night up with Rhea Lynne Moss on point. Moss led through a few 1-car cautions before being overtaken on lap 9 by John Kahl. Kahl led just 1 lap as Nick Snyder jumped to the point. Moss’s night ended in the pits as did Kahl’s after both ran strong early on. Snyder held on through 2 restarts and led the final 10 circuits to pick up his 1st win at Bubba Raceway Park. Eddie Moss, Jr. finished 2nd, Gavin Thomas was 3rd, David Hall drove to 4th, and “Hollywood” Scott Kreuger rounded out the top 5. (more…)
EAST MANATEE — DeSoto Speedway, renamed Full Throttle Speedway by new owners Mike Chase and Kevin Williams, is getting a top-to-bottom renovation and freshening up in anticipation of a May 4 reopening.
Chase and Williams closed on the $1.2 million purchase of the three-eighths mile oval race track at 21000 State Road 64 East in February, and got to work making the 63-acre property attractive to families. (more…)
Pro Figure 8’s
1#89 Preston Davis
2#86 Justin Meyer
3#14 Wayne Calkins
4-#49 Cliff Rousseau 5#4 Wayne Whitehead 6#46 Jerrell Cook 7-#28 Scott Gullett
Street Stocks
1#1 Bart Weatherford 2#129 Joe Dowdy 3#5 Matt McCrary 4#52 Mike Rowland 5#5G George Gorham 6#10 Kenny May 7#14 Wayne Calkins DQ#$ Marilyn McCrary
Jim Rouse, BRP Media – Ocala, FL- The first Night of a Thousands of 2013 at Bubba Raceway Park will highlight 4 divisions of tough racing and will include an Easter Egg Hunt on the frontstretch. After the hunt it’ll be time for the Bubba Army Late Models, 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks, Rent-N-Roll Gladiators, and Florida Mini Sprints Association to hunt for Coors Light Winner’s Circle and a place in the history books.
The Bubba Army Late Models kicked the 2013 season off with a 50-lap thriller in conjunction with the UDLMCS and it was Kyle Bronson who found himself the winner. Bronson is, of course, the points leader, however, “Catfish” Keith Nosbisch is just 2 points behind him. Nosbisch won 2 races last season but they both came on Friday nights and he’ll hope to break the Saturday-night curse this week. Rich Pratt quietly finished 3rd and feels like a new driver as he enters the season. Pratt has returned to his old days and is back in the red and yellow paint scheme that he always loved. Kenny Monohan has been quick this season with 2 top-5’s at the 3/8 mile after a podium finish in his Crate Late Model. Monohan will hope to make that the rule and hold 5th-place Brandon DeWitt off both on the track and on the points board. (more…)
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown Points
1 10 84 Ronnie Sorensen St Petersburg, Fl 24.00
2 4 85 Amy Gamache – 23.00
3 12 110 Michael Meadows St. Petersburg, Fl 22.00
4 15 8 Rick Germony Clearwater , Fl 21.00
5 3 87 Wesley Rounds Seminole , Fl 20.00
6 20 1M Brad Fiske – 19.00