This week-end of action starts Friday with Late Model Qualifying; Dash For Cash for Mini Stocks, Late Models, and Amsoil V-8 Thunderstocks; and heat races for the Mini Stocks and Amsoil V-8 Thunderstocks. Saturday will be the lower mains for all divisions, the Mini Stocks and Amsoil V-8 Thunderstocks features and then the Powell Memorial.
The Mini Stocks have had a great season so far, but Ray Folwell has the 21X in 1st, 17 points ahead of Ray Rogers in the 22. Rogers may not have a win yet, but if he runs like he has the past few weeks then it’s only a matter of time before he tastes the spoils of victory. Ryan Babcock has put his #9 into 3rd place and has been improving dramatically from last season. Babcock will be a force for the checkers as well as 4th place Roberto Morfin, Jr. Morfin has run up front all season, but a couple of mechanical problems have knocked him out of races and 45 points shy of the points lead. In 5th is Buddy Pope, an even 50 markers down. With a long season in front of us there’s no telling who will take the coveted Mini Stock championship.
Amsoil V-8 Thunderstocks driver Jason Gamble has put the 27G into a major points lead of 54 points on the strength of 3 wins. Vaughn Woodall is 2nd in points and showing how much he wants a 2nd career win. However, the 2 out front will have to stave off the furious charges from Chris Watson and Jonathan Gillette, 3rd and 4th respectively, both drivers without a trip to victory circle in their Bubba Raceway Park careers. In 5th is Gordon Cade who is coming off of his best dirt career finish of 2nd last week. Cade would certainly love to show asphalt drivers strong with a win on the clay battleifeld of Bubba Raceway Park.
The Late Models have had 2 completely different ways of winning a race in 2011. Tyler Ivey made a last lap pass of Ivedent Lloyd, Jr. when Lloyd’s tire was unfortunately cut under caution. On the other hand, Darrell Padgett thouroughly dominated last week’s feature, but it didn’t come easy as he had to hold off drivers such as Mark Whitener and Shan Smith. Ivey holds a 14 point lead over Padgett, while 3rd place Dillon Wood and Bo Allen both have podium finishes and 15 points to make up on Ivey. “Catfish” Keith Nosbisch is 5th, 22 points behind leader Tyler Ivey.
Of course, the Powell Memorial is more then just a race, but an honor to James Powell’s family: his mother Elizabeth, father Buddy, 4 year old twin daughters, Ashley and Nicole whom the Bubba Raceway Park playground is dedicated to, his aunt Loveda McNair, and uncle CJ Powell who were all lost in a tragic plane accident in Gainesville on June 7th, 1995. James was an owner of Bubba Raceway Park in the Ocala Speedway days from 1981 to 1994, the year before the asphalt decade and some. James Powell is a winner of the Powell Memorial back in 2003 and a 5-time runner-up. You may even spot James Powell in the stands this week-end of the 16th annual Powell Memorial. Over the years many drivers have collected wins in the most prestigious race, according to some, in Florida, including: inaugural winner Jeff Purvis, Johnny Collins (the first to win on dirt), NASCAR star David Reutimann, multiple time winner Wayne Anderson, James Powell himself, Ivedent Lloyd, Jr., Mike Franklin, Jr., and defending champion Phillip Cobb. Every driver would love to put their name on the Powell Memorial win list as once you win the Powell Memorial, you are a champion. A Powell Memorial champion.
Gates open at 4:30 on BOTH nights of action with racing at 8:00 on Friday and racing at 7:00 on Saturday. General admission ticket prices are as usual on Friday, but special event prices are in store for Saturday’s Powell Memorial feature. For more information you may check out www.bubbaracewaypark.com or call the Speedway hotline.