BARBERVILLE, FL- Saturday, September 11th will be a very special night at Volusia Speedway Park, as racers, fans, and speedway staff, will pause to remember those that we lost on that date in 2001 during the World Trade Center attack. And while we gather to remember, we will also celebrate our freedom with the truly American sport of stock car racing, featuring competition from the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Late Models, the Taylor Racing Products Sportsman Division, and a $500 to win feature race for the Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants Thunder Stocks. The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association (DAARA) will also be on hand to display and race their vintage race cars.
Last Saturday night the fans saw a competitive field of top Late Models scramble after a $2500 check, as John Kellum caught and passed Mark Whitener on the final lap to seal a spectacular victory. This Saturday it is back to regular points racing for the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Late Models, but don’t think for one minute that means there is less at stake. While Joe Kump remains on top of the points standings, his foothold on the top spot is eroding fast. Donnie Chappell has made steady improvements throughout the season, grabbing a hard fought victory recently and finishing 8th in last week’s competition. Kump was not so lucky last time out, coming home in the 12th spot and thus allowing Chappell to gain more ground. A mere 25 points separates the two, and with the hot shots who were after the extra cash absent it will be a head to head rumble for every point Chappell and Kump can muster.
The last two times out for the Taylor Racing Products Sportsman Division the fans have seen Victory Lane celebrations, but the official results have been in doubt for at least 48 hours after the racing ended. Aaron Barsness has a solid hold on the top spot in the points race, but Shaun Daugharty has been clawing his way toward Barsness’ perch despite the task looking all but impossible. But Stanton Mills has stood in Daugharty’s way for two weeks running, and each time Daugharty has challenged Mills’ wins in tech. The net result of that has been a draw, as Daugharty gained a win and Mills was disqualified the first time around, and this time Mills’ victory stood while Daugharty ended up losing his points and winnings for the night. Obviously both racers are not on each other’s Christmas mailing lists this year, and both will be taking the green flag again this Saturday night. The tech man may want to stock up on energy drinks in preparation for whatever outcome may come on the track, and possibly later as well.
Five hundred dollars will be waiting for the winner of this week’s Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants Thunder Stock feature, and Mike Tovet will most likely be shooting for a repeat of last weekend’s outcome. Tovet and Matt Schell benefited from Chad Scranton’s flat tire on the final lap, as they finished first and second respectively and left Scranton to limp to the checkers in third place. Scranton has been the man to beat recently, and before last Saturday only one other racer had managed to do it.
And history buffs will get yet another shot at seeing the DAARA cars hit the clay at Volusia Speedway Park this Saturday, as vintage race car owners will come from all over the region to race at the south’s fastest half mile. DAARA’s last appearance at VSP proved a little too racy for some, as they wound up damaging their machines against Volusia Speedway’s unforgiving barrier walls. But those accidents go to show that the DAARA cars are not out there turning laps to show off and that the car owners are really racing, and that these old machines still have a lot of speed and competitive fire left in them.
As we remember and reflect on September 11th, Volusia Speedway Park will salute all of our military and emergency responders with free admission this Saturday night with proper I.D. The grandstand gates will open at 5:30PM with heat races scheduled to begin at 7:30. For more information on scheduled events at the south’s fastest half mile, including the latest schedule revisions and directions to the track, please visit www.VolusiaSpeedwayPark.net.