by VSP Media

BARBERVILLE,FL-  With Father’s Day fast approaching the racers and staff at Volusia Speedway Park want to honor all of the fathers with “This One’s For You, Dad” at the races this Saturday night.  All of the dads will be eligible for special contests and prizes, and will be thrilled with high powered action from the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Late Models, the Budweiser Modifieds, the Taylor Racing Products Sportsman Division, The Daytona Sportswear Street Stocks, and the 4 Cylinder Challengers.

The Scott Thompson Memorial will be a mere week away when the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Late Models take to the south’s fastest half mile this Saturday night, and many racers will be looking for those last laps of seat time in preparation for the event.  And chances are that the competitors will be looking for a way to catch Mark Whitener, who blistered the field this past Saturday.

But aside from preparing for the Thompson Memorial, late model racers will be chasing a new top dog in the point standings this week as Joe Kump moved past David Clegg to occupy the top spot.  Clegg raced in a backup car due to damages suffered to the primary ride at Ocala Speedway and the Powell Memorial, and that back up let Clegg down on double points night.  Kump’s fourth place finish on Saturday gave him a 16 point edge over Clegg going into this week’s race.

Jamie Carter managed to widen his lead over Jeff Mathews in the Budweiser Modified points standings this past Saturday night with a solid second place finish.  Mathews is now 85 points shy of Carter while Kent Corbin is 177 points out of first.  Jamie Carter might be looking a little more secure at the top, but Jeff Mathews still has his sights set on surpassing him.  Wayne Hammond may be well down the points ladder from the top three, but he was on top of everyone this past Saturday as he scored a solid victory. 

Murphy’s Law states that if something can go wrong, it will, and at the worst possible moment.  Aaron Barsness became the latest expert on Murphy’s Law on Saturday night, as his tangle with the front stretch wall and Danny Vogel on double points night was enough to allow Shaun Daugharty to replace Barsness as the Taylor Racing Products Sportsman Division points leader.  But while Daugharty may be at the top, he is barely there with a mere one point advantage over Barsness, and Daugharty has been having to work for top five finishes as of late.  Depending on what happens this Saturday, we could easily see the lead role switch again because Mr. Murphy might not be finished with the Sportsman racers yet.

Tim Hughes asserted himself on Saturday night to snatch a Daytona Sportswear Street Stock victory away from a competitive field this past weekend, and that drew him to within one point of points leader Phillip Brown.  And with Brown in easy reach, Hughes has a 161 point pad between himself and Mike Tovet, who is in the third spot.  Hughes, Tovet, and Brown, comprised the top three in this past Saturday’s outing, so it is up to guys like Bubba Christian and Marc Maresca top do something about it.  This Saturday’s race should be yet another hotly contested affair, and with Hughes and Brown neck and neck it is anyone’s guess as to who will be on top next week.

A flat tire due to contact with another car is the latest misfortune to bite Shawn Kosier, and that was enough for Casey Feaster to get a taste of the top of the Challenger points heap.  Kosier needs five points to get his old spot back, and a little bit of good luck instead of bad.  Meanwhile RJ Glaser is still in the hunt at 101 points out of first place, and Tony Laporta is climbing the standings after finishing second to James Sullivan this past Saturday night.  Laporta has now closed to within 30 points of Glaser.

The grandstand gates will open at 5:30PM this Saturday night with action getting underway at 7:30.  For more information, please visit www.VolusiaSpeedwayPark.net.