by BJ Cavin
A new twist will debut at Ocala Speedway this Friday night as the first Pepsi Wheel of Fortune Night has arrived on the 2010 schedule. The Pepsi Wheel of Fortune will mean extra cash going to both racers and fans, and a lucky fan’s spin will determine who gets the bonus. Money determined by the spin of the wheel will be distributed to the payout due to a lucky racing division, and/or to the nightly 50/50 pot. Fans and racers will be given complete details at the track on Friday.
After nature interrupted everyone’s plans back on March 12th, Ocala Speedway will again attempt to debut their newest regular racing division this Friday, March 26th. After a couple of years of waiting, the Sportsman racers are finally a part of Ocala’s regular schedule, paired on alternating Friday nights with the Open Wheel Modified Division for two race weekends a month. Fans should expect a strong showing of Sportsman cars as the drivers have begged Ocala Speedway owner Mike Peters for this opportunity ever since the track returned to dirt racing.
The Open Wheel Modified cars will be racing for the first time in 2010 in what will be their only non points outing before the race to the championship begins in April, and the Ocala Gladiators will also be getting a first shot at race conditions. That makes three divisions that have no track time outside of open practice sessions thanks to weather, while others have at least one actual race in the books and some have two races.
A division returning to action on the 26th will be the Hobby Stocks, coming off of a hard fought $1000 to win race last Friday that went to East Palatka’s Jody Wells. After spending most of last season racing at Putnam County Speedway, Wells has proudly served notice that he has the skills to compete with, and even beat, the racers from the other Florida dirt tracks. There is no doubt that the Ocala regulars took note and will be looking for the black number 11 car this Friday night.
And after running on Ocala’s opening night back on March 5th, the Amsoil V8 Thunder Stocks will return for their second outing of the season. Michael Stalnaker, who raced on asphalt at Bronson Motor Speedway in 2009, returned to Victory Lane on clay at Ocala, followed by Ocala veteran Harold Erickson, and another former Putnam County Speedway racer, Jerrid Bennett.
The pit gate will swing open at 2PM on Friday afternoon, and spectators will be admitted to the grandstand area at 5PM. As usual, heat racing is scheduled to begin at 8PM with B mains and features to follow. For admission prices and a look at the complete schedule for racing at Ocala Speedway, please visit www.OcalaSpeedway.com, or phone the track at 352-622-9400.