by VSP Media

BARBERVILLE, FL- After a weekend off to celebrate our nation’s independence it is time to get back to racing this Saturday, July 10th, at Volusia Speedway Park with the Challenger Challenge, featuring VSP’s always competitive 4 Cylinder Challenger Division.  It will also be “P” Night at VSP, which means any fans who can present ID showing that they are from a town or city beginning with the letter, “P”, will be admitted to the grandstands free of charge.  Four other exciting divisions will compete, plus fans will be able to enjoy action from the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association (DAARA) as their vast collection of vintage race cars turn some laps on the south’s fastest half mile.

The Challenger Division normally races for trophies only, but the Challenger Challenge cranks up their competitive urges by dangling a $500 cash carrot in front of the pack.  Casey Feaster has managed to boot Shawn Kosier out of the top spot in the point standings, but if he wants to collect the winner’s check this week he will have to deal with Tony Laporta, who has returned to competition and has been practically unbeatable.  Then again, Laporta took one on the chin in the last race on June 12th, when James Sullivan proved that he could beat everyone to the checkered flags.  Fans can expect to see these racers, plus a lot more, challenge the track and each other for the money this Saturday night.

The last outing for the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Late Models was the Scott Thompson Memorial, so it will be back to the business of points racing this Saturday with Lake Helen’s Joe Kump still leading the pack.  David Clegg is still hanging around in the second spot just 16 points shy of unseating Kump, but his race car woes continue after an accident made quite a mess out of his primary car.  But the man to watch may well be Donnie Chappell, who has been steadily chipping away at the points leaders week after week, and currently sits at 65 points out of first place.  Should Kump or Clegg falter, he is in prime position to gain a lot of ground.

The Budweiser Modifieds have had a rather lengthy vacation since Wayne Hammond grabbed a win back on June 12th, but despite Hammond’s victory it is Jamie Carter who still sits on top of the season points heap.  Carter may not be winning all of the races, but strong and consistent finishes have allowed him to take charge and hold off Jeff Mathews, who currently needs 85 points in order to unseat Carter at the top.  Mathews is not one to follow anyone, and it is a sure bet that he will show up on Saturday night with renewed intensity as he chases the points lead.

The last two Daytona Sportswear Street Stock races have seen Philip Brown, Mike Tovet, and Tim Hughes, holding off Bubba Christian and a host of others in order to finish in the top three.  And with that in mind it is no wonder that Philip Brown has a scant 11 point advantage over Tim Hughes at this point in the points race, while Mike Tovet chases them from the third spot.  Tim Hughes earned a win back on June 12th while Philip Brown was third, and they reversed roles on June 26th as Brown took the win and Hughes settled for third.  And between Brown and Hughes it was Mike Tovet claiming second place in both of those outings.  While he might not be a factor in the points race, the man most likely to spoil the top three party this Saturday could be Bubba Christian, and it is a sure bet that Brown, Hughes, and Tovet, will be ready for him.
Scott Mooers has become supreme ruler over the Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants Thunder Stocks this season, but his last outing found him making an early exit on a hook and dragging home a badly battered race car after a spin in front of Mooers caused his old nemisis, Randy Strehle, to pile on and send Mooers into the wall.  And while that may be bad enough, the winner on June 26th was Chad Scranton, Mooers’ newest and toughest nemisis on the track, despite a flat tire and finish line tangle between Robert Donaly and Tom Hughes.  The racers have had a couple of weeks to repair the damage and get ready for this weekend’s action, and fans can rest assured that there may be some scores to settle this Saturday night.
Volusia Speedway Park will open the pit gate at 4PM this Saturday, and the grandstands will open at 5:30PM.  Fans who hail from towns and cities begining with the letter “P” are reminded that they must show proper ID in order to receive their free grandstand admission.  For more information about upcoming events, please visit www.VolusiaSpeedwayPark.net.