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More Firsts In Ocala's Second Week of Action
Written by BJ Cavin
Monday, 08 March 2010
The
second week of regular season racing action at Florida's oldest speedway will
bring another round of firsts to Ocala area race fans, including a new regular
division making their debut at Ocala Speedway. Meanwhile three other regular
divisions will get their first crack at Ocala's tough layout in 2010 on Friday,
March 12th.
While the Sportsman Division has made previous appearances at Ocala for
special races, 2010 marks the first time that Sportsman cars will be a regular
part of the Ocala schedule. This change is the direct result of constant urging
by many sportsman racers who have asked for the chance to race at Ocala on a
regular basis, and Friday night is the first race since that change was
enacted.
The Sportsman cars will race on the same nights as the Open Wheel
Modifieds, which are also racing for the first time in 2010 on Friday at Ocala.
2009 Division Champion, Jeff Mathews, will be back to defend his title, and the
racers who made the OWM's one of the stronger divisions in 2009 will be there to
challenge him. Add to their ranks a new set of new faces and the Mods look to
be exciting and competitive in 2010.
The Ocala Speedway Hobby Stocks will
also hit the clay on Friday night, not only to kick off their season, but to get
some seat time before their $1000 to win race coming the following Friday
night. Bubba Christian claimed the championship in 2009, but others have their
sights on the prize in 2010. Look for some new faces as some racers have moved
up to the Hobby Stocks for 2010, while others have refocused their efforts at
getting to the top of the points standings.
And the Ocala Speedway
Gladiators will also get to race for the first time in 2010, as the likes of
Devin Walker and Kody Fisher dump their "rookie" status in favor of racing
toward the top of the heap. Paul Hahn grabbed the prize for 2009 with
consistency and determination, and will have to defend that crown from a host of
hungry challengers.
Back for the second race in 2010 will be the most
exciting and competitive division at Ocala, the Amsoil V8 Thunder
Stocks.
The grandstand gates will open at 5PM with heat racing slated to
begin at 8PM, and complete details on prices for admission are posted at www.OcalaSpeedway.com, as well as the
complete racing schedule through the first week in May.
Surprises Abound At Ocala Speedway Opener
Written by BJ Cavin
Saturday, 06 March 2010
Race fans and racers braved a frosty Florida night as they gathered to
reopen the historic Ocala Speedway for another exciting season of
racing, and Florida's oldest speedway did not disappoint. The Sunoco
United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series was also kicking off their
season as a part of the festivities at Ocala, as were Ocala's own
Amsoil V8 Thunder Stocks, and the Mini Stocks. The fans and racers
also collected over $260 to pass along to the founder and operator of
Karnac.com and Real Racin' USA, Jack Smith. Smith has recently been
undergoing extensive surgery and was diagnosed with cancer.
Much of the attention on the night went to the Sunoco United Dirt Late
Models as the new and improved version of the racing series debuted.
The Ocala race officially was part of the new Southern division of the
UDLMCS, but racers from the north also participated. Also garnering
plenty of attention was the newly formed team included Ocala's own
Ivedent Lloyd and Darrell Padgett. That attention to this Roush-Yates
powered team would last well into the early morning hours after Ivedent
Lloyd wasted no time in setting the bar high, as he set fast time in
qualifying with a blistering 16.275 on his second solo lap.
Four heat races and a B-main set the field for the feature event, with
Keith Nosbisch on the point for the 50 lapper. The B-Main was a last
chance for two final cars to transfer to the big race, and Dillon Wood
made the cut despite earlier problems that kept him out of contention
during heat racing.
As the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series got their feature
event underway, Keith Nosbisch headed to the point and took control,
while all others gave chase. Trouble came on lap 6 as Jeff Mathews and
Philip Cobb tangled, creating the first caution of the race. That
incident was only the beginning of what proved to be a very frustrating
night for Mathews, who found himself mired in heavy traffic. It also
sent the 26 of Dillon Wood to the pits for a quick fix and put him on
the rear of the field for the restart.
Also dealing with traffic was 2 time and defending series champion,
Johnny Collins. Collins would start the race behind the front rows,
and was picking his way forward when Mathews' rough night got a little
rougher in turn 4. Jeff Mathews' spin would cause the caution to wave
again, bunching up the field behind Keith Nosbisch once more, and when
the green waved Nosbisch was being chased by Brandon Dewitt, Bo Allen,
Tyler Ivey, and Mark Whitener.
