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.
Ocala Speedway owner Michael Peters has always tried to schedule at least two practice sessions at the track during the month before the season opener, but so far in 2010 Mike is one for four against Mother Nature. One practice was held without a hitch as many racers saw ample track time, but two other attempts have resulted in chilly rain outs, meaning that anyone who could not make it to the one session that was held was simply out of luck.
With the season opener this Friday night, Peters is still concerned that some racers never got a chance to test and tune while others did, so he has added another open practice session this Saturday as a last chance to get some practice laps in. The pit gate will open at noon and the practice will feature track sessions by division from 1PM until 4PM. Admission will be $15 per person with kids 12 and under admitted free of charge. And yes, the weather forecast is favorable.
Fans are reminded that the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series will open the 2010 racing season on Friday night before the Saturday practice, with the top names in dirt late model racing in attendance. Ocala Speedway's Amsoil V8 Thunder Stocks and Mini Stocks will also be in competition on Friday night. Gates open at 5PM with qualifying to follow, and heat racing is set to begin at 8PM.
For a complete schedule of events at Ocala Speedway, plus a complete listing of admission prices, please visit www.OcalaSpeedway.com, or call the track at 352-622-9400 for additional information.
VMC Racing Frames National Dirt Track Series
Written by Speedway Webmaster
Monday, 01 March 2010
2010 AHRMA VMC Racing Frames
National Dirt Track Series
Flat Track Vintage Motorcycle Racing March 1st, 2010 at Ocala Speedway
Gates Open 2:00pm
Sign up 3:00pm
Practice 5:00pm
First race 7:00pm
Top Late Models Highlight Ocala's Opening Night
Written by BJ Cavin
Saturday, 27 February 2010
As many racers and fans are discovering, many things have changed since 2009, and opening night at Florida's oldest speedway will introduce many such changes for 2010. And when the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series hits the clay at Ocala Speedway this Friday night, March 5th, fans will discover that change is a very good thing, as the name of the series that traditionally opens the season at Ocala will be mostly the same, and yet the series will be different in many other ways.
The first thing that fans will notice is the addition of Sunoco to the name of the top late model series in the region. Series director Ken Kinney says the addition of a new title sponsor opens a new beginning for the Sonoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series, and creates options for new ideas that will make the series even stronger and more exciting to follow. Manufactured home builder Jacobsen Homes of Safety Harbor has also come on board as a major sponsor for 2010.
Another big change that should be evident on Friday night will be a higher car count in the pits, plus new names coming on board for 2010 to race with the UDLMCS. This was done by breaking the series into two distinct regions, which give racers the option of not having to travel huge distances in order to maintain their position in the points race. Saving time and money means racers who in past seasons did not opt to tour with the series have now come on board, and that means fresh faces and added excitement along with a higher car count. And being centrally located, plus being the first race in the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series season, will bring the best of the best to Ocala Speedway for opening night.
Johnny Collins will certainly be back as he attempts a record "three-peat" as champion of the Sunoco United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series, but others who did not race full time with the series will be there to make it a tougher road to the top. Mark Whitener, Shane Williams, and others have announced plans to tour full time in 2010, and even some former National Late Model Series regulars have come on board, such as Bo Allen and Chuck Chitty. And while usual suspects grapple with some newcomers for the top honors, younger phenoms like Christian Augsperger and Ryan Mitchell will be battling for Rookie of the Year honors.
