Ivedent Lloyd Jr. Ready To Challenge World of Outlaws
Written by World Racing Group
Wednesday, 17 March 2010
Hometown Star Ivedent Lloyd Jr. Ready To Challenge World of Outlaws Late Model Series Stars On March 19 At Ocala Speedway
OCALA, FL – March 16, 2010 – Ivedent Lloyd Jr. has waited a long time for the country's best dirt Late Model drivers to visit his playground.
So, with the World of Outlaws Late Model Series set to make its first-ever stop at Lloyd's hometown Ocala Speedway this Friday night (March 19), the veteran Sunshine State racer is ready for action.
"I'm excited all the Outlaws are coming to town," said Lloyd, a native and life-long resident of Ocala, Fla., who lives just miles from the three-eighths-mile oval. "I think it's gonna be a great event for the racetrack and dirt Late Model racing in the state of Florida. I want people to see a great show and then phone my shop a couple days later to talk about it.
"Hopefully they'll be calling to congratulate me on winning it, but if not I at least want them to tell me they saw a great race and want the Outlaws to come back again next year."
A dirt-track racer for more than a quarter-century, Lloyd, 43, ranks as one of Florida's top dirt Late Model drivers. His resume includes two Ocala Speedway championships (1992-1993), two O'Reilly Southern All-Stars Series titles (2007-2008), five National Late Model Series crowns and over 130 career feature wins, but he's never come close to victory in limited appearances on the nationally-renowned WoO LMS.
Lloyd would love to change that on Friday night when the nation's premier tour contests a 50-lap, $10,000-to-win event at Ocala Speedway, a unique track that will join Volusia Speedway Park outside Daytona Beach as only the second facility in Florida to host a WoO LMS show. He's hoping his vast knowledge of the quirky layout benefits him against the invading Outlaws regulars, most of whom have never raced at Ocala. The track, after all, is new to the dirt scene; it operated with a dirt surface from 1952-1995, then spent more than a decade as a paved track before having clay put back down prior to the 2008 season.
Ocala Speedway owner Michael Peters has always strived to make his race track the best in Florida, and part of that mission has been to provide the best show possible to Florida race fans. And when it comes to dirt track racing, the World of Outlaws series is synonymous with the best of the best, and therefore as natural fit into Mike Peters' historic race track. This Friday night, March 19th, the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will invade the clay at Ocala Speedway, with the winner collecting a whopping $10,000 along with the first place trophy.
The World of Outlaws have been circulating within the fan rumor mill around Ocala ever since the old asphalt track was declared dead and buried under Florida gumbo. Even Mike Peters had mentioned bringing the World of Outlaws to Ocala early on, but yet hesitated as the dirt racing scene developed thick and healthy roots in the clay. And just as Ocala Speedway has established itself as one of the top dirt tracks in the region, the time and opportunity for the World of Outlaws to race Ocala has come.
What the World of Outlaws Late Model Series will find at Florida's oldest track is an odd shaped layout that is never kind to newcomers. As those who race late models at the venerable old track can attest, Ocala's tricky shape takes time to master, and those who think that they have it figured out sometimes don't. The question might be which best of the best racers can figure Ocala out first on Friday night, and can they do it before one of the locals uses their experience with the track to their advantage?
What fans will find when the Outlaws come to town is admission prices for the show that are far less than what many tracks have charged for the opportunity to see the World of Outlaws in action. As is the case with the January Winternationals shows, Mike Peters believes in making the best shows as affordable as possible to the fans, and the $25 adult admission ticket to this event is evidence of that. Kids aged 6 to 16 will be admitted for just $12, and kids under 6 will get in at no charge.
In addition to the World of Outlaws Late Models, fans will get to see Ocala's Hobby Stock Division hit the clay for the first time in 2010 after their debut event was rained out this past Friday. The Hobby Stocks will be fighting for a $1000 payout for the winner, and no doubt will provide quite a show. Also running on this Friday evening will be Ocala's Mini Stocks.
The pit gate will open on Friday afternoon at 1PM, while the grandstands will open at 5PM with first come, first served seating. Qualifying will follow, with heat races set to begin at 8PM. A complete schedule of events can be accessed at www.OcalaSpeedway.com, and RV parking will be available.
Flooding Rains Wash Out Ocala Races
Written by Cindy Cavin
Friday, 12 March 2010
ZUBER, FL- As most residents of north central Florida know, the entire area was inundated with heavy rains yesterday, resulting in flooding in some areas. Ocala Speedway has also endured the precipitation, and the clay is beyond saturation point after more rain fell overnight and continues this morning.
Due to the extremely wet conditions, and due to the forecasts calling for more rain, Ocala Speedway owner Michael Peters has decided to rain out races scheduled for Friday, March 12.
Racing will return to Ocala Speedway on March 19 as the World of Outlaw Late Models make their debut in a $10,000 to win, 50 lap race. Also on tap is the $1000 to win Hobby Stocks and Mini Stocks.
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.
