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2001
NEWS ARCHIVE
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Salute to Racing 2001 kicks off a big weekend at the Sarasota Fairgounds Saturday at 10 AM with the biggest show yet with over 15,000 race fans expected to visit the fairgrounds for this year's show. A huge Sports & Racing Memorabilia Auction benefiting the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will be one of the many highlights of the two day affair. 
NASCAR simulator rides, Monster Truck rides, Celebrity Go-Kart Challenge, a guest appearance by Cale Yarborough, and live entertainment are just a few of the reasons to take a trip to Sarasota this weekend.
Russ Herter Turns "Philadelpia Flyer" Into Vintage Dragster
Russ Herter of Venice, Florida will be at the Sarasota Fairgrounds for Salute to Racing 2001. He has resurrected the old "Philadelphia Flyer," a Funny Car from the 1970's that saw a lot of action across the United States. It originally was a Nitro burning machine, but now utilizes a 610 cubic inch carbureted motor. The car was found behind a car lot in Sarasota where it has been in pieces for over ten years. Russ has put it back together, getting parts from wherever he can find them.
Herter has a drag racing background. He is originally from New Jersey and grew up about three miles from Englishtown Drag Strip. So much history in the sport has taken place at this track and Russ was there for much of it. He has been drag racing for over 28 years and knows a little about the sport. He even once owned a Garlits-built front engine dragster.
Eventually the Funny Car will be painted its original colors. Don Garlits Drag Racing Museum in Seffner, Florida will assist by providing some vintage pictures to go by. Russ would like to put a blown alcohol engine in the Dodge Charger and start running match races at Nostalgia events or any drag strip that gives him the opportunity to run. The car has not made any passes down the mile since it has been reborn. They think the car is capable of running around 7.90 ET.
Dale Jarrett Will Be Represented At Salute To Racing By His Quality Care Simulator and Show Car
Dale Jarrett, the 1999 Winston Cup Champion will be represented at the SW Florida's Salute to Racing January 6th and 7th with the display of his #88 Quality Care Service/Ford Credit simulator and show car. Fans can take turns sitting in the simulator and experience what it is like to race on 'the big oval'. Jarrett's show car will provide fans an opportunity for an up-close look at a real NASCAR vehicle from roll bar and driver's cage to the instrumentation.
This is his 14th season as a driver on the NASCAR Winston Cup circuit and fifth season driving the No. 88 Quality Care Service/Ford Credit Taurus. Since his first full season schedule in 1989, Jarrett has finished in the top five in the final standings six times - 1993-fourth, 1996-third, 1997-second, 1998-third, 1999-first and 2000 fourth.
Jarrett began racing in 1977 in the Limited Sportsman Division at Hickory Motor Speedway where his father, two-time NASCAR champion Ned Jarrett, once was the track promoter. Dale Jarrett is considered one of the founding drivers for NASCAR's Busch Series competing as a regular in 1982, the first year of competition for this division. Since 1987, he has competed in a limited schedule of Busch events. His son Jason is becoming the third generation driver in the Jarrett family with his own racing career in NASCAR's Busch Series.
Local Ford dealer, Sarasota Ford is proud to showcase the #88 Quality Care Service/Ford Credit show car and simulator for the fourth year as part of the Southwest Florida's Salute to Racing at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. "The simulator has been a great attraction for all ages," says Ernie Perisi, GM of Sarasota Ford " and with Jarrett taking the points title last year we are real fortunate to have the cars here."
Allison Legacy Legacy..According to "Webster" the word Legacy means "a gift received from, or passed down by an ancestor or predecessor from the past." A wealth of racing knowledge, "a gift", has truly been passed down through the Allisons. In the path forged by Donnie, Bobby and Davey Allison, the Allison family's contribution to auto racing is reflected through the development of the Allison Legacy Race Car.
Most noted for the "Alabama Gang", the Allison family has been a part of NASCAR and stock car racing since before the time multi-million dollar sponsors made their way into the sport. In addition to racing, the Allison are about family and down to earth values. According to the Allison Brothers, Kenny, Ronald, and Donald, sons of the legendary Donnie Allison, the new Legacy Car is a tribute to all the Allisons in the family who have driven, owned, and turned wrenches on race cars or who have been involved in racing in any other fashion.
The Allison Legacy car is a three-quarter sized replica of a Winston Cup car and is powered by a four cylinder MAZDA B-2200 truck engine that produces approximately 125 horsepower. "The Allison Legacy Cars are excellent equipment for the beginner to get his or her first exposure to racing," said David Pearson, winner of 105 NASCAR Winston Cup races. "They are well designed and professionally constructed cars that will give the drivers the same feel and experience they would get from a bigger and more powerful car."
There is a National Touring Series and a growing number of State Series for the competitors to choose from. Regional series are run in Florida, Alabama, The Carolinas, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Texas, and California. Brand new regions for the series are in Tennessee, Maine, Indiana, Ohio, and Georgia.
See The Allison Legacy Series on display at Salute To Racing.
Three time Winston Cup Champion, Cale Yarborough, will be the celebrity guest at Salute to Racing 2001, January 6th and 7th at the Sarasota Fairgrounds. Cale will sign autographs, help promote our Sports and Racing Memorabilia Auction for St Jude Children's Research Hospital and compete in a ten lap Celebrity Go-Kart Challenge. Another celebrity appearing this year is six time World Jet Ski Champion, Christy Carlson. Christy has also appeared in movies and on the popular TV show "Baywatch".
Joe Gibb's Race Team and Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte have donated an official NASCAR Race Team uniform for this year's Sports & Racing Memorabilia Auction, benefiting St Jude Children's Hospital.
Topping the list of items up for grabs this year is the actual uniform worm by Peter Jellen, the "Gas Man", from NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Bobby Labonte's Interstate Batteries race team. This uniform is signed by the entire team including Bobby LaBonte and Crew Chief of the Year, Jimmy Makar. The uniform is estimated to be valued at over $1,000 and was donated by race team owner Mr. Joe Gibbs. A variety of other celebrity and sports notable items including an NFL football signed by Mike Ditka as well as other items signed by NASCAR drivers, including equipment, photos and apparel will be auctioned at 1:30pm, Sunday Jan. 7th at Salute To Racing. All the celebrity auction items donated by sports and entertainment personalities can be seen on the official auction website "www.salutetoracing.cc".
Since our inception four years ago, we have grown into one of Florida's premiere motorsports events. Southwest Florida's Salute to Racing features hundreds of racers, racing exhibits, vendors and demonstrations, showcasing every form of racing, from NASCAR, IRL, CART, IHRA and NHRA, to Sprints, Midgets, Funny Cars, Motorcross, Drag Bikes, Go-Karts, Swamp Buggies and whatever else that goes fast! One of the favorites, of course are the NASCAR exhibits and simulators.
New for 2001, spectators will have an opportunity to qualify for a chance to race our celebrity guest, Cale Yarborough in the Celebrity Go-Kart Challenge. Additionally, there will be a racing and collectible swap meet an X-treme Skating Exhibition and a Go-Ped Education Center. Returning favorites are monster truck rides, a daredevil motorcycle jump, games and rides for the kids, an automotive and collectable swap meet and a custom car and truck show.
Once again, the Sarasota Fairgrounds will be the host location for Salute to Racing, Saturday and Sunday, January 6th and 7th, 2001. The gates will be open from 10am until 6pm both days. General admission this year will be $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children 6 through 12. Children under 5 get in free and there is plenty of free parking. $1.00 discount coupons will be available at many locations throughout SW Florida.
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