| Orlando SpeedWorld Shifts into Twice a Week Mode this Weekend | by Dave Westerman
Excitement is in the air as Orlando Speedworld gears up for the first full weekend of racing for 2004.
The season opener for the FASCAR racers takes place on Friday night and all indications point to most of the competitors being ready to go.
Several new cars and drivers are expected to contend for the 2004 Super Late Model championship, but they'll have to work hard to unseat the likes of B.J. McLeod, Rusty Ebersole, Ricky Wood and Ronnie Roach.
Rookie driver Patrick Conrad, who won last Saturday's season opener for the RE/MAX Legends cars, has been impressive in his new SLM ride and there are many others who have been practicing new machines over the past several weeks including Cocoa's Jared Allison who has a sharp looking new Monte Carlo.
The Modified field is expected to grow by leaps and bounds this year thanks to FASCAR doing away with its "gear rule." A number of drivers have been "coming out of the woodwork" and many, like Orlando's Wayne Heckle, haven't raced in over two years. Plus several new OWM machines will be making their debut this week as well.
The number of cars in the Sportsman class continues to grow as well with a number of new and "Re-worked" machines being tested at the track over the last month.
The Mini Stock class, which has been low on car count the past couple of years, is seeing a bit of a resurgence with a number of new cars testing recently and it should be an interesting season for the four-bangers.
Car owner Rick Bristol, who won the Mini Stock championship here two years ago with young Bobby Orr at the wheel, has combined forces with Cocoa area driver R.J. Arnone and will go after the championship.
Tim "Missleman" McPhail, Dick Laszlo, and Michael Seay will be tough competition and expect big things from young lady driver Alli Owens and some drivers returning to competition like Mike Fetherston, who has an immaculate new machine ready to go.
As always, the Super Stock division will probably be the most hotly contested again this year. 2003 champion Corey Freed will be back to defend his title as well as running full time in the Classic Auto Racing Series throughout the State on Saturdays this year.
Bob Beiler has an incredibly good looking Monte Carlo and was turning very impressive laps at Wednesday's practice. Returning to his "roots" is Bill Loomis in a new Monte Carlo. Bill picked up the nickname "Bomber Bill" several years ago when the class was known as Bombers.
he Super Stocks will have a special 50-lap event on Saturday night March 20th when the class has the weekend off at New Smyrna Speedway.
Strictly Stocks will round out the regular Friday night classes and several interesting new machines have been at the recent test and tune sessions.
Several Goodyear Challenge Series Late Model racers were testing their cars Wednesday night in preparation for their first points race of 2004 to be held at Speedworld March 19th.
The RE/MAX Legends cars will headline the program once again on Saturday night after some awesome racing last week that saw Patrick Conrad hold off Sam Watts at the checkered flag. A number of new Legends cars have been purchased and should be in action soon to bolster an already strong field.
The Classic Auto Racing Series will have their first points race of 2004 Saturday night and a good field is expected led by defending Series champion Ben Booth of Deland. The Classics have a lot of new faces behind the wheel this year including the aformentioned Corey Freed from Speedworld's Super Stock Class and Beaver Daughtrey who ran several years ago in the old Four Cylinder Bomber class. Those two are racing for the CARS Rookie of the Year title along with Tim Ousley and newcomer Norm Agostinho.
The question in the Bandelero Bandits class is... Can anybody stop Chad Akins? Akins swept all four races he ran during the Winternationals and led every lap last week to kick off his season in style. Brandon Thomson led the way in the Young Guns last week but looks for even more competition this week while the new Outlaw division is looking for more drivers 15 years of age and up to challenge the likes of Evan Russell and 68 year old "Granpa" Dave Jarrett.
The new stock four cylinder Hurricane class is the fastest growing division right now and will round out the Saturday program again this week. This sort of "run whatcha brung" class is expected to grow by leaps and bounds over the next few weeks.
SPEEDWORLD NEWS:
Sandy Nerone has purchased the concession facilities at Speedworld and will have everything up and running this week. "We'll have good food and plenty of it at good prices. Nobody's going to go hungry this year at Speedworld," says Sandy!!
Speedworld's "Jack of All Trades" Rusty Marcus will have a race car display set up on Saturday during lunchtime (11AM - 1PM) at the 5 and Diner on Highway 50 just east of Alafaya Trail on the way to the race track. Fans and racers are all invited to meet some of the drivers and have a great lunch at the 5 and Diner.
Friday evening pit gates open a 4PM, grandstands at 6PM and racing will be at 8PM.
Saturday, pit gates open at 3PM, grandstands at 6PM and racing starts at 7PM. Grandstand adult admission is $10 on Friday and only $5 on Saturday. All kids 11 or under get in free.
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