Mini Stocks and Sportsman Set to take on CMP…Again!!
By Rick Warren
This promises to be one exciting night of racing action at Columbia Motorsports Park in Lake City! This Saturday, April 15,
both of these highly competitive series are set to go wide open for 50 Green Flag Laps of racing action on the tough ½ mile Speedway.
These races are rescheduled from April 8, due to torrential downpours that inundated the area last Saturday evening.
The Modified Mini Stocks will have a complete “re-do”, and re-qualify for the 50 lap feature.
The Southern Sportsman were 5 laps into the race when the skies opened and stopped the racing action. The feature for the Sportsman Series will resume at the 5 lap mark, with no new entries.
The Mini Stocks have run 2 races in the series this year, and have already given the fans lots of excitement. Heading into CMP, Jim Smith in the #32 J.D. Smith Pest Control entry leads the points race by a mere 2 points over the #24 Chris Thornton Gulf to Bay Enterprises machine, while Thornton has a 1 point advantage over the #05 Fascats Cattery entry of Rick Sirmans. You can bet the farm that these guys will be running on the ragged edge trying to gain an advantage in the tight points race.
Raymond Folwell, as winner of the last series race, will be relegated to start in no better than 11th position. Folwell will certainly be looking to fly through the field and join in the battle for the win, but with all the tough competitors in this series, it will be an uphill run, to be sure.
The Southern Sportsman Series has provided their share of excitement as well. Series Champion Aaron Williamson started the season with a win at Desoto Super Speedway, and is looking to run for a third straight Championship. Richie Smith, winner of the season opener at Citrus County Speedway, has plans of his own for the Championship. Both of them however, still have to contend with the always fast and consistent Rikk McMehan, the current points leader.
McMehan currently holds an 11 point advantage over second place Smith, while Smith only holds a 1 point lead over the always tough Travis Nichols. Williamson is in the mix, in fourth spot, 5 points behind Nichols.
Williamson will have to make his charge from deep in the field to challenge for the win, and he too will have an uphill run. This has all the earmarks of a very fast and challenging race. You don’t want to miss this one.
There will also be an on track autograph session for both series, time permitting, giving the fans in North Florida an opportunity to meet all of these great racers. The grandstands will open at 6 PM, with racing action starting at 7:30. Bring the family for a great night of Southern Short Track Racing. See you there