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| Classic Racers Wrap up 2003 Season this Weekend, Webster for Senate Compaign to Sponsor Classics in 2004 | by Dave Westerman
The Classic Auto Racing Series will wrap up its 2003 season with back to back races this weekend at Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna Speedway.
Friday night the Classics will duke it out with time trials and a 30-lap feature paying $500 to win as a prelude to the annual Crasharama festivities which this year will include school bus races, boat on trailer racing, camper trailer racing, a chain race, motorcycle stunt riders and two demolition derbies, among other things.
"Everyone including myself knows most of the people in the stands are going to be here for the crashing and smashing," says Orlando Speedworld General Manager Dick Westfall. "But the Classics put on a great show as an opening "act" so to speak, and the folks that get there early will get to see some doggone good racing. Plus the Classics running first allows us to get the late arrivals through the gate and in their seats before all the crazy stuff starts," he says.
No rest for the weary as the Classic Cars head to New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday night for their traditional season-ending 50-lap race which will pay a cool $1,000 to the winner.
Gary Kelley of Knoxville, TN swept the weekend's activities last year setting fast time at both tracks including two new track records of 15.776 at Orlando and 21.568 at New Smyrna. Kelley then went on to win both races earning at total of $1,700 for his efforts. The good news for the drivers this year is that Kelley is not expected to compete. If he does, he must pay a $300 fine in order to race with CARS again after he refused to sell his engine after finishing first in a race earlier this season at DeSoto Speedway.
Again this year, fast time for each race will pay a $50 bonus with an extra $50 going to any driver who breaks one of Gary Kelley's current track records.
The two top drivers in the current Classic Auto Racing Series point standings, Ben Booth and Daryl Grief, have been burning the midnight oil this week. Both blew engines in a special practice session at Speedworld last Thursday evening. Booth will go to a back-up engine and basically needs to just start each event to earn both the 2003 season championship as well as the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Year Title. Grief, meanwhile, hopes to have another engine together by race day.
Four races this season at Orlando Speedworld have produced four different winners. Bud Spencer topped the field in March, Jim Rahman was top dog in May, Gary Kelley led the way in July during a summer visit from Tennessee, and Grief won his first-ever race on asphalt at Speedworld in September.
Defending Series Champion Jim Rahman dominated both events held at New Smyrna Speedway this year in April and September.
Other drivers expected to take part are Al "Hot Rod" Hagan, Joey Strehle, Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders, Wayne Ashton, Bill Posey, George Hall, Jr., George Hall III, Tim Ousley, and several more of the Florida-based drivers including Harvey "Wallbanger" Ewing, who will make a return to racing following major back surgery just after the season began.
Although Gary Kelley is not expected to defend his titles from last year, a strong contingent of Tennessee drivers is expected including Brian Ball, Robbie Sands, and Fred MacArthur. Rumor also has it that several cars from the Maryland/Pennsylvania circuit that runs primarily dirt tracks may join the fray.
The Classic Auto Racing Series has secured some unique backing for the 2004 season from State Senator Daniel Webster in his effort to win the Florida seat in the U.S. Senate being vacated by Bob Graham.
Webster, a Republican, currently represents District 9 in the Florida State Senate which encompasses parts of Orange, Seminole, and Osceola Counties and is Chairman of the Transportation Appropriations Committee.
Webster was first elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1980. Since then, he has won eight consecutive elections without having a single opponent, Republican or Democrat. He served as House Speaker from 1996 to 1998, the first member of the GOP to do so in 120 years before being elected to the State Senate in 1998.
"Not only is he the most honest politician that I know, but he's the most honest person I've ever met," says Florida State Senator Bill Posey, who competes in the Classic Auto Racing Series. "I think having Dan Webster as part of our racing series next year will definitely help his campaign and give him a chance to meet the greatest people you could ever meet, the race fans," says Posey.
Webster knows that he'll need every advantage possible in what is expected to be a hotly contested race which will include such well-known names as former U.S. Representative Bill McCollum and possibly U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez, and that's just the Republican Primary.
"This race will be like the Daytona 500 of politics," says Webster. "Everybody in the race will be tough, so we are putting a grass roots effort out there to meet as many people as we can. Getting involved with the Classic Cars is just part of that effort. Race fans are always very loyal to sponsors and I hope that loyalty will produce some votes. I can assure the racing community that if they support me, then I will certainly support them if elected," says Webster.
Sen. Webster was Grand Marshall for the Florida Governor's Cup race this past Saturday night at New Smyrna Speedway, getting a chance to ride in the Pennzoil racing show car at speed around the half-mile New Smyrna track before waving the green flag over the 36-car field for the start of the race.
"That was an awesome experience," said Webster. I had a great time being surrounded by all these fantastic race fans. I love racing and most of all I love the race fans here in our State," he said.
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