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| Close Points Battle Highlights Final 2003 Florida Pro Race at CMP | by Dave Westerman
The Florida Pro Super Late Model Series will wrap up the 2003 points season at Columbia Motorsports Park near Lake City Sunday afternoon with the Jim Douglas Chevrolet "Suwannee" 200.
Two drivers are still in the running for the 2003 Florida Pro Championship going into the final event.
Lake City's Jay Middleton is in the drivers seat right now with a 44 point advantage over Mike Faulk of Gainesville. Middleton just needs to qualify and have a decent run to earn his first ever racing title, but Faulk will be ready to pounce should Middleton encounter problems.
Even if he can't overtake Middleton for the overall FPS crown, Faulk will still lay claim to the 2003 Rookie of the Year Award. That award, by the way, went to Middleton last year.
Doyle Boatwright of Lawtey sits third in points and already has a Florida Pro Series win this year at CMP. Craig Seewald sits fourth in points heading into the final race, not bad for the driver from Hollywood who does a lot of traveling on a limited racing budget.
Merritt Island's Brian Finney rounds out the current top five in points and will be joined at the Suwannee 200 by his brother Kevin, who is able to race again since he has some time off from his job with NASCAR.
Other drivers who are expected include Mac Johnson of Newberry, Governor's Cup winner and Sunbelt Series Champion Wayne Anderson of Wildwood, Live Oak's Fain Skinner, Archer's Patrick Williams, and Valdosta GA driver David Hodges, Jr.
Indiana drivers Scott Hantz and Jack Landis are expected to compete here before running in the Snowball Derby in Pensacola next weekend.
Rumor also has it that several drivers plan to tow up to Columbia Motorsports Park Sunday after running the AACS race at DeSoto Speedway on Saturday night.
"I hope a lot of those guys try it," says Florida Pro Series Promoter Bert Ashelman. "They are welcome to come and tag the back of the field and if we need to we'll run a consy. The race is 200 laps, so a good car and driver starting at the back shouldn't be too much of a handicap."
There will be an open practice session on Friday evening from 6-10 PM.
Saturday pit gates will open at 4PM with qualifying following the drivers meeting at 7:30PM. Also on tap Saturday will be Modified qualifying along with racing for the Street Stocks and Pure Stocks.
Sunday, pit and grandstand gates will open at noon with racing beginning at 2PM. Following the Jim Douglas Chevrolet Suwannee 200, it will be the Tommy Parker Memorial, a 50-lap race for the Modifieds.
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