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2003 CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES SCHEDULE (as of 3/5/03):

3/8 Thundercross Motorsports Complex 3/28 Orlando Speedworld 4/12 New Smyrna Speedway 4/18 Ocala Speedway 4/26 East Bay Raceway 5/3 Orlando Speedworld 5/17 JAX Raceways 6/7 Orlando Speedworld 6/20 Orlando Speedworld 7/5 Orlando Speedworld 7/12 DeSoto Speedway 7/26 Thundercross Motorsports Complex 8/2 Orlando Speedworld 9/6 Orlando Speedworld 9/27 New Smyrna Speedway 10/4 Orlando Speedworld 10/18 Volusia Speedway Park 11/1 Orlando Speedworld 11/8 JAX Raceways 11/28 Orlando Speedworld 11/29 New Smyrna Speedway (50 Lap Championship)

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RAHMAN ROCKETS TO NEW SMYRNA CLASSICS WIN
Story and photos by Dave Westerman

The Classic Auto Racing Series was back for round number two at New Smyrna
Speedway Saturday night, but the results were much the same as they were for
round one back in April as everyone was looking at the rear bumper of
Clermont's Jim Rahman.
With the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series 125 also on the schedule, no
heats were run in favor of an extra-distance 30-lap feature.
Luck of the draw found Bud Spencer on the pole (not in his usual "lavender
love machine" but in a car that he formerly owned when he was Rookie of the
year in 1998) with Rahman on the outside of row one.
Rahman wasted little time getting to the front and the defending Series
champ was trying to leave the field behind before caution flew on lap three as
Patrick Sanders and point leader Ben Booth tangled in turn four. Sanders
continued while Booth pitted to replace a flat tire. Both drivers restarted
at the rear of the field.
Following the restart, Sanders was trying to make an outside move on Tim
Ousley in turn two when his car got loose and he spun backwards into the pit
gate. The damage to Sanders car was not severe, but bad enough to force him
out of the race.
On the restart, Bill Posey moved in on Rahman and the battle for the lead
was on. Lap after lap Posey would look high and low trying to find a place to
get a good run on Rahman. "I was just trying to run my line," said Rahman.
"I knew if I could do that, it would be hard for anyone to pass me, especially
at this race track," he said.
Al "Hot Rod" Hagan was on the charge moving from his ninth starting position
to third by mid race with Daryl Grief right on his tail. Wayne Ashton and Ben
Booth were also charging hard although Booth was racing without knowing track
officials had penalized him a spot for jumping the lap three restart.
Daryl Grief's night would come to an end with a broken transmission on lap
22. Booth was charging hard with Ashton on his tail, but with no cautions,
catching the leaders was impossible.
Rahman held on for his third win of the year, with two of those now at New
Smyrna. Posey had his best career finish in the Classics coming home a very
close second and also earned his first Door Operating Systems Rookie of the
Race Award. Hagan came home with his third consecutive top three finish while
Booth crossed the line fourth, but his penalty moved Ashton into the fourth
spot with Booth getting fifth.
Even with the fifth place finish, Booth added to his point lead as he
finished ahead of all of his other chief contenders.

RESULTS - NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY 9/27/03:

1) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
2) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
3) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
4) Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce #78
5) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
6) Joey Strehle (R), Deland #X11
7) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88
8) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
9) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #31
10) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
11) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
12) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8

 

CLASSIC RACERS HIT NEW SMYRNA HIGH BANKS THIS WEEK

Ben Booth will be looking for his third win of the season at his home track Saturday night

The Classic Auto Racing Series makes its second appearance of the season at
the high-banked half-mile New Smyrna Speedway Saturday night.
Current CARS point leader Ben Booth, a rookie in the Classic Cars this year,
is certainly no rookie when it comes to New Smyrna having won several times in
Modifieds when the class was just forming in the late 80's and early 90's.
The high cost of racing forced Booth to "retire" from the sport for about ten
years before he found a new lease on his racing life with the Classics.
Booth has a 33 point advantage over fellow Deland resident Daryl Grief
headed into action Saturday night and has a whopping 102 point edge over yet
another Deland driver and CARS rookie, Joey Strehle, who is third in points.
Grief's win at Orlando Speedworld on September 13th gives him three for the
season, the most of any driver. Grief will have his work cut out for him at
New Smyrna as he'll have to start last in the field per CARS rules. If he
wins however, he'll pick up an extra $100 and a Bahamas cruise courtesy of
DAWB Motorsports and A-1 Discount Vacations as will a lucky race fan.
Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders has parlayed some steady runs of late into a
fourth place standing in the points, but just ahead of fifth place Bud Spencer
and CARS rookie Bill Posey in sixth. Al Hagan looks like he's put his
early-season bad luck behind him, moving to seventh in points while George
Hall, Jr. is eighth, Jim Rahman (who won at New Smyrna in April) is ninth in
points despite an abbreviated race schedule this year and George Hall III
rounds out the current top ten.
It will be the first time ever that the Classic Auto Racing Series has run
along with the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series which will be running a
125 lap event Saturday at New Smyrna. All in all, it should be quite an
evening of quality racing.

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS - CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES (as of 9/13/03):

1) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12 618 (2 wins)
2) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 585 (3 wins)
3) Joey Strehle (R), Deland #X11 516 (1 win)
4) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 492
5) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 491 (2 wins)
6) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00 478
7) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6 452
8) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 437
9) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5 434 (2 wins)
10) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 424
11) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11 350 (1 win)
12) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90 335
13) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3 259
14) Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach #21 234
15) Ed Yates, Orlando #74 203
16) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88 184
17) Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce #78 172
18) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 170
19) Keith Baiga, Deland #42 160
20) Randy Grief, Orlando #31 157

 

CLASSIC CARS GETS LOTS OF GRIEF AT ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
Story and photos by Dave Westerman

Deland's Daryl Grief, in just his second season of racing, took his third
win of the 2003 season Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld as the Classic
Auto Racing Series ran as part of Saturday Spectacular II.
It was the first time Grief had won on asphalt as his other two wins this
season have come on dirt tracks at Thundercross and JAX Raceways.
Grief came out on top of a good early race battle to take heat race number
one and earn the pole position for the 25-lap feature while Patrick "Bam Bam"
Sanders would lead the way in heat two and start from the outside pole.
Grief made sure the rest of the drivers knew he was here to win as he
quickly assumed the lead at the drop of the green for the feature while
Sanders settled into second. Sanders drifted a bit high allowing Bill Posey
and Joey Strehle to zip past into second and third.
Posey quickly began gaining ground on leader Grief while Strehle and Sanders
were in a real battle for third which came to a head on lap eight when the two
collided in turn one. Strehle was subsequently disqualified for an
altercation under the yellow flag.
As the race resumed, Posey continued to keep the pressure on Grief while
11th starter Jim Rahman made his way to fifth only to be forced to the infield
with a broken header.
Al Hagan and Ben Booth were nose to tail and got around Sanders for third
and fourth spots. Suddenly, Posey's car began to sputter and he dropped off
the pace on lap 22. Posey, who just can't seem to buy a break this year,
eventually dropped out on the white flag lap.
With Posey's demise, Grief had an easy run to the checker, a win made even
more sweet because his kids and step kids were all in attendance as a group
for the first time. Hagan, another driver who has had his share of bad luck
this year, got his best finish of the season with second while point leader
Booth came from 12th on the grid to third and also earned the Door Operating
Systems Rookie of the Race Award.
Sanders held on for fourth while Keith Baiga had a steady run to fifth.
George Hall, Jr. came from 14th at the start to sixth with Ricky Wood, Tim
Ousley, George Hall III and Posey completing the top ten.
The Classic Auto Racing Series will be in action on September 27th along
with the FASCAR Sunbelt Series Super Late Models at New Smyrna Speedway.

RESULTS - ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - 9/13/03:

1) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
2) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
3) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
4) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
5) Keith Baiga, Deland #42
6) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
7) Ricky Wood, Orlando #21
8) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88
9) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
10) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
11) Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce #78
12) Joel Ashton, Ft. Pierce #45
13) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
DQ Joey Strehle (R), Deland #X11
DNS Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7

 

TRY TRY AGAIN FOR SATURDAY SPECTACULAR II AT SPEEDWORLD

Once again, Orlando Speedworld will try to run the second in a series of
Saturday evening special events for Florida traveling race groups this
Saturday night.
The first of the "Saturday Spectaculars" was a huge success in May. Since
then, Mother Nature has not smiled very nicely on the race teams including
last week when the remnants of Tropical Storm Henri missed every other place
in the State - except Orlando, rendering the track a water-sogged mess and
forcing the show to this week.
Unfortunately, the Modified Lite and Pro Challenge Series' schedules won't
allow them to take part in this Saturday's racing activities. They'll return
for the October Saturday Spectacular scheduled for October 4th.
However, they'll be plenty of racing to keep fans entertained for their $5
grandstand admission with the Classic Auto Racing Series, a great field of
Legends Cars, Mini Cup Cars, TQ Late Models, and Bandeleros in action.
Track GM Dick Westfall says the Saturday programs at the only track in
Florida running the "class for kids" has sparked new interest in the cars.
"Many parents want to get their kids involved in the Bandeleros, but they
live too far from the track to be able to get the kids out of school, get off
work, and get to the race track on Friday," says Westfall. "It's easier for
them to get here on Saturday and make it sort of a family outing and since
we've committed to run these Saturday events, there are quite a few people
looking at buying these cars now," he said.
Pit gates will open officially at 4PM, but competitors can arrive earlier if
they wish. Grandstands will open at 6PM with admission just $5 and all kids
12 and under admitted free.
Make your plans to come out for a fun night of racing.

 

TOO WET TO RACE AT ORLANDO ON SATURDAY - TRY NEXT WEEK

Saturday morning rains have left the grounds of Orlando Speedworld too
saturated to hold the Saturday Spectacular II. Officials will attempt to run
the event next Saturday evening, September 13.
Slated to be in action are the Classic Auto Racing Series, Modified Lites,
Legends Cars, Mini Cup Cars, TQ Late Models, Pro Challenge and Bandeleros.

 

ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD TRIES AGAIN FOR SATURDAY SPECTACULAR II

Orlando Speedworld will try again to run it's second Saturday Spectacular
this Saturday night if Mother Nature cooperates.
The evening will showcase several of the traveling series that operate in
the State of Florida as well as Speedworld's kids' Bandelero racers.
On tap will be the Classic Auto Racing Series, Modified Lites, Mini Cup
Cars, Legends Cars, TQ Late Models, and Pro Challenge Cars along with the
Bandelero Young Guns and Bandits.
Because of all the heavy rain that has saturated the grounds in recent
months, Track Manager Dick Westfall has installed two pumps in an effort to
divert water from retention ponds near the track enough to allow water that
has been seeping up through cracks in the track surface to instead flow into
the ponds as it's supposed to. Westfall says it's something he's been wanting
to do for some time and it already appears to be working.
Grandstand admission for Saturday night is just $5 and kids 12 and under get
in free. Pit area admission is $20. For more information call 407-568-1367
or 407-340-4194.

 

BOOTH ADDS TO POINT LEAD WITH OCALA CLASSICS WIN

Racing veteran Ben Booth of Deland made the most of his pole position start
to lead every lap of Friday nights Classic Auto Racing Series 15-lap feature
at Ocala Speedway.
Booth topped the opening heat while defending CARS champion Jim Rahman
outran the field in heat two.
Booth and Rahman had the front row spots for the main event and they would
run 1-2 the entire distance as the race ran from green to checker.
The field spread out pretty quickly with Bud Spencer making the biggest
moves in the early going from his tenth starting spot. Tim Ousley dropped out
on lap two with mechanical problems while George Hall III, driving his dad's
car after his own machine suffered a broken transmission in his heat, fell off
the pace and headed for the infield on lap four.
David Marsh got into the wall in practice and his crew relaced a radiator
and got him out for the feature. Marsh completed 13 laps before falling by
the wayside.
Booth had the field covered and took his second win of the year by several
car lengths over Rahman who had a good cushion between himself and third place
Al "Hot Rod" Hagan who finally had a bit of good luck go his way.
Patrick Sanders started eighth and worked his way to fifth at the finish
just ahead of a hard-charging Spencer while 11th starter Joey Strehle claimed
seventh. Bill Posey, Keith Baiga, and Steve Smith completed the top ten.
Booth's win allowed him to open up a 41 point advantage over second place
Daryl Grief in the season point chase and moved him 50 points ahead of Joey
Strehle in the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Year battle.
The Classic Auto Racing Series is back in action Saturday night, September
6th as part of the Saturday Summer Spectacular at Orlando Speedworld.

FINISH - CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES - OCALA SPEEDWAY - 8/29/03

1) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
2) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
3) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
4) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
5) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
6) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
7) Joey Strehle (R), Deland
8) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
9) Keith Baiga, Deland #42
10) Steve Smith, Groveland #2
11) David Marsh, Orlando #711
12) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #32
13) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88
DNS George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #9

 

STREHLE ZIPS TO CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES WIN AT EAST BAY

After over a month of inactivity, the Classic Auto Racing Series was back in
action on the "Clay by the Bay," East Bay Raceway Park near Tampa.
Heat race action saw Deland's Joey Strehle dominate with his new Sedan in
its first time on dirt while Bud Spencer of Palm Harbor outlasted the field in
heat two.
Strehle and Spencer made up row one for the 15-lap feature and the two
drivers immediately took over the front two spots as the remainder of the
field was searching for some bite out of their economy Goodyear Eagle tires.
Daryl Grief got loose and spun in turn two on lap five with Frank Conrad and
Keith Baiga also getting involved. All three were done for the evening.
Strehle and Spencer continued to head the pack with Bill Posey in third spot
while point leader Ben Booth was moving up from his 11th starting spot into
fourth, however he half-spun in turn two, recovered after riding up over the
inside berm, and continued quickly moving around two cars and back into fourth
spot.
The second and final caution of the race came on lap eight as the right
front collapsed on Randy Grief's car and he came to a halt in turn four.
Strehle continued to keep his car in the low groove and that strategy worked
to perfection. Booth got around Posey for third and closed on the two leaders
trying to get some bite on the "cushion" but had to settle for third coming up
two positions short of earning the DAWB Motorsports/A-1 Discount Vacations
Worst-To-First Award.
The final run to the checker saw Strehle, Spencer and Booth finish under a
blanket in that order with Posey getting a hard-earned fourth spot after
having to replace yet another radiator following his heat race. George Hall,
Jr. made a late charge to claim fifth spot while Patrick Sanders, Tim Ousley,
Hot Rod Hagan, George Hall III and Randy Grief rounded out the top ten.
Strehle's victory also earned him the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the
Race award.
The Classic Auto Racing Series is back in action this coming Friday night at
Ocala Speedway.

OFFICIAL RESULTS - EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK - 8/23/03:

1) Joey Strehle (R), Deland #X11
2) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
3) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
4) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
5) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
6) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
7) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88
8) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
9) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
10) Randy Grief, Orlando #31
11) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
12) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11
13) Keith Baiga, Deland #42

 

CLASSIC CARS DODGE THE RAINDROPS - KELLEY AND BOOTH SCORE WINS

The Classic Auto Racing Series, like so many other racing groups in the
State of Florida, has been seeing way too much rain lately. However, after
over a month of inactivity, the CARS Series managed to get both programs in
this week at Orlando Speedworld and Desoto Super Speedway.
Skies threatened off and on Friday night at Speedworld, but the wet stuff
held off as 21 Classics showed up to do battle.
Gary Kelley of Del Rio, TN was down south for a little vacation and he made
his presence felt quickly as he dominated the opening heat race to earn the
pole position for the feature while Ft. Pierce, FL driver Wayne Ashton copped
heat race two and would start from the outside pole.
Kelley, who has six wins so far this year at his home track in Newport, TN,
moved out to a commanding lead at the drop of the green with fellow Tennessee
driver Brian Ball slipping into second in his "new look" 1940 Ford coupe.
Kelley and Ball set a blistering pace as Ashston settled into third spot in
front of Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders, Jim Rahman and David Marsh.
On lap six, Ed Yates, Frank Conrad, and Ben Booth were racing three wide for
seventh spot when Booth spun in turn one to bring out the caution flag.
Kelley continued to set the pace, well in front of Ball and Ashton after the
restart. Al Hagan, who had made repairs following a heat race crash, was on
the move taking eighth spot on lap eight after starting 13th. Also on lap
eight, Marsh pulled the Whitlock 7-11 into the infield with overheating
problems.
Hagan was still on the charge, taking sixth from Frank Conrad on lap 12 with
the running order now Kelley, Ball, Ashton, Sanders, Rahman, Hagan, Conrad, Ed
Yates and Bill Posey.
With the Tennessee hotshoes firmly in command, lap 15 would change the
complexion of the race behind them.
Hagan and Conrad got together while battling for sixth. When it was all
over, the red flag was out as Bud Spencer found himself on top of Hagan's
machine. Also involved were Ed Yates and Ben Booth.
Hagan's car was a mess and he was through for the weekend. Spencer and
Yates also had their cars towed to the pits while Conrad and Booth restarted
the race from the rear.
As the field fired the cars up for the return to racing, third-running
Ashton pulled off with an overheating engine. E.B. Carr, and newcomer Chip
Green also pulled off the track.
Once the green flew again for the remaining five laps, it was clear no one
had anything for Kelley as he sprinted away. Rahman passed his teammate
Sanders for third on the restart but was well behind Kelley and second place
Brian Ball as the field took the checker.
Sanders held on for fourth spot while point leader Booth made a late charge
over the final two laps to nab fifth. Bill Posey had a steady run to finish
sixth with Daryl Grief coming from 18th on the starting grid to finish
seventh. Joey Strehle was eighth in his new sedan with Keith Baiga making a
surprise start in Strehle's other machine, then running to a good ninth place
showing. George Hall III had yet another good effort to round out the top
ten.
Action shifted Saturday evening to Desoto Super Speedway near Bradenton, the
first time the Classics have competed at John and Camille Sarppraicone's
immaculate facility since 1997, and the fans would not be disappointed.
With very nasty looking weather moving in on the speedway, fans were treated
to maybe the best heat race of all time in the Classic Auto Racing Series as
Bud Spencer, Bill Posey, Daryl Grief, and Patrick Sanders ran side by side for
eight laps with not one bit of contact.
Posey worked the outside lane the entire race, actually leading three laps,
but Spencer held his line and led the lap that counted to earn the pole for
the feature.
The second heat was just as close with Ben Booth grabbing the top spot from
Frank Conrad then fending off the wild challenges of Joey Strehle, Gary
Kelley, Jim Rahman and Conrad to take the win and get the outside pole slot
for the 20 lap feature.
It would be over three hours before the CARS drivers would get to run their
main event as the skies opened up for a typical late afternoon/early evening
Florida thunderstorm.
The weather was just as bad all over the state and nearly every track had
called off its program but Desoto officials opted to wait out the rain.
"These guys and gals in the pits and the fans in the stands pay good money to
come here and race or watch a race," said John Sarppraicone. "That's why we
do everything in our power to get the show in. We've only been rained out
once this year while most other tracks have thrown in the towel five or six
times already," he said.
Twice it looked like the rain was abating, only to pick up again. After
over two hours of anything from a heavy downpour to a steady sprinkle, the
precipitation stopped and track drying efforts began.
Shortly after 11PM, the Classics made their way to the track for what would
be a fantastic caution-free race.
Ben Booth grabbed the lead from Bud Spencer at the drop of the green and
settled into the front position. Starting outside row four, Kelley was
quickly on the charge, taking third on lap six, then passing Spencer for
second a lap later.
For the remainder of the race it would be Booth on the inside lane and
Kelley on the outside lane with Brian Ball moving to third and looking high
and low for racing room, even attempting some inside moves to make it three
wide on a couple of occasions.
They continued to race side by side for the lead with Kelley actually
leading lap 17, only to get a bit wide in turn one and hand the top spot back
to Booth.
Coming down for the white flag, Booth's car stumbled off the low side
allowing Kelley to get enough momentum to power by in turn one and take the
lead and race to an apparent win. Spencer was running fifth but spun in turn
four on the white flag lap.
The finish was Kelley, Booth, Ball, Joey Strehle, and Daryl Grief.
Kelley's victory celebration was short-lived however as eighth place
finisher Patrick Sanders presented $1800 to CARS officials, the amount needed
to claim Kelley's winning engine.
Kelley, who indicated this was the only engine he had to finish the season
with, opted not to sell and per CARS rules was disqualified, earning no money
and points for the night.
Kelley said he and his crew were down here to have a good time and he might
have considered pulling the engine out and selling it to Sanders had it not
already become Sunday morning with a long ride back to Tennessee ahead of
him.
So, with Kelley's DQ, the veteran Ben Booth finally picked up his first win
in the Classic Auto Racing Series while adding to his overall series point
lead as well as picking up the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Race Award
for both nights.
The adjusted order of finish showed Booth the winner with Brian Ball second
and Joey Strehle third. Daryl Grief and Bill Posey finished up a strong
weekend with a fourth and fifth place showing while Jim Rahman, Sanders, Ed
Yates, Spencer and George Hall III rounded out the top ten.
The next race for the Classic Auto Racing Series will be Saturday night,
August 2nd at Orlando Speedworld for race two of the Dick Westfall promoted
Summer Shootout Series.

CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES RESULTS:

ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - 7/11/03 (20 Laps):

1) Gary Kelley, Del Rio, TN #18
2) Brian Ball, Cosby, TN #33
3) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
4) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
5) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
6) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
7) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
8) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #X11
9) Keith Baiga, Deland #42
10) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
11) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
12) Eddie Ward, Ft. Pierce #54
13) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11
14) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88
15) Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce #78
16) Ed Yates, Orlando #74
17) David Marsh, Orlando #7-11
18) Chip Green, Ft. Pierce #54
19) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
20) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
21) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90

DESOTO SUPER SPEEDWAY - 7/12/02 (20 Laps):

1) Booth
2) Ball
3) Strehle (#42)
4) Grief
5) Posey
6) Rahman
7) Sanders
8) Yates
9) Spencer
10) Hall III
11) Hall, Jr.
DQ Kelley
DNS Carr
DNS Conrad

 

CLASSICS DO DOUBLE DUTY THIS WEEKEND AT ORLANDO AND DESOTO
FANS CAN WIN VACATION WITH NEW WORST TO FIRST CHALLENGE

After over a month off, the Classic Auto Racing Series returns to action
this weekend at both Orlando Speedworld and Desoto Super Speedway.
The Classics haven't raced since late May when Daryl Grief took his second
win of the season at JAX Raceways, so the drivers are looking forward to
getting back in the saddle at Orlando on Friday.
It will be the third of several appearances for the CARS machines this year
at Speedworld with Bud Spencer and Jim Rahman scoring wins already at the fast
three-eighth's mile. "We'll dust the cobwebs off this thing and see if we can
make it two in a row there," says Rahman, the defending Classic Auto Racing
Series Champion.
Actually, the CARS racers were supposed to run at Orlando twice in June,
however the June 7th date was canceled because of the Crasharama festivities
the night before which left the track unusable for the following night, then a
scheduled race on June 20th was rained out.
Saturday night, the Classics make their first appearance at Desoto Super
Speedway in several years. The last time the coupes and coaches turned a
wheel at Desoto was in November of 1997 in a race won by now-retired Robert
King of Sebring.
Ben Booth of Deland leads both the overall CARS point chase as well as the
Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Year standings going into the weekend.
Booth's overall lead is just one point over Daryl Grief while rookie contender
Joey Strehle is 27 points behind Grief. Bud Spencer and E.B. Carr round out
the current top five.
Beginning with Saturday's race at Desoto, The Classic Auto Racing Series is
joining with A-1 Discount Vacations of Orlando to present the "A-1 Discount
Vacations Worst to First Award" which will give two fans the opportunity to
win a five day, four night vacation including three days and two nights on Ft.
Lauderdale Beach and a two-day Nassau, Bahamas cruise courtesy of Imperial
Majesty Cruise Lines.
Following Friday's race at Orlando, the top two finishers will be required
to start at the rear of Saturday's feature at Desoto. Two fans will be chosen
by calling two rain check numbers from those fans who purchase regular
grandstand admission tickets. The two fans will then pick their driver out of
a hat and if their driver wins the race, they win the vacation! A-1 Discount
Vacations will also be putting up the "Worst to First Award" at the remaining
races on the CARS schedule for 2003 as well.
A-1 has a number of great discount vacation packages available to race fans
for stays in the Orlando attractions area, Daytona Beach, Ft. Lauderdale,
Nassau, Las Vegas and more. They can be reached at 1-800-783-1963. Make sure
to mention the Classic Auto Racing Series.
Of course, the driver won't be left out if he goes from worst to first as
Frank's Sandblasting of Ft. Pierce has posted a $100 award for any driver
winning back to back races in the Series.
Driver Harvey Ewing of Brooksville is out for the season following major
back surgery. The Classic Auto Racing seies would like to send its get well
wishes to Harvey and his wife Sharen.

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS - CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES:

1) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12 346
2) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 345
3) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #X11 318
4) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 294
5) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90 279
6) Hot Rod Hagan, Merritt Island #6 278
7) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3 259
8) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 254
9) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11 252
Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00 252
11) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5 246
12) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 241
13) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 232
14) Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach #21 204
15) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 170

 

From The Classic Auto Racing Series by Dave Westerman

Rick Bristol announces C.A.R.S. Motorsports car for sale !

Orlando Fl. - After 4 seasons, 20 wins, 40 top 5, 18 top 10 finishes and a
championship team owner Rick Bristol has put the car and racing equipment up for
sale. " The Lord has blessed me so much over the years with great success and
a lot of fun" says Bristol. " I have had the opportunity to win races and a
championship in a pretty short period of time with some great friends". Bristol
started his team in 1999 after purchasing a car and redoing it while working
for Pete Orr at Racecar Engineering. Rick would drive the car the first few
races but soon hired long time friend Carl Green to drive for him. Green would
help bring the team some consistency with 3 wins 8 top 5 and 6 top 10 finishes.
He would drive the car thru the 2000 season. Then Rick brought in rookie
Bobby Orr. Working with his good friend Pete Orr , Bristol gave the young racer
what he needed top compete. Orr in his first start grabbed a top finish and
things only got better from there. In his first year 2 wins, 8 top 5's and 5 top
10 finishes netted him 7th in the points and the most improved driver award.
Orr would come back in 2002 and with 11 wins, 18 top 5 and 5 top 10 finishes and
take the 2002 Track Championship and was the rookie of the year. Other
drivers that have driven the car include Brad May and Chad Pierce. Pierce gave
Bristol his last win just weeks ago. " That is one of the best handling cars I have
ever driven, I had a blast" said Pierce after the race. " I had a great time
driving for Rick and his family, he gave me the opportunity to win each week
and capture a championship and he is a long time friend of the family" added
Orr. The car is a well built ,well equipped car and is a winner. If you are
interested in a winning car call Rick at 407-497-0448 cell or 407-282-4705 home. "
I look forward to seeing someone take this car and do well with it" said
Bristol. For a complete list of what is in the car and what else the team has for
sale call Rick today.

 

GRIEF SPINS AND WINS CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES FEATURE AT JAX

Just like Danny Sullivan did at the Indianapolis 500 several years ago,
Deland's Daryl Grief didn't let a mid-race spin bother him as he drove back
through the field to claim his second victory of 2003 as the Classic Auto
Racing Series visited JAX Raceways Saturday night.
Grief was already slated to start at the rear of the feature field after
placing in the top two in the previous race at Ocala Speedway. Grief's
scheduled partner in the back row, Bud Spencer, didn't make the trip north as
he was in the middle of a "honey do" Memorial Day weekend back in Palm
Harbor.
Tennessee visitor Jay Ball, making his first start in Florida, drove Steve
Harrison's "Old Glory" '34 Chevy coupe to the win in the first heat while
defending Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Year Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders
led all the way in heat two in his '32 Ford.
As one fan would put it, the feature race on this night wouldn't be "pretty"
but it was sure "entertaining." Ball and Sanders brought the field down to
the start, but they couldn't make it past turn one.
Bill Posey was forced low and hit the turn one "skidder tire" with enough
force to damage the left front suspension on his car and force him out of the
race. Posey, a Florida State Senator who races on the weekends to get away
from budgets and other concerns in Tallahassee, continues to have a string of
bad look with more "hanging chads" on his season than Al Gore had in the last
election. Although he's made every race this year, Posey has only been around
at the finish three times, and one of them was on a flat tire.
The second attempt at starting the race would see Al Hagan spin in turn
three, gathering in the cars of Joey Strehle and Westminster, MD's Daryl
Winkler. All three were able to continue although Hagan would be in and out
of the pits several times.
Race officials decided to make the third start single file and it worked as
Jay Ball moved out to the early lead followed by Sanders and Ball's dad Brian
who had his new '40 Ford working much better in the feature than his heat.
Sanders would get into turn one a little too hard on lap three and he spun,
getting hit pretty hard by co-point leader Ben Booth. However, both cars were
able to continue.
Brian Ball was moving in on his son to challenge for the lead on the restart
when his car lost power and he coasted to the pits moving Daryl Grief into
second and right on Jay Ball's bumper. But Grief got loose on lap seven and
spun out right under the flag stand to bring out the caution relegating
himself to the rear of the field again.
Frank Conrad took up the chase on Ball with Daryl Winkler running an outside
groove that was working in turns three and four, but not working in turns one
and two.
Being in second place just wasn't the place to be in this race as Conrad
spun out on lap ten and was sent to the rear of the field.
Winkler and Joey Strehle took up the chase on Ball as the green flew as
Sanders and Grief both began to move back into contention with Grief taking
second place back on lap 13 just as the caution flag flew for Al Hagan's blown
engine in turn four.
Here is where the controversy happened. As the leaders raced into turn one,
Ball saw the caution lights come on and slowed his pace. Grief didn't see the
caution lights and drilled Ball's car. Ball spun around, then came back down
the track and was clobbered by Sanders. Although all three drivers would have
retained their positions (because the caution flag was for Hagan), the cars of
Ball and Sanders were too badly damaged to continue.
Grief was able to hold off Winkler who beat the "second place jinx" at the
end while Ben Booth steadily ran back up to claim third spot in front of
Conrad and re-claim the CARS point lead. Strehle spun out coming down for the
checker, and crossed the line backwards in fifth place, the only other car
still running at the end.
"I guess everybody's mad at me," said Grief after the race. "It's so hard
to see here. Jay had the lead and saw the caution light. I just didn't see
it in time and hit him... it's my fault and I apologize, I even offered him
the trophy because I knew I wasn't going to beat him. I know how he feels
'cause I've lost a few that way too," he said.
Ben Booth's third place finish not only put him back in the point lead but
also earned him the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Race award.

RESULTS: JAX RACEWAYS - 5/24/03:

1) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
2) Daryl Winkler, Westminster, MD #1X
3) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
4) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11
5) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42
6) Jay Ball, Knoxville, TN #J33
7) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
8) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
9) Brian Ball, Cosby, TN #33
10) Randy Grief, Orlando #5
11) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90
12) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00

 

SPENCER AND BOOTH TIED FOR POINTS LEAD AS CLASSICS HEAD TO JAX

The Classic Auto Racing Series heads to the lightning fast dirt of JAX
Raceways for the first time this season with a deadlock at the top of the
point standings.
Palm Harbor's Bud Spencer used last week's win at Ocala Speedway to move
into a tie with Deland's Ben Booth for the Series point lead after six events.
Daryl Grief of Deland is nine points behind the top duo in third spot and 15
points ahead of fourth place Joey Strehle. Greg Helton is fifth in points.
Booth, Strehle, and Helton are also 1-2-3 in the Door Operating Systems Rookie
of the Year standings.
George Hall, Jr., and E.B. Carr are tied for sixth, while Al "Hot Rod"
Hagan and George Hall III are eighth and ninth. Florida State Senator Bill
Posey has moved into tenth despite some horrible luck this year.
Spencer and Grief will have their work cut out for them Saturday night as
they'll have to start at the rear of the feature field after their 1-2 finish
at Ocala last week. If either can win the feature, they'll pick up the
Frank's Sandblasting "Worst to First" award of $100.
Some changes are being made to the 2003 CARS schedule. The June 7th date at
Orlando Speedworld has been dropped because of the previous night's
"Crasharama" at the speedway. Track GM Dick Westfall apologized, but said it
was a scheduling oversight. "After a night of School Bus Figure Eights,
Camper Trailer races and Demo Derbies, there's just no way we can have the
track race ready the following night. We'll attempt to reschedule the event
for the first Saturday in October," he said.
Discussions are also ongoing with East Bay Raceway near Tampa to add
one, or possibly two more dates after the Classics were well received there
last month. CARS drivers were also highly complimentary of the East Bay
management and track officials.

POINT STANDINGS AS OF 5/16/03:

1) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 294 (2 wins)
Ben Booth (R), Deland #12 294
3) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 285 (1 win)
4) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42 270
5) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3 259
6) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 241
E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90 241
8) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6 236
9) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 232
10) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00 216
11) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5 212 (2 wins)
12) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 210
13) Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach #21 204
14) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11 202 (1 win)
15) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 170

 

LAVENDER LOVE STRIKES AGAIN IN OCALA CLASSICS

Palm Harbor's Bud Spencer and his "Lavender Love Machine" 1934 Ford sedan
topped the Classic Auto Racing Series field Friday night at Ocala Speedway for
his second win of the year, but Spencer was probably happy the race was 15
laps instead of 20 as five cars finished under a blanket as the checkered flag
fell.
Polesitter Harvey Ewing got the jump on outside pole man Spencer at the drop
of the initial green, but Joey Strehle and Bill Posey got tangled up in turn
one forcing a complete restart with both drivers being sent to the rear of the
field for the restart.
This time, Spencer was able to slide in front of Ewing going into turn one
and the two ran nose to tail for several laps joined by Daryl Grief and Ed
Yates.
Just when it looked like this race would run green to checker, Hot Rod Al
Hagan and Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders tangled in turn four to bring out the
caution on lap eleven. Meanwhile, Jim Rahman had moved from his 11th starting
spot into the top five.
Only one lap could be completed before fifth-running Ben Booth spun on his
own in turn four. Greg Helton spun in turn four to bring out the race's final
caution a lap later setting up a two lap dash to the checker.
Following the restart, Ewing got high in turn four allowing Grief and Rahman
to get by and force the issue on Spencer. As the field came to the checker,
Grief dove low and Rahman went high but Spencer managed to hold them off at
the line with Grief just barely edging Rahman for second. Joey Strehle came
back through the field to pass Ed Yates at the line for fourth on the bumpers
of the leaders while Ewing recovered for sixth. George Hall, Jr., Posey,
Booth, and George Hall III rounded out the top ten.
Rahman's run to the front proved popular as a large group of very vocal fans
were in attendance from his sponsor Ro Mac Lumber of Leesburg in support of
the Classic Cars.
Strehle's fourth place finish earned him the Door Operating Systems Rookie
of the Race Award. Tim Ousley of Windermere made his first start in the
Series finishing a respectable 12th.
The Classic Auto Racing Series heads back to the dirt next week for the
first appearance of the year at JAX Racways Saturday night.

RESULTS - OCALA SPEEDWAY - 5/16/03:

1) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
2) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
3) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
4) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42
5) Ed Yates, Orlando #74
6) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17
7) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
8) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
9) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
10) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
11) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3
12) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88
13) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
14) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
15) Randy Grief, Orlando #90
16) Sharen Ewing, Brooksville #16

 

RAHMAN TOPS CLASSIC AUTO RACING SATURDAY SPECIAL AT SPEEDWORLD

Saturday night racing came to Orlando Speedworld for the first time in
several years and the Classic Auto Racing Series was part of a big seven
division show.
Defending CARS champion Jim Rahman of Clermont was a dominant force, leading
ever lap he ran and scoring his second feature victory of the year.
Twenty-one Classics made their way into the pits. Joey Strehle had his new
sedan ready for racing but engine problems forced him to move into his former
mount, slated to be driven by his brother James.
Rahman ran off and hid in heat number one while current point leader Ben
Booth led most of the way to win heat two.
Rahman outgunned Booth to the green flag and the two would run nose-to-tail
the entire feature distance. Booth would get a run on Rahman, but each time,
the two-time champ held him off.
There was only one caution flag near mid race when Greg Helton spun between
turns one and two. At the time of his spin, Helton was in the middle of a
five car dogfight for fourth spot that also included David Marsh, Al Hagan, Ed
Yates and Wayne Ashton.
As Rahman and Booth marched away from the field, Defending Door Operating
Systems Rookie of the Year Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders was hooked up well and
motored away from the pack to finish third.
Last lap problems in lapped traffic cost Marsh a sure fourth place finish as
Ashton, Hagan and Yates got by him as the checker fell.
Marsh ended up seventh in just his second run for new car owner Gene
Whitlock with Joey Strehle coming from 15th on the grid to eighth. Simeon
Spagnuolo and Bud Spencer rounded out the top ten.
Bill Posey blew an engine in his primary car during warm-ups. His crew then
loaded up the car, drove all the way to Cocoa, put the rear end and radiator
from the primary car into Posey's new machine (just recently purchased from
South 40 Motorsports) and drove back to the track in plenty of time to make
the feature.
Posey motored to a comfortable 12th place finish in a car he'd never "sat in
with the engine running."
Booth's second place finish earned him the Door Operating Systems Rookie of
the Race award for the third time this year.
The Classics are working to reschedule a date with Ocala Speedway, possibly
for May 16th with Ro-Mac Lumber being a big part of that event.
The CARS machines will then be back on the dirt at JAX Raeways on May 24th
and Return to Orlando Speedworld for another Saturday night racefest on June
7th.

RESULTS - ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - 5/3/03:

1) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
2) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
3) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
4) Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce #78
5) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
6) Ed Yates, Orlando #74
7) David Marsh, Orlando #711
8) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42
9) Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach #21
10) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
11) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
12) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
13) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90
14) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
15) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11
16) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3
17) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
18) Ray Frazee (R), Oak Hill #43
19) Eddie Ward, Ft. Pierce #45
20) Randy Grief, Orlando #88
DNS James Strehle, Deland #X11

 

CLASSIC AUTO RACERS HEAD UP CLUB RACING ACTION SATURDAY AT SPEEDWORLD

The Classic Auto Racing Series will be taking part in a unique "experiment"
set up by FASCAR and Orlando Speedworld General Manager Dick Westfall Saturday
night at the three-eighths mile track that normally runs on Friday nights.
Joining the Classics for an evening of Spec Series "club" racing Saturday
evening will be the Legends Cars, Pro Challenge Cars, Modified Lites, Mini Cup
Cars and Florida TQ Late Models. Kids Bandelero racing, a regular Friday
night feature at the track, will also be held.
"It's an experiment to say the least," says Westfall. "These drivers always
put on a good show and here they'll get a chance to showcase their talents and
compare notes, and I think we'll have some fun," he said.
Plans are to run this series of races on the first Saturday of the month
through September. At least for the first event, the grandstand side of the
race track will not be open. Spectators are invited to watch from the pit
area grandstands and take a look at the wide variety of cars that will be in
action up-close. As always, kids under 12 years of age are admitted free with
the proper release form signed by a parent or guardian.
This will be the sixth race of a very busy season for the Classic Auto
Racing Series drivers and this event is expected to draw the biggest field of
the year.
The CARS point standings became much closer last week as the top two in
points, Ben Booth and Bud Spencer, finished 14th and 13th respectively at East
Bay Raceway Park. Booth still leads the overall point standings and the Door
Operating Systems Rookie of the Year standings as well, but by only two
markers over Spencer and fellow rookie Greg Helton, who won his heat last
week, then came from the rear of the field twice to finish third in the
feature, his best career outing.
Daryl Grief's second place at East Bay moved him into fourth in points, just
ahead of E.B. Carr in fifth. Joey Strehle is sixth in points and plans to
debut a new car this weekend while East Bay winner Frank Conrad vaulted from
tenth to seventh in points. George Hall III, George Hall, Jr., and Simeon
"The Garage Door Man" Spagnuolo round out the top ten in Classic Auto Racing
Series points.
Pit gates will be open in the morning for any race teams that would like to
arrive early and pit passes will begin being sold around 4PM.
Practice by class will take place from 5-6:30 PM with racing getting under
way at 7PM.
Fans can find lots of other excitement in the same general area as Orlando
Speedworld Dragway will be holding their regular Saturday night competituion
followed by the monthly midnight street drags. Orange County Raceway, a small
dirt track located next door to Speedworld will also be in action Saturday
night with the Florida Mini Sprints as the featured attraction.

 

FRANK CONRAD TOPS CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES RIVALS AT EAST BAY

For the first time in the eight year history of the Classic Auto Racing
Series it was time to "do it in the dirt" at East Bay Raceway Park near Tampa
Saturday night.
In fact, it came very close to being an evening of "doing it in the mud"
after four and a half inches of rain fell at the speedway Friday night. But
track crews went to work and had everything more than ready by race time.
Sixteen Classics signed in with heat races going to Daryl Grief and rookie
Greg Helton, his first career win in automobile racing, and he received a big
round of applause from the huge crowd saluting his first time claiming the
checkered flag.
At the start of the 15 lap feature, Grief and Helton moved out front to a
big advantage but Grief got sideways coming out of turn four. Helton tried to
dive low but just clipped Grief's sedan and slid head-on toward the turn four
wall, stopping just an inch short of the concrete.
With the two front row cars now relegated to the rear of the field, Frank
Conrad had the pole slot, but it was outside polesitter Bud Spencer who
grabbed the early lead much to the delight of a busload of fans from Spencer's
Eagles Lodge in Palm Harbor who came over to watch him race.
Just as lap two was completed, Helton and Al "Hot Rod" Hagan got together to
bring out the first caution flag of the race with Helton going to the back of
the field for a second time along with Hagan.
Joey Strehle passed Spencer for the lead on lap four and was looking strong
until he got loose and spun coming out of turn two at the start of lap six.
Spencer spun to avoid Strehle and was T-boned by Ben Booth who had come up
from 15th on the starting grid to fourth. Both Spencer and Booth were done
for the night while Strehle continued but was relegated to the back of the
field.
Conrad missed the mess on the backstretch and took over as the new leader
only to see the caution out again on lap seven as Strehle got together with
E.B. Carr in turn three putting both cars on the sidelines.
The final eight laps would be run under green as Daryl Grief worked his way
back up to second but was unable to catch Conrad who was using a low line
uncharacteristic of his usual "back 'er in" style.
Conrad won with room to spare getting his first win of the season in his
Frank's Sandblasting/DAWB Motorsports/Shriner's Children's Hospital Charities
'34 Chevy sedan.
Grief held on for second while Greg Helton put on a show coming from the
rear twice to get third spot. Helton also won the Door Operating Systems
Rookie of the Race Award for the first time in his short career. Randy Grief
nabbed fourth spot just ahead of a steady run by George Hall, Jr. who took
fifth.
Simeon Spagnuolo, Al Hagan, George Hall III, Sharen Ewing, and E.B. Carr
rounded out the top ten.
The Classic Auto Racing Series now heads to Orlando Speedworld next Saturday
for the first in a series of special Saturday events at the fast three-eighths
mile that runs of Friday nights. however the first Saturday of the month is
being reserved as an evening for racing clubs from around the state to get
together to race while kids Bandelero racing will also be featured.

RESULTS - EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK - 4/26/03:

1) Frank Conrad, Ft Pierce #11
2) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
3) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3
4) Randy Grief, Orlando #88
5) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
6) Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach #21
7) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
8) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
9) Sharen Ewing (R), Brooksville #16X
10) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90
11) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42
12) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8
13) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
14) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
15) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17
DNS Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00

 

CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES SET FOR FIRST EVER VISIT TO EAST BAY

The Classic Auto Racing Series returns to the dirt Saturday night and for
the first time in the eight year history of CARS, will run at East Bay Raceway
Park near Tampa.
Although other former promoters at East Bay have expressed interest in
running the Classics in previous years, the big problem had always been the
track curfew that made it difficult for even the track's regularly scheduled
classes to finish before the engines had to be shut off.
However, new owners Al & Dean Varnadore and Todd Hutto have streamlined the
program and are looking to bring in other racing series to help spice up the
weekly show.
In fact, this week's program is a race fans dream featuring not only the
Classics as an added bonus, but the two premier divisions at East Bay: the
Winged Outlaw 360 Sprint Cars and Late Models, plus Limited Late Models,
Mini-Stocks, and Street Stocks too.
Deland's Ben Booth, a rookie in the Classic Auto Racing Series, continues to
lead the point standings by four points over Palm Harbor Classic racing
veteran Bud Spencer.
Last week's scheduled race at Ocala Speedway was postponed to a later
date following a serious crash in the Super Late Model race. CARS and Ocala
Speedway officials hope to reset the date for as early as mid May.
Two heats were run, thus all drivers at the track were awarded ten points
each for being there per CARS rules.
The heat races were interesting to say the least and left several crews
thrashing to repair bent-up cars before the scheduled feature.
Steve Smith, making only his second start in a Classic, won the
attrition-filled first heat, then apparently found something wrong with his
car and left the speedway before the incident in the SLM race ended the
evening.
2001 CARS Champion Eddie Thornton showed up late with the car slated to be
driven by Simeon Spagnuolo, who was unable to get to the track from his home
in Vero Beach.
Thornton, who has won the last three events held at Ocala, won the second
heat and would have been on the pole for the feature.
Interestingly enough, the car he was driving has won twice in CARS action,
both at Ocala, once with Spagnuolo behind the wheel (his only career Classics
win) and last year with veteran driver Ricky Wood of Orlando at the
keyboards.
Drivers this week will tackle the typically "tacky" East Bay Raceway Park
clay for the first time which is totally different than the slippery
sand-style dirt tracks at Thundercross and Clewiston in South Florida and the
hard oiled dirt of JAX Raceways in Jacksonville, the other dirt tracks the
Classics have been running.
"I know I'm looking forward to it," says point leader Ben Booth. "We'll
just stand on the gas, pitch 'er sideways, and see what happens," he said.

CURRENT POINT STANDINGS:

1) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12 168
2) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 164 (1 feature win)
3) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90 144
4) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3 144
5) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42 142
6) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 137 (1 feature win)
7) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 126
8) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 119
9) Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach #21 118
10) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11 114
11) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6 114
12) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00 113
13) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5 100 (1 feature win)
14) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 96
15) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 92

 

C.A.R.S. Motorsports heads to Bronson !

Orlando Fl. - C.A.R.S. Motorsports Team will head to Bronson for the Florida
Mini-Stock Challenge Series 50 Saturday night.
Team owner Rick Bristol has picked a hand full of races he will compete in
this year and two of the events will be at Bronson. " I am excited to go back
to Bronson and race I love the place. I think we have a real good car for
saturday if the driver does not let us down" joked Bristol. Bristol a former
promoter at Bronson and now the FASCAR announcer, and his family owned race
team will be bringing some goodies for the kids as well. " We will have some
treats for the kids to celebrate Easter to go along with the tracks Easter
Egg hunt and I look forward to seeing some of my friends at Bronson again" I
want to thank Don Nerone for giving me a night off from New Smyrna to get to
race it just helps me keep more excited about the sport and what I do" added
Bristol. The car will driven by several different drivers in 2003 including
defending Speedworld Champion Bobby Orr, Carl Green and Former Orlando and
New Smyrna Champion Milo Vidic. The #30 Ford Mustang is sponsored by
Insta-Gator Landscaping,RE/MAX Reality,B&K Used Auto Parts and is powered by
a Bobby Sears race engine.

 

RAHMAN GETS BACK ON TRACK WITH WIRE TO WIRE NEW SMYRNA CLASSICS WIN

Defending Classic Auto Racing Series champion Jim Rahman of Clermont led
every lap he raced in Saturday night at New Smyrna Speedway but it wasn't as
easy as it looked.
Rahman started the evening with a dominating win in the first heat race but
began to notice a drop in oil pressure and was wondering if his engine would
last the 20-lap feature distance.
Deland's Ben Booth took the lead from Bill Posey on lap two and raced to a
convincing victory in heat two to set up a Rahman-Booth front row for the
start of the feature.
Rahman was quick on the gas as the green flew with Booth dropping into third
behind Daryl Grief. Booth passed Grief on lap three but already found himself
well behind Rahman, who was also beginning to notice the water temperature
gauge beginning to rise as well as the falling oil pressure.
On lap five, Al Hagan got into the back of third-running Grief with Grief
spinning in turn three. Bill Posey dove low off the banking to miss Grief and
encountered a severe low spot that caused his car to go for a wild ride that
destroyed the radiator, putting the hard luck Posey on the sidelines for the
remainder of the evening.
Hagan also retired with an engine problem while Grief continued at the back
of the field.
Rahman got a big jump on Booth as the race restarted with Joey Strehle
moving into third. Booth's car got better each lap and he was right on
Rahman's rear bumper by lap ten.
Caution flew again on lap 12 as Greg Helton spun in turn four while running
fifth. Frank Conrad spun trying to avoid Helton and slid backwards into the
frontstretch wall. Both cars returned to action but Conrad parked his machine
soon after with a broken axle.
On the restart, Daryl Grief got in trouble again coming out of turn two,
sliding to a stop at the back side entrance to the pit area. Grief's car was
undamaged and he took a second trip to the rear of the field.
The remaining eight laps were all run under green with Booth dogging
Rahman's every move. the defending champ was up to the task however, taking
the win by less than a car length over Booth.
Rahman said keeping his concentration was a big factor in winning this one.
"The oil pressure was dropping, the water temperature was going up, and I had
Ben Booth on my tail. How much more can I guy ask for?," said Rahman after
the race.
Booth's second place finish earned him his second consecutive Door Operating
Systems Rookie of the Race award.
Joey Strehle drove a solid race, running mostly by himself, to claim third
money while Harvey Ewing came from 12th starting spot after engine trouble in
his heat to get fourth. Orlando Speedworld winner Bud Spencer, relegated to
the rear of the field under the new handicapping system, steadily marched his
way to fifth at the finish after starting 14th.
E.B. Carr had another steady run claiming sixth at the end with George Hall,
Jr., George Hall III, Daryl Grief, and Greg Helton rounding out the top ten.
Fans were treated to an interesting situation when David "Fudd" Nunes showed
up at the track while the cars were under caution from the lap 12 incident.
Nunes, who had been stuck in traffic on Interstate 4 for two hours while an
accident was being cleared, made it on the track just in time and although 12
laps down with no chance of finishing any better than last place. "I still
earned my points," he said.
The Classic Auto Racing Series is right back in action next Friday night at
Ocala Speedway.

OFFICIAL FINISH - NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - 4/12/03:

1) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
2) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12
3) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42
4) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17
5) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
6) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90
7) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32
8) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
9) Daryl Grief, Deland #1
10) Greg Helton, Orange City #3
11) Randy Grief, Orlando #88
12) Sharen Ewing (R), Brooksville #16X
13) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #90X
14) David Marsh, Orlando #X
15) Al Hagan, merritt Island #6
16) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
17) David Nunes, Orlando #21