[Task Force]

SHOWTIME APPROACHES GATOR DIRT NATIONALS
By Zach Tasker

All of the wait and all the talk is almost over. One of the most anticipated D2 midget races in history is almost here. The inaugural Gator Dirt Nationals will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday February 12, 13 and 14. Three complete shows with Practice, heat races, b mains, dashes and features each night will await competitors at the North Florida Speedway in Lake City, Florida. Fridays show will also include a special invitation only Race of Champions showdown.

Series president Wayne Davis is looking forward to an open wheel extravaganza that will pit Southern States Midget Series regulars against the out of town invaders. “We have been up at the race track working with North Florida Speedway and we are looking for a good turnout. There are a lot of guys from up North coming down and our local guys also so we are looking forward to starting a big tradition here in Florida for the midget series.We have the SSMS champion here from last year, Darrin Davis; he is chomping at the bit. Honestly, it's kind of turning into a bit like the old Mason/Dixon challenge series that we had years ago with the north versus south and really looking forward to it. Usually, it has been in the past that the northern guys come down and spank the southerners butt, but we might have a little something for them this year.”

Defending SSMS champ Darrin Davis of Jacksonville, Florida will have to hold off a tough field of northern invaders including defending Illini Racing Series champion Patrick Bruns of Champaign, Illinois and Rumble in Fort Wayne winner Anthony Nocella of Marlboro, Massachusetts. The 3/8 mile dirt oval should put up a great three nights of racing “The track will kind of get dry slick, it does not build up a cushion but I have seen some good four wide racing. With the midgets, you could probably put them five wide. They just had a dirt late model race there this past Sunday with UMP, and they were three wide in the corners and down the back straightaway. It's real wide and real racy and we are looking forward to it. I think the guys that will be fast will depend on how they set the cars up, if they want to run the huggy pole, or if they want to get up on the top side and wing it around there.”

Racing starts at 7pm on Thursday and Friday with racing getting underway at 6pm Saturday. Grandstand admission is $15 for adults and $7 for kids on Thursday and Friday with the big Saturday finale costing $18 for adults and $8 for kids. A three-day grandstand pass is available for purchase for $40. Visit http://www.northfloridaspeedway.com/ or http://www.sssprints.com/ for more information.

[Task Force]

SATURDAY GATOR DIRT NATIONALS FEATURE AMENDED TO 33 LAPS
By Zach Tasker

A slight change has been made to the Saturday night portion of this weekends inaugural Gator Dirt Nationals. The event originally scheduled for 40 laps has been changed to a 33 lap event. This is to honor the legacy of midget driver Patrick Wilda Jr. of Minooka, Illinois who was fatally injured in a construction accident this past week. Wilda most recently drove the #33 national midget in the STARS national midget series.

Although Wilda has not raced with the Southern States Midget Series, the racing community is a tight fraternity and when we lose one of our own we all grieve. Wilda in the past was a member of the Mike Wallace Racing team and a good friend to team owner Wallace who will be entering two cars in the Gator Dirt Nationals. The 2004 UMARA Rookie of the year also won the 2005 Bob Lockard Memorial and the Carter/Anderson Classic at Grundy County Speedway in Morris, Illinois.

Saturday nights feature will cap off three spectacular days of midget racing at the North Florida Speedway in Lake City, Florida. Visits www.sssprints.com or www.northfloridaspeedway.com for more information.