6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

It’s destination Florida for race fans in February. That’s nothing new except it has been expanded this year with a three-night AMSOIL USAC National Sprint car weekend at East Bay Raceway in Gibsonton February 26-28. An open practice night is on tap February 25.

These three races are added to the already-announced February 19-21 races at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, creating more than $130,000 in prize money up for grabs for USAC participants to kick off the 2014 National campaign! The now six-race “Winter Dirt Games VI” schedule throws a healthy dose of wingless sprint car racing into Florida’s season kickoff calendar while making USAC’s lone visit to the “Sunshine State” an even stronger trip.

Damion Gardner, who will lock down his third AMSOIL USAC/CRA title this weekend at Peoria, Ariz., swept a pair of races at East Bay in 2010. Four years earlier the track hosted its initial USAC races, a trio of Ford Focus events.

The Sprint cars then converged on Ocala for races beginning in 2011 and 2015 marks the fifth straight year that the “Winter Dirt Games” will return to Bubba Raceway Park. Just one week later they will now race at East Bay, closing the track’s “Winter Nationals” schedule.

Ironically, Brady Bacon and Bryan Clauson won the 2014 Ocala openers. They run 1-2 in the National standings entering this coming weekend’s finales in Arizona.

“We are delighted to announce these additional February dates for our participants,” says series coordinator Jason McCord. “Florida has always been a destination during this time and it’s fun to get out of the Midwestern cold and enjoy the sunny atmosphere down south. We have enjoyed great success with the Ocala races and the addition of the East Bay events now enhances the vacation opportunities for our valued fans.”

USAC Sprint racing dates all the way back to USAC’s inception (1956), when they competed at West Palm Beach, Jacksonville and Miami. Bob Sweikert won the first USAC Sprint race ever at West Palm Beach.

The ensuing years have included USAC Championship Car, Silver Crown, Formula 2000, Midget, Sprint, Sports Car and Ford Focus competition as a number of speedways across the state.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Absolutely great news! I am so glad they are getting back to East Bay after an absence of too many years. Good racing, good weather and good food. Can't wait.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

This is great but I booked my flights in and out of Daytona Beach last Sunday for the 13th to the 21st so I'm cooked on East Bay.

Originally Posted by Flatrightrear:
This is great but I booked my flights in and out of Daytona Beach last Sunday for the 13th to the 21st so I'm cooked on East Bay.

Unless you booked with southwest. Free to make changes

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Am I the only one who scratches their head on the feasibility of two weekends of racing for the nonwingers. For the race teams sure would have been better to run Thursday-Saturday and then Monday-Wednesday. I am sure the promoter wants a Saturday night as that is the best night to draw a big crowd. USAC is a working mans series for a lot of owners and crews and with the set up now they will have to commit over 2 weeks of vacation time to hit both weekends with the travel time. I just wonder if some teams might only do one weekend. Just my thoughts and maybe I am the odd one in wondering about the time commitment.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

I just hope someone does some PR. The last time the traditional sprints were at East Bay, there appeared to be none. That was the year they ran traditional/winged on alternating nights. The last traditional night, we sat beside a guy from upstate NY, a real race fan, who was living just North of Tampa for the Winter. He had no idea the traditional sprints were running. He just decided to go to East Bay, knowing there was some kind of racing that night.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Now that I think of it, there will be a lot of us there with nothing to do Sun-Tue. I know some will be at DisneyLand, but many don't care about that. Maybe we could get organized to do something. Posters? Signs in store windows? Whatever. The teams could make appearances all over town. Maybe some sponsors could organize some parties for the evenings? I'm not looking for a free drink, just a gathering spot. Tampa's a nice town, but not very exciting Sun-Tue.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Great news that the National sprint car series has 2 weekends of racing in Florida! I can't wait for the action to begin. Cold fronts can stall in north or central FL in February creating liquid sunshine. Just in case, does USAC have rainout makeups available for Sundays (like the 2014 Smackdown)? If so, I can plan my travel accordingly.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Originally Posted by staggerman:
Am I the only one who scratches their head on the feasibility of two weekends of racing for the nonwingers. For the race teams sure would have been better to run Thursday-Saturday and then Monday-Wednesday. I am sure the promoter wants a Saturday night as that is the best night to draw a big crowd. USAC is a working mans series for a lot of owners and crews and with the set up now they will have to commit over 2 weeks of vacation time to hit both weekends with the travel time. I just wonder if some teams might only do one weekend. Just my thoughts and maybe I am the odd one in wondering about the time commitment.

I, being a Florida resident am glad they are not racing a Monday- Wednesday deal. I can save my vacation time to come to Indiana this summer. I do understand your point though. I think the crowd will be better than last time since it is mostly a weekend show. I just hope Eastbay has improved on customer relations. And Mr. Monahan, you'll be in Florida in February. I would think you can find something to do on the off days. It's not like there is a lack of activities here.

Originally Posted by Will Shunk:
Great news that the National sprint car series has 2 weekends of racing in Florida! I can't wait for the action to begin. Cold fronts can stall in north or central FL in February creating liquid sunshine. Just in case, does USAC have rainout makeups available for Sundays (like the 2014 Smackdown)? If so, I can plan my travel accordingly.

There is a rain date of Sunday Feb 22nd at Bubbas...haven't heard about a rain date for Easy Bake...umm East Bay...

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Originally Posted by Coach:
... And Mr. Monahan, you'll be in Florida in February. I would think you can find something to do on the off days. It's not like there is a lack of activities here.

I hate FL in Feb and the other 11 months. It's a hot, sticky swamp. I went for a walk along the river in a pea soup fog this AM. That's my kind of weather. :3:

I've been going to FL for the races since about 1973. When I took my kids, we did the amusement parks. I have no desire to see them again. I don't like beaches; they are hot and sandy and sticky.

The one great take in FL was Cape Canaveral, when it was active. The other is the Showman's Trade Show in Gibsonton. Unfortunately, it's earlier in the month and it's now $50 admission (it used to be free). The State Fair is on at that same time, so we're going to miss that, too.

Volusia's last race is usually the night before the Daytona 500, so that's out.

I'll bring my laptop and some books. :)

I plan on using the time between races to sit around and talk about the snow and cold weather Im missing

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

No problem with race fans finding something to do in Florida in February. Mark off a 100 mile wide corridor across middle Florida and you can find a race of some kind on all or most of the 28 days. Winged, NonWing, Pavement and Dirt Sprints; Mods; Late Models; NASCAR and it's copycats; Dragsters; plus Trucks and Cars on I-75, I-4, and I-95.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Originally Posted by Dick Monahan:
Now that I think of it, there will be a lot of us there with nothing to do Sun-Tue. I know some will be at DisneyLand, but many don't care about that. Maybe we could get organized to do something. Posters? Signs in store windows? Whatever. The teams could make appearances all over town. Maybe some sponsors could organize some parties for the evenings? I'm not looking for a free drink, just a gathering spot. Tampa's a nice town, but not very exciting Sun-Tue.

Dick, I am putting together a list based on the years I have spent eating and sightseeing down there. Hope to have it posted soon. Any other suggestions welcome. I do suggest starting the day with the friendly folks at Ruban's Cubans for breakfast and then taking a short drive to the open air market on Route 41 for fresh strawberries (or bananas, mangos, etc.), to help you make it through the day. More later.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Got to agree with Staggerman here on the two week commitment. It might get quite costly for the teams and vacation time. Would have made more sense to me to run East Bay Sunday, Monday and Tuesday after Lucas Oil Late Models and not the following week as many fans will have already returned home and have to question the crowds that East Bay is going to draw.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Originally Posted by Al Pierce:
No problem with race fans finding something to do in Florida in February. Mark off a 100 mile wide corridor across middle Florida and you can find a race of some kind on all or most of the 28 days. Winged, NonWing, Pavement and Dirt Sprints; Mods; Late Models; NASCAR and it's copycats; Dragsters; plus Trucks and Cars on I-75, I-4, and I-95.

You got THAT right, Al! :6:

And i just booked the family disney trip on monday.... planned on a few days at my brothers in tampa (read me and him sneaking off to bubba) and now i find out they will be raxing ten miles from his house the following week..... how am i gonna ssing this one?? I have never been to bubba but love love love east bay. Maybe if i play my cards right i will get to see the first day at ocala and the finale at east bay....

By the way....any other carnies on this board??

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Originally Posted by Dick Monahan:
I hate FL in Feb and the other 11 months. It's a hot, sticky swamp. I went for a walk along the river in a pea soup fog this AM. That's my kind of weather. :3:

I've been going to FL for the races since about 1973. When I took my kids, we did the amusement parks. I have no desire to see them again. I don't like beaches; they are hot and sandy and sticky.

The one great take in FL was Cape Canaveral, when it was active. The other is the Showman's Trade Show in Gibsonton. Unfortunately, it's earlier in the month and it's now $50 admission (it used to be free). The State Fair is on at that same time, so we're going to miss that, too.

Volusia's last race is usually the night before the Daytona 500, so that's out.

I'll bring my laptop and some books. :)

Sounds like to me you ought to just pass all together. I can't believe those silly sprint cars would be worth putting yourself through so much hell.

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

Re: 6 days of USAC sprints in Florida
 

11-14-14: Ok Racers...The SSMS home track of North Florida Speedway in Lake City Fl. is wanting to step up to the plate. I just received a phone call from Phil Guadagno owner of North Florida Speedway and he is wanting to fill in this HUGE void that happen, I will be meeting with Phil tomorrow and putting together details. It will be most likely the week before what we had scheduled and we the Midgets would be the "PREMIER" class with E-mods as a support class....I will have more and final details here on Sunday...If you can for all that was coming please post on here or my FB page https://www.facebook.com/WayneDavis92 your name/hometown/car#/track or series affiliation so we can show our support for North Florida Speedway and Phil and Liz....Thanks Wayne Davis... god is good!!!!!


http://www.northfloridaspeedway.com/index.htm

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