First off I want to give a shout out to both USAC and Ocala Speedway and there staff for a great kick off to the 2011 Sprint car racing season.

I have said (privately and to anyone who would listen lol) that all USAC needed was people in place who could convince us racers that they cared as much as we do. I have heard way to many times over the years that "This is only a job" or "well its a paycheck" Nothing infuriated me more then to here that when for the majority who do this it's their paycheck that they are giving up to do this.

From the time we pulled in the pits there seemed to be an energy and a friendliness and an excitement to be at the the race track. Kevin Miller made an effort to get through the pits and meet and shake hands with those who were there to shake things down. Dave Brzozowski the new competition directer was gracious in his attempt to go through the changes he is instituting. The tech of the cars were really a tech of the cars that as both a car owner and a dad I was happy to see. The Ocala promoters, if they stopped by the trailer once they did a dozen times to make sure we that we had everything we needed and to make sure the racers were happy in the direction of the track.

Race day, for the first time in a long time (this is probably not a fair statement) I watched the USAC contingent I am guessing 8-10 strong bust ass from 9 in the morning (when we arrived they were there before us) till 11:30 at night to put on an "event". Some of the ideas they are coming up with to engage the fans seemed to work pretty well last night and will continue to grow as they learn how to grow their ideas.

There Happy Hour seemed to work out well as we had several fan's with there kids in tow stopped by.

The racing was the normal unreal, hold your breath till the last corner action we have come to love about this series.

The crowd was decent for a Thursday night. as the main grandstands was 2/3rds full and the turn four grandstands were 1/4 full. and there were plenty of people milling around the pits.

2 things struck me last night that made me chuckle a little and the more I think about it the more it makes me think we are indeed heading down the right road.

#1) it was pretty evident that Dave had some nerves holding his first official pit meeting. It was clear that Dave wants to do a great job for us the racers and for USAC and I for one am excited to watch Dave grow in his new role.

#2) Blake Anderson, Hopefully the "voice of USAC" for the future. The love this kid has for the sport is contagious and his pre-race excitement rivaled any of the drivers who lined up for the nights feature.

Not sure what all this means but I figured after all the negativity that seems to follow about any event that is ran now regardless of the sanction, track, series, ect I would make a preemptive strike with a little positivity.

Oh yea as we were leaving last night the promoter stopped us and asked what he could do for the tonight to make it even better ... yep it was a great start to the season.

Tim Clauson