Speedrome Media Release
After the calendar switches to January each year, short track racers and fans thoughts turn to the fresh start that each new season brings. This earth’s orbit has competitors aiming at a different target to place their first focus on.
The Figure 8 teams will migrate south in just one month to the sunshine state’s Auburndale Speedway for the Florida Figure 8 Championship series.
The most exciting spectator sport has a talented roster of southern stars preparing for the challenge from many anxious northern drivers. Thursday February 12th is the beginning of this four-day festival of racing headlined by the World Figure 8® cars. A full buffet of oval action is also on the plate for those programs.
This renewal of the North vs. South crossover battles has teams anticipating this super series scheduled before their hometown regular season wars initiate.
These “civil war” style clashes first took place at the Auburndale Speedway on February 8, 1992. Over the next six years, nineteen events were held at five different Florida tracks with the last main coming in the form of a One Hour Figure 8 at the now retired Sunshine Speedway on February 15, 1997.
The new campaign has a pair of 50-lap feature along with an incredible 100-lap contest scheduled for Saturday’s Valentine evening.
Those past features produced eleven diverse winners with no driver claiming more than two victories. Noblesville invader Joe Beaver, extremely versatile Bruce Tunny, former National champion Charlie Reed, personable Buddy Vertrees, car builder Rich Fenwick, Speedrome Hall of Famer Mike St John, reigning Speedrome champion Jack Dossey Jr, and current World Figure 8® Champion Fred Bear Jr were able to accomplish that feat.
Veteran pilots Duane “the General” Lee, multi-class star Doug Greig, and present Jake’s 150 champion Eddie VanMeter each captured a single event. Which drivers will increase their racing resume with a coveted victory during the 2009 Florida Figure 8 Championship?
It is not too late to make plans to be a part of this piece of history. The brand new Best Western Inn & Suites in Auburndale has a great deal with large beautiful suites going for nearly half price.
The special deal for the World Figure 8® Racing Tour is set for $95 per night. Give them a call to reserve your room at (863) 551-3400. Additional Hotel rooms will be available at the Howard Johnson Inn in nearby Winter Haven. Those occupancies will go for $49.99 for their nice rooms.
They can be reached at (863) 294-7321. When calling either option, you should mention the Figure 8 racing at Auburndale Speedway that weekend for the special room rate.
The Florida Figure 8 Tour is sanctioned by the World Figure 8® Racing Tour. It has dates set for February 12th to the 15th, 2009 at the Auburndale Speedway.
These events evolved from the legendary World Figure 8® Championship held each year at the EDCO Welding Indianapolis Speedrome®. The $20,000 to win, 33rd Annual World Figure 8® Championship is September 10th to 12th, 2009.
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For much more information as this spectacular event prepares to unfold, listen to INSIDE FLORIDA RACING live each Monday night 7-9 PM, or catch it on iTunes or download the archive version each week.
Also be sure and visit www.speedrome.com
