Thoughts from Volusia

[mocha2@dishmail.net]

Growing pains are a good thing to have in todays economy.I would have liked to have got home before 4:30 a.m. but when I go to a race I like to see good car counts.I will still support the united dirt late models because they put on good racing.I am sure they will work on making things better for the fans and racers.I would have liked to have stayed for the last two races because I like to watch the support divisions but I was just too tired with a 110 mile drive ahead of me.

[HaudFan]

I bailed at 12:30 when it looked like no end was in sight. And glad I did...

[Frasson118]

First off, I have to say I had a blast meeting some new people, and seeing some old friends also. Hopefully I won't miss anyone here, but I pre-apologize if I do miss someone. Somewhat in order, Julie, her son Thomas and I met up with:

Phil Schryver - Tampa
Jack Smith - At Large
AB195 - Roger - Casselberry
STG Bean54 - Ron (and his Grandson, who sure kept Thomas occupied!)- Glen St. Mary, FL.
Rick Anges - wherever the UDLMSC shows up
Joe Van Hoose - Ocala
Brian Eldridge - Lake City
Billy Ausburn - Not sure where Billy's from!
Skip McKinney - Altamonte Springs, and his buddy John - Orlando..... both Dirt Track virgins!
David Wilson - Okeechobee, Fl. - Karnac viewer, but not a poster
Santa Clause - Tavares, Fl. (If you've met him, you know who I mean)
Joe Linebarrier (Anncr) - Deltona, FL, the voice of VSP
FlaVideo - Bob - way down southwest FL (Myakka, maybe?)
Ken Kenney - UDLMCS President
Ray Miller - NLMS President
Terry Caton - Voice of the NLMS

What a fine group of people you all are! That was one great night, and it sure was one to remember for little 10 year old Thomas.

Other than the late start, which I don't feel could have been helped much, the show ran off like clockwork for the most part. Cancelling or postponing some of the support class stuff would have helped out a bit. Also, I think the qualifying session was a situation where the 2 sanctioning bodies do things different from each other. The NLMS Series uses time-trial laps to help set the field, where UDLMSC does not. I think it was done in the name of cooperation between the 2 groups (and I was HIGHLY impressed by watching the officials from BOTH groups, along with VSP staff, cooperating on every level that I could see. This was something I loved being witness to).

As for the racing, other than a few holes and ridges, the track stayed very racey all night, and little to no dust at all. The feature itself had many lead changes, battles all over the track, and a TON of drama in Patrick Williams.

Patrick was running the former Scott Thompson car for the surviving family. He had an up & down night to say the very least. In his heat, he was running 4th, trying to take 3rd (only 3 qualify), he made a great move to take the spot... but the yellow quickly came out, placing him back into 4th again. On the restart, he made a bonzai move that found him sitting backwards in turn 2. He didn't make it in to the A-Main yet. But, he managed to get in through the B-Main and started about 25th out of the 30 cars. He wheeled the HELL out of that car, coming from the near the back of the field, all the way to 2nd place (this from a guy in a one-off ride, and no regular ride anywhere that I know of). He wound up 3rd behind Johnny Collins and Adam Bedenbaugh (in the ride of his career so far) in a barn-burner of a feature race! He impressed a lot of people, myself included.

With a few tweaks, this could develope into THE race of the year in Central Florida. Find a way to scrap the 2-lap time trials, run features only for the support classes (although I realize these guys paid a lot of money too, and may get jipped out of some track-time)... but other than that, don't change a thing.

So far, "Show of the Year" for me!

[carolwicks]

About Ken Kenney!

Kenney/excitementIt has been a long time since i have seen anyone involved in racing that compares to Ken Kenney. He is doing an incredible job and I can believe that race was worth waiting for!!! Ken is way above worrying about his ego. he is putting all that negative crap on the back burner and paying attention to what is best for the racing community !!!
WTG KEN !!! YOU ARE THE 2008 RACE PROMOTER GENIUS!!! Keep up the good work !!!!!

carolwicks aka OZ

I also agree with Bob (video)... Patrick Williams is a racer that NEVER disappoints me... win or lose he puts on a show for the fans and he is out on that track to win... a fantastic crowd pleaser... One of my all time favorites!

[flvideo]

Thank you Jerry

Patrick Drives a Super Late Model on asphalt #77, and he is a formitable contender I might add. We interviewed him in a pre race setting and I think he said it was the 5th race in this car. Bill Thompson builds a beast of a motor. He is also the builder of Shawn Smiths engine. You were right about the 2 series working together well. I don't think there was a hitch any where.
There was 3 announcers calling the race, Rays, ours, and VSP's. A whale of a job they did. There was always something to keep the fans mind occupied.
When you think about the Qualifying and heats think about the 31 cars that spent their hard earned money to get to the show. Only 30 cars started the feature, so 31 went home. Now I know from personal experience thats dis-hearting. By qualifying, heats and B-mains and last chance, it gave those 31 cars track time and another opportunity to get in to the show and I for one would feel a whole lot better about that scenario. I realize it is time consuming but I honestly think with a little more tweaking and a little more experience under our belt we will have the premier dirt Late moidel series in the country. I think we have the highest car count of any in the country now. Now these words are me talking, so its only my take on whats happening. Bob........

PS: If any of you get Stock Car racing magizine, there is an article in there about the series. Bob.......

[1wildfastgirl24]

Yes it was a very late night which is really odd for our track we have a good history of getting done fairly early usaly by 11:00pm anyways....Randy hit the track about 2am for his feature race in the street stocks.It was a pleasure getting to meet & talk to Kip (egoracing) and Jim (winger),wish I could have gotten around and met more of you.We had a blast

[Frasson118]

"Quote of the day"

Patrick Williams being interviewed during the line-up introductions....

"31 cars are going home, and we ain't one of 'em", obviously proud to even MAKE the A-Main!

[bubba]

How about wreck of the day...MiniStock(?) that flipped in turn three/four and kept on driving without so much as slowing down. Of course, he pitted shortly thereafter to change the shorts.

[backrow]

"Quote of the day"

Patrick Williams being interviewed during the line-up introductions....

"31 cars are going home, and we ain't one of 'em", obviously proud to even MAKE the A-Main!

Not many asphalt shows where a driver can start 22nd and finish in the top five. He was a show in himself.

[Zeigler Racing Engines]

Denise and Bob-FL video

First, Denise it was very nice to finally meet you, even though it was brief. We had a long drive ahead of us!! Maybe next time we can get together earlier in the night.

Bob, thank you so much for the videos. Clay and I watched them yesterday and really enjoyed them. The quality is great and you are doing a good job!! See you in Waycross!!


Rebecca Zeigler

[JackSmith]

I have been with the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series every race except the trip to East Alabama Speedway, and I must say each event has produced a great show. The event at Volusia Speedway Park met nearly all the expectations of those responsible for putting it on. It would seem the the lateness of the hour was more than made up for by a spectacular showing of 61 dirt late models, the heats and B Mains & last chance race, capped by the intense drama of Patrick Williams giving his all to catch Johnny Collins.

People who complain about the late show have their point, but that in my mind that was far overshadowed by the response to the reason for the event: The Scott Thompson Memorial.

Joe Linebarier & Rick Anges, announcers for Volusia & the UDLMCS will be on Inside Florida Racing (insidefloridaracing.com) at the beginning of the show tonite, and of course Joe, along with Randy Dye and Billy Ausburn will be covering this event on Trackside Tonite at 8 PM (tracksidetonite.com)

There are photos from the event at The Real RacinUSA.com photo gallery and also RicksDarkRoom.com has photos for sale.

[FDLMCS.com]

We are truly sorry for the late night. We got caught between a rock and a hard place so to speak. With the storms in the area, IF the track had watered the track and a storm hit it may have put a stop to the night so they held off and the rain that did some was a hard sprinkle. They watered the track in late and got it TO wet and that made the show go long. BUT (There always is one isn't there) the track did stay tacky and had bite, it got a little rough but it made for some GREAT racing.
As for the number of heats and Consi's, if we took more from each heat and only ran 2 consi's there would have been WAY to many cars in each consi for the amount of laps they would have gotten to run.
On dirt you cannot easily have qualifications early. With the temps in Florida during this time of year that would necessitate a re watering and surfacing of the track before any racing or by the end of the night the track would have been so dusty by the end of the night you would not have been able to see the cars. During the cooler months you can get away with an earlier start as witnesses when the Super Lates and Sprints roll through the area.
We do want to say THANK YOU to all of the fans who came to support the sport we all love and again, sorry for the late night.

[bubba]

As for me specifically, I wish it had been an earlier evening, but so be it, it was a great show with cooperation between promotors racetrack and drivers!!! I'd take that over a 10:30 show for $20 with 15 cars any day. Great job putting this together and keep up the good work. You will get more of my money in the future if you do. Once the show got going, I did think it kept moving pretty well and you guys did put on a great show for a great cause. I can't say that I knew Scott at all, but he would have been proud of the show in his name - he would have had to been.

Loved seeing Rob Underwood and Shugart out there - brought back some memories. Anybody know was the Peacock kid related to JT Peacock?

[Stgbean54]

The #15 street stock, Alan Peacock is JT Peacock's son. He's my cousin is how I know.

[Winger]

I also have some pictures up on my site. I'll be putting some more up in the next day or so. Clicking this link will take you right to the Scott Thompson Memorial Index Page 1.