Florida 400 questions

[Rick Anges]

If I remember right it was just over a little two hours green to checkers. I am bringing my digital recorder with me and should have some interviews up soon after the race.

[Gary J]

Starting time

What is happining 630? b main or stuntman?

[Dakotah Stephens Racing]

Dakotah is going to try to make the field in a retro car. Don't know who it use to belong to but it has Doug Heveron's name on it. Just kidding-it is an old car of Doug's with Curry's paint job but it is carrying the #79 this time. First time out in a long time.

[FromBehindTheMIC]

2006 FLORIDA 400 LIVE Call (for your review)

2006 FLORIDA 400 LIVE Call

Even with some confusion last year on who was 2,3,4th etc... It was a great race. I've talked the Tampa Tribune into a lot of coverage for the event... so hopefully starting Thursday we'll see some great items.

No matter your love level for sprint cars...SEE THIS ONE ONCE!!!

[holmrun]

Watch out for traffic as the Snowbird Nationals will be going on next door all weekend as well. Wish this was on a different weekend as I'll be next door instead. Have fun everyone.

[Joe]

2-part question: What is the Snowbird Nationals? And can you bring a cooler into Desoto?

[Don Sutter]

Snow Bird Nationals

Joe, drag strip is next to SR 64 and the circle track is 1/2 mile in. Sat. is the night of fire. Use to have an IHRA event there, maybe still is, and would have a few NHRA funny car match races (John Force vs anyone). Sunday would be the eliminations. Saw your column in the Banner on ESPN last week when I had Thanksgiving with my Dad. I sure don't want to go to pay for view, but less commercials would be great along with less talking heads. Newbies need to have camber explained to them. Don Sutter

[Aint Skeered Racing]

car count for pratice

Saw about 30 cars out there today for pratice around 2pm in case anybody was wondering

[Gary J]

HEy Joe

you can't bring anything into the stands.you can bring a bag of burgers and couple sodas in the pits.

[Joe]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be heading there on Saturday. How close was the competition last year? More than one car on the lead lap?

[JackTripper]

cars that practiced on thursday

55 Shane Butler
66 Tony Elliott
81 Daryl Smith
55b Dave Baumgartner
18 Stan Butler
78 Shane Miller
79 Dakota Stephans
11 Jacob Wilson
37 Mike Koss
100 Tom Patterson
99 Charlie Schultz
98 Bobby Santos III
99 Brian Gingras
46 Jim Swain
14 Tim Barber
39 Charlie Ladner
91 Dave Steele
2c Curtis Carter
99x Tim Buchanan
11 T.J. Winegartner
57x Rocky Lopresto

Must figure out how to make it there Saturday...

Hey - anyone know what time they are qualifying tomorrow?

[Don Sutter]

Qualifing Schedule

Called yesterday, Qualifing is from 1:30 to 4 PM friday

[BOB KRUPA]

Florida 400 Questions

Anyone has an update on the Qualifying?

[Dakotah Stephens Racing]

Brian Gingiss is on the pole and Dave Steele 2nd.

A few candid pictures from the pits today are up on Dakotah's website. www.dakotahstephens.com

[JackTripper]

qualifying results

Brian Gingras on the pole - with a 360.

STARTING LINEUP
1. 99 Brian Gingras
2. 91 Dave Steele
3. 98 Bobby Santos III
4. 66 Troy Decaire
5. 14 Tim Barber
6. 5 Shane Butler
7. 11 Jacob Wilson
8. 99x Tim Buchanan
9. 66 Tony Elliott
10. 2 Scott Adema
11. 41 Steve Heisler
12. 100 Tom Patterson
13. 56 Jeff Vandusen
14. 99 Charlie Schultz
15. 81 Daryl Smith
16. 39 Charles Ladner
17. 18 Stan Butler
18. 55 Dave Baumgartner
19. 121 Jim Alvis Sr.
20. 11t TJ Winegardner
21. 21t Johny Gilbertson
22. 78 Shane Miller
23. 79 David Slawiak
24. 11x Lee Cipray
25. 46 Jim Swain
26. 11b Jimmy Riddle
27. 19 Keith Butler
28. 0 Danny Martin Jr.
29. 37 Mike Koss
30. 21r Richard Kessinger
31. 79 Dakota Stephens
32. 11r Brian Riddle
33. 2c Curtis Carter

By David Sink - Bradenton, FL - November 30, 2007 - Qualifications for the 2nd annual Florida 400 at the Desoto Super Speedway in Bradenton, FL were held Friday afternoon and it turned out to be an eventful day full of surprises.

Prior to qualifying there were some who thought that maybe a 360 c.i. motor wouldn't be an engine of choice for this event. Perhaps the 3/8 mile Desoto Super Speedway with its longer straights would require a larger 410 c.i. motor to claim a pole position for this Saturday's 400 lap marathon. Floridian driver, Brian Gingras, put this argument to rest after he captured the pole position for the 2nd annual event with his 360 c.i. engined sprinter.
Gingras who has limited laps in a non-winged sprint car said he surprised even himself. "We actually came here just to get some seat time for the PRI show. I don't have much seat time in a non-winged car. Its my first year running sprint cars and I got rookie of the year in TBARA". Gingras continued to explain his change in race tactics now that he will lead the field to the start of Saturday's event." We weren't prepared to win the race as we don't a fueling rig or anything. Its just me and another guy right now. We got some guys coming tomorrow so hopefully we can get a game plan together and run the race."

Another surprise was Ohio driver, Tim Buchanan, who has by far the smallest engine in the field and now finds himself starting in the eight position. Buchanan has a 305 c.i. powerplant compared to the much larger 360 and 410 c.i. motors he will be battling Saturday night.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the afternoon came from the event promoters. Due to the huge turnout of competitors race officials have decided to start thirty-three cars instead of the advertised thirty starters. The race will now align in eleven rows of three much the same as the Little 500 held annually in Anderson, IN each Memorial Day weekend.

The 400 lap sprint car event is scheduled to take the green flag at 8pm Saturday night.