Florida 400 questions

[Joe]

OK, never been to Desoto but I think this is the weekend. What's the deal on the Florida 400? How many cars? What kind of cars? Any support classes? Is it worth the $25? Any info would be great. Thanks.

[HaudFan]

Sprint cars, Sprint cars and sprint cars! If you like sprint cars you will like this. Went last year. They only had the sprint cars run. 400 laps is a lot of laps. The action is fast and it can get confusing but like I said if your a sprint car fan you've to go at least once...I think the car count will be better this year. They are advertising $12K to win and $1k to start. They want 30 cars to start the feature...I'll be there for sure!

[Joe]

So they really race 400 laps? Is it broken up at all? How many cars did they have last year? Anybody have an entry list?

[Frasson118]

Last year was pretty light on cars, but I would expect this year to do better. So far I hane't seen any kind of entry list, but the press releases show:
Bobby Santos III
Eric Gordon
TJ Winegardner
Dakotah Stevens
Dennis Misuraca
Wendy Mathis
and I'm sure, last years winner David Steele. This is just from memory, and I know I'm missing a few.

The pit stops alone are worth watching. That is something they only do 1 other time each year... the Little 500 in Anderson, Indiana. It looks dangerous as hell!

Fun race though... wish I could make it again this year. Last year, in 2 weeks time, I made it to the Florida 400 (Desoto), the PRA Big Cars (Lakeland), USAC Midgets, Sprints, Ford Focus & Legends (Orlando) and the Snowball Derby, Snowflake 100 and the Modified 75 race (5 Flags).

[JackTripper]

They are alluding to thirty drivers in their press release. Who knows, anything is possible if most of the TBARA guys take off their wings and some other USAC guys come in early. I'd love to go cheer for Wendy and Dave but I have to be at the hospital at 5 a.m. on Sunday, so no dice for me.

I'd go watch qualifying on Friday, but that's a long haul for me for no real racing.

[HaudFan]

Tripper good luck Sunday!...Yes 400 laps. No wings. Had about 20 cars last year. Had a couple of USAC guys last year like Russ Gamester and Brian Tyler. Jack Hewitt drove the pace truck. Troy DeCaire had a good run last year and Charlie Ladner didn't do half bad as well...Its different and what else are you going to do on a Saturday night in December?

[x90 John Sarppraicone]

Florida 400 entry list so far and we talked to over 60 drivers this year and from what feedback I got we are expecting 30 - 35 cars. Marv Carman is here now with 2 cars.

Mike Rudolf 2 cars
David Steele
Jim Swaim
Eric Gordon
Charlie Schultz
Danny Martin
David Slawiak
Nick Mankis
Travis Bliemister
Tony Elliot
Tommy Nicholes
Chad Dillagrange
Harry Hale
Terry Klatt
Janice East
Curtis Carter
Brian Eckley
Johnny Gilbertson
Charile Laddner
Jeff Van Dusen
Terry Decaire
Craig Cougler
Gary Green
Aron Perice
Rod Anderson
Shane Bulter
Jim Brown
Stan Bulter
Russ Gamester

I hope this helps Plus the Human Cannonball will go for a world record he will be shot out of the cannon over 18 brand new Bob Boast Dodge vehicles.It's the worlds largest starting gun. Action starts at 6:30 Sharp. See ya at the races.

[Rick Anges]

Last years race was pretty damn good. I had never seen a Sprint Car race that was more than 50 laps before and was wondering what a 400 lapper would be like. Unlike a regular extended lap stock car race the sprint cars always have something going on and the pit stops are bad to the bone. If your a true sprint car fan you don't want to miss this one!!!!!!

[Rick Anges]

2ND ANNUAL FLORIDA 400 LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY

By David Sink

Bradenton , FL , November 25, 2007 - With less than a week away preparations continue for the second annual Florida 400 sprint car race at the Desoto Super Speedway in Bradenton , FL. The 2nd annual running of this 400 lap sprint car race will pay $12,000 to the winner plus contingency and lap monies from a total purse of $56,000.


The Florida 400 is the only 400 lap sprint car race in the world and the second richest pavement sprint car event as well. In order for a driver to stake claim to a Florida 400 victory he must battle twenty-nine other competitors for 400 laps around the high banked 3/8 asphalt oval. He must also contend with heavy lapped traffic the entire night as well as completing two mandatory pit stops.


Entries continue to pour in as Thursday's opening practice draws near. Drivers from USAC, HOSS, TBARA, ASCS, and AVSS among others have already been received. The entry list is headed by defending Florida 400 champion, Dave Steele, from Tampa , FL who also is a two-time USAC Silver Crown champion as well as the 2005 TBARA titlist. Other notables include 8-time Little 500 champion Eric Gordon, Bill Davis, Racing NASCAR development driver Bobby Santos III, and ASCS Rebel Region Champion T. J. Winegardner among others. Santos III heads to Desoto Super Speedway fresh off of his Turkey Night sprint car win at Irwindale , CA and is considered an early favorite.


Long distance sprint car races in the state of Florida are nothing new. In the late 70's 500 lap sprint car were attempted at the now defunct Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa and at the Orlando Speed World. Then again in '93 and '94 two more Ill fated 500 lap sprint car races were contested at Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda. These long ago events were mere memories until the Desoto Super Speedway event was unveiled last December with huge success.


Action gets underway Thursday Nov.29 with an afternoon practice and qualifying the next afternoon. The thirty-car 400 lap event is scheduled to take the green at 8PM Sat. Dec. 1, 2007 . For more information go to www.florida400.net or contact Jack Nowling at (727) 527-5078 as well as the Desoto Super Speedway (941) 748-3171 for ticket info.

[Frasson118]

Not to tease too hard John, but I did get a few chuckles there...

Is that Danny "My Favorite Martian"?

And Possibly Janice East, rather than Beast? The popular Beast chassis is built by Bob East... B. East for short... which translates to his business name of Beast.

Also noticed that the drivers I'd seen listed aren't on there either... Santos, Misuraca, Mathis, Stephens, etc...

Look for Santos, Gordon and Steele to be the 3 strongest contenders!

[JackTripper]

This looks like it's going to be an awesome race. Deciphering the misspelled names I can see there are some out-of-state heavy hitters in there. (Just pulling your leg, we all can't be great spellers.)

I would highly encourage every able bodied fan with with the time and financial means to hit this race.

If I was a gambling man I'd put my money on Mr. Steele to defend our home turf against the invaders.

[open wheels]

add Jacob Wilson in the #11 Fatheadz.com/Jet Star/ Jeff's Jam-it-in Storage/ Lucas Oil/ Beast Chevrolet

http://www.jacobwilsonracing.com
http://www.wilsonbrosracing.com

Thanks for the shameless plug

[JackTripper]

How long did this race take to run last year?

If the stars align, I might go.

[HaudFan]

Tripper I want to say it was done around 10:30ish. However, I'm not certain on that...Just hope my Joey Saldana t-shirt gets here so I can wear it!...Now's the time to get the end of the year deals on racing t-shirts. Might even buy one from Terry McCarl!

[Gary J]

Sprint cars

They should be at EastBay jan 31 to feb 2. 360 sprntcars.