Must give credit where credit is due, I absolutely loved the press release generated this week by Jeff Nun, the Public Relations Director for the United States Modified Touring Series. The release titled “USMTS Implements Stimulus Package” was a perfect fit for the times. Check it out at one of the sites on our links page. Todd & Janet Staley’s series kicks off on March 6th & 7th at Junction Motor Speedway in McCool, Nebraska.
We have picked up a few compliments this week as more of you are finding out that PositivelyRacing.com now exists out here in cyberspace. Your comments are always welcome at news@positivelyracing.com.
The first ten days of racing down in Florida has been hampered by colder than normal temperatures, but it looks like the action has been as hot as usual with some exciting late race heroics by the winners. Several drivers from our coverage area are in action in the sunshine state:
Jesse Hockett has made the most noise so far as he picked up the $12,500 winner’s check at East Bay’s Ronald Laney Memorial for the 360 c.i. sprints. Terry McCarl was the All Stars 410 sprint winner at last Saturday’s show in Ocala. McCarl was in the hospital just before the event with kidney stones and went ahead and raced even though he had yet to pass them. Believe me, I know from experience what Terry had to overcome when it comes to the stones! Danny Lasoski was the runner-up to McCarl at Ocala and has posted a fourth and tenth place finish as the All Stars moved forty miles to the east this week at Volusia. Bronson Maeschen made the show on Thursday night out of a field of forty-five sprinters and finished 18th.
In the Modifieds Mike Hansen of Alton picked up a podium finish last night (Thursday) at Volusia as he took third behind Austin Dillon (the 18-year-old grandson of Richard Childress) and NASCAR star Ken Schrader. Brad Waits finished fourth in the Tuesday opener at Volusia and Scott Drake was fifth at Ocala last Saturday. With around eighty cars in attendance each night at Volusia this week just making the 28-car feature field is an accomplishment and Michael Long has done it two out of three nights and Tim Karrick once. Other area drivers making the effort include Terry McClintock, Roger Moser, Tommie Seets Jr. and Brent Mullins.
In the Late Model ranks only Darren Miller and Jesse Stovall have qualified for a feature this week at East Bay with the Lucas Oil Late Models. Decorah’s Tyler Bruening just missed making the show on opening night as he finished one spot out a transfer in his heat and then wound up sixth in the B-Main. Mike Collins is also in action at East Bay.
Hermitage Missouri driver Eric Turner continued his early season tour of the south as he wheeled his Super Late Model to a seventh-place finish at the Winter Classic in Columbus Mississippi. Veteran driver Ronnie Johnson won both the Super Late Model and the Crate Late Model feature.
I was saddened today to learn of the passing of William Thye of Burlington. Bill was the father of Modified driver Darin Thye and was always a fixture in the pit area. I have met a lot of great people around the racetracks over the past thirty years, but I have to say that Bill Thye ranks right near the top. He will be greatly missed by many, rest in peace William.
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