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Daytona 500

Editor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:42:33 +0000

The popular Daytona 500 will see 43 NASCAR drivers competing in this highly prestigious event. A highlight this year will be the US Air Force’s Thunderbirds performing a thrilling fly-over. The race is heald annually anc covers a distance of 500 miles, consisting of 200 laps.

Date: 26 February 2012
Time: 1 PM
Venue: Daytona International Speedway
City: Daytona Beach
State: Florida
Country: United States of America

Cavallino Classic 2012

Editor — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 10:32:30 +0000

The 21st Annual Palm Beach Cavallino Classic is a convention for Ferrari enthusiasts that sees some 400 of these remarkable cars coming to Palm Beach. A highlight of the event is the Floriday Trophy, which is a two day track meet that will be held at Palm Beach International Raceway. The 19th of January will feature the Tour of Palm Beach, with some 80 classic Ferraris traveling the roads of Palm Beach. On 21 January is the Concorso d’Eleganza during which the Ferrari’s are jusdged in various classes and categories. Along with these scheduled events are a number of other receptions and gatherings.

Dates: 17 to 22 January 2012
City: Palm Beach
State: Florida
Country: United States of America

World Figure 8 Championship 2010

Editor — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:24:38 +0000

To watch the best drivers from around the country, as far as Florida, Texas, California and Kentucky, show off their extraordinary driving skills, motoring enthusiasts are advised to ensure that they attend the 34th Annual World Figure 8 Championship on 11 September 2010. It is where more than ninety drivers will continue to drive in a figure of eight, non-stop, for three hours. The thrill and excitement of this event is not to be missed, and is an event that the entire family can enjoy.

To find out more information about this historical track and the World Figure 8 Championship, visit the Indianapolis Speedrome website at www.speedrome.com.

Date: 11 September 2010
Venue: Indianapolis Speedrome
City: Indianapolis
Country: United States of America

Central Florida International Auto Show 2009

Editor — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 09:52:27 +0000

From the 26th to the 29th of November 2009, the Orange Country Convention Centre will host the 2009 Central Florida International Auto Show. Motoring enthusiast will have the opportunity to marvel at a wide range of vehicles, including futuristic cars, minivans and trucks. Special guests and fascinating exhibitions also lure the crowds, which are expected to be approximately forty thousand this year.

For ticket prices, additional event information and times for the specific days, visit the event website at http://www.motortrendautoshows.com/orlando/generalinfo.jsp.

Date: 26 – 29 November 2009
Venue: Orange County Convention Centre
City: Orlando, Florida
Country: United States of America

Daytona International Speedway

Editor — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:10:45 +0000

Whether you are a NASCAR fan or not, you have likely hear of Daytona’s unbreakable bonds with auto racing, with cars first racing on a road course before moving to a regular track. The quality of car racing at Daytona over the past half century has been simply astounding, so we may say that NASCAR has paid back Florida for the gift of auto racing with full interest! Daytona has never shied away from new technology, but it also has an endearing quality of preserving a halo of tradition and history which no other place can match.

The two and a half miles of the Daytona International Speedway have no less than 31 degree inclines for drivers to negotiate, making it nearly impossible to even keep cars upright, to say nothing of the lightening speeds! The oval layout looks deceptively benign from a distance. Daytona is a sunny and friendly place, but the track is meant only for the brave and skilled! Nextel, Busch, and Craftsman are the top series which grace this track. Every driver dreams of racing here, and the track has seen the cream of auto racing participants crop. This track also hosts motor cycle events.

Daytona has always been an innovator in all aspects of car racing. It was here that drivers learnt to use the vacuum created by a car in front to gain speed. It was at Daytona that auto racing witnessed a speed of over 200 miles per hour. Daytona, thanks to innovative spectator arrangements, is the best track to watch pit crews up close, providing a window to an integral aspect of racing which is not always appreciated. The Daytona International Speedway is a kind of Mecca for auto racing, and you must plan a visit if you have never been here.

Second Season of Unified Indycar Racing Commences

Editor — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 11:28:26 +0000

It may not be the first season of unified racing for the IndyCar Series, but teams returning to this year’s events will likely feel that it is. Last year the unification decision was announced in February, just days before pre-season testing commenced. Drivers were ill-prepared for the changes and many suffered for this during the course of the season. This year they can kick off their season truly prepared for it.

Things started out a bit rough-and-tumble for the 2008 IndyCar racing season after some major changes were made a little too close to the first open test. The February Open Test in Homestead, Miami, was missed and a separate Open Test was held in Sebring, Florida. Teams had to spend at least half the season preparing back-up cars just to make it through with some hope of success. Fortunately the drivers were eventually able to catch up, and by the end of the season there were two rookie breakthrough wins by Justin Wilson and Graham Rahal.

Now the 2009 IndyCar series unified racing season is ready to begin as cars get ready to return to the track from February 24-25 for the Open Test. Stating his expectations for the year, Vitor Meira, who has been racing the series for seven years and will be moving to AJ. Foyt Racing for the season, said: “It’s definitely going to be tougher. With the off-season that we have, the new teams have had a lot of time to think, a lot of time to correct their mistakes. Since their learning curve is higher than ours, they’re going to be able to start in better shape than last year.”

Apart from the Open Test announcement, teams will also be racing two new street courses in Long Beach California and Toronto. Drivers seem to be excited about being given the chance to race where people like Mario and Michael Andretti, Helio Castroneves and Dario Franchitti have raced and won before. Will Power remarked that “Unification was the best thing that could’ve happened for open-wheel racing in North America”, due to the fact that “it’s created a lot more interest in the sport.” He couldn’t be more right and no doubt the 2009 IndyCar Series will be a massive success.

Lanier National Speedway to Host SpeedFest 2009

Editor — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 11:17:44 +0000

The Lanier National Speedway, located at 5309 Winder Highway in Braselton, Georgia, is to be the venue for SpeedFest 2009. Pro Late Model teams, Super Late Model teams and crowds of fans will gather for the fifth annual SpeedFest at the state-of-the-art facility on 24-25 January. With the closure of the USA International Speedway in Florida, officials from Champion Racing Association (CRA) Super Series and the Georgia Asphalt Series (GAS) needed to find a new home for the event, and Lanier National Speedway fits the bill perfectly.

Lanier National Speedway recently purchased the GAS series, which complements the CRA series, enabling organizers to combine the two groups into a major national event. Super Late Models will be competing in the 200-lap event for the winner’s purse of $10,000, while Pro Late Models will be competing to win $3,000 in their 100-lap event. Building up to the excitement of the weekend, fans must listen out for announcements by track officials in coming weeks with regard to bonuses for winning drivers. Terry Roberts, General Manager of Lanier National Speedway, noted that SpeedFest had found a great home and they consider it an honor to host the top Super and Pro Late Model teams in the “traditional battle of North and South drivers.”

SpeedFest 2009 is an open weekend, with teams and different organizations being welcomed from all over the country. On-track activities for the Super Late Model event will be managed by CRA’s Glenn Luckett and R.J. Scott, with the GAS Series officials directing the Pro Late Model event. Scott emphasized that with this type of special event, they will make every effort to be accommodating to racers from all different series.

Lanier National Speedway is a NASCAR-sanctioned 3/8 mile stock car racing track. Events are held at the track every Saturday night from March through to October. Auto racing has not been immune to the negative effects of the current economic downturn, but Lanier National Speedway is pulling out all the stops to ensure that drivers and fans are able to continue to enjoy this fast-paced sport – so make a plan to be at SpeedFest 2009.

East Bay South Shore Auto Sales Late Model Championship

Editor — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:13:41 +0000

Fans and drivers gathered together to enjoy a great night of racing at the “Clay by the Bay” this past weekend. Unfortunately all had to wait for the weather for a while, but with approximately 100 cars signed in for the various racing events, no one was about to go home due to a little inclement weather.

Because of the weather problems and the resulting delay, only drivers for the Late Model class got to warm up in the heat races. All the other drivers simply had to suck it up and do their best. By the time the clouds finally parted long enough for racing to get underway at the Gibsonton, Florida, race track it was clear that spectators were in for a great evening’s racing. The South Shore Auto Sales Late Model got off to a great start and pretty soon it was clear that the 21-point lead that front-runner KD Kelly had over Travis Varnadore in the East Bay South Shore Auto Sales Late Model Championship would be greatly increased during the course of the evening. Varnadore ran into some difficulties near the beginning of the Late Models race when an early caution set him back near the back of the field on the restart. In stark contrast, Kelley ran an excellent race with very few difficulties. However, the true star of the night was Roger Crouse who started off in 6th position and quickly and effectively made his way to the front of the field. Crouse managed to win the South Shore Auto Sales Late Model race with an evening of truly fantastic driving. It was his first feature win in the Late Models so far this season and he had plenty to be proud about. He was followed over the finish line by Al Larson, whose second place finish gave him his first top-5 finish of the season, and Trevor Merrel.

Despite only coming in 9th and not being able to take home the Late Model race victory trophy, KD Kelly was able to win the East Bay South Shore Auto Sales Late Model Championship. With two features wins, nine top-5 finishes and fifteen top-10 finishes, his grip on the championship trophy was secure. Varnadore finished the feature race just one place behind him.

New Smyrna Speedway to Host FASCAR Late Model Challenge

Editor — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:54:24 +0000

New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, will play host to the FASCAR Late Model Challenge on Saturday 13 September. Auto racing fans can expect plenty of action as competing drivers tackle 100 laps around the half-mile asphalt track. The exciting program includes Modifieds, Super Stock, Sportsman, Mini Stock and Strictly Stock, plus double points for Modifieds.

Fans can expect the pit gate to open at 2 pm on Saturday, with an exclusive practice session for the FASCAR Late Model Challenge drivers between 3 and 4 pm followed by Division practice. Qualifying for the FASCAR Late Model Challenge (which was formerly known as the Goodyear Challenge Late Models) is scheduled for 6:30 pm with racing action starting at 7:30 pm.

FASCAR (Florida Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing) is considered to be the state of Florida’s version of NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Automobile Racing), providing a developmental league where 16 to 18 year old drivers can develop their skills racing stock cars in preparation for competing in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and NASCAR Nationwide Series.

The FASCAR Late Model Challenge Series is a twelve race season at the most challenging late model tracks in Florida. Saturday’s FASCAR Late Model Challenge is the eighth of the season, and Daniel Keene Jr. is currently in the lead for the series. Out of the five races so far this year, Keene has won four, demonstrating his exceptional driving skills. Jeremy Colangelo is second in points, while third is Jessica Murphy, followed by Alan Bruns, Darren Brown and Joe Winchell.

FASCAR has been operating since 1970 with various series taking place at their two race tracks, being New Smyrna Speedway (half-mile) and Orlando Speedworld (3/8 mile). FASCAR traveling series, which take place throughout Florida, include the Sunoco-Sunbelt Super Late Model Series and Advance Auto Parts Pro-Trucks Series. New Smyrna Speedway also hosts the annual Florida Governor’s cup in November and the annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in February each year.

The next two events in the FASCAR Late Model Challenge Series take place on 25 October at the New Smyrna Speedway and 7 November at Orlando Speedworld – so make a note in your diary to be there.

2009 IndyCar Schedule Gets Two New Venues

Editor — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 13:13:25 +0000

After a lot of reorganizing in seems the IndyCar Series is getting ready for a great season next year. They recently announced their 2009 schedule, which not only featured eighteen different races, but revealed two exciting new racetrack venues. The changes extend the championship by an entire month and will no doubt prove to be very popular with auto racing fans.

The 2009 IndyCar Series schedule promises to offer drivers and fans one of the most diverse ranges of challenges in motor sports. The new schedule not only features 10 oval races, but also includes three permanent road circuits and five temporary courses. Many of the venues are not new to the IndyCar Series as they hosted the event this year, but there are two new venues to look forward to. The exciting action will start on the streets of St. Petersburg, Florida, on April 5 – giving the 2009 season a great kick off. After that it will be moving to the Streets of Long Beach where the IndyCar Series will be making its debut at a venue that has already hosted F1, CART and Champ Car races during the course of its 35 year history. The series will then move from street circuits to ovals for a while, starting with the Kansas Speedway on April 26. It will go on to be hosted at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, The Milwaukee Mile, The Texas Motor Speedway, the Iowa Speedway, the Richmond International Raceway, the Watkins Glen International, the Streets of Toronto, the Edmonton City Center Airport and the Kentucky Speedway. The races at the Texas Motor Speedway, the Richmond International Raceway and the Kentucky Speedway will all take place at night, giving the season’s program even more variation.

The action will then move on to two road courses – the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course and the Infineon Raceway, before hitting the Chicagoland Speedway for another great night race. After that it’s off to The Raceway at Belle Isle Park, a brilliant 2.906-mile street course, before returning to oval racing at the 1.5-mile Twin Ring Motegi. The exciting season of racing will conclude at the Homestead-Miami Speedway and will take place on October 11. No doubt the 2009 racing season will provide fans with all the fun and excitement that they have come to expect from the IndyCar Series and we look forward to the new season with pleasure. However fans should note that venues may still be subject to change.