Local Headlines

by BJ Cavin- VSP Media

BARBERVILLE, FL- Sprint cars will be blistering the clay of The World's Fastest Half Mile this Saturday night as Bruce Rossmeyer's Daytona Harley-Davidson presents the Jack Miller Memorial "Holy Cow 25." In addition to alcohol fueled fury from the top sprinters in the region, fans will see action from Volusia Speedway Park's own Quality Brands Budweiser Modifieds, which will be battling in another $1000 to win race this week. The Daytona Machine Shop Sportsman Division will be racing as well, plus the Daytona Sportswear Street Stocks, the Thunder Stocks, and the Sparkle and Shine Car Wash Challengers. And to top it all off, the top sprint cars will participate in a one-on-one elimination event, pitting the racers against each other until only one remains, plus there will be celebrities and special guests as well, including the legendary Speedo the Clown.

The memorial race honoring the memory of Sprint Car Hall of Fame announcer Jack Miller is expected to attract a larger than normal crop of race teams from across the southeast, and will be an event that local sprint car fans will not want to miss. While Danny Martin Jr. has swept all of the Daytona Harley-Davidson Sprint Car events at the big half mile so far in 2011, this race should attract some new competitors and they may be able to solve the Martin dilemma better than some of the others have done so far. Martin has been virtually untouchable save for one minor hiccup earlier in the year that could have cost him a race, and the sprinters will be geared up for beating Martin as well as putting their name on the winner's list for this inaugural racing event.

Twenty-five laps of wild sprint car action is quite a show, but the sprinters will also be lining up and going head-to-head in a Elimination Race featuring the top ten in the season points race thus far. Each racer will be matched against another with the pairings determined by their current points totals, and each race will send a racer forward while one will be sent back to the pits and eliminated from the competition. This event is the make up for the Elimination Race scheduled earlier this year that was postponed by weather conditions.

The last Quality Brands Budweiser Modified race at Volusia Speedway was a $1000 to win excursion that saw Kyle Bronson outrun Jeff Mathews for the big payday back on June 4th, and VSP general manager Ken Sands confirmed Monday afternoon that this Saturday's Budweiser Modified race will also pay $1000 to the winner. After a winning streak that looked unbreakable, that makes two Modified features in a row where Mathews has failed to win, so look for the 33 to be heading toward the front and aiming for another trip to Destination Daytona Victory Lane, especially since there is another $1000 check to be claimed. But then again, Mathews will again be forced to deal with the likes of Kyle Bronson, Jared Allison, PJ Wiggins, and others, who will be just as determined to take home the big payday as well.

Speaking of streaks, Philip Brown has one going as he has won the last three Daytona Sportswear Street Stock races, and is showing no hint of letting anyone else have a shot at a post race interview except for himself. Grady Christian spent the better part of 10 laps trying to stop the streak at two wins on Saturday night, but Brown managed to keep the bottom plugged up and force Christian to use the outside to try and pass, and while the 36 managed to briefly pull ahead, Brown always came back. Now Brown would like to make it four in a row and solidify his position on top of the points, but the other racers in the division have painted a virtual bulls-eye on the back of the 13 car and will be looking to get their chance at a win.

Tom Hughes and Alan Peacock stole the show last Saturday night as they battled for a Thunder Stock win, with Peacock finally overcoming multiple challenges by the 29 car to stop Hughes' win streak at two. Then after that battle was over, both drivers and their machines ended up in the tech barn as a challenge was issued, but both cars were certified as legal after review by the VSP tech crew. Both will be ready to renew their dispute this weekend, and so will Donnie Birdwell who followed them for third place this past Saturday. And as if that were not enough, Brad Fender has come on strong and will have the 69 in route to better his fourth place mark. Peacock and Hughes remain virtually neck-and-neck in the points race as well, so do not look for either of them to give an inch come Saturday night.

Things got even more confused in the Sparkle and Shine Car Wash Challenger points race on Saturday night as the reigning points leader chose dollar signs over protecting his status, and opened the door for any takers to have at his place at the top of the heap. RJ Glaser was more than happy to push his way through the door of opportunity, but mechanical issues kept him out of the top three and limited the damage that he could accomplish to the top dog. Meanwhile Ray Hunter was back in top form and outran a determined Dalton Strehle for a second trip to Destination Daytona Victory Lane, so while the rivalry continues in the points race, the races on the track now have new contenders stealing chances to win away from the rivals.

Volusia Speedway Park will open the pit gate to competitors at 4PM on Saturday afternoon, with fans admitted to the grandstand at 5:30. Hot laps will follow, with heats set to begin at 7PM. For more information on the event, including ticket prices and directions to the speedway, please visit us online at www.TheVolusiaSpeedway.com, or phone the track at 386-985-4402.