|
|
IT'S TIME TO
RACE!!
|
|
Modified Mini Stock 100 Moving
Forward At Citrus County Speedway
|
by KARNAC Media
Jim Curry, former mini stock champion at Citrus
County, has a tiger by the tail and he knows it.
Curry is the promoter that created the Modified
Mini Stock 100 at Citrus County Speedway
scheduled for April 11, a race he feels will
bring the mini stocks back to being front page
news.
While it is true that mini stock racing is alive
and well at several of the asphalt speedways in
Florida, they have certainly faded from the
spotlight since the day Todd Hutto gave up the
Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series (FMSC). We
remember the 38 of the best looking race cars in
Florida lining up to take the green at New
Smyrna Speedway back in 2002.
That was a Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series
race won by Matt Watts in April of that year.
Then there was the 36 car field on November 22,
2003 that
left Steve Griffin stunned as Rick Sirmans
passed him as they came to the finish line,
Sirmans winning by mere inches. Sirmans, who has
had his cars parked for a while, is busily
preparing to return to action on April 11, along
with many of the other stars from the heydays of
FMSC action.
The first time we saw a huge field of sharp
dressed mini stocks was in late 2001 at
Auburndale Speedway. Promoter Todd Hutto,
owner of the FMSC, had the cars lined up an at
angle on the front straight for driver
introductions; the cars all had sponsors logos
and looked as professional as any late model
series.
There was pride in the class than continued for
the next 5 or 6 years.
Jim Curry feels that pride and wants to bring it
back. Thus the big race he hopes will draw at
least 40-50 cars to the 1/4 mile banked bullring
in Inverness, Fl. "We're trying to bring the
mini stocks back up to what they are supposed to
be", states Jim Curry, owner of Curry Roofing.
"My passion is with the mini stock drivers, in
2004 I was a rookie over there at Citrus, and
Citrus is one of the most competitive race
tracks in Florida."
The race is designed to be very driver friendly,
including no entry fee. Thirty cars are to start
the feature, but Curry insists every driver will
go home happy.
There are contingency prizes coming from Race
Car Engineering and Phantom Graphics. KARNAC.com
is sponsoring the Hard Charger Award, and
Fastcats (owned by Kim Sirmans) is sponsoring a
$50 prize and memorial plaques for the leader of
lap 31 and 45. Those two laps are special
tributes honoring John Henderson and Ray Luecke
Jr. In addition Fastcats is also sponsoring $20
each for laps 4-5-6-9-24 and 61.
The speedway has set aside a place at the track
for a post race party for all the drivers and
their crews and sponsors at the speedway. The
race itself pays $1200 to win and $75 to start.
Don Cretty, GM at Citrus County Speedway, has
been one of Jim Curry's biggest supporters. He
has ordered a huge shipment of tires which will
be available for drivers when the track reopens
on March 28th. The speedway is closed until then
for the Citrus County Fair.
Curry makes it very clear where his emphasis is.
"The drivers is what brings the fans to the
track, the drivers is what brings the money to
the tracks, and the focus needs to get back on
the drivers, and the tracks will make money if
they put the focus back on the drivers."
Curry was a recent guest on the
Inside Florida Racing radio show, and he
explained in detail the plans for the race and
why this race is so important to the drivers.
His interview can be heard at this link.
Monday March 9th, Rick Sirmans will be on Inside
Florida Racing, the show can be heard on
www.realracinusa.com 7-9 PM.
The flyer for the
Modified Mini Stock 100 can be seen here,
and Jim Curry can be reached at 352-220-7625.
-article prepared for KARNAC Media by
Jack Smith
|
|
