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More Than 100 Cars Expected For Late Models Event

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By BILL GREEN Tribune correspondent

Published: December 6, 2007

East Bay Raceway Park hosts the StormPay.com Crate Late Models championship this weekend, and officials expect more than 100 race cars for the event Friday and Saturday.

Last weekend's warm-up was won by out-of-towner Doug Horton, but local stars Keith Nosbisch and David Schmauss took second and fifth, respectively.

Buzzie Reutimann made his second 2007 appearance at East Bay, running in the open-wheeled modified class, and finished fourth.

This weekend's event is the third annual and will pay $10,000 to win. Drivers from around the country are expected to compete.

The end of the 2007 season is upon us, with several local tracks already closing the books on the year. Only East Bay, Auburndale Speedway and DeSoto Superspeedway trudge further into the year with points racing.

DeSoto ran the Florida 400 wingless sprint car race last weekend, with Tampa's Dave Steele winning the event for the second time.

NASCAR developmental driver Bobby Santos III finished second after staying within striking distance all night. The Tampa Bay Area Racing Association had great representation in the top five, with Shane Butler finishing fourth and 2007 champion Troy DeCaire fifth.

OPEN HOUSE: Now under new ownership, the former Group Four test track in Palmetto will hold an open house Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.

Dan and John Andersen, owners of a racing team that competes in the Indy Racing League's developmental Indy Pro Series, have purchased the track and renamed it Andersen RacePark. The 18-acre facility, which features a 1-mile road course, is at 10101 U.S. 41 North in Palmetto.

Anderson Racing, formerly based in Fairfield, N.J., has relocated to an 8,000 square-foot shop on the Andersen RacePark grounds. The team also fields cars in the Star Mazda and F2000 series and is aligned with Rahal Letterman Racing in the Indy Pro Series.

PRI SHOW: This week marks the return of the Performance Racing Industry Show to its new Orlando home, the Orange County Convention Center. More than 1,500 vendors and some 50,000 visitors will spend Thursday through Saturday comparing products and services for racing needs of all kinds.

NASCAR Nextel Cup star Carl Edwards will share racing stories at the Grand Opening Breakfast of the Performance Racing Industry Trade Show on Thursday morning. Edwards will speak before an audience of more than 3,500, PRI members of the worldwide racing industry.

The MOPAR-PRI Sprint & Midget Classic presented by DHL returns to the world's largest racing trade show Friday night at Orlando Speedworld. Buses run from the trade show to the track, and return after the race.

SNOW BALL DERBY: Florida's biggest end-of-the-year late model race, the Snow Ball Derby, was contested at Pensacola's Five Flags Speedway last weekend.

The big news was not so much that Augie Gill of Alabama won, but rather the disqualification of Kyle Busch (roof too low) and Steven Wallace (light on scales) after qualifying runs. Both NASCAR drivers were "visibly upset," according to local reporter Steve Myers.

Staff writer Tony Fabrizio contributed to this report.

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