Charlotte Country resumes racing New Year's Eve

PUNTA GORDA, FLA. -- With its grand reopening now history, Charlotte County Speedway eyes its second big weekend of racing since the destruction of Hurricane Charley.

The Punta Gorda paved oval will be racing New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

The New Year's Eve program is nicknamed the "Eve of Destruction" with 11 different races and a big fireworks display at the stroke of midnight. The New Year's Day event will be highlighted by the School Bus Figure 8s.

The Dec. 31 races are out of the ordinary and should prove fun for the entire family to watch. There is a Blindfold Race where the driver is blindfolded and a co-pilot tells him which way to turn. There is a Reverse Race with drivers going backwards. There is a Midnight Ride with the light towers turned off and drivers using flashlights to find their way around the track. There are Enduro races -- one for women only anda switch-off where men and women share time behind the wheel. Cars will participate in Tug-O-Wars, Four-Cylinder races, fan participation races and smoky burnout competition.

The fireworks display will be one adults and kids won't want to miss.

For the daring, there is still room to get into these races. Call the track at 941-575-7223 for more information.

The pit gates open at 4 p.m. and the races begin at 7 p.m. on Friday night, Dec. 31.

Charlotte County Speedway is reaching out to hurricane victims by handing out comp tickets for the Dec. 31 program to those living in the FEMA Airport Road Mobile Home Park.

The racing program on Saturday, Jan, 1, or New Year's Day, will begin at 2 p.m. Besides the School Bus Figure 8s, there will be a 250-lap Hangover Enduro. There is also room to get into these races. Call the track for more info.

Charlotte County Speedway is located off Exit 161 of I-75 on Piper Road in the Airport Industrial Park.

-ccs-