Florida Speed Park July 22 preview

July 21, 2000, St. Augustine, FL - Florida Speed Park will host WIX Night at the Races this weekend, featuring its second NationsRent Demolition Derby of the season, with a field that will likely double the count of the first derby, held in May.

"That last one was an awful lot of fun," says speedway manager Louis Smith, "especially for the drivers. We've had a lot more interest this time from participants."

The rules for a demolition derby are pretty simple. The last car running and moving, after all of the beating and banging, wins the event. No intentional head-on collisions are allowed, and a driver cannot go more than fifteen seconds without striking another vehicle. The derby will take place in the speedway infield.

The Rick's Muffler Modifieds return to action following a three-week layoff. Robert Deal, who is leading the division points race and is in contention for the national ARA championship, heads up a talent-laden field including Chuck Cumby, Jimmy Britts, Marc Kinley, Jason Lowe and George Thrift. Mark Bergman has shown steady improvement this season and is becoming more of a factor every week.

Late Models will run two 25-lap features this weekend, to make up for one of the cancelled races last Saturday night. The Sportsman will run a normal 30 lap event. Thunder Trucks and Mini Stocks will complete the local division field.

The speedway will also host the Classic Auto Racing Series for a 20 lap feature. The CARS, racing 1930's style coupes, impressed fans with their last visit in May.

The Turn 1 parking area will be closed this weekend for repairs following the tragic TBARA winged sprint accident last weekend. Drivers will take collections from fans prior to the races for the Shaun Farr Trust Fund, established this week to aid the critically injured driver and his family. Donations can be mailed to Suncoast Schools Federal Credit Union, PO Box 11904, Tampa, FL 33680-9987. Account number 4041100 should be put on a check's memo line. Farr, who will turn 18 next Tuesday, remains in critical condition at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville.

<pre> FLORIDA SPEED PARK SATURDAY - JULY 22, 2000 RACE DAY SCHEDULE

PIT GATES OPEN                                  4:30
GRANDSTAND GATES OPEN                           5:00
DRIVER'S MEETING                                6:15

HOT LAPS (TWO 6-LAP SESSIONS PER DIVISION) 6:45 QUALIFYING (IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING) LATE MODELS MODIFIEDS HEATS MINI STOCKS 6 LAPS CLASSIC AUTOS 6 LAPS SPORTSMAN 6 LAPS TRUCKS 6 LAPS

DEMOLITION DERBY INTROS, FOLLOWED BY INVOCATION AND NATIONAL ANTHEM GENTLEMAN START YOUR ENGINES 8:15

MODIFIEDS                               30 LAPS
LATE MODEL 1                            25 LAPS
MINI STOCKS                             20 LAPS
CLASSIC AUTO RACING SERIES              20 LAPS
LATE MODEL 2                            25 LAPS
SPORTSMAN                               30 LAPS
TRUCKS                                  25 LAPS

(Schedule is Subject to Change)