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ALLSTAR: Florida Speedweek history

PONCE INLET, FL - When the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars hit the track for their season opener at Volusia Speedway Park on Thursday, Feb 8, it will mark the 157th All Star race in Florida in the 21-year history of the All Star Circuit.

PONCE INLET, FL - When the All Star Circuit of Champions sprint cars hit the track for their season opener at Volusia Speedway Park on Thursday, Feb 8, it will mark the 157th All Star race in Florida in the 21-year history of the All Star Circuit. The All Stars began racing in Florida in 1983, and East Bay Raceway leads the way with 66 events held, followed by Volusia Speedway Park with 48 races, Jax Raceways with 17, Ocala with 10, Florida Fairgrounds (7), Charlotte Co. Speedway (5), Putnam Co. (2) and a lone event at Lakeland.

Action continues through Sunday Feb. 11 at Volusia in Barberville (20 min. west of Daytona Beach). Four complete shows are scheduled, with $4,000 to win the first three nights and $7,000 to win on Sunday.

Then, Wed. through Saturday Feb. 14-15-16-17 (with Practice & Media Day Tues. Feb. 13), the series moves to East Bay Raceway for the 25th Annual Winternationals. The track is located in Gibsonton, FL (5 miles south of Tampa). Four complete shows are scheduled, with $4,000 to win the first three nights and $25,000 to win on Saturday.

Lakeland held their only event in 1990, with Rocky Hodges coming home the winner. Putnam County's 1991 shows saw Kevin Huntley and Bobby Davis Jr. in victory lane, while Charlotte County's five events fell to Kenny Jacobs in 1991, a pair to Dave Blaney in 1992, and Todd Kane and Tony Elliott won the 1993 pavement events.

The Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa hosted the All Stars in 1984, with Doug Wolfgang winning, with Bobby Davis Jr. sweeping a pair of events in 1985 and Steve Kinser sweeping the 1986 double.

Ocala's victory lane visits went to Davis and Jacobs in 1991, Frankie Kerr and Davis in 1992, Johnny Mackison, Jr. and Rickey Hood in 1993, Kevin Huntley, Hodges, Joey Saldana and Lance Dewease in 1994.

The oiled dirt of Jax hosted the All Stars from 1983-1994, with winners being Danny Smith, Doug Wolfgang (2), Bobby Allen, Keith Kauffman, Joe Gaerte, Kerr (2), Rocky Hodges (2), Steve Smith, Jack Hewitt, Mackison (2), Terry McCarl (2) and Saldana.

In the events at Volusia, on both the 3/8 mile and half-mile dirt and pavement ovals, there have been 21 winners. Leading the way at Volusia is Danny Lasoski with 12 wins, Dale Blaney, Gary Wright, Kenny Jacobs, Rocky Hodges and Keith Kauffman with three each, Robbie Stanley, Bobby Davis Jr., Jeff Shepard and Dave Blaney with a pair apiece, with single wins going to Steve Kinser, Tim Green, Doug Wolfgang, Jimmy Sills, Steve Stambaugh, Kerr, Joey Allen, Jac Haudenschild and Terry McCarl. Winners in 1999 were Greg Hodnett, Kevin Gobrecht, Pauch and Kerr. Predating the All Stars, East Bay Nationals winners were Paul Pitzer (1977), Doug Wolfgang (1978, 79, 80 and 81), Sammy Swindell 1982 and Steve Kinser (1983).

In All Star sanctioned East Bay action, there have been 29 different winners in 66 races. The multiple winners roster includes Davis, Jr. (13), Wright (7), Billy Pauch (5), Lasoski (4), Wolfgang (3), Kauffman (3), Dewease (3), Jeff Shepard (3), Bobby Allen (2), Fred Rahmer (2), Cris Eash (2) and Bill Brian Jr., (2). Single victory lane visits have been made by Lee Osborne, Joe Saldana, Swindell, Hodges, Mackison, Mark Keegan, Paul Lotier, Johnny Herrera, Dave Blaney, Steve Smith, Kenny Adams, Randy Wolfe, Jacobs, Terry Shepherd, Haudenschild, Stevie Smith and Brian Schnee. With the final night winner each season being crowned the East Bay Nationals champion, titles have gone to Sammy Swindell (1984), Bobby Davis Jr. (1985-86-87-92), Paul Lotier (1988), Steve Smith (1989), Randy Wolfe (1990), Kenny Jacobs (1991), Keith Kauffman (1993), Stevie Smith (1994), Lance Dewease (1995), Bill Brian Jr. (1996), Brian Schnee (1997) and Jeff Shepard (1998 & 1999). Lasoski was the 2000 champ.

For 2001 at East Bay, the winner gets a whopping $25,000 winners check for the 25th anniversary East Bay Nationals.

-www.allstarsprint.com

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