Florida
is the birthplace of NASCAR and Friday afternoon,
two marquee tracks in the state joined the NASCAR
family.
NASCAR and track officials announced New Smyrna
Speedway and Orlando Speedway will be sanctioned
tracks in the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series in
2013.
New Smyrna is a half-mile banked paved oval near New
Smyrna Beach, Fla. – 25 minutes south of Daytona –
and Orlando is a .375-mile banked paved oval east of
the city.
Super Late Models will be NASCAR Division I at both
facilities. Speedworld operates on Friday nights and
New Smyrna operates on Saturdays.
Representing NASCAR at the Friday announcement at
New Smyrna Speedway were Jim France, NASCAR vice
chairman and executive vice president; George
Silbermann, NASCAR vice president, regional and
touring series; and Bob Duvall, NASCAR senior
director, business development. They were joined by
New Smyrna general manager Terry Roberts, Orlando
track promoter Ozzy Moya, and Robert Hart, who owns
both tracks.
“Sanctioning New Smyrna Speedway and Orlando
Speedworld is important to our NASCAR Home Tracks
program,” Duvall said. “Partnering with two
well-established race tracks in central Florida is
energizing the local racing community.
“These tracks are known for entertaining competition
among top-notch drivers,” Duvall said. “With NASCAR,
they have a new platform for recognition on local,
state and national levels. Track owner Robert Hart
created mainstays for weekly racing in Florida. We
look forward to working with him and officials at
both tracks.”
Hart represents the second generation of his
family’s ownership of the facilities.
“We’ve enjoyed longtime friendships with folks at
NASCAR,” Hart said. “My dad (the late) Clyde Hart
was thinking about this 15 years ago. Now is the
time to do it, and I have a feeling our new
relationships are going to work out really well.”
Moya operates Orlando Speedworld via lease from the
Hart family. The two tracks will work together under
the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series banner.
“We spent the past year reviving and improving
Lakeland (Fla.) Dragstrip, and we’re proud of what
we’ve done there in a short period of time,” Moya
said. “We plan to do the same with Orlando
Speedworld and renew its status as one of Florida’s
premier short tracks. This is a great opportunity
and it’s generating a lot of excitement.”
“My parents came to America from Cuba. They came
here and worked hard for success,” Moya said. “I’m
following their path. Part of our promotions will be
aimed at creating new race fans in central Florida’s
Hispanic community.”
David Rogers of Orlando, Fla., won the 1994 NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series national championship at
a former central Florida paved track. His undefeated
season of 22 wins in 22 starts is legendary in
NASCAR short-track racing. The 40-year racing
veteran is excited about returning to NASCAR racing.
“Obviously I like it,” Rogers said of the new era.
“This is good for our tracks and for NASCAR. The
racers will benefit from the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series. They’re going to find out how
important weekly racing is to NASCAR. This will work
out good.”
With their Division I designation, NASCAR-licensed
Super Late Model drivers are eligible to compete for
NASCAR Whelen All-American Series championships at
the track, state and national level.
The track operators will designate support classes
as NASCAR Divisions II-V and each will compete for
points in the NASCAR Finalist program. The program
brings added recognition to support division
drivers.
Entering its 32nd season, the NASCAR Whelen
All-American Series is NASCAR’s national
championship program for weekly short track auto
racing. More than 50 tracks throughout the United
States and Canada participate. Asphalt Late Model
driver Lee Pulliam, 24, of Semora, N.C., won the
2012 NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national
championship.
The track websites are
http://newsmyrnaspeedway.org and
http://orlandospeedworld.org. More
information on the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series
is available at
http://hometracks.nascar.com. |