Florida Speed Park SpeedFest 2000

February 6th - St. Augustine Speedway officials are busy in preparation for SpeedFest 2000, a ten day event running from Thursday, February 10th through Saturday, February 19th at Florida's fastest paved 1/2-mile speedway, formerly St. Augustine Speedway.

With over fourteen different divisions scheduled over the course of ten days, SpeedFest 2000 is shaping up to be a race fan's dream week. Kicking off the event is an Open Practice on Thursday from 5pm to 10pm. Admission is a $2 donation or $1 with 2 cans of food. Friday the 11th brings on the Super Late Models, Modifieds, Thunder Trucks, Late Models, Mini Stocks and Hobby Stocks.

Saturday the 12th is the running of the first annual Florida Cup, a 150-lap $3,000 to win Super Late Model event. A 75 lap Florida Race Trucks event and Sportsman show complement the night. The speedway will be closed on Sunday.

Saturday night's Florida Cup event has attracted such names as 1999 NASCAR Slim Jim All-Pro Champion Wayne Anderson, his father, Florida short track legend Dick Anderson, 1999 Southern All-Star Rookie of the Year and sixteen-year-old BJ McLeod, among other notable drivers from Florida and the southeast and midwest.

"The caliber of talent that is collecting here for these races, especially the Florida Cup event, is amazing," says speedway General Manager Louis Smith. "There is obviously a lot of desire among Florida drivers to keep this prize in-state."

Monday, February 14th, brings on the Valentine's Day Massacre, a $5,000 to win Enduro race. Super Late Models, Modifieds, Trucks and a Powder Puff race are also scheduled.

Tuesday, February 15th, in addition to Super Late Models and Modifieds, who run every night, are the Allison Legacy Series and Baby Grands. Trucks and Sportsman are also scheduled. The Allisons and Baby Grands will compete through Thursday night.

The Championship Auto Racing Series, out of Indiana, will add to the schedule for Wednesday and Thursday, running 50 lap features.

The long-awaited winged outlaw sprints of the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association invade the speedway Friday, February 18th. Fans are encouraged to dress warmly, because these cars will create enough speed to send the wind chill factor to new lows. Joining TBARA is the American Racing Association Late Model Stocks qualifying, plus a full field of local Florida Speed Park racing divisions.

Saturday, February 19th, caps off SpeedFest 2000 with a 200 lap ARA Late Model Stock All-Star feature. Referred to as the "Carolina" Late Models, these cars traditionally serve as the breeding ground for many of NASCARs top drivers. For this special ARA event, the cars will be given a 100 pound weight break and fresh air box, which will push them to faster than normal speeds.

"I can hardly wait," says speedway General Manager Louis Smith. "St. Augustine is such a beautiful area, and this is a state-of-the-art facility, only one hour away from the racing going on down in Daytona. We really believe both racers and fans will appreciate this program. Everyone here is very excited."

2000 marks the first such SpeedFest event ever held by the speedway since it was paved in 1997. Entries to the event have poured in not only from Florida but from all over the southeast, midwest, and up north.

"Hosting such an event here not only benefits all of the racers," says Smith, "but the people in the St. Augustine area have been more than accommodating in welcoming this event. It's been a tremendous outpouring of support from all over."

For more information on SpeedFest 2000, call the speedway at (904) 825-2886 or visit the official SpeedFest 2000 web site at "staugustinespeedway.com."

Schedule

Friday, February 11th - Sunshine State Classic Day I Noon-5pm: Open Practice 6pm Qualifying

7:30pm Features: Florida Race Trucks Qualifying Heats Modifieds (35) Mini Stocks (20) Late Models (35) Thunder Trucks (25) Hobby Stocks (20) Super Late Models (50)

Saturday, February 12th - Sunshine State Classic Day II Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisions 4-5:30pm: Open Practice 6pm Qualifying

7:30pm Features: Sporsman (35) Super Late Models Flordia Cup (150) Florida Race Trucks (75)

No races on Sunday

Monday, February 14th - Valentine's Day Massacre Noon-2pm: Practice for day's divisions 2-4pm: Enduro Practice 4-5:30pm: Open Practice 6pm Qualifying

7:30pm Features: Super Late Models (50) Modifieds (35) Trucks (35) $5000-to-win Enduro (150) Powder Puff Race (25)

Tuesday, February 15th Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisions 4-5:30pm: Open Practice 6pm Qualfying

7:30pm Features: Allison Legacy Series (50) Modifieds (35) Sportsman (35) Baby Grands (25) Super Late Models (50) Trucks (35)

Wednesday, February 16th Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisions 4-5:30pm: Open Practice 6pm Qualifying

7:30pm Features: Super Late Models (50) Baby Grands (25) Championship Auto Raciing Series (50) Modifieds (35) Trucks (35) Allison Legacy Series (50)

Thursday, February 17th Noon-4pm: Practice for day's divisons 4pm-5:30pm: Open Practice 6pm Qualifying

7:30pm Features: Championship Auto Racing Series (50) Allison Legacy Series (50) Trucks (35) Baby Grands (25) Modifieds (35) Super Late Models (50)

Friday, February 18th Noon-2pm: ARA Late Model Stocks Practice 2-3:30pm: TBARA Sprint Cars Practice 3:30-5:30pm: Dvision Practice 6pm ARA Late Model Qualifying, TBARA Heats

7:30pm Features: Thunder Trucks (25) Mini Stocks (20) Sportsman (35) TBARA Winged Sprint Cars (35) Hobby Stocks (20) Super Late Models (50) Daytona Antique Autos Late Models (35) Modifieds (35)

Saturday, February 19th Noon-5:30pm Practice 6pm Qualifying

7:30pm Features: ARA Late Model Stock All Stars (200) Daytona Antique Autos Modifieds (35) Trucks (50) Super Late Models (50)