Florida 400 questions

[Joe]

OK, never been to Desoto but I think this is the weekend. What's the deal on the Florida 400? How many cars? What kind of cars? Any support classes? Is it worth the $25? Any info would be great. Thanks.

[HaudFan]

Sprint cars, Sprint cars and sprint cars! If you like sprint cars you will like this. Went last year. They only had the sprint cars run. 400 laps is a lot of laps. The action is fast and it can get confusing but like I said if your a sprint car fan you've to go at least once...I think the car count will be better this year. They are advertising $12K to win and $1k to start. They want 30 cars to start the feature...I'll be there for sure!

[Joe]

So they really race 400 laps? Is it broken up at all? How many cars did they have last year? Anybody have an entry list?

[Frasson118]

Last year was pretty light on cars, but I would expect this year to do better. So far I hane't seen any kind of entry list, but the press releases show:
Bobby Santos III
Eric Gordon
TJ Winegardner
Dakotah Stevens
Dennis Misuraca
Wendy Mathis
and I'm sure, last years winner David Steele. This is just from memory, and I know I'm missing a few.

The pit stops alone are worth watching. That is something they only do 1 other time each year... the Little 500 in Anderson, Indiana. It looks dangerous as hell!

Fun race though... wish I could make it again this year. Last year, in 2 weeks time, I made it to the Florida 400 (Desoto), the PRA Big Cars (Lakeland), USAC Midgets, Sprints, Ford Focus & Legends (Orlando) and the Snowball Derby, Snowflake 100 and the Modified 75 race (5 Flags).

[JackTripper]

They are alluding to thirty drivers in their press release. Who knows, anything is possible if most of the TBARA guys take off their wings and some other USAC guys come in early. I'd love to go cheer for Wendy and Dave but I have to be at the hospital at 5 a.m. on Sunday, so no dice for me.

I'd go watch qualifying on Friday, but that's a long haul for me for no real racing.

[HaudFan]

Tripper good luck Sunday!...Yes 400 laps. No wings. Had about 20 cars last year. Had a couple of USAC guys last year like Russ Gamester and Brian Tyler. Jack Hewitt drove the pace truck. Troy DeCaire had a good run last year and Charlie Ladner didn't do half bad as well...Its different and what else are you going to do on a Saturday night in December?

[x90 John Sarppraicone]

Florida 400 entry list so far and we talked to over 60 drivers this year and from what feedback I got we are expecting 30 - 35 cars. Marv Carman is here now with 2 cars.

Mike Rudolf 2 cars
David Steele
Jim Swaim
Eric Gordon
Charlie Schultz
Danny Martin
David Slawiak
Nick Mankis
Travis Bliemister
Tony Elliot
Tommy Nicholes
Chad Dillagrange
Harry Hale
Terry Klatt
Janice East
Curtis Carter
Brian Eckley
Johnny Gilbertson
Charile Laddner
Jeff Van Dusen
Terry Decaire
Craig Cougler
Gary Green
Aron Perice
Rod Anderson
Shane Bulter
Jim Brown
Stan Bulter
Russ Gamester

I hope this helps Plus the Human Cannonball will go for a world record he will be shot out of the cannon over 18 brand new Bob Boast Dodge vehicles.It's the worlds largest starting gun. Action starts at 6:30 Sharp. See ya at the races.

[Rick Anges]

Last years race was pretty damn good. I had never seen a Sprint Car race that was more than 50 laps before and was wondering what a 400 lapper would be like. Unlike a regular extended lap stock car race the sprint cars always have something going on and the pit stops are bad to the bone. If your a true sprint car fan you don't want to miss this one!!!!!!

[Rick Anges]

2ND ANNUAL FLORIDA 400 LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY

By David Sink

Bradenton , FL , November 25, 2007 - With less than a week away preparations continue for the second annual Florida 400 sprint car race at the Desoto Super Speedway in Bradenton , FL. The 2nd annual running of this 400 lap sprint car race will pay $12,000 to the winner plus contingency and lap monies from a total purse of $56,000.


The Florida 400 is the only 400 lap sprint car race in the world and the second richest pavement sprint car event as well. In order for a driver to stake claim to a Florida 400 victory he must battle twenty-nine other competitors for 400 laps around the high banked 3/8 asphalt oval. He must also contend with heavy lapped traffic the entire night as well as completing two mandatory pit stops.


Entries continue to pour in as Thursday's opening practice draws near. Drivers from USAC, HOSS, TBARA, ASCS, and AVSS among others have already been received. The entry list is headed by defending Florida 400 champion, Dave Steele, from Tampa , FL who also is a two-time USAC Silver Crown champion as well as the 2005 TBARA titlist. Other notables include 8-time Little 500 champion Eric Gordon, Bill Davis, Racing NASCAR development driver Bobby Santos III, and ASCS Rebel Region Champion T. J. Winegardner among others. Santos III heads to Desoto Super Speedway fresh off of his Turkey Night sprint car win at Irwindale , CA and is considered an early favorite.


Long distance sprint car races in the state of Florida are nothing new. In the late 70's 500 lap sprint car were attempted at the now defunct Golden Gate Speedway in Tampa and at the Orlando Speed World. Then again in '93 and '94 two more Ill fated 500 lap sprint car races were contested at Charlotte County Motorsports Park in Punta Gorda. These long ago events were mere memories until the Desoto Super Speedway event was unveiled last December with huge success.


Action gets underway Thursday Nov.29 with an afternoon practice and qualifying the next afternoon. The thirty-car 400 lap event is scheduled to take the green at 8PM Sat. Dec. 1, 2007 . For more information go to www.florida400.net or contact Jack Nowling at (727) 527-5078 as well as the Desoto Super Speedway (941) 748-3171 for ticket info.

[Frasson118]

Not to tease too hard John, but I did get a few chuckles there...

Is that Danny "My Favorite Martian"?

And Possibly Janice East, rather than Beast? The popular Beast chassis is built by Bob East... B. East for short... which translates to his business name of Beast.

Also noticed that the drivers I'd seen listed aren't on there either... Santos, Misuraca, Mathis, Stephens, etc...

Look for Santos, Gordon and Steele to be the 3 strongest contenders!

[JackTripper]

This looks like it's going to be an awesome race. Deciphering the misspelled names I can see there are some out-of-state heavy hitters in there. (Just pulling your leg, we all can't be great spellers.)

I would highly encourage every able bodied fan with with the time and financial means to hit this race.

If I was a gambling man I'd put my money on Mr. Steele to defend our home turf against the invaders.

[open wheels]

add Jacob Wilson in the #11 Fatheadz.com/Jet Star/ Jeff's Jam-it-in Storage/ Lucas Oil/ Beast Chevrolet

http://www.jacobwilsonracing.com
http://www.wilsonbrosracing.com

Thanks for the shameless plug:ernaehrung004:

[JackTripper]

How long did this race take to run last year?

If the stars align, I might go.

[HaudFan]

Tripper I want to say it was done around 10:30ish. However, I'm not certain on that...Just hope my Joey Saldana t-shirt gets here so I can wear it!...Now's the time to get the end of the year deals on racing t-shirts. Might even buy one from Terry McCarl!

[Gary J]

They should be at EastBay jan 31 to feb 2. 360 sprntcars.

[Rick Anges]

If I remember right it was just over a little two hours green to checkers. I am bringing my digital recorder with me and should have some interviews up soon after the race.

[Gary J]

What is happining 630? b main or stuntman?

[Dakotah Stephens Racing]

Dakotah is going to try to make the field in a retro car. Don't know who it use to belong to but it has Doug Heveron's name on it. Just kidding-it is an old car of Doug's with Curry's paint job but it is carrying the #79 this time. First time out in a long time.http://k.b5z.net/i/u/6010713/i/000_0025_ezr.jpg

[FromBehindTheMIC]

2006 FLORIDA 400 LIVE (http://www.karnacmedia.com/STAshows2006/SAT-InsideFloridaRacingFla400-2hr120906.mp3)Call

Even with some confusion last year on who was 2,3,4th etc... It was a great race. I've talked the Tampa Tribune into a lot of coverage for the event... so hopefully starting Thursday we'll see some great items.

No matter your love level for sprint cars...SEE THIS ONE ONCE!!!

[holmrun]

Watch out for traffic as the Snowbird Nationals will be going on next door all weekend as well. Wish this was on a different weekend as I'll be next door instead. Have fun everyone.

[Joe]

2-part question: What is the Snowbird Nationals? And can you bring a cooler into Desoto?

[Don Sutter]

Joe, drag strip is next to SR 64 and the circle track is 1/2 mile in. Sat. is the night of fire. Use to have an IHRA event there, maybe still is, and would have a few NHRA funny car match races (John Force vs anyone). Sunday would be the eliminations. Saw your column in the Banner on ESPN last week when I had Thanksgiving with my Dad. I sure don't want to go to pay for view, but less commercials would be great along with less talking heads. Newbies need to have camber explained to them. Don Sutter

[Aint Skeered Racing]

Saw about 30 cars out there today for pratice around 2pm in case anybody was wondering

[Gary J]

you can't bring anything into the stands.you can bring a bag of burgers and couple sodas in the pits.

[Joe]

Thanks for the info. Looks like I'll be heading there on Saturday. How close was the competition last year? More than one car on the lead lap?

[JackTripper]

55 Shane Butler
66 Tony Elliott
81 Daryl Smith
55b Dave Baumgartner
18 Stan Butler
78 Shane Miller
79 Dakota Stephans
11 Jacob Wilson
37 Mike Koss
100 Tom Patterson
99 Charlie Schultz
98 Bobby Santos III
99 Brian Gingras
46 Jim Swain
14 Tim Barber
39 Charlie Ladner
91 Dave Steele
2c Curtis Carter
99x Tim Buchanan
11 T.J. Winegartner
57x Rocky Lopresto

Must figure out how to make it there Saturday...

Hey - anyone know what time they are qualifying tomorrow?

[Don Sutter]

Called yesterday, Qualifing is from 1:30 to 4 PM friday

[BOB KRUPA]

Anyone has an update on the Qualifying?

[Dakotah Stephens Racing]

Brian Gingiss is on the pole and Dave Steele 2nd.

A few candid pictures from the pits today are up on Dakotah's website. www.dakotahstephens.com
http://k.b5z.net/i/u/6010713/i/pdir/520/i/1-mis_cars3.jpg?bd=13

[JackTripper]

Brian Gingras on the pole - with a 360.

STARTING LINEUP
1. 99 Brian Gingras
2. 91 Dave Steele
3. 98 Bobby Santos III
4. 66 Troy Decaire
5. 14 Tim Barber
6. 5 Shane Butler
7. 11 Jacob Wilson
8. 99x Tim Buchanan
9. 66 Tony Elliott
10. 2 Scott Adema
11. 41 Steve Heisler
12. 100 Tom Patterson
13. 56 Jeff Vandusen
14. 99 Charlie Schultz
15. 81 Daryl Smith
16. 39 Charles Ladner
17. 18 Stan Butler
18. 55 Dave Baumgartner
19. 121 Jim Alvis Sr.
20. 11t TJ Winegardner
21. 21t Johny Gilbertson
22. 78 Shane Miller
23. 79 David Slawiak
24. 11x Lee Cipray
25. 46 Jim Swain
26. 11b Jimmy Riddle
27. 19 Keith Butler
28. 0 Danny Martin Jr.
29. 37 Mike Koss
30. 21r Richard Kessinger
31. 79 Dakota Stephens
32. 11r Brian Riddle
33. 2c Curtis Carter

By David Sink - Bradenton, FL - November 30, 2007 - Qualifications for the 2nd annual Florida 400 at the Desoto Super Speedway in Bradenton, FL were held Friday afternoon and it turned out to be an eventful day full of surprises.

Prior to qualifying there were some who thought that maybe a 360 c.i. motor wouldn't be an engine of choice for this event. Perhaps the 3/8 mile Desoto Super Speedway with its longer straights would require a larger 410 c.i. motor to claim a pole position for this Saturday's 400 lap marathon. Floridian driver, Brian Gingras, put this argument to rest after he captured the pole position for the 2nd annual event with his 360 c.i. engined sprinter.
Gingras who has limited laps in a non-winged sprint car said he surprised even himself. "We actually came here just to get some seat time for the PRI show. I don't have much seat time in a non-winged car. Its my first year running sprint cars and I got rookie of the year in TBARA". Gingras continued to explain his change in race tactics now that he will lead the field to the start of Saturday's event." We weren't prepared to win the race as we don't a fueling rig or anything. Its just me and another guy right now. We got some guys coming tomorrow so hopefully we can get a game plan together and run the race."

Another surprise was Ohio driver, Tim Buchanan, who has by far the smallest engine in the field and now finds himself starting in the eight position. Buchanan has a 305 c.i. powerplant compared to the much larger 360 and 410 c.i. motors he will be battling Saturday night.

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the afternoon came from the event promoters. Due to the huge turnout of competitors race officials have decided to start thirty-three cars instead of the advertised thirty starters. The race will now align in eleven rows of three much the same as the Little 500 held annually in Anderson, IN each Memorial Day weekend.

The 400 lap sprint car event is scheduled to take the green flag at 8pm Saturday night.