Damion Gardner dominated the inaugural Bubba Army Sprint Nationals at East Bay Raceway Park. (Max Dolder photo).
OCALA, Fla. — The USAC AMSOIL National Sprint Car Series will open its 2011 season Feb. 16-19 at Ocala Speedway.
The second annual Bubba Army Sprint Nationals marks the debut of USAC racing at the three-eighths-mile dirt oval and will be part of the grand week of racing leading up to the 2011 Daytona 500 Feb. 20 at Daytona Int’l Speedway.
“Florida is a great place to be in February and we are all looking forward to the second annual Bubba Army Sprint Nationals, says USAC President/CEO Kevin Miller. “Last year’s events were extremely popular and the area obviously offers many tourist attractions and vacation destinations. We expect and encourage campers who plan to take in the entire week of activity.”
Ocala Speedway is Florida’s oldest race track and its D-shape gives it a unique quality.
Last year’s rain-plagued event was held at East Bay Raceway Park in Gibsonton, Fla., with Damion Gardner winning moth features. It was the first time USAC sprint cars had raced in Florida since Rich Vogler’s 1989 victory at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.
Fifty-nine USAC races have been held in the Sunshine State, dating all the way back to February of 1956 when defending Indianapolis 500 champion Bob Sweikert won a 20-lap sprint-car race at Southland Speedway in West Palm Beach.