Harold Matthews picked up the FMSA win at North Florida Speedway Saturday night.

Chris Gimmler picked up the TQ win in FMARA action at Punta Gorda Speedway.

Do you think that last photo is from Punta Gorda Speedway? It’s kind of hard to tell…

At the Marion County Speedway, tragedy struck as track owner Bill Cleary was hit by a racecar and was air lifted to Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Bill suffered broken bones, collapsed lungs, facial lacerations but will be alright, though he does face a long road to recovery. Please keep the Cleary family in your prayers.

If you’re hankering for some sprint car action this weekend, we hope you like the smaller cars, because you’ve got options aplenty.

First up is the FMSA, who are rolling into North Florida Speedway on Saturday, that’s up in Lake City to you and me. Of note is that the FMSA will be having a Dash For The Cash at all of their North Florida Speedway races, starting this weekend. All you need is one good lap in your heat to qualify we will take the top 6 fastest times out of your heat races. The top six will line up straight up for a 5 lap dash, paying $100 for 1st, $80 for 2nd, $60 for 3rd, $40 for 4th, $20 for 5th, $10 for 6th. Their is also additional moneys spread throughout the field for the feature and a bingo ball will be pulled to get an extra $25 in their payout.

The FMSA will also be launching their “Racing for A Hero” campaign for young lady Skye Hall. Skye was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes back in 2008. Within her first year of having T1D she was also diagnosed with IGA deficiency and then also in that first year she was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism and Von Wilderbran disease (a bleeding disorder). You can read Skye’s story right here.

Saturday night Skye will be on hand to sing the national anthem and the FMSA is working hard to help raise money so Skye can have a Diabetic Alert Dog. These dogs are even trained to dial 911, get juice, a glucometer, and even things out of the refrigerator as well. If you would like to help, please visit www.GuardianAngelServiceDogs.org, you will be contacted by Dan through email asking you which family your contribution is to benefit, you will then respond Skye Hall. It’s that
simple and every little bit helps.

Staying with the dirt theme, the SSLS (wingless mini sprints on dirt) is also in action at their usual home of Marion County Speedway, literally down the street from Bubba Raceway Park. The SSLS is running Twin 20s Saturday with a $600 guaranteed to win – $300 per race, no car minimum. If you would like to say yourself some money, print out this flyer right here, take it with you and you can get five people into the track for only thirty bucks. Practice starts at 4:00 and racing starts at 7:00.

Finally, if you’re not into dirt and you live in the south or western quadrant of the state, Punta Gorda Speedway is the place to be so you can take in some TQ action with the FMARA. Admission is cheap, they’ve got fried bologna and cheese sandwiches, pork sandwiches the size of your head and TQs on the bill. What’s not to like. Tickets are only $10.00 for adults, $8.00 for seniors with 12 and under free.

Here is Skye’s video, kick in a few bucks because you’re a nice person.

Shane Hmiel standing up.

Life is a gift kids.