Hantz
Leads Group Of Sunoco Super Series Regulars To Florida For The World
Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
Salem, IN (February 2, 2004) –
The recent
cold
weather and snow in Indiana has even further motivated a group of Sunoco
Super Series regulars and part-times to hit the road and head south for
warmer weather and racing in the World Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
that begins this Friday night, February 6, at New Smyrna Speedway. That
Friday night will be the first of nine consecutive nights of racing at the
famed ½ mile oval that attracts racers from all over the United States and
Canada each year during Florida’s Daytona Speed Weeks.
The Super Late Models will compete in
eight of the nine nights with regular feature events on February 6th
and 7th. The Super Late Models will be off on Sunday, February
8th, but will return for regular feature action on the 9th,
10th and 11th. The Super Late Models will have a 50
lap special event on Thursday, February 12th, a regular show on
Friday, February 13th, and will conclude the World Series Of
Asphalt Stock Car Racing with the Florida Cracker 100 on Saturday,
February 14th.
Dick Poe’s EMF Corp Team, with driver
Scott Hantz, is packed and ready to return to the warmer climate looking
to build upon their success at New Smyrna Speedway last year. Hantz had
some good runs during the early part of the World Series Of Asphalt Stock
Car Racing last season, but it wasn’t until he pulled out his Sunoco Super
Series car, which he had brought as a backup to his Florida legal car, for
the last two nights of competition that he became a serious contender to
win.
"We had struggled getting the Florida
legal car to hook up and be fast during most of the week," commented Hantz.
"We talked it over after Thursday’s 50 lapper and decided why not try the
Sunoco Super Series legal car and see what would happen. We were really
surprised at the results!"
Hantz
managed to lead several laps of Friday night’s feature before fellow
Sunoco Super Series competitor and long time competitor at the World
Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, Junior Hanley, managed to get by late
in the event and take the win, but Hantz knew he had a car that would be
very competitive in Saturday’s 100 lapper. Hantz grabbed the lead in the
Florida Cracker 100 on Saturday, but had to fight hard all the way to the
end to take
the
win after losing a cylinder late in the race.
"It was a
great way to end our racing
in Florida last year,"
said Hantz. "We are taking that same Sunoco Super Series car we won with
last year as our main car this time, and we are taking another Sunoco
Super Series car as our back up, we didn’t even mess with the Florida
legal car this time. Our goal is to win more than one race this time and
win the World Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Points Championship!"
After Florida, Hantz
will begin preparations to compete for the 2004 Sunoco Super Series
Championship.
Hantz won the series championship and rookie of the year in
2000.
Hantz was runner-up in series points in 2003 to series champion
Bobby Parsley. Joining Hantz at the World
Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing will be Sunoco Super Series regulars
Junior Hanley and Eddie Van Meter along with part-time series drivers Evan
Jackson, Jack Landis, Steve Keller and Eddie Hoffman. Sunoco
Super Series owners R.J. Scott and Glenn Luckett will be at several of the
events at the World Series Of Asphalt Stock Car Racing and will be posting
reports on the performance of the Sunoco Super Series drivers right here
at Sunoco Super Series.com