Both Ed Jr and Jean Lynch were mainstays in the racing world. To wit, Sprint car racing, where Ed Lynch Jr, pulled near 220 wins. Mostly at Lernerville and PPMS in Pittsburg.
I worked with Jean Lynch for over 25 years and have become a household word at East Bay, Syracuse and Charlotte. According to Jean Lynch, I have saved many racing programs and many tracks due to diligence in forecasting the weather. He will be missed and our conversations by phone. Ed’s a great guy and Jean, Queen of the Port Royal Race at least three times, at least.
The family has worked with promotions, helping kids and it is a family thing. Sye Lynch is the newest and talented young driver. He will be using the 2L car but having his own number, according Jean Lynch. So ends an exciting and long career.
My first station was Q-105 in Tampa, Florida, the original flag ship station of the Q-Zoo Tube, which simulcated with Channel 32 in Lakeland. Q-105 got its legs when Scott Shannon came on board, with radio that was all-inclusive. WRBQ 104.7 was the beast of the East and it was there I honed my skills as a broadcast Meteorologist.
I helped out Gene Lasker as well, with Holly Cain of the Tampa Tribune and helped out a few venues, such as Make-A-Wish, Shriners and Give Kids the World, etc, etc. Because of the track, I used the opportunity to do a Fund Raiser for Chron’s and Colitis, and we raised $22,000.00. My point with all this, is that the racing community along with the Lynches, Ron Bratten and a litany of others, helped us, help others.
By the story does not end there. Following in the footsteps of Ed Lynch Jr, Sye Lynch will be the 3rd Generation of drivers. If he is half and incredible as his father, then he will likewise make the Sprint Car Hall-of-Fame.
Shout out to Al Varnadore, doing well, when the weather decides to help us a little. Shout to Roger Slack and Tony Stewart at El Dora. May the good times roll, on and on.
Think of Tampa and you think Hurricanes, Thunderstorms and the second most Lightning strikes in the world. But is home to a lot more. George Steinbrenner was a big supporter of the University of Tampa and was called “Uncle George” by the many kids in the Children’s Emergency room and ward.
The picture in the upper right which houses the University of Tampa offices and the legendary Tampa Hotel, which has some renovated Hotel Rooms that one Queen of England stayed it a long time ago.
But an event that happens every year at the 1/3rd Mile track is the East Bay Winternationals and this year is no exception. In fact, Jean Lynch, the mother of Ed Lynch Jr is making the rounds once again as a PR person for the World Racing Group. Our relationship goes back a long time and ironically when I had got my mom V.I.P. tickets, come to find out that her grandson went to a college in PA and the place where my mother lived most of her life. Jean is 80 and my mom is now 79.
My mom was amazed at the down to earth nature of my second Mom, Mrs Lynch. I would figure out the weather for her and the track would use that information for planning purposes and they have that much trust in what I do.
2015 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour to Begin with $10,000 to win Ronald Laney Memorial
2015 Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour to Begin with $10,000 to win Ronald Laney Memorial
TULSA, Okla. (October 8, 2014) One of the most highly anticipated events in dirt track racing is without a doubt the Winter Nationals at Tampa’s East Bay Raceway Park. A gathering of the nation’s finest dirt track warriors, it’s seen by many fans as the official kickoff to the dirt track racing season.
The last time the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real was a part of the Winter Nationals lineup was 2008 with Kenny Adams, Terry McCarl, and Jason Johnson each garnering victories at “The Clay by the Bay”.
In 2015, that list of winners will grow as officials with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real and East Bay Raceway Park are pleased to announce the National Tour’s 2015 season opener at the 39th annual Winter Nationals and 14th annual Ronald Laney Memorial, happening February 19-21, 2015.
“I’m looking forward to having the ASCS (American Sprint Car Series) back in the house. They’ve always done a great job for us and always put a good show so hopefully, it’ll be another homerun for us,” commented East Bay Raceway Park Promoter, AL Varnadore.
Beginning in 1999 as the “King of the 360’s”, Gary Wright won the inaugural event worth $4,000.
Ronald Laney captured the coveted crown in 2000 but would not get his second victory at East Bay as the Humble, Texas racer tragically lost his life in 2002 at the age of 29 after hard contact with the wall exiting turn-two sent Laney flipping into oncoming traffic. Racing continued with the event renamed the Ronald Laney Memorial. Tennessee’s Jason Sides was ultimately crowned the 2002 champion.
What has become a truly star studded event will offer drivers a champion’s payout of $10,000 with preliminary nights paying $2,000 to win. Oklahoma’s Wayne Johnson claimed the winner’s purse in 2014, marking the second time the 2000 Lucas Oil ASCS National Champion has won the King of the 360’s and Ronald Laney Memorial.
“It’s been too long since the Lucas Oil ASCS has been a part of the Ronald Laney Memorial,” said ASCS National Coordinator, Matt Ward. “Al and his staff have always been awesome to work with, and the event is second to none for anyone who enjoys dirt track racing Personally, Ronald meant a lot to all of us and to have his race be a part of ASCS is important.”
Along with the Lucas Oil ASCS presented by MAVTV American Real, the three nights will include the Florida Mini Sprints. Racing will be preceded by practice on Wednesday, February 18, 2015. Entry forms, ticket information, and full schedule of events for the 2015 East Bay Raceway Park Winter Nationals is available at http://www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
For continued updates on the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV American Real, log onto http://www.ascsracing.com.
Event Information:
What: $10,000 to win King of the 360’s and Ronald Laney Memorial
Tickets: Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877 457-5611 or (813) 677-7223. Three night tickets are $70 each. Single day tickets are available. Thursday tickets are $15, Friday tickets are $25, and Saturday tickets are $30.
ASCS National History – East Bay Raceway Park: Thirteen events have been held at the East Bay Raceway Park with the Lucas Oil ASCS National Tour with eight winners. Lucas Oil ASCS Winners – East Bay Raceway Park: Terry McCarl 4, Gary Wright 3, David Steele, Garry Lee Maier, Jason Johnson, Kenny Adams, Larry Pinegar, Travis Rilat
Lucas Oil ASCS Winners (by date) – East Bay Raceway Park: David Steele (2/11/1996), Garry Lee Maier (2/12/1996), Larry Pinegar (2/9/1997), Gary Wright (2/10/1997), Travis Rilat (1/26/2006), Terry McCarl (1/27/2006), Terry McCarl (1/28/2006), Gary Wright (1/25/2007), Terry McCarl (1/26/2007), Gary Wright (1/27/2007), Kenny Adams (1/31/2008), Terry McCarl (2/1/2008), Jason Johnson (2/2/2008)
King of the 360’s Ronald Laney Memorial Champions: Wayne Johnson (2014 and 2010), Danny Holtgraver (2013), Glenn Styres (2012), Daryn Pittman (2011), Jesse Hockett (2009), Jason Johnson (2008), Gary Wright (2007 and 1999), Terry McCarl (2006), Chad Kemenah (2005), Sport Allen (2003), Jason Sides (2002), Jeff Sheppard (2001), Ronald Laney (2000)
The 2015 season will mark the twenty-fourth year of sanctioning Sprint Car racing for the American Sprint Car Series, which brings the best of Sprint Car racing to dozens of different tracks throughout the nation. Anchored by the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series, ASCS also consists of ten different Regions throughout the nation.
Lucas Oil Products is the title sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. More information can be found on Lucas Oil Products at http://www.lucasoil.com. MAVTV is the presenting sponsor of the American Sprint Car Series. Log onto http://www.mavtv.com for information regarding availability and listings in your area.
Associate sponsors for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by MAVTV include: Hoosier Racing Tire and Brodix.
Team Lucas Sponsors for the American Sprint Car Series consist of Protect the Harvest, iON Camera, Smokey Mountain Moonshine, C&R Radiator, Hawk Performance Products, Geico, E3 Spark Plugs, and General Tire.
Product and Contingency Sponsorship provided by: K&N Filters, KSE Racing Products, SpeedMart, Competition Suspension, Engler Machine and Tool, FSR Radiator and Racing Products, Schoenfeld Headers, Driverwebsites.com, Weld Wheels, Saldana Racing Products, Maxwell Industries, Print Place, Simpson, The Joie of Seating, Wesmar Racing Engines, Hinchman Indy Racewear, Rod End Supply, Smiley’s Racing Products, Speedway Motors, and Hilborn Injection Systems.
Additional information regarding the American Sprint Car Series is available at http://www.ascsracing.com as well as Twitter (@LucasOilASCS) and Facebook. News and information can also be sent to you with the ASCS E-News by texting ASCS to 22828 with any mobile device.
The first thing to mention about Super Dirt Week it’s location. Situated amidst of the great Finger Lakes of New York is the track known as the Moody Mile, it is the longest dirt track in America and how to one of the greatest dirt programs anywhere. http://superdirtweekonline.com/history
The above link is to the site that hosts this event each year located in Syracuse and is the New York State Fairgrounds. The website http://www.superdirtcarseries.com/ gives you as much history about this event as you could possibly want.
Seneca Lake
I went to high school not far from Syracuse and is where I entered the military in 1974. The area at-large includes Ithaca University and Cornell U. The haunts of Carl Sagan, author of the original COSMOS series and those big lakes named after the American Indian Tribes which included the Iroquois, Senecan and Oneidans.
Super Dirt Week first raced in 1972 and now 42 years later is carrying on in fine fashion. For more information please check out the main page of the Dirt Week site.
This track used to lie close to I-4 Speedway in Tampa on Fairgrounds property and I cannot even put my head around the fact that the track is now gone and for over 25 years as I recall. and hardly a trace of it remains.
There is a concrete barrier I believe into turns 1&2 and a light pole that helped to light the track. There is a also part of fence and the flag stand. A friend of mine lost his father in racing and raced at that track. He now races himself (the son) . I actually went to races there with my late father, an Air Force Veteran and buried in a National Burial Ground in Florida.
Time marches on!!!
Every time that I would pass there on I-4, I would wonder and reflect upon it’s impact on the lives of fans, drivers and family. Each track has it’s legacy drivers that eventually become heroes and like the track itself succumb to their own fateful passing away. And for the remaining tracks where new drivers drifted off to, the sounds of revving motors running full tilt with the smell of food, drinks and photo shops.
I saw here Sammy Rodriguez work his way around the track there and East Bay. Sammy was a hot shoe and now retired and owner of Dirt Devil’s Speedway north of Land O’ Lakes, Florida. I worked with him on a few projects and the track he owns races primarily go-karts but is very clean and nice appearing thanks to Sammy and former Late Model star, Terry DeCaire.
Bobby Alexander #15. A great hard charging competitor and a rival of Terry DeCaire in his USA-1 Late Model.
When I was there, the track was older and I think is part of the reason it was abandoned. But the ghosts remain and the track-side tragedies and dramas remain, until those veritable warriors left us wanting. Future generations may not see the signs but I would. It was an attraction to me and enjoyable in it’s shortcomings as it’s intrinsic value to car owners, drivers and sponsors.
See you in racing heaven!!!!
Jeff Gordon Below
Pictures by Gene Mardeness and Max Dolder and the site for Florida remembers!!!
Racing Short Track Style 