Now that I’ve got your attention, wouldn’t it be great? There are a bunch of Sportsman guys (and fans) that would love for this to happen. The series was a smashing success, before FASCAR pulled the plug on all touring series after 2008. It wasn’t because the series wasn’t successful, it was because FASCAR didn’t want to run the touring series anymore. There was a ton of interest from competitors this past winter for the failed Sportsman Challenge Series. Over 25 teams showed interest, a set of universally inclusive rules were agreed upon and a 6 race mini series was put into place at 3 tracks before the director bowed out and the series folded. He wanted to hand the whole deal off to me but I’m a racer and I didn’t want the responsibility or the conflict of interest. The plan was to model the success of Rick Bristol’s FUPS Truck series, but the pressure was just too much for the director to handle (even though he had the best intentions). I think that a major part of the problem was that he just got started way too late and he didn’t realize the enormity of what needs to be accomplished to get something like this off the ground. There are a ton of guys that will support this deal. Look at some of the guys who race around the state. Nicholls tows from Orlando to race at Citrus, so does Thomas and I believe the Williamsons and Morris would tow all the way to Bristol for a Sportsman race if they would have one and those are just a few. The reason I mention this now, is this is the time that someone would have to put something together for it to be something successful for 2013. A director would have to be someone with a solid knowledge of local racing, humble enough to kiss some track owner butt, yet strong enough to keep fickle racers in line (without turning them off). You’d have to have strong marketing skills because a MAJOR regional sponsor would be needed to help offset costs so that the track owners don’t have to shoulder all of the risk and burden of the purse. Most of all you would have to simply love racing because taking this on will be a lot of work with little to no financial gain (at least initially). Now is the time because most businesses make their budgets and allocate their advertising budgets in the Fall. I would be willing (along with a bunch of other Sportsman guys) to help in this deal and there still is a lot of stuff I have from the Sportsman Challenge Series to get things off the ground. Citrus, Desoto, Auburndale and Bronson were interested in being involved before and, with a sponsor helping out, I’d bet so would Ellisville (Lake City,Columbia), Showtime, New Smyrna and Orlando also. If something could be worked out with Punta Gorda on the tire deal (guarantee at least 2 races so its worth buying Good Years?) they could be on the schedule also. Something like this would take a lot of understanding and patience on the racers part as well as a lot of help. So, Sportsman guys, are you willing to step up to the plate? And more importantly is there ANYBODY, ANYBODY out there that’s up to the task of running this thing? Don’t bother wasting posts saying I’m a dreamer, fat chance, etc. Its so easy to tear something down than to help build something. Let’s hear some positive opinions and if anybody knows anybody that is interested in running this, then private message me and I will help get the ball rolling and get others involved. Rick Bristol did it with the Trucks, why can’t we? So Sportsman guys, HOW BAD DO YOU WANT THIS? :smilie_abcfra:
Hoping to have my sportsman ready for the 2013 season and I would be willing to tow to Citrus, Desoto, Auburndale and Bronson Ellisville (Lake City,Columbia), Showtime, New Smyrna , Orlando and Punta gorda also. Hae It where you can run hoosier or good year treads
Results from the Final Southern Sportsman Event ever held. What would a promoter do for this kind of field??? (Sorry Wayne, didn’t mean to pour salt in an old wound, lol)
OFFICIAL RESULTS
SOUTHERN SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT 75
NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2008
SOUTHERN SPORTSMAN SHOOTOUT 75
- #25 Patrick Thomas, Oveido
- #79x Steve Gainey, Bradenton
- #25x Timmy Todd, Jr., St. Cloud
- #45 Mike Soukup, Deltona
- #1 Bart Weatherford, Lakeland
- #111 Donny Williams, Mt. Dora
- #98x Josh Hermann, Lakeland
- #17 Phillip Bessett, Samsula
- #156 James Wright, III, Auburndale
- #16 Patrick Mennenga, Bellview
- #69 Don Milam, Bellview
- #98 Roger Welch, St. Petersburg
- #30 Richie Sheppard, St. Petersburg
- #3 Duane Best, Sarasota
- #01 Travis Roland, Lake Alfred
- #44 Ed Michalak, Titusville
- #13 Aaron Williamson, Mulberry
- #55 Richard Elkins, Jr., Auburndale
- #05 Steve Redditt, Orlando
- #7 Tom Raiser, Naples
- #35 Rick Kase, Odessa
- #77 Wayne Jones, Athens, GA.
- #49 Jason Foster, Melbourne
- #67 Jimmie Best, Sarasota
- #56 Wayne Morris, Mulberry DQ’D
Another thought. Many of the old Camaro Clip Limited Late Models are now parked because the rules have changed and they now are Pro Late Models which have $5000 Crate Motors and tube front clips and coil over suspensions. How many of you guys would come out to run as a Late Model Sportsman with the investment of around $3000 for a 602 Crate motor (that wins most of the Sportsman races) and a set of 8" rims? Camaro Clip Limited Late Model chassis are legal as Sportman with stock front clips, big springs, stock steering boxes and steel tube Quick Change rears. There’s a lot of cars to draw from for a series like this since all those LLMs could run, more than half of the guys in the finishing order above are still running plus all the new guys since then that are running Sportsman.
Scott, I to have had a few racers contact myself about doing something with this class as well. I have talked about it with a few of the promoters of the tracks that the FL United Promoters Series travels to. There maybe be something that could work here, I would be interested in discussing it with you at your earlist convience. I envision the Sportsman, Trucks, OWM or Ledgens running with or starting another traveling tour with FUPS. We all need to do whatever it takes to get these competitiors & fans out to support the tracks in FL before it’s too late!
Rick Williams
Series Director
FL United Promoters Series
(561) 262-0052
It’s too bad the $3,000 602 won’t run with the “other” 602’s. LOL!
That’s a fallacy RSB. Mine runs just well with them and I assure you it’s 100% legal. Patrick Thomas, Aaron Williamson and Brandon Morris have never been found cheating (with their crates!). It’s all about handling on that stock stub with 8" tires. The open motors use up there tires on a long green flag run and then the crates come on. Tracks are wise to cheated up cams and the Cam Doctor has been utilized to check that out. They have been tearing them down regardless of seals and everyone knows that. Protest one of these guys and you’ll find out the $1000 hard way! 
Rick! Thank you so much for your interest! I will be calling you tomorrow! :ernaehrung004:
John I assure you that you can win with a $3,100.00 crate engine delivered to your door, by Nesmith Chevy at 4:15 in the morning (ARGGGGG) with out touching it. But if you or anybody else doesn’t believe it, the crate motor in my car is always for sale for the price of a new one. I have sold it before and I will alway’s sell it if somebody want’s it. My motor has 9 races on it right now, It has 7 win’s in 9 races also including 2 heat win’s and it is 2 for 2 on fast Qualifier’s, with a new track record set at Citrus. This deal is for anybody wanting a “good” crate motor.
Patrick Thomas 25
407-227-0342
Thanks for your business.
I believe it now. 
Thats the way to lay that on the table.
John I assure you that you can win with a $3,100.00 crate engine delivered to your door, by Nesmith Chevy at 4:15 in the morning (ARGGGGG) with out touching it. But if you or anybody else doesn’t believe it, the crate motor in my car is always for sale for the price of a new one. I have sold it before and I will alway’s sell it if somebody want’s it. My motor has 9 races on it right now, It has 7 win’s in 9 races also including 2 heat win’s and it is 2 for 2 on fast Qualifier’s, with a new track record set at Citrus. This deal is for anybody wanting a “good” crate motor.
Patrick Thomas 25
407-227-0342
Thanks for your business.[/QUOTE]
I believe that a crate motor will work well at Citrus, Bronson, Orlando and other small tracks, but what about larger tracks like NSS or Ellisville?
have to have a great handling car chad perice won alot with his 602 crate
at NSS
I have won all 3 races I have run at NSS this year with this crate motor, and have won 6 or 7 over the last 5 year’s having only raced ther about 10 times.
Patrick Thomas 25
Also the track record at Columbia for a sportsman car is held by me with a crate motor and the old Goodyear treaded tires at a 18.37 and we all know the Hoosier treaded tires are faster.
Patrick, Grooved tires.
You want to make it work?? Make it a claimer series. Engines, Shock’s, etc. There are several successful series that have these type of rules and that’s why this thing wont work. To many different opinion’s on what the rules should be.
I for one would love to see the series come back, but until everyone that wants to run it can agree on 1 set of rules and stand by them it’s never going to happen.
[QUOTE=Patrick Thomas 25;111533]I have won all 3 races I have run at NSS this year with this crate motor, and have won 6 or 7 over the last 5 year’s having only raced ther about 10 times.
Patrick Thomas 25
Also the track record at Columbia for a sportsman car is held by me with a crate motor and the old Goodyear treaded tires at a 18.37 and we all know the Hoosier treaded tires are faster.[/QUOTE]
Trick, you could put a 305 in your cars and still win. You’ve got them killed on set up which, you know, is the most important thing of all. Congratulations and yes I’m jealous!
I shouldn’t have posted anything about racing anyway since I don’t even have a car…I was just told a few years ago by a few guys that were running crates that the motors could definitely be cheated up. Just a rumor I’m sure.
Good luck, can’t wait to WATCH a good sportsman race again!
@ W Keller. There is one set of rules that everyone had their input on to put together. Last winter there were 2 meetings that had over 25 Sportsman teams represented for the failed Sportsman Challenge Series. Every team had their opportunity for input. Things addressed were Crate Motors, Open Motors, Tech, Tires and different track rules. Not to call people out but some of the top competitors were there. The Morris, The Williamsons, Roger Welch and Patrick Thomas teams were all represented to name a few. Things agreed upon were using the Hoosier tires that all of the tracks (except PGS) use, that Crate motors would be teched just like Open motors regardless of seals, no weight break for Crates, and that the rules would be based off Citrus rules because those rules pretty much made every car currently running legal (with a few minor exceptions which were addressed with weight). All concerns were discussed. I don’t think that rules would be a problem if the rules created from these meetings were used. As far as a claimer rule, I don’t think it is necessary if you tech properly and tear down the Crates in the same fashion as the Open motors. You could probably institute a claim for the Crate for the same cost as a new one and no one would have a problem with that, but that lets the Open guys off the hook and instituting a claim for those guys will drive them away. You don’t need a claim on shocks if you restrict them to an $125.00 Racer Net Steel Shock rule. Rebuildable-Revalvable shocks can be had for under that limit. Shock valving is a part of racing at this level now. It’s time to embrace it and learn how to do it.
@RSB. Yes you can cheat up a Crate. Solid lifters and a reground cam are the easiest ways. That’s why you tear 'em apart and Tech 'em. Lifters are easy but the cam requires the Cam Doctor treatment.
This can and WILL WORK.
That’s the problem " SO CALLED TECH" As far as" learn how to do it" raced with alot of the guy’s you’ve listed and held my own. It’s a product of gettin screwed to many times in Tech just improve car counts. I may be speaking out of bounds, but that’s what has been happening up here in N. Fl.
@W Keller. I think you misunderstood me. When I said “it’s time to learn how to do it” I was referring to shock revalving and I wasn’t directing that at you, just everyone in general. Shocks are the greatest advancement in circle track racing in the last 10 years and its something everyone needs to start embracing, because it’s how the sport is evolving these days. I didn’t mean to insult you, if you can hold your own with those guys, my hat is off to you. I’m still trying! I agree with you 100% about tech. It’s too bad that in your neck of the woods Tech hasn’t given you a fair deal. I’m guessing “certain people” just weren’t getting torn down or if they were things were overlooked. That was addressed at the meetings too. Although it never materialized, everyone believed that the success of the Series would depend upon a Tech Crew that exclusively worked and traveled with the Series and was fair and uniform ACROSS THE BOARD. I still believe this is true and any sucessful “New” Series would need this. It needs to be a priority. You’re not speaking out of bounds. It’s a great point.