The Short Track Super Series (STSS) will honor Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on the opening night of the Sunshine Swing at Bubba Raceway Park in Ocala, Florida. Heat race winners will receive $50 in honor of the Governor DeSantis. Crowdfunding, mostly from New York race fans, paid for the heat race bonuses.
“Ron DeSantis played a major role in getting the sport of racing back up and running in 2020,” said Short Track Super Series promoter Brett Deyo. “Not only with NASCAR, but with all of the short tracks in his state.”
Many New York tracks — including Fonda Speedway, which Brett Deyo also promotes — were unable to open with fans last year. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo banned gatherings at most sporting events.
“[Governor Cuomo’s] ruling has devastated our industry,” Deyo said. “We have the ability to seat 5,500 people at Fonda Speedway. We could have easily socially distanced those in attendance.”
Florida allows full grandstands at short tracks in the state.
“With Florida tracks being open, it has been outstanding for our industry, both on a local and national level,” said Deyo. “We tip our hat to Governor DeSantis.”
Deyo invited Governor DeSantis to the Short Track Super series event on Wednesday. The governor has not committed to an appearance there.
“If he shows up, it will be one of those game-time appearances,” Deyo said. “The response from fans has been unbelievable. Pent-up fans are coming here, desiring live racing, and are thanking DeSantis.”
The Wednesday-night opener is also a “locals night,” with all residents of the Sunshine State admitted for free. The Sunshine Swing runs through Saturday, January 30.
As far as New York, Deyo clings to hope that he may get some of the season in at Fonda Speedway this year.
“Jeff Smith, the Sheriff of Montgomery County, New York, [where Fonda Speedway is located,] is a great supporter of racing,” Deyo said. “His hands are tied. Cuomo has threatened to pull funding from small, poor, rural counties if they don’t follow his rules. Not only am I not allowed to make my living in New York, the fans have been denied the enjoyment of being at their hometown tracks for a year. It’s been tough on them and on racing families across the state.”
Mike Adaskaveg has written hundreds of stories since the website’s inception. This year marks his 54th year of covering auto racing. Adaskaveg got his start working for track photographer Lloyd Burnham at Connecticut’s Stafford Motor Speedway in 1970. Since then, he’s been a columnist, writer, and photographer, in racing and in mainstream media, for several outlets, including the Journal Inquirer, Boston Herald, Stock Car Racing, and Speedway Illustrated. Among Adaskaveg’s many awards are the 1992 Eastern Motorsport Press Association (EMPA) Ace Lane Photographer of the Year and the 2019 National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) George Cunningham Writer of the Year.
