NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL :: Rusty Skewes will be getting plenty of seat time in Florida. Skewes has entered to compete in the UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona International Speedway and the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. Skewes will compete at New Smyrna on February 15th and 16th and then run the Battle at the Beach on February 18th.
“I’m renting a Super Late Model from Joey Coulter,” Skewes said. I don’t own one, have never driven one and wanted to give it a try. New Smyna’s a good place to try it. They’re only 35 lap races. As for Daytona, it’s going to be new for everybody and I think I have as good a chance as everyone at Daytona. We don’t race at flat tracks, we usually race banked tracks. We’ve been approaching people who run Langley for setups. A lot of it is set up for this kind of thing. I think we’ll do well.”
Skewes will compete in a Super Late Model at New Smyrna and in a Late Model Stock Car at Daytona. Skewes is excited about racing on the 4/10 mile course along the backstretch at the World Center of Speed.
“They built that track on the backstretch,” Skewes continued. “It means a lot because I’ve been to Speedweeks and go to different races. Being a racer, I’ve been thinking about racing down here and I’ve wanted to run New Smyrna. We couldn’t run there or Volusia County so I’ve been spectating the whole time. Now I can be a part of the deal. My crew’s excited about it. They’ve never been to Daytona so it’ll be fun having them around.”
Speedweeks is more than just Daytona. Skewes says there’s a lot going on and believes many people come down to get out of the snow in the north.
“We’ll get to see the K&N cars and Modifieds run,” Skewes explained. “There’s dirt racing at Volusia and asphalt at New Smyrna. There’s something going on every night. It’s always lots of fun. It’s nice to get out here. It’s great to get out of the snow. There are so many Canadians at Volusia that they play the Canadian National Anthem. People like getting out of the cold weather to do a little racing.
“It’s a further haul for some people but it’s not further than if you travel to Martinsville. This race, everything’s done in one day. Practice, it’s a one day show. It won’t be as expensive as going to Myrtle Beach for the big race. They stretch Myrtle Beach out an entire week.”
Skewes also said the racing being televised on SPEED is an incentive for businesses to sponsor cars in the UNOH Battle at the Beach.
“We picked up a sponsor since it’s televised,” Skewes mentioned. “It pays for our room, hotel bills, food and more. It doesn’t cover it all but it covers most of it. It’s easier to get it sponsored since it’s televised.”
Skewes three efforts will be sponsored by Raymond James/First Community Bank.
RACE22.com will continue to provide coverage leading up to the UNOH Battle at the Beach at Daytona, which will be run on February 18th, with driver interviews and preview stories. So, stick with RACE22.com, the Short Track Authority, as we continue to countdown to Daytona.
