Hamilton Jr. Files Entry For Citrus County Sprint

Davey Hamilton Jr. (David Sink photo)

INVERNESS, Fla. – Davey Hamilton Jr. is the latest entrant for the upcoming Children’s Dream Fund 50 for winged asphalt sprint cars at Citrus County Speedway, and it comes as no surprise.

Hamilton and his Kirk Morgan Racing team are based out of nearby Tampa, Fla., and have dominated nearly every Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series event they have participated in over the past two seasons. Hamilton was also the winningest pavement sprint car driver in the country last year.

Hamilton Jr. may be one of the more intriguing entrants. He was the only driver a year ago to have won races with both the Must See Racing Sprint Car Series presented by Perfit and the BG Products Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series.

Those performances have bred familiarity with both series, who will come together to co-sanction the $10,000-to-win Citrus County event.

Coming into the race, Hamilton Jr. would have to be considered one of the favorites. He won at Citrus County in early November and was leading a Southern Sprint Car Shootout Series feature at the track when it was rained out a few weeks ago.

That race will resume with Hamilton leading when the southern tour returns in April.

Suffice it to say, Citrus County is a track Hamilton has had success at in the past. In fact, he has won the past two 41-lap Sandi DeCaire Classics and hopes to add another crown jewel at the track to his resume.

“We’ve had a lot of success at Citrus County Speedway the last couple years. But I don’t think it will be as easy this time,” said Hamilton. “There are a lot of good cars coming and we are on a new tire this year. We’re still trying to figure out the new tire. We’ve struggled at the start of the season compared to where we were at this point in the past.

“One thing I really like about the Children’s Dream Fund 50 is the format using qualifications. I think the fans really want to see qualifying. They want to see these cars going fast. So, I like the format,” Hamilton added. “It’s what Jim Hanks and Must See Racing use regularly and, in my opinion, it’s the first time we’ve had a good format here in Florida.

“I was talking with Bobby Santos the other day and he agreed. With this many high-caliber cars coming, using a format with qualifying is better for everybody. I think it’s good that we can draw this many cars to Florida and I think it’s also good we’re starting to get some better-paying pavement sprint car races. It shows pavement sprint car racing is growing and getting the attention it deserves.”

Perhaps most notably, Hamilton is coming off his first venture into putting on racing events. He promoted the $50,000-to-win Davey Hamilton Jr.’s Open Wheel Showdown at the Bullring at Las Vegas (Nev.) Motor Speedway this past December.

Though Hamilton will move the event to Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway for its second running in November, the top-three finishers from the inaugural Open Wheel Showdown have all entered the Children’s Dream Fund 50.

“In all honesty, we want to play our part in helping J.J. Dutton and his daughter Sadie, as well as the Children’s Dream Fund organization, with this event. It’s a great opportunity to help raise some money for a good cause,” Hamilton tipped. “Last year, my Kirk Morgan Racing Team donated our entire winnings ($4,000) from one race to the Children’s Dream Fund Organization. I’m sure we’ll do something to help again this year.

“I plan on bringing my merchandise trailer to the event to support as well,” he added. “It will be the only time all year I bring it to Florida, but that’s because the Childrens Dream Fund is important to us.”

Don’t be surprised if Hamilton finds victory lane in the Children’s Dream Fund 50, because he’s used to the pressure of big-money races and fields stacked full of the best drivers in the country.

Hamilton finished third in the inaugural Open Wheel Showdown and ran second in the $30,000-to-win Pink Lady Classic at Meridian (Idaho) Speedway last September.

Time will tell if he can climb the final rung on the finishing ladder at Citrus County next month.

Race weekend for the Children’s Dream Fund 50 kicks off Friday, March 1 with an open practice for all teams. Saturday, March 2 features a full show with qualifying, heat races, a B-main, and a 50-lap feature.

The Children’s Dream Fund is a St. Petersburg, Fla.-based, non-profit organization that was founded in 1981 with the purpose of fulfilling dreams for children from the ages of three to 21, living in West Central Florida, who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

Dreams are organized by doctors, nurses, child life and social workers, friends, families, and even other patients.

Since its inception, the Children’s Dream Fund has made dreams come true for more than 4,000 children. More than half of all dream costs are covered by in-kind donations.

Live streaming coverage for the Children’s Dream Fund 50 will be provided through Racing America, in partnership with Must See Racing.