“This is a whole new environment - I’m ready to go out and have some fun, and win some races!”, said Jason Simmons, the new driver of the Terry Solazzo owned #25 FFB small block super. This rumor had been floating around for awhile, but it was never an officially done deal until just today. (Or at least today was the day Jason was given the green light to admit it…)

In 2009, Solazzo’s two car team found Mike Bond 3rd in points, and Rob Pullen 9th. With Pullen not returning to the seat, Solazzo had to decide whether he was going to just field the one car, for Bond, or link up with another driver.

Of course at the end of last season, the talk was of only returning with the one ride. But I know how racing season is. Many of the season’s frustrations and woes that build up during the racing season seem to cool off with the cool weather, and are often mostly forgotten with the first big freeze. It’s just the way it works - I see it every year.

Simmons will supply his own engine for the Solazzo #25, a Mike O’Connor built power plant that was new near the end of the 2009 season. Jason’s own car though, will be at the speedway weekly, and be ready as a backup, or “in case you want to hop in it”, Jason offered.

The #25 will have some new body panels and bumpers, and will be gone through thoroughly before the season takes the green. “It’s a level playing field now”, Jason enthused, looking forward to trying a newer car than his own, with all of the current updates. “I want to push the envelope…”

Simmons also still owns an SST modified, which he ran once last year. That car will also be prepped and ready for a few events at Oswego, and maybe Shangri-La2 or Spencer Speedway. The SST will also sport a new O’Connor motor, and driving duties will be shared by Simmons, and Mike Bond. It’s not a full-time deal for either one, as the focus will be on the small block supermodified division, but there will definitely be a few shows for the #91 SST mod.
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Brian Sobus, who retired from small block supermodified racing after the 2009 season, admitted recently that he’s coming out of retirement…again. He’s not sure yet if he’ll run the full season, but he’ll be there when the green flag drops.

“To be honest with you, I don’t really want to do the whole season. We’ve got to see how the first couple of races go”, Brian informed. But we all know what an illness racing is. Once they race a few times, they will be locked in. It happens every year. Especially with Brian and his family owned team.

They did consider moving to the SST modified division, as did Jason Simmons. “I love the speedway, and don’t want to give it up yet”, Brian shared.

So add the #79 back into the equation for the weekly (I predict) drivers. Although the division looked like it may be faltering at one point, I think car counts will be equal with, or maybe even a little ahead, of the 2009 field.

You can also possibly add in Chris Lupa’s #46 car, as several inquiries have been made recently about the fully updated Hedger car, which has recently been offered at a closeout price of $6,500. I predict that this car will be sold soon, and see laps at the speedway in 2010. That’s a ridiculous deal for that price.