3/8/2023
Five Flags Speedway
Roderick Optimistic about ASA STARS Sunshine State 200 Chances after Strong Start
Roderick Optimistic about ASA STARS Sunshine State 200 Chances after Strong Start
By Chuck Corder
5flagsspeedway.com reporter
Few short-track drivers closed 2022 with a more powerful bang than Casey Roderick.
The longtime Late Model stalwart had plenty of track championship hardware from Five Flags Speedway, but Roderick had never won during Snowball Derby week. That all changed at last year’s 55th running of the sport’s most prestigious week. Roderick collected checkered flags for the Pro Trucks Derby 50 and backed that up a few nights later with his first career Allen Turner Snowflake 100 for Pro Late Models. He also finished fourth in the big 300-lap race, his best-career Derby result.
The calendar might’ve flipped to 2023, but Roderick hasn’t stopped his hot streak thanks to the alignment between Team Platinum and Anthony Campi Racing Team (ACR). The partnership has already yielded several big Super Late Model wins this season and the nuclear family approach looks to continue their successful ways this weekend at Five Flags.
“I’m very thankful for Team Platinum and Ms. Myna Burba,” Roderick said. “I appreciate her and her family. It’s not cheap to do traveling around to all the races we’re going to. It’s not an easy thing to do.
“To get to do it with ACR means a lot. They have an awesome program and I’m excited to work on getting better together the rest of year. That’s something me and Anthony have talked about.”
They’re in Pensacola along with close to 40 other SLM cars for the Sunshine State 200 as part of the much-anticipated return of the ASA STARS National Tour (ASA STARS), a series that defined Late Model racing at the close of the 20th century.
The big, season-opening weekend will span two nights with The Dock on Pensacola Beach Sportsmen and the Lloyd’s Glass Pure Stocks racing Friday and the Faith Chapel Outlaws joining the ASA STARS cars on Saturday at the famed half-mile asphalt oval.
The 10-race ASA STARS schedule will feature superstar Late Model drivers from all across the country, competing for big money prizes at the premier paved short tracks in the United States. A national champion will be crowned in November and a minimum $100,000 championship point fund has been confirmed. The top-10 in the final standings get paid, including $25,000 to the series champion.
“Everybody wants to be part of marquee events,” Roderick said. “I like taking the bigger Late Model races and creating a series around it. There’s more hype about it. The fans get more fired up for the bigger races.
“Everybody wants a (Snowball Derby) Tom Dawson Trophy, and similarly this creates something that’s worth going after.”
Call the track office at 850.944.8400 for advanced ticket prices. Admission at the gate Friday is $15 and $5 for children ages 11-and-under. Racing starts at 8 p.m. Friday.
Admission on Saturday is $35 and $10 for kids. The ASA STARS will qualify at 4 p.m.
Saturday. The Outlaws will get their season underway with a feature at 5 p.m. and will be followed by an autograph session from 6 to 7 p.m. The ASA STARS field of 36 cars will roll off for their 200-lap feature at approximately 7:30.
“I’m excited for this weekend in Pensacola,” Roderick said. “Coming off the ’Flake, it was a big momentum boost into 2023.
“One of the things I noticed since I’ve been with the ACR guys is they’re pushing me to be better. I wanna do well for them because of their work ethic. They eat, sleep and drink racing. I love that about them. They’re pushing me to be better behind the wheel and I know there are other certain areas I can be better at.”
Roderick wasted not time putting Team Platinum and ACR back in Victory Lane when he won the Redeye 50 in January at New Smyrna Speedway. A month later back at New Smyrna, he was dominating the World Series of Asphalt en route to a pair of individual race victories and the overall title as World Series champion.
Roderick will arrive at Pensacola’s high banks with a target firmly on his back. He wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I hope we have a bull’s-eye on us otherwise myself, Team Platinum and Team ACR wouldn’t be doing our jobs,” Roderick said. “Our job and main focus is to build a winning combination between driver, car and team. Our goal is to be the top Late Model team in the country.”
