Story By: SHAWN MILLER / GREG WILSON RACING – BENTON RIDGE, OH – Greg Wilson kicks off the 2020 season this week with seven straight nights of competition in Florida.
Wilson and his Hercules Tires, DNC Hydraulics, Ohio Logistics and Gear Off Road sponsored team race Wednesday through Sunday at Volusia Speedway Park in Barberville during the DIRTcar Nationals. The first two nights are under the Ollie’s Bargain Outlet All Star Circuit of Champions banner with the final three nights World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series races.
Wilson will then venture to East Bay Raceway Park in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 10-11 for a pair of All Star shows.
“We’re excited to get the year going,” he said. “You don’t know how you’ll stack up. Everyone else has worked hard all winter, too. Volusia is a place you want to do well, but it’s so hard on motors. I guess we’ll be a little conservative there. We’re excited to get to East Bay, which is one of my favorite tracks. We’re looking forward to getting back into the routine of racing.”
Wilson last visited Volusia Speedway Park in 2018. His best performance at the track came in 2006 when he placed seventh and 10th, respectively, during a pair of races.
“One thing that hasn’t changed in the last four or five years is the format and importance of qualifying,” he said. “That hasn’t been one of our strongholds. I feel like Volusia is about as tough as the racing gets because they get 35-to-40 cars, but it’s the best cars from a lot of places five nights in a row. That makes it extremely challenging. If you’re off just a tick you’re marred back in traffic. It’s a high-speed place where normally until halfway through the feature it’s notoriously hard to pass.”
Wilson kicked off last season during a 360ci sprint car event at East Bay Raceway Park, where he placed 15th during the finale out of the more than 50 drivers competing that weekend.
“When I was kid not racing I would come down with Bob Hampshire,” he said. “It’s a cool track that ends up being pretty racy and isn’t as hard on motors. I’m excited to get back there.”
Wilson’s first Hercules Tires dealership visit of the year is Feb. 14 at Big Tire and More Tire Pros in Lutz, Fla.