Today's Sports

Bronson Motor Speedway is open again, after months of uncertainty. New owner Tony Parker says the speedway opened for the season Saturday March 7, and will be open every Saturday night through September. The actual schedule of events is being finalized even as practices and events go on, but Parker says race fans can reassure themselves, racing is back in Bronson.

When two mighty storms meet under the same roof, they blow the house down. In Friday's FHSAA Class 5A state final, the Clearwater Tornadoes challenged the Gainesville Hurricanes as no team has done since Eastside in the regular season, chipping the big Gainesville lead down to two points in the fourth quarter. The 'Canes rose to the occasion, winning head coach Kelly Beckham his first state title the old fashioned way – first with defense, then with shooting, and finally with free throws.

When Gainesville High School basketball varsity assistant Philip Knight got his 500th career win Jan. 30 in a 60-52 barnburner against Eastside, fans who knew him from Bronson and Cedar Key scratched their heads and said, “Wait a second – that don't add up.”

It does, though. Knight has sat at the right hand of local legend Kelly Beckham since he took over the Bronson program in 1984, and followed him to Gainesville starting this season. Beckham had his 500th win in January 2007. So why did it take Knight two years on the same bullet train cross the same river?

Chiefland track and field took a big leap to start the season, opening on the road at the Clay meet. Both boys' and girls' teams had mixed results overall, but some excellent individual and event performances.

“We did pretty good, considering it was our first meet,” said girls' head coach Emily Gore.

“Pretty fair, nothing great,” agreed boys' head coach Wendell Corbin.