By Rick Anges

Twenty-nine high-powered mini-stocks lined the whole front stretch of Auburndale Speedway Saturday night for the drivers introduction portion of the Florida Mini-Stock Challenge Series fifth race of the six-race deal.

Some of the top names in the class were on the track to compete for the fifty-lap feature event. But on the front row were two familiar names to the Auburndale crowd, Robbie and Randy Storer who probably have more laps around the quarter mile then the rest of the field combined.

Fast Qualifier #9 Robbie Storer was offered an extra $300 by FMSC director Todd Hutto to start from the rear but Storer thought better of that and declined. When the green flag dropped it was the #9 of Robbie Storer out first with his uncle Randy #90 sliding into second. Frank Welch in the #96 Mini-Truck was third. By Lap six Storer caught the tail of the field and began lapping the back markers. The field was two and three wide at times bumping and grinding as everyone was attempting to chase down the #9 of Storer.

A tense moment for the leader happened when the #28 of Sean Bass spun in front of him causing Storer to stand on the binders to avoid contact with the young driver. Randy Storer meanwhile had a mirror full of Welch who was working the tough high line to get around him.

Several cautions bunched up the field but on every re-start Storer showed his experience at his home track with some excellent restarts sometimes taking off to a two car length lead by the time the field entered turn one. Meanwhile #61 Rick Sirmans who started tenth on the field moved his way up through the pack and into the top five battling with the #57 of Jason Rendell for the fifth spot. There was a scary moment for Sirmans when he tried and outside move on Rendell with the #57 taking Sirmans up to the wall. Sirmans bounced off the retaining wall coming out of four but #61 gathered it back up and on the next lap took the spot.

The #90 of Storer was forced to retire due to mechanical problems after running second since the drop of the green flag relinquishing the spot to Welch in the #96. But Welch was unable to hold off the hard charging Sirmans who took and outside line in turn four to get by and set his eyes on the leader who had gotten out to a half a lap lead. #77 Lee Davis who was involved in an altercation on the first lap and had to start from the rear of the field battled his way back up through the pack and into the top five by the #24 Chris Thornton.

With ten laps showing on the board the #34 of Josh Robinson went hard into the front stretch wall bringing out the caution flag and setting up a ten lap dash for the checkers. When the green flagged dropped it was Sirmans right on the bumper of Storer but Storer was able to hold off an outside last lap outside move and went on to take the checkered flag by a half car length over Sirmans. Frank Welch settled for third, Rendell came back for fourth and Lee Davis charged to a fifth place finish.

The FMSC next event will be the 100 lap Florida Championship Race at the tough high banked half-mile of New Smyrna Speedway December 1st. With over 40 cars expected this will be one that no mini-stock fan or racer should miss!

-Rick Anges

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