by Rick Anges

Bradenton,Fl.- Pete Orr has always been a force in Florida Late Model racing, winning all the big ones along the way.

Justin Drawdy has made a name for himself lately in the Late Model scene and when the two hooked up for Saturday's All American Challenge Series the rest of the competition was left in the dust.

B.J.McLeod #78 was once again fast qualifier around the high banks but the dice roll inverted the top five rows in the twenty car race.

Jeff Scofield #07 was the early leader but it was evident that he didn't have the speed to hold back the leaders and was passed in the early laps and faded.

He was later black flagged for stopping on the track after a spin to bring out a caution. Click for More!!

#79 Clint Slaggy did all he could to hold off the #12 of Drawdy but to no avail as Drawdy blew by him.

Jimmy Cope #61 roared his way into the second spot and had several challenges from different drivers. Veteran Dave Pletcher #75 came from mid pack to the third spot and challenged Cope most of the race.

Some of the best racing all night was between the two young guns Brad Barkis#10 and #78 McLeod. Click For More!

McLeod appeared to have the faster car but Barkis was able to hold the bottom line lap after lap.

On the last lap McLeod was tapped and almost went around by the #1 car of Johnny Jackson.

When the smoke cleared it was Drawdy by nearly a half a lap over second place Cope, Pletcher was third, Barkis fourth and rounding out the top five was Jackson.

"Pete Orr was on the radio the whole time telling me where Jimmy was and I backed off a little at the end but you can't never back off with Jimmy behind you", said Drawdy in the Winner's Circle.

Limited Late Models

Some tense moments occured during the feature event as George Couse #7 smacked the wall hard coming out of turn #2 destroying the car and catching on fire, but the fast acting DeSoto fire and safety crew was right on the spot and had the fire out and George out the car uninjured.

After all that action it was Edward Howell #62 holding off a fast Maty "Bub" Pierce #75 to take another victory at the "South's Fastest Short Track".

Johnny Jackson #1 ran double duty in the lates and took the third spot, Ron Lofquist #49 of Auburndale had a strong running finishing in fourth and Jeff Dufresne #34 was fifth.

Street Stocks

The backstretch wall really got a work out this night as the #47 of Bruce Ahlers and the #6 of Danny Anderson whacked the wall with a sickening thud but once again the safety crews were on the scene and both drivers were able to walk away.

Chet Roberts #69 was able to avoid all the troubles on the track and had his machine hooked as he powered his way to the checkered flag and the win.

#71 Darrin Ellis had a good run following Roberts across the line in second, Jimmy Best #67x with another good run finished third, Jonathan Hiedenthal held on for fourth and Sue Purrington #8 after a blown motor last week was fifth.

DeSoto Trucks

Racin' Mason Love #70 took the feature win over Bill Davis #7, Brian Donahue #3, Thomas Carter #12 and making a good run in his return the #2 of Danny Glover Jr.

Mod-Minis

Chip Gaines #72 jumped out to the lead and never looked back taking the feature trophy. Clay Joseph #44 second, Randy Koon #22 third, X Greg Krom fourth and fifth was the Timber Wolf Hard Charger winner #51 Mike Birk.

Mini-Stocks

John Dutilly #38 came from the tenth starting posistion to win the mini-stock feature event over a good running Joe Gagen in the #1 car, #22 Shane Whitbeck was third, John Wilson #05 fourth and fifth went to #89 Arlan Pope.

Rob Taylor grabbed his first feature win in the Pure Stocks:


Next Staurday DeSoto features the Legends in a 50 lap shootout and all the regular divisions at the 'South's Fastest Short Track'.

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