| Monday, September 23, 2002 | |
| Gene Ross Dominates lst Annual Florida State Championship with the NLMS | Lake City, Fla. - Gene Ross of Lake Park (GA) dominated
the First Annual Florida State Championship Sportsman
Challenge Series with the National Late Model Series in
front of what was to be the largest crowd eer to attend
a race at the Lake City Speedway. Fans started arriving
early in the afternoon, as the 100 lap $10,000 to win
35 car starting field would roll to the grid later in
the evening.
Racing started off on Thursday night with open practice
and Jameson Inn Qualifying set for Friday night. Ross
would claim the Jameson Inn's A Perfect Stay-A Perfect
Lap Award and winthe first of five Holley Performance
heat races to gain the front row starting spot for
Saturday's 100 lap feature.
Lonnie Roberts of Sparks (GA), Shane Hylton of Quitman
(GA) and Skip Pannell of Albany (GA) would win the
final three heats to grab the top five starting spots.
With one of the largest fields to start on the oil-based
oval, a concern about going in to turn one was highly
discussed through the pit area on Saturday afternoon.
With the green waiving to start the 100 lap feature,
the veteran-row of Ross andEllenburg would bring the
field to the start-finish line. Ross would take his
MRE-Ford powered to the point and Ellenburg would jump
to the inside to claim the #2 position.
With nine laps in, the first caution would wave for
Aaron McQuaig of Ocala (FL) would would have
mechanical trouble stopping in turn three. With Ross
on the point and Ellenburg in second, Lonnie Roberts
would run in the third position with Shane Hylton in
fourth and Skip Pannell in the fifth position.
As the race would restart and Ross quickly out front,
and Ellenburg and Roberts in the second and third
positions, the battle for the fourth position was
intense as Pannell, Shane Hylton, Jason Hylton,
Jonny Collins, Bobby Olgesby, Cecil Eunice, Gene Maine
and David Clegg would race nose-to-tail.
With thirty eight laps in Cecil Eunice would slow
suddenly with engine problems ending his evening.
"We thought we were in good shape" said Euncie. "We
were setting in a good position and trying to get
past halfway and all the sudden the motor quit," said
a disappointed Eunice.
One of the quickest cars of the evening was that of
Bobby Olgesby of Bloomingdale (GA). Olgesby who
started in the eight position began to rumble as the
cars got to the halfway signal. Olgesby, who moved
around Shane Hylton's mount would slow coming off
turn two with rear-end troubles.
"We were doing good, I had my brother behind me,
we were gaining a few points on Henry when I felt
something break in the rear-end" said a disappointed
Hylton.
Lap 62 Shane Hylton slowed coming off turn 2 with
engine trouble ending his top five finish. With Ross
still at the point, Roberts into second and Olgesby
around Ellenburg for third, that would open the door
for Pannell to move around Ellenburg into fourth.
Gene Maine who had run steady in the top ten all night
moved into sixth.
David Clegg and Michael Lloyd who had one of the most
intense battles all night would race in the seventh and
eighth positions. Bert's Transmission Rookie-of-the-
Year leader Bobby Padgett would move into ninth and
points leader Henry Carter who started deep in the field
had moved into the tenth points position.
At lap seventy-two and moving to the front, Olgesby
came off turn four with what appeared to be a right/
rear shock break, ending his chance of catching leader
Ross as Olgesby would collect the Spheroid "One-of-those-
racin deals" Award.
Ross would hold off Lonnie Roberts as Roberts was not
quite able to stay with the strong-running Ross. "It
was a sweet victory," said Ross in victory lane. "We
were good when we unloaded off the truck, my biggest
concern of the evening was going to be lapped traffic
and I want to comment those guys, they watched the
flag and was never really a factor," said an excited
Ross.
The next race for the series will be October 4, 5, and
6 at Volusia Speedway Park in Deland (FL) for the Miller
Lite $10,000 to win 100 lap feature. From there the
series will make its seventh Annual "Showdown On the
Coast" appearance at Oglethorpe Speedway Park located
in Savannah (GA) on October 17, 18, and 19. The
"Showdown" which has become one of the prestigious dirt
race events for the "Southern Dirt Tour" is always full
of excitement and is the race that a sportsman driver
wants to be part of.
FINISH ORDER
1. Gene Ross
2. Lonnie Roberts
3. Skip Pannell
4. Gene Maine
5. Henry Carter
6. Eric Platt
7. David Clegg
8. Johnny Collins
9. Michael Lloyd
10. Bobby Padgett
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