By Jack Smith

Dick Anderson Solidifies Points Lead With Victory

Dave Westerman interviewing Dick Anderson before the race

Over 100 race cars filled the pits at Charlotte County Speedway Saturday, a night highlighted by the return of the Florida Pro Series Late Models to the South Florida speedway.

Twenty-three racers showed up and twenty-two were able to take the initial green flag, with one driver coming all the way from Washington, North Carolina.

Prior to the 100 lap main feature the drivers all took their helmets into the stands and raised over $800 for the family of Pete Orr, who died last week after a lenghty battle with cancer.

Dave Westerman introduced Florida star Dick Anderson to the fans with Anderson speaking about Pete Orr,"He was a tough competitor and good guy to race with, he will really be missed in racing circles." As the drivers prepared to go meet the fans in the grandstands Anderson added, "He was very good for the sport."

Jonny Kay sat on the pole with fast qualifier Randy Fox (15.393 seconds)on the outside pole after the field was inverted. Kay started the night third in points in the Florida Pro Series behind Jay Middleton and Dick Anderson. Fox, the local late model star at Charlotte, was joined by Charlotte regulars Richie Anderson and Frank Welch.

Middleton and Kevin Finney made up the second row, but only for a brief moment as the cars took the green flag it became apparent this was not a good night to start up front. A huge wreck in turn one brought out the red flag with Kay, Middleton and Finney all with wrecked machines. Out of the first two rows only Fox was able to escape without serious damage.

Following the wreck Kay brought the local fans to their feet and prompted them to exercise their vocal chords after he did the Charlotte Stomp on Fox's hood on the front straight. Eventually all three of the drivers were able to return but many laps down.

On the restart Fox jumped out to a good lead on the second place car of Doyle Boatwright but that run was short-lived. On lap 4 Richie Anderson and Daryl Shelnut got together to bring out a caution, and within a few laps after the restart the handwriting was on the wall with Dick Anderson jumping up into second behind Fox. Three laps later Anderson's red number 14 was out front and no one was going to catch him on this night.

Fox ran a strong second, Boatwright third with Shelnut and Joe Winchell having to drive from the rear of the field to get fourth and fifth places.

Frank Welch, local star known more for his Mini Stock exploits, was running in the sixth spot but with five laps left had a collision in turn one and finished 14th. Richie Anderson finished ninth.

A lot of good racing all around the race track during the last 80 laps and the fans enjoyed the Super Late's, a show Charlotte fans usually have to travel to see.

All in all Bert Ashelman, Florida Pro Series promoter and owner of Columbia Motorsports park, brought a darn good show to town and the fans will be eager to see them return.

Slideshow from Saturday's event click here!

Full Results:

Open Wheel Modified
1. 94 Chris Turner
2. 72 Rodney Calico
3. 55 Dan Atwell
4. 93 Steve Duerr
5. 12 Eric Rudd
6. 31 Kurt Riley
7. 2R Greg Reeves
8. 2 Kevin Brinkley
9. 49 Chris Gibson
10. 1 Jimmy Wilkins, III
11. 18 Sean LeMaster

Sportsman
1. 94 Scott Kleiber
2. 8 Raymond Jones
3. 71 L. B. Skaggs
4. 9 Jerry Bryant
5. 67 James Dubose
6. 28 George Richardson
7. 76 Joe Reese
8. 7 Tom Riser
9. 20 George Ellsworth
10. 39 Phillip Johnson
11. 0 Dick Robinson
12. 36 Fred Wilson
13. 63 Ryan Malone
14. 37 Jeremy Goddard
15. 38 Ralph Goddard

Street Stock
1. 7 Danny Caylor
2. 27 Terry Price
3. 31 Elbert Butts
4. 10 Eric Smith
5. 19 Greg Anderson
6. 99 Mark Collins
7. 13 Randy Miller
8. 2 David Fischer
9. 39 Fred Kight
10. 49 Joe Butler

Pure Stock
1. 77 Dennis Hale
2. 112 Billy Vandevender
3. 36 Stuart Vandevender
4. 19 Scott McDaniel
5. 4 Wayne Wilson
6. 36v Brian Verhaagh
7. 04 Chuck Stevens
8. 20 Lonnie Retherford

Mini Stock
1. 19 Dale Dean, III
2. 92 Kip Bryant
3. 11 Tim Miller, Jr.
4. 31 Harlan Wilson

Road Warrior
1. 30 Chris Huntoon
2. 19 Brandon Anderson
3. 61 Chris Oncken
4. 5 Bob Waltz
5. 711 Mark Ludvigsen
6. 0 Clete Trimmer
7. 7 Johnathan Abraham
8. 88 Larry Rudd
9. 00 Trey Almand
10. 18 Shane Leonard
11. 1 Jesse Gargus

Thunder Truck
1. 22 John Garrett
2. 37 Cheryl Weaver
3. 8 Mike Bialecki
4. 56 Bob Cherette
5. 14 Randy Layman
6. 16 James Wright
7. 13 Jay Bryant
8. 93 Shawn Wade
9. 44 Raymond Tucker
10. 7 Brian Maine
11. 9 Ray Scott

Pro Challenge
1. 1 Rod Sanders
2. 24 Mark David
3. 56 Howard Brennan
4. 5 Mark Landis
5. 31 Dale Howe
6. 25 Mike Lago
7. 28 John Tyler Davis
8. 2 Kyle Nicholas

Mod Lite
1. 68 Brian Paradis
2. 5 George Landis
3. 82 Mike Belusar
4. 06 Bob Quick
5. 20 Mike Landis
6. 49 Rick McFarland
7. 00 Bill Moody
8. 33 Robert Crandall
9. 2 Phil Krauthoff
10. 15 Kenny Anderson

Florida Pro Late Model

1. 14 Dick Anderson
2. 88 Randy Fox
3. 57 Doyle Boatwright
4. 7 Darryl Shelnut
5. 2 Joe Winchell
6. 16 Ray Deery
7. 79 Chris Bowers
8. 34 Robbie Yoakam
9. 95 Richie Anderson
10. 20 Kevin Gilliam
11. 31 Al Beckelheimer
12. 33 Ricky Thorpe
13. 12 Stephen Weaver
14. 96 Frank Welch
15. 44 Craig Seewald
16. 82 Danny Maddox
17. 77 Johnny Kay
18. 180 Kevin Finney
19. 94 Jay Middleton
20. 80 Brian Finney
21. 35 Erskine Fellingame
22. 22 Steve Godlewski

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