| Patrick Williams Wins Sunbelt 125 at Bronson | By Rick Warren
The Super Late Models of the Sunbelt Series came roaring into Bronson Motor Speedway Saturday night, to do battle for 125 laps, as they competed in the first leg of the Florida Triple Crown Series. The series will culminate in the Florida Governors Cup race at New Smyrna Speedway later this month.
The excitement was building all afternoon, as the lap times were getting quicker and quicker, as the racers dialed in their chassis setups. Everyone was expecting this would be the day that the lap times dropped into the 12 second range. When Qualifying Time arrived, the weather was perfect, and the track conditions were great.
The qualifying times started out fast and got faster. When the racers had all taken their best shot, Wayne Anderson had driven his Air Frame International entry to a fast time of 12.905 seconds. Patrick Williams was right on his Anderson's heels in the Armstrong Homes entry, with a time of 12.950 seconds. Rick Carlton also had his Websters Race Cars entry flying low , with a time of 12.989 seconds.
The draw for inversion turned up a 5, which put Rich Pratt, in the Groeb Farms entry on the pole position, with Aric Almirola in his R&S Autobody racer on the outside front row. The second row had Rick Carlton and Patrick Williams, with Wayne Anderson and James Powell in the third row.
The cars were lined up, introductions done, and engines were started. As the racers were following the Gainesville Mitsubishi pace car for the warm up laps, the fans were ready to see some racing. As the flagman showed the racers the one lap to go signal, Fast Qualifier Wayne Anderson slowed, and pulled his racer into the pit area, with a broken trailing arm mount.
As the green flag waved, Rich Pratt and Aric Almirola raced side by side into turn 1, with Pratt coming out in front.
Almirola was hung out to dry on the high side, and dropped back in the pack.
Pratt continued to lead with the pack right on his bumper.
Carlton, Powell, Williams, Jimmy Cope, and Fain Skinner all were slicing and dicing, trying to gain positions, and get a shot at the lead.
The first caution was displayed on lap 22 as the 9 car of Keith Steinhorst spun in turn 4. The restart had Pratt in front, followed by Carlton, Williams, Powell, Skinner, Cope, Almirola, and Chris Fontaine.
The race restarted on lap 26, but stayed green for only 4 laps, as Carlton and Pratt made contact entering turn 1. As the field was slowed under caution, Pratt was forced to pit for repairs, and Carlton restarted from the rear of the lead lap.
As the field lined up for the restart, Williams was in front followed by Powell, Skinner, Cope and Almirola. As the race restarted, Powell tried to drive under Williams for the lead, but the car of Williams had enough horses under the hood to hang to the lead, and start to put some distance on the field. Lap 38 saw caution once again, as the car of Phillip Rook spun in turn 4, and a lot of sheet metal and nose pieces were damaged as the cars in the lead pack tried to check up to avoid the stalled racer. As the field once again lined up for the restart, Pratt rejoined the field 11 laps down.
Caution was again shown on lap 45, and then the red was displayed, as the car of Fain Skinner, who had been racing with his hood jammed in the air, spun in turn 1. The cars of Chet Morrison and Joe Boyd got together trying to avoid Skinner, with Boyd hitting the turn 2 wall very hard.
Fortunately, Boyd emerged from his racer uninjured, although his car sustained heavy damage. The race was restarted after the track crew cleared the debris from the racing surface, with Williams continuing to show the way. Williams appeared to have the car to beat, and was consistently running laps in the 13.15 to 13.25 range.
The battle for second place continued to rage, with Powell running hard to hold off the repeated challenges of Jimmy Cope. Caution was displayed again on lap 51 for the car of Mac Johnson, spinning in turn 2. Lap 66 saw a brief caution for Debris on the front straight. Lap 73 had Herb Hoeffler spin off turn 2, for a brief caution, and again debris brought out the caution on lap 79. On the restart the cars of Barry Willoughby, Jay Middleton, and Mac Johnson got together, and on the ensuing restart, Willoughby and Johnson lined up at the rear of the lead lap.
Williams continued to have the race in hand, with some serious battles going on behind him in the pack. As the race was drawing to a close, with only 10 laps to go, Powell slowed and drove to the infield with something broken in the drive train. Cope tried to gain an advantage on Williams, but Williams cruised to the win, with Cope finishing second.
Chris Fontaine, a rookie on the circuit, drove a very good and smart race to finish a solid third followed by Almirola and Fain Skinner, also a rookie this year with Sunbelt.
A great race, and everyone has had their appetite whetted for the 2 remaining races in the series. If this race was any indication, the other races in the Triple Crown Series should be thrillers.
The Bronson regular series Racers were in action as well, and they also put on a very good show for the fans, as all the racers are trying to gain as many points as possible, with only tonight and next week remaining on the schedule. The Sportsman division saw Robbie Cooper and Arthur Conquest put on an exhibition of hard racing as they battled for the lead the entire race. Cooper came out on top for the win, adding to his point lead.
The Pure Stock Division once again was a wild and wooly affair, with some rubbing, some shoving, and lots of paint swapping. After several cautions, Bobby Johnson managed to bring home the win, followed by Richie Smith and Tommy Ausburn.
The Mini-Stock feature had Dave Westrich finally ridding himself of the bad luck that has plagued him this year, and coming home with the win, followed by Alan Buker and Billy Smith.
Kevin Hodge took top honors in the V8 Bombers, and Michael Stalnaker took the win in the 4cyl Bombers.
Sunbelt Super Late Models – 125 laps
1. #57 Patrick Williams Archer, FL.
2. #61 Jimmy Cope St. Petersburg, Fl.
3. #47 Chris Fontaine Lakeland, Fl.
4. #14 Aric Almirola Tampa Fl.
5. # 1 Fain Skinner Live Oak, Fl.
6. #23 Scotty Crockett Land O’ Lakes, Fl.
7. #22 Herb Hoeffler Floral City, Fl.
8. # 6 Mac Johnson Gainesville, Fl.
9. #74 Barry Willoughby Port St. Lucie, Fl.
10.# 3 Rick Carlton Homosassa, FL.
11.#74J Jay Middleton Lake City, Fl.
12.#47X Keith Zavrel Brooksville, Fl.
13.#28 Phillip Rook Ocala, Fl.
14.#37 James Powell III Astor, Fl.
15.# 0 Rich Pratt Anthony, Fl.
16.#86 Chet Morrison Houma, La.
17.#88 Brock Oglesby Ocala, Fl.
18.# 5 Joe Boyd Riverview, FL.
19.#26 Jeremy Fekrenbach Ocala, Fl.
20.# 9 Keith Steinhorst Dunnellon, Fl.
Sportsman Division
1. #98 Robbie Cooper
2. #78 Arthur Conquest
3. #30 Doug Anderson
4. # 4 Herb Hoeffler
5. #71 Brody Giddens
Pure Stock Division
1. #16 Bobby Johnson
2. #42 Richie Smith
3. #69 Tommy Ausburn
4. #75 Cliff Erhardt
5. # 0 William Long
Mini Stock Division
1. #38 Dave Westrich
2. # 5 Alan Buker
3. #00 Billy Smith
4. #30 Morris Richardson
5. #9 Marlon Durbin
V8 Bomber Division
1. #37 Kevin Hodge
2. #22 Randy O’Neal
3. # 8 Gerold Bryant
4. #46 Mike Carr
5. # 4 Mitchell Bell
4CYL. Bomber Division
1. # 8 Michael Stalnaker
2. #72 Terry Dunbar
3. #64 Clark Pittsley
4. #23 John Hagans
5. #13 Joey Brinson
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