Monday, November 17, 2003 Four Races and Four Winners at Ocala Speedway Fall Festival by Dave Westerman Perfect Fall weather greeted a large crowd of race fans Sunday afternoon at Ocala Speedway for the Second Annual Fall Festival and they were treated to quite a show. Wildwood's Wayne Anderson spoiled what looked to be a perfect weekend for Travis Kittleson of Merritt Island in Super Late Model action while two drivers who certainly know their way around the tricky Ocala layout, Red Vann and Troy Robinson, picked up Open Wheel Modified wins. The Salzer Utilities 50 was up first for the Mod Squad and Dade City's Mike Wilson set sail from the pole position only to see a quick caution on lap four as Timmy Moore spun to the infield in turn four, kicking debris up on the track. On the restart, Wilson was like a rocket, opening up a quick half straightaway lead, while fifth starter Red Vann was quickly working his way up to second. On lap nine, third-running Troy Robinson had to check up in turn two causing a chain reaction which found the two fast qualifiers from Saturday night, Dwayne Dempsey and Kevin Durden, running all over each other and spinning. Dempsey and Durden were sent to the rear of the field with Dempsey bringing out another yellow on the restart as he tangled up with Kenny Thornton. Wilson now had Red Vann shadowing his every move as the field went back to green. On lap 14, Durden ran into Mark Emberson's car and headed to the pits with a flat tire. Vann shot past Wilson for the lead on lap 16 just before the caution was displayed again as Thornton spun and kicked debris up on the track in turn one. Jeremy Gerstner and Scott Millar got in the "loose" stuff and spun, with Millar making slight contact with the wall, ending his race while Gerstner returned and was placed in the spot he was running when the caution came out. Just one lap after the green flew, it was yellow time again as Mike Bennett looped his machine in turn four. Vann had things pretty much under control at the halfway mark while Wilson remained second with a mirror full of the car of John Gerstner. Larry Goolsby had a good run going until he got shuffled into the infield on lap 28, losing two laps to the leaders before he could get back on the racing surface. The race's final caution came out on lap 34 as Emberson and Thornton tangled on the front stretch, sending both to the pits. The final 16 laps saw Vann in total control as he easily raced to the checker for his first win at Ocala in over a year driving the Evergreen Development special. CLICK HERE FOR 43 MORE PHOTOS Wilson held off a game John Gerstner for second while Alan McCafferty raced to a solid fourth just ahead of Troy Robinson. David Baxley finished what actually would be a lucky sixth, as Vann pulled the six pill to invert the top six finishers from race one for the start of the second race. Jeremy Gerstner was seventh while Dwayne Dempsey drove the wheels off his car, coming back to finish eighth after the two early-race altercations. Ohio visitor Brian Nestor and Chuck Burkhalter rounded out the top ten. Next on the speedway were the Super Late Models for the first of their two races, the Bailey Industries 100. Aric Almirola had the pole for this one, but a complete restart was ordered when Rich Pratt spun on the initial start in turn one with everyone else somehow missing his stalled machine. Almirola jumped to the lead With Wayne Anderson and Travis Kittleson tucking in behind him. Almirola would lead just three laps as Anderson zoomed by, bringing Kittleson with him. As soon as Anderson took the lead caution flew for a multi-car tangle in turn four involving Terry Cater, Mike Faulk, Gale Grayer and Scotty Ellis. Once racing resumed, the long stretch of green flag racing saw Anderson and Kittleson move well out in front of the field. Angola, IN driver Scott Hantz, who finished second in points in the CRA Sunoco Super Series that runs primarily in Indiana and Ohio, took fourth from Rich Pratt on lap 20 and appeared to have possibly the fastest car on the track. Herb Neumann, Jr. spun to bring out the caution on lap 28, bunching up the field. Following the restart, Patrick Williams lost control of his mount going into turn three, almost recovered, but spun in turn four collecting Dwayne Dempsey who had nowhere to go. Williams retired his machine for the day while Dempsey was done for race one but was able to return for the second 100-lapper. Anderson and Kittleson continued to show the way as Brian Finney spun on lap 42 to bring out caution number four. On lap 48, Anderson slid a bit high coming off turn four and slapped the wall. Kittleson saw his opportunity and ducked low with the two cars making contact going into turn one. Kittleson shot into the lead while Anderson's car had the left rear body work pushed in on the tire causing a big rooster tail of smoke. Despite this, Anderson continued to hold onto second spot as the field took the halfway signal. At fifty laps the running order was Kittleson, Wayne Anderson, Almirola, Hantz, Dick Anderson, Rick Carlton, Brian Finney, Billy Bigley, Jr., Jonny Kay and Rich Pratt. Kittleson began to build a huge lead while Anderson was obviously holding up the cars behind him. Hantz tried a move under Almirola for third, but his car slipped badly and he spun coming out of turn four to bring out the caution on lap 59. At this time track officials checked Anderson's car, and with the left rear tire badly damaged by the body rubbing on it, Anderson opted to take his car to the pits and make repairs for the nightcap. The final quarter of the race was all Kittleson as he raced virtually untouched to the checker, surviving three more cautions for minor spins. Rick Carlton's good run ended when something broke on the right front of his car while he was in the top five on lap 81. Kittleson, who ran the full ASA tour in 2003 and plans to do the same in 2004, made his return to Florida Super Late Model racing in style, scoring an easy win in his Bob Steele Chevrolet Monte Carlo after setting fast time over the stellar field of cars the night before. "When Wayne hit the wall, I had to go for it," said Kittleson. "We hit pretty good going into turn one, but it was just good, hard racing. I can't say enough for my crew who've worked so hard this week and this win is for them," he said. The "Old Master," Dick Anderson worked his last lap magic, passing Almirola for second coming out of turn two on the white flag lap. Almirola held on for what he considered a "disappointing" third just in front of a hard-charging Jonny Kay and Brian Finney, who worked his way into the top five after his earlier spin. Billy Bigley, Jr. steadily worked his way through the field after starting 17th to checker sixth. Again, as in the Modifieds, that would be the place to finish as Kittleson also drew a six pill for the inversion, placing Bigley on the pole for the second race. James Powell ran in the top five early, then got freight-trained all the way back to 14th at one point, but came back to finish seventh with Mario Gosselin, Southern All Stars champion Wayne Willard of Buford, GA and Rich Pratt completing the top ten. The Modifieds were back on track for their second race, the Rinker Materials 50, with all cars that started the opener back on track for race two. It would take three tries to get this one going with one of the false starts being charged to first race winner Red Vann as he spun in turn four. Because the race had yet to get an official green flag, Vann was able to restart in his sixth position. Pole sitter David Baxley got the jump on both of the two false starts, but when the race took the green flag for a third time, it was outside pole man Troy Robinson getting the best of Baxley for the early lead. Chuck Burkhalter and Chris Fadling locked horns in turn three to bring out the first caution on lap six with both continuing from the back of the field. Robinson had his Black's Service "Batmobile" dialed in and sped away from the field on the restart only to see the caution back out on lap 15 for a multi-car altercation in turn four involving Timmy Moore, Scott Millar, John Kahl and several others. Just after the restart, something broke on Mike Bennett's machine and he spun to the infield. Unable to re-fire his car, caution was displayed for Bennett on lap 19 and he was pushed into the pits. Baxley stayed closer to Robinson on the restart and the two drivers began to pull away from the field. Dwayne Dempsey had a tire go down on lap 23 and he headed to the pits, done for the day. The remainder of the race went all green as lapped cars became a factor. Robinson stayed on the low side of the track as Baxley found his way blocked by lapped traffic. Third-running Jeremy Gerstner was almost a straightaway back with three laps to go, but the lapped cars allowed him to close up behind Baxley on the final lap. Robinson took the checker amongst a gaggle of lapped cars, just nipping Baxley and Gerstner at the line. "Those lapped cars were terrible," said Robinson. "David drove me clean and I appreciate that. I just want to thank my mom and dad for giving me the chance to race and all the people that helped us out this weekend," he said. Baxley said he was happy with second. "This old motor is just about worn out, but we still got a second and a sixth and the way I figure it we made a couple hundred bucks for the weekend. I'm going home, take a shower, turn on ESPN and relax... in fact, I think I'll take tomorrow off," he said. Jeremy Gerstner was third while Alan McCafferty had his second fourth place finish of the day. Red Vann struggled a bit in finishing fifth after winning the opener. Mike Wilson, Brian Nestor, Kevin Durden (up from 18th at the start), Raymond Vann and Larry Goolsby rounded out the top ten. The Super Late Models were back on the track for the final race of the day, or evening actually, as darkness had set in over the speedway as the field lined up for what would be the most interesting race of the day with more twists and turns than a Tennessee mountain road. The Romac Lumber 100 would be the third race in a row to see a false start as Jonny Kay got spun around in turn one. Kay's car was undamaged and he returned to his spot in the line-up. Pole sitter Billy Bigley, Jr. got the jump on the field with Kay quickly settling into second spot. Action was slowed for the first of many times in this one on lap three as Wayne Willard tapped Brian Finney into a spin in turn three with both drivers going to the back of the field for the restart. Scott Grossenbacher was the odd man out in this one as his car received major front end damage as he tried to avoid everyone else and he retired from the race. Bigley continued to set the pace, but Kay was all over him. Coming to the completion of lap 10, Kay bumped Bigley in turn four and ducked under him for the lead. Bigley was none to happy and sent Kay spinning in turn two. Track officials placed Kay back at the point and sent Bigley to the tail of the field. Kay now had Dick Anderson behind him, but Kay's car was on rails and it was looking like the Deerfield Beach driver might finally end the jinx that's been plaguing him in long-distance races. Terry Cater's spin in turn four brought out the caution on lap 16. By this time Wayne Anderson, who started 23rd, was already just outside the top ten. Caution was again out on lap 33 for debris on the track as Dick Anderson began to really apply the pressure to Kay following the return to green flag racing. Kay's car began to slip badly in the corners as Anderson passed him for the lead on lap 35 while Kay began to fall well back in the field, finally spinning on lap 39, the victim of a flat right front tire. At half way it was Dick Anderson on the point followed by James Powell III, Travis Kittleson, Scott Hantz, Aric Almirola, Wayne Anderson, Mario Gosselin, Mike Faulk, Rick Carlton and Herb Neumann, Jr. Powell was putting the pressure on Anderson when his car slowed abruptly on the front stretch with an apparent distributor problem on lap 58. Kittleson rear-ended Powell's car as Hantz sped by into second place while Powell headed to the pit area. Three laps later, caution was displayed for a multi-car crash on the backstretch that badly damaged the car of North Carolina visitor Eddie Massingill. His crew made repairs and Massingill rejoined the race. Anderson continued to hold the point, but Hantz was looking strong and not intimidated by the "King of the Florida short tracks." Action was slowed again on lap 66 for Herb Neumann, Jr.'s spin in turn one. On the restart, Hantz dove underneath Anderson coming out of turn two. Anderson cut low to block the move, but Hantz was already committed and rode up and over Anderson's car, nearly knocking the windshield out of Anderson's #92. Both drivers retired to the pits and Kittleson now found himself in the lead with the chance at a clean sweep of the weekend's Super Late Model racing. Amazingly, Wayne Anderson now found himself in second place with Rick Carlton, who started just in front of Anderson in 22nd, now third. Kittleson was flying on the restart as it appeared no one had anything for him. Caution was displayed again on laps 75 and 83 for minor incidents. On lap 87, Gale Grayer, driving a car just recently purchased from Jimmy Cope, cut down a tire and slammed the turn one wall bringing out the red flag. Grayer was slow to emerge from his car, but other than a few sore ribs, was unhurt. Kittleson continued to set the pace as caution came out on lap 90 for a turn four tangle between Terry Cater and Eddie Massingill. Following the restart, Carlton's car suddenly shut off going into turn one. Bigley, Finney and Almirola all had to take evasive action with Bigley getting punted into the turn one wall. Both Carlton and Bigley were out of the race with Bigley a little "hot under the collar" although not knowing at the time the actual cause of the incident. The restart would prove to be Kittleson's undoing as he slipped badly coming down to take the green and Anderson seized the opportunity to snare the lead. Kittleson recovered and put the pressure on Anderson over the final nine laps, but Anderson was not to be denied the victory in the Calabrese Motorsports/Airframe International Chevy. "I think Travis' tires had some junk on them and they really spun on him badly on that restart," said Anderson. "I really thought my dad was going to win this one, but if he couldn't I'm glad we did," he said. Anderson will be conducting his first ever Fast Lane Racing School at Ocala in early January of 2004 and used his win to plug his new venture. "This is a tough old race track and that's why we want to do the school here. If you can learn how to set up a car and get around Ocala Speedway, you can go anywhere and race competitively," he said. Kittleson was disappointed, but said he'd settle for runner-up. "We must of picked up some stuff on the tires after that last caution because it was a handful," said Kittleson. "Wayne took advantage and that's what he's supposed to do and he raced me clean, so my hat's off to him," he said. Finney wound up third and got his second top five finish after being sent to the rear of the field after early incidents in both races while Wayne, WV driver Davin Scites, driving the Sytsma Hurricane Racing machine out of South Florida, drove a steady race to nab fourth just in front of Jim Smith of Inverness in the Webster's Race Cars entry. Almirola, Mike Faulk (driving the Buddy Bean race car out of Tennessee), Herb Neumann, Jr., Keith Zavrel and Terry Cater rounded out the top ten. Ocala Speedway holds its final race of the 2003 season on Sunday, November 30, 2003 with the Enduro 150. RESULTS - OCALA SPEEDWAY FALL FESTIVAL - 11/16/03: SUPER LATE MODEL #1 - BAILEY INDUSTRIES 100: 1) Travis Kittleson, Merritt Island #88 2) Dick Anderson, Wildwood #92 3) Aric Almirola, Orlando #14 4) Jonny Kay, Deerfield Beach #48 5) Brian Finney, Merritt Island #80 6) Billy Bigley, Jr., Naples #28 7) James Powell III, Astor #37 8) Mario Gosselin, Lake Wales #59 9) Wayne Willard, Buford, GA #01 10) Rich Pratt, Anthony #0 11) Scott Hantz, Angola, IN #72 12) Scott Grossenbacher, San Antonio #09 13) Eddie Massingill, Goldsboro, NC #10 14) Mike Faulk, Gainesville #83 15) Jeremy Rice, Royston, GA #23 16) Keith Zavrel, Brooksville #47 17) Terry Cater, Hernando #99 18) David Scites, Wayne, WV #77 19) Troy Robinson, Wesley Chapel #0B 20) Herb Neumann, Jr., Dunnellon #98 21) Scotty Ellis, Juliette, GA #31 22) Rick Carlton, Homosassa #3 23) Wayne Anderson, Wildwood #84 24) Jim Smith, Inverness #3X 25) Patrick Williams, Archer #57 26) Dwayne Dempsey, St. Petersburg #7 27) Gale Grayer, High Springs #87 28) Craig Tims, Howey In The Hills #12 *** Paul Combast, Holiday #90 (qualified on Saturday - did not race Sunday) SUPER LATE MODEL #2 - ROMAC LUMBER 100: 1) Wayne Anderson 2) Travis Kittleson 3) Brian Finney 4) Davin Scites 5) Jim Smith 6) Aric Almirola 7) Mike Faulk 8) Herb Neumann, Jr. 9) Keith Zavrel 10) Terry Cater 11) Eddie Massingill 12) Jeremy Rice 13) Troy Robinson 14) Billy Bigley, Jr. 15) Rick Carlton 16) Gale Grayer 17) Wayne Willard 18) Dick Anderson 19) Scott Hantz 20) Rich Pratt 21) Mario Gosselin 22) James Powell III 23) Jonny Kay 24) Scotty Ellis 25) Dwayne Dempsey 26) Scott Grossenbacher DNS Patrick Williams DNS Craig Tims MODIFIEDS RACE #1 - SALZER UTILITIES 50: 1) Red Vann, Tampa #32X 2) Mike Wilson, Dade City #79 3) John Gerstner, Tqampa #77 4) Alan McCafferty, Clermont #32 5) Troy Robinson, Wesley Chapel #0 6) David Baxley, Anthony #64 7) Jeremy Gerstner, Tampa #70 8) Dwayne Dempsey, St. Petersburg #6 9) Brian Nestor, Edon, OH #11 10) Chuck Burkhalter, Minneola #30 11) Raymond Vann, Tampa #99 12) Chris Fadling, Dade City #29 13) John Kahl, Orange Springs #23 14) Mike Bennett, High Springs #14 15) Kevyn Terry, Citra #007 16) Fireball Maguire, Williston #19 17) Larry Goolsby. Williston #19R 18) Kevin Durden, Archer #0R 19) Jack Icard, Hawthorne #39 20) Mark Emberson, Clermont #34 21) Scott Millar, Ocala #20 22) Kenny Thornton, Ft. McCoy #22 23) Timmy Moore, Pinellas Park #13 *** Rick Hall, Tampa #15 and Anthony Wilbur, Brandon #15B were at the track Saturday but did not race Sunday. MODIFIED RACE #2 - RINKER MATERIALS 50: 1) Troy Robinson 2) David Baxley 3) Jeremy Gerstner 4) Alan McCafferty 5) Red Vann 6) Mike Wilson 7) Brian Nestor 8) Kevin Durden 9) Raymond Vann 10) Larry Goolsby 11) Chuck Burkhalter 12) Scott Millar 13) Kevyn Terry 14) Chris Fadling 15) John Gerstner 16) John Kahl 17) Mark Emberson 18) Fireball Maguire 19) Jack Icard 20) Timmy Moore 21) Dwayne Dempsey 22) Mike Bennett 23) Kenny Thornton Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!