January 27, 2004 Winchell Outlasts King in Late Model 100 at Charlotte County By Claude Lewis An early wreck on the front straight had the fan's attention. PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (Jan. 25) Joe Winchell and Eddie King are names that go back to the early days at Charlotte County Speedway. The two hadn't raced at CCS in recent years, but were back at the Punta Gorda paved oval Sunday, chasing the $2,000-to-win purse in the Limited Late Model 100. Winchell started on the pole, momentarily lost the lead to King just past the halfway mark, but then bumped back up front and to the checkered flag. "This is a good place to race", said Winchell, who hails from Davie. "I've always like it here. (Owner) LeRoy (Davidson) busts his butt to put on a good show for the fans here". And so did Winchell and the 22 other Limited Late drivers. "I love to play the game", said Winchell, who went a year between races in Punta Gorda. "I'm 47 years old. I'm not going to go race in NASCAR or anything. I just love to race". Ditto King. "I just do it for the fun of it", said the veteran Ford driver out of Lakeland. King, driver of the No. 16 car, took over the second spot after a big pileup claimed the car of Steve Arnold. The cars of Arnold and Morrison were both totaled in a five-car pileup on the back straightaway on lap 36. King pressured Winchell up to lap 65 when the two cars caught up to a big group of lapped cars. King was able to dive underneath Winchell and take the lead. It lasted for just four laps when Winchell tapped King and drove by him on lap 70. King was still in it until lap 95 when he was slow coming out of four on a restart. Mike Hovis out-dragged him down the front straightaway. Hovis finished second. Randy Fox was third. Bobby Beauchemin was fourth. King slipped all the way back to fifth. Winner Joe Winchell with crew and family. "You get caught on the outside here, you're going back", King said. Video from Winner's Circle. "It's a shame because I was gonna tap on (Winchell's) door and pay him a little visit. I felt like I owed him one". The points season opened in six other divisions at CCS. In Sportsman, Dale Dean III drove away with the victory. Defending champ Jeremy Goddard was a distant second, while Johnson was third. The Open Wheel Modifieds went 25 laps with Wayne Jefferson taking the checkered in the No. 61 car. L.B. Skaggs took second. Harold Cannon was third. Defending champ Kurt Riley was fourth. In Super Stock, Brian Richardson got out of the gate with a victory. Tom Huffstutler was second. Walt Korkiner took third. In Road Warrior, newcomer Tim Ryan grabbed the checkered flag. John Pettit was second. Chris Huntoon was third. Thunder Trucks saw Cheryl Weaver start out on the right foot with a victory. Defending champ John Garrett was second and Mike Bialecki third. In 4-Cylinder Juniors, Cody Benoit was first, Erik Ludvigsen second and Jamie Skaggs third. In Open, Troy Yates was the winner, Bobby Fisher was second and Michele Riley third. PHOTO GALLERY - 243 photos from Sunday's action. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!