October 19, 2004 FASCAR Pro Modifieds Light Up Lakeland By Jack Smith Dempsey's bid for back to back wins falls short The top Open Wheel Modified race teams were assembled at Lakeland's USA International Speedway on Saturday night for 75 laps at the fastest short track Florida has to offer. A stellar field with racers also coming from North Carolina and Louisiana was led in qualifying by "the Rocket Man" Wayne Jefferson of St. Petersburg, Fl. in his familiar black #1 machine. The Penske Shocks FASCAR Pro Modified Series points leader Kevin Durden of Archer, Fl. started on the pole compliments of a pill draw that inverted the top ten positions. Durden started the race 9 points ahead of last year's Pro Mod Champion Lee Collins of Felda, Fl. For one of these racers tonight would be a disaster, for the other it would mark a milestone. As the race got underway with Durden out front of the 25 car field with Red Vann of Lutz, Fl. following it was clear right away this was going to be a hotly contested race. Side by side, close quarters racing on the edge of control at over 140 mph; the kind of racing fans go crazy over. Lee Collins, Dwayne Dempsey and Wayne Jefferson immediately began to move to the front, while Durden started slipping backwards. By lap ten the winner of the previous race, Dwayne Dempsey had moved in front of Durden for the lead and Jefferson was working to pass him for the second spot. Five laps later Dempsey had a mirror full of Jefferson while Durden was getting hounded by Clermont's Alan McCafferty, Starke's J.F. McClellan and Lee Collins. By lap 17 Dempsey and Jefferson were lapping some of the slower cars, weaving their way through them, and Jefferson having the faster machine was able to get by Dempsey's #88 on lap 20. This just before the caution came out for the 88x of Chris Robb who had slowed down on the track creating a hazard. When the Open Wheels roared out of turn four on the lap 26 restart, Jefferson and Dempsey had the close company of the #89 of Lee Collins. Durden had his hands full trying to stay in front of a whole pack of cars led by the #93 of Sunshine Speedway racer Rob Partelo from Largo, Fl. Jefferson was going into check out mode building up a huge lead when the gremlins left over from the Super Late Model race nailed him with a blown motor, putting him behind the wall at lap 37. Dempsey, Collins and Partelo set the pace for the remainder of the race, with a long caution period beginning at lap 47. Several cars were locked up fighting for position with the #0 machine of Durden, finally ending when he and Jimmy Britts made contact on the front straight contesting the 5th position on the track. Both cars slid down the front straightaway, collecting J.F. McClellan's 01 car in the process and coming to rest near the end of the straightaway. Durden threw several punches at Britts while he was still in the car, Durden eventually being restrained by the Track Rescue Fire Department Safety Team. Durden was disqualified by the FASCAR officials, Britts car was damaged and the race was restarted with only McClellan able to continue. He eventually finished in the fifth spot. Things got underway at lap 55 and 9 laps later Lee Collins overtook Dempsey for the lead, which he never relinquished. On the final lap Partelo, driving the wheels of the #93 was able to get around Dempsey as they headed for the checkered flag to clinch the second spot. An obviously elated Lee Collins did a burn out for the fans and was more animated than we have ever seen him in the Winners Circle. "It is sure good to win at Lakeland, I've finished second a lot of times, but this is my first win here"; then after a pause adding "I wish we could race here every Saturday night!" The Pro Modifieds will finish their 2004 campaign at New Smyrna Speedway in two weeks with Ed Meridith 100 at New Smyrna Speedway on October 30th. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!