Another strong field of sprint cars took the opening green flag at North Florida Speedway. Scott Anderson took the initial lead but his moment in the limelight was short lived as Matt Kurtz blew past Anderson on the fourth lap and proceeded to dominate the field. Dakotah Stephens made progress from midpack to second as the race progressed.
Stephens had a momentary chance at the lead on lap 15 when Kurtz had difficulties in traffic, but Stephens also encountered similar problems two circuits later.
Kurtz proved to be the stronger in the closing laps and convincingly earned his third win at NFS in 2006. Stephens finished similarly uncontested for second while Greg Leonard needed last-lap heroics to overhaul Danny Jones for the third spot. Perry Caudell finished fifth behind Jones.
Pure Stocks ran a nearly blemish-free race. Dean Jarvis and Michael Havard dueled throughout the entire 15-lap event and gave the fans a side-by-side display near the end of the race before the lone caution period on lap 14 broke up their party.
In addition to the fight for the lead, there was a nip and tuck battle going on for third between Robby Disbrow, Shawn Creech, and Chris Rowe. Jarvis was able to best Havard on the restart and hold on to take the win. Jarvis and Havard were trailed in order by Creech, Disbrow, and Rowe.
The Limited Sportsman division survived some early altercations to get in their main event. Gary Palmer was the polesitter and the leader throughout the race. While Palmer dominated the point, second place on back was anybody's race as several evenly matched men and machines gave their all.
Palmer was the first to the checkers, but instead of performing a victory lap and going into tech, he immediately pulled his car off the track and into the pits. Officials were able to retrieve Palmer but then had to disqualify him because he left the track without going to the tech area. This promoted Johnny Whitely, who crossed the line in second, to victory lane. David Ponton moved to second at the pay window and was trailed by Brian Scott, Chadd Brinkley, and Chris Harris.
Hobby Stocks ran a bruiser of a feature with fifteen cars taking the green flag. Timmy Roach outgunned polesitter Scotty Nolan and captured a hotly contested lead. Nolan and John Ward gave Roach all he could handle with each passing lap. A similarly heated battle for fourth betweek Lee Brinkley, Scott Booth, and Heath Walker provided more spectator excitement.
Traffic became a factor after the half way mark and Roach got into a situation with a lapped car on the white flag lap. Roach was allowed to get his spot back as per the lapped car rule and was collected enough to keep his challengers at bay and earn the win. Nolan held off Ward for second, while Walker outgunned Booth for fourth.
Dean Sands needed just two laps to take the measure of initial leader Scott Spears to capture another Street Stock win. Dewey Hall passed Spears on lap four and finished in second ahead of Spears, Steve Bennett, and Michael Bush.
Sprint cars return this Saturday night to the 3/8-mile oval and will share the spotlight with the fifth race of the Brown Motorsports Summer Spectacular for the Hobby Stocks that will pay $1000 to win.
Open wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks, and Pure Stocks will provide additional racing action, and there will be a bicycle giveaway for some lucky youngsters. Gates open at 5 PM and racing begins at 7 PM.
