The Florida Mini Sprint Association brought the high energy show these winged sprint cars are known for back to the speedway for a 20 lap feature with only three cautions. Chris Partin and Matthew Wilson dueled before Wilson nabbed the lead out of turn 1.
After a caution for Allen Craig, Wilson once again took the lead as points leader Jesse Teed picked off Daniel Pleaugh and Partin to take up position behind Wilson.
Teed pulled beside Wilson on the backstretch, took the lead out of turn 3, and put his ride on warp speed. Two laps later, Andrew Griffin shot past Wilson before the caution flag flew for Randy Carrier. Teed once again proved untouchable at the restart as Wilson challenged Griffin. Wilson found his attention diverted by Eddie Moss, Jr. who passed Wilson one lap later and set off after Griffin, bringing John “Crash” Craddock with him. The field settled into position at this point until the caution flew for Griffin and Ken Penta, who tangled in turn 1.
Griffin wound up at the end of the lead lap, a place he would not remain for long. With Teed, Moss, and Craddock firmly ensconced in 1st-3rd at the restart, Craig passed Partin and snagged 4th from Russ Heider. Six laps later, Teed took the checkered over Moss, Craddock, Craig, and Heider.
The Box Stock division hit the ground running with three wide action at the green flag drop before Mark Wolcott Jr. took the lead. After a caution for Shawn Pawlak, Kenn DeVane, and Stephen Katz, who tangled in turn 1, with Wolcott at the rear of the field, Johnny Warren moved past Hal Cochran and took the lead at the restart.
Kevin Benjamin challenged Casey Feaster for Feaster’s 2nd position but Feaster maintained as he and the race leader pulled away from the field. By lap 9, the leaders were lapping the rear of the field. Wolcott worked back into contention but exited the track before the race was over. Warren took the win ahead of Feaster, DeVane, Benjamin, and Katz.
Al Larson was a man on a mission as he took the lead in the Late Models and never looked back. Billy Costello took up 2nd behind Larson with Kevin Mills closing in on Costello for a close 3rd. Costello shook Mills off and 4 laps later Clyde Herron passed Mills. One lap later, Mills’ ride failed him and David Crews pulled in behind Herron. The field settled into position before Herron suffered a flat tire two laps before the end of the feature. Herron held on to his ride to take 5th as Larson took the checkered over Costello, Crews, Richard Adams, and Herron.
Ron Frank was determined to prove his Hobby Stock win last week was no fluke as Frank took the lead in this week’s action. Once again, David Miller Jr. became Frank’s biggest nemesis on the track as Miller challenged Frank and never let up. Frank and Miller gained a good lead over the field with Randy Moody, Robert Hicks, and Ken Durham in 3rd thru 5th. Durham worked Hicks for Hick’s position but Hicks maintained. Bruce Birkett and Dustin Taylor waged a battle for position before Birkett dispatched Taylor and set off after Durham. The caution flew for Durham on lap 11 and the restart gave Miller the opportunity he needed. Miller used the inside of turn 1 to pull beside of Frank, and took the lead out of turn 4. Frank challenged Miller in an effort to regain his lead but Miller held on and led Frank, Moody, Mike Scranton, and Hicks to victory lane.
Point leader Jason Lowe took the lead in the Modified feature with Mike Tripp in 2nd. David Crews Jr. proved he had a better handle on modified racing as he maintained a strong 3rd. Garland Spangler moved past Eddie Rosier to take up position behind Crews. Spangler challenged Crews but Crews held on. Lowe moved into another time zone as by lap 16, he had gained a ½ track length lead over his competitors. Lowe flew under the checkered flag with Tripp, Crews, Spangler, and Rosier in 2nd thru 4th.
Chad Scranton proved he had the ride to beat in the Pure Stock feature as he took the lead. By lap 4, Scranton had gained a ¼ track length lead over Dustyn Tyre and Tim Gigon. By lap 6, Scranton was lapping the rear of the field. After Jimmy Dowling upset Luke Sadler for 5th, the field spread out. Scranton took the checkered over Tyre, Gigon, Dowling, and Sadler.
The Corndog Racing team gave each other their best challenges in the evening’s Mini Stock feature. Jay Farris was looking to repeat last week’s finish over teammate David Hamm but Hamm was having none of it. Hamm took the lead with Brack Gill in 2nd, as Bruce Denman, one of the speedway’s former home track racers, took up 3rd.
Denman placed multiple challenges on Gill before snagging Gill’s 2nd position. Farris, who started deep in the field, moved past Gill and one lap later, dispatched Denman and set off after Hamm. Farris challenged Hamm and both racers flew side by side with Hamm holding Farris off. Farris tried the outside and inside grooves in an attempt to shake Hamm down. Hamm maintained and took the checkered over Farris, Denman, Jamie Farris, who hit the inside wall at the checkered, and Gill.
Super Late Models are on the card next week in a $3000 to win feature event. Grandstands open at 5pm. For more information, visit the speedway’s website at www.putnamcountyspeedway.com, or call 386-649-5372.
