| "Memory Lane" Alive and Well at Volusia Speedway Park | by Jane Smith
Barberville, FL (April 25, 2009) Saturday night at Volusia was nothing less than what it was intended to be, a walk down memory lane. With almost twenty vintage cars in the pits and the one and only ELVIS in the grandstands, everyone had fun. The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association cars turned out in full force in three divisions - Stock, Midgets and Sprints.
Fans got up close and personal during an on-track meet and greet session with the cars and drivers and were fascinated by the old race cars. While fans got autographs and photos, Elvis made the ladies swoon and sang a few tunes including "Love Me Tender, Love Me True." A perfect walk for everyone down "Memory Lane".
While Elvis made his way thru the grandstands hugging the ladies and giving away his famous silk scarfs, it was time to go feature racing.
First up were the Midgets with Bill Wendt on the pole. As the green was waved, Wendt quickly took the point over Josh Rynd, Fred Strickland, and Ed Johnson. Lap 2 saw Rynd take over the pole from Wendt but Wendt was determined and took back the point. This battle between Wendt and Rynd continued thru most of the race. Rynd seemed to have more power in his machine on the straightaways but Wendt outpowered Rynd in the turns. By lap 5, fans saw some awesome three wide racing between Wendt, Rynd, and Strickland. With very little rollcages in these Midgets, fans held their breath as they went around the speedway.
Rynd was finally able to take over the point from Wendt and take the checkered followed by Bill Wendt, Fred Strickland, and Ed Johnson. Janis Strickland and Scott Winter were unable to make the feature race. Fred Strickland took the heat win.
Next were the Sportsman division for a twenty lap feature. Alan Peacock had the pole for the twenty car field but it was Steve Shead who pulled ahead on the green followed by Peacock, Shane Nichols, Garret Stewart and Ken Hall, Sr. But Shead was overpowered by Peacock by lap 2 as Peacock took the control over the field followed by Shead, Hall, Sr., Nichols and Shaun Daugharty. Daugharty puts pressure on Nichols and takes over fourth as the caution comes out for Hall, Sr. who spun but kept on in turn 4. Also spinning were Drew Smith, Marc Kinley and Benita Allman.
Since Hall, Sr. never stopped moving during his spin, no cars were sent to the rear for the restart although Allman did show alittle damage to the car for the spin. With Peacock on the inside and Shead on the outside, the green was shown as Peacock takes the point over Shead, Nichols, Hall, Sr., and Daugharty. As Peacock continues to lead the way, Daugharty is moving up taking over third as Nichols goes to fourth and Hall, Sr. fifth. Peacock has built up a 10 car lead over the field. Hall, Sr. gets loose and has to let off to correct the car and slides back to sixth. Daugharty has passed Shead and taken over second and sets his sight on Peacock.
Just as the race between Peacock and Daugharty is really got hot, the caution comes out on lap 9 for Scott Kerr who has lost his drive shaft high in turn 3. With Peacock on the inside and Daugharty on the outside for the restart, Peacock takes the point however not for long. By lap 10, it is Daugharty, Peacock, Nichols, Shead and Hall, Sr. leading the way. Hall, Sr. passes Nichols for third as Nichols settles into fourth followed by Shead, Stewart, Drew Smith, Sammy Dale, Dan Lane, Sr., Timothy Miller, Benita Allman, Josh Byrd and Kent Corbin.
Shead passes Nichols for fourth as Nichols goes to fifth but not for long as Stewart puts pressure on Nichols and takes over fifth putting Nichols in sixth. Stewart not begins to look on Shead for fourth but Shead shuts the door and holds his position. Hall, Sr. puts pressure on Peacock but Peacock will have nothing to do with it and holds on to third. Stewart takes over fourth followed by Nichols, Smith and Shead who now rides in seventh.
Shaun Daugharty takes the checkered for his second win of the season followed by Alan Peacock, Ken Hall, Sr., Garret Stewart, and Shane Nichols. Heat wins went to Shaun Daugharty, Ken Hall, Sr., and Garret Stewart.
The DAARA Sprints were up next. Heat winner Dave Jarrett, who is 74 years old, has put his grandson Matt Jarrett into his Number 9 Sprint. Jarrett has used all his "go juice" winning the heat and has faith in his grandson who runs a Modified at Orlando SpeedWorld on Friday night. Young Jarrett has never run on dirt and this is his first time.
Jack Sapp has the pole for the Sprint feature and quickly takes the point on the green over Dave Cash, Matt Jarrett, and Don Biglow. As the fans watch young Jarrett get his feet wet on dirt and figure out how it feels to race on dirt, Jarrett slowly begins to figure out the car and the dirt passing Cash for second.
Once Jarrett has a hold on how it feels in the car and on dirt, he takes the point away from Sapp on lap 6. Jarrett never looks back and takes the checkered for his first win in the Sprint car and his first win ever on dirt. In Victory Lane, Jarrett tells the crowd that this was the hardest thing he has ever done in his racing career but loves the dirt and yet another asphalt fan has found out that dirt is for more than growing potatoes, it is for a lot of fun.
Ronnie Kohn took the DAARA Stock division heat win and had the point for their feature race. Kohn quickly took the point on the green followed by Roger Herbach, Clint Hamilton, Hank Baker, Jr., and Gene Vitiello. Baker wastes no time as he takes over second and then first. Vitiello takes over fourth. The top three cars are old Chevys and they are definitely racing each other hard and the fans love it. Kohn and Baker change positions a number of times as Hamilton builds up a 15 car length lead over Baker, Kohn, Vitiello, and Herbach.
With only one caution in the race for JT Dunn who spun in turn 3, Hamilton takes the checkered over Hank Baker, Jr., Ronnie Kohn, Gene Vitiello, and Roger Herbach.
Eighteen Street Stocks were on hand for their feature race. David Kinsey and Michael Tovet took the heat wins with Kenny Sowers on the pole for the feature. On the green, Sowers takes the point over Steve Oldaker, Grady Christian, Bubba Christian, and Michael Tovet. Grady Christian takes no time to pass Oldaker and take over second but finds his hands full of his nephew Bubba right on his tail. Bubba gives Uncle Grady a good fight and takes over second as Grady goes to third with a hard charging Tovet going side-by-side with him for the position.
By lap 3, Sowers and Grady Christian are doing some great side-by-side action with Sowers holding his point. By lap 4 it is Sowers, Grady Christian, Bubba Christian, Tovet, Oldaker, David Kinsey, Charlie Macnichol, D.J. Nobles, Steve Mooers, James Smith and Randy Moon leading the way. Lap 6 sees Grady take the place he loves best - the point follwed by Bubba Christian, Sowers, Tovet and Oldaker.
Lap 10 sees Randy Moon and James Smith in the pits as Grady continues to lead the way over nephew Bubba, Tovet, Sowers and Macnichol. By lap 17, Tovet tries to put pressure on Bubba Christian as they fight for second but Bubba holds the position. Once again, Grady takes the checkered followed by nephew Bubba Christian, Michael Tovet, Charlie Macnichol, and David Kinsey.
RJ Glaser had the pole for the 4 Cyl Challengers. The Challengers did not run a heat race so everyone is ready to race when the green is shown. Glaser takes the point followed by Gilbert Epsy, Gilford Williams, Brian Smith (the only truck in the field), and Daniel Laird. It takes no time for Danny Lunn and Tony Laporta to show their heads in the top five as they take over third and fourth followed by Laird in fifth.
Brian Smith brings out the caution on lap 2 as he spins in turns 3 - 4. Glaser is on the inside, Epsy on the outside for the restart as once again Glaser takes the point on the green followed by Epsy, Lunn, Laporta, and Laird. Lap 5 sees a new leader in Espy as Glaser goes to second. Just as it is really getting HOT, the caution comes out on lap 5 for C.J. Johnston who has spun in turn 2.
With Glaser on the inside, Espy on the outside on the restart, Espy takes the point followed by Lunn, Laporta, Glaser, and Laird. Laporta passes Lunn for second and sets his sight on Epsy for the lead. Laporta goes high but Epsy is determined not to give up the point and does not. Epsy holds his position and takes his first checkered flag for his first feature win of the 2009 season followed by Tony Laporta, RJ Glaser, Danny Lunn and Daniel Laird.
Thunder Stocks did not run a heat race either and with the most they have had this year thus far, seven, they were ready to rumble on the green. James Sullivan, III had the pole but it was Dave Burttram, Jr. who took the point. But before a lap was down in the books, the caution came out for Luke Sadler who spun on the backstretch. With a complete restart in order, the field was realigned to the original starting field.
Once again Burttram takes the point on the green followed by Sullivan, Sadler, Richard Calmes, and Jason Gamble. Gamble takes over fourth with Calmes going to fifth as Sadler passes Sullivan and takes over second. By lap 9, Sadler has the point followed by Burttram, Sullivan, Gamble, and points leader Scott Mooers.
Sadler holds on and takes the checkered for his first win followed by Dave Burttram, Jr., James Sullivan, III., Jason Gamble, and Scott Mooers.
Eighteen Late Models were in the field for their 25 lap feature as Mark Whitener had the pole. Whitener, who won the second Alabama Clash the week before, looked to be unbeatable and everyone said if he had the pole, the rest of the field might as well go home now. But with Rob Underwood on the outside pole, Whitener had a good run for his money.
Whitener quickly took the point on the green however before a lap was down, the red flag was thrown for David Clegg and Shane Williams, Williams car rested on top of Clegg's car in turn 4. Clegg thankfully was unhurt but was unable to race the feature. Williams faired better and was able to continue. But thankfully, no one was hurt although Clegg was not happy about not being able to race.
A complete restart was in order since no lap was counted. With Whitener on the inside and Underwood on the outside for the green, it was Whitener who took the point followed by Underwood, Jason Davis, Lawton Michew, and Jeff Phipps. Richard Ferry took no time to take over fifth as Phipps went to sixth.
Lawton Michew brings out the yellow on lap 3 as he has a flat tire and is stopped at the top of turn 2. Michew quickly pits for a new tire and the race goes back green with Underwood on the inside, Whitener on the outside for the restart. Whitener wins the race and takes the point followed by Underwood, Ferry, Davis and Williams. Ferry wastes no time and passes Underwood for second and sites his sight on Whitener. Lap 10 sees Joe Kump and Shane Williams do alittle too close side-by-side as Kump runs somewhat over Williams in turn 1. Williams's car has already seen too much action and by lap 12, Williams is off the track and in the pits for the night. The caution comes out on lap 16 for Larry Anderson who has spun at the bottom of turn 2.
With the halfway point already behind the field, it is a single file restart as Whitener continues to lead the way over Ferry, Underwood, Davis and Stanton Mills. Mills puts pressure on Davis and takes over fourth as Davis settles into fifth. Ferry has been very busy and has caught up to Whitener. It is very obvious that Ferry has a fast race car but with all his good efforts, cannot pass Whitener for the point. Whitener takes the checkered for his second win of the season followed by Richard Ferry, Rob Underwood, Stanton Mills, and Lawton Minchew. Heat winners were Lawton Michew and Donnie Chappele.
Volusia Speedway Park will be closed May 2 but join us on May 9th when we celebrate "We Love You Mom" Night with Sportsman for $1000 to win, Modifieds, Street Stocks, 4 Cyl. Challengers and Mini Stock $500 to win.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK
APRIL 25, 2009
LATE MODEL
1. #5W Mark Whitener
2. #17 Richard Ferry
3. #09 Rob Underwood
4. #16 Stanton Mills
5. #23 Lawton Michew
6. #145 Jason Davis
7. #J17 Joe Kump
8. #42 Adam Bennett
9. #32P Jeff Phipps
10. #25 Donnie Chappele
11. #66H Matt Hartley
12. #32 Tracey Butler
13. #21Q Chris Freeman
14. #RP1 William Bud Rose
15. #45 Bobby Richardson
16. #30 Larry Anderson
17. #0 Shane Williams
18. #07 David Clegg
SPORTSMAN
1. #00 Shaun Daugharty
2. #5 Alan Peacock
3. #3 Ken Hall, Sr.
4. #67 Garret Stewart
5. #65 Shane Nichols
6. #29 Drew Smith
7. #10 Steve Shead
8. #05 Dan Lane, Sr.
9. #88 Sammy Dale
10. #42 Josh Byrd
11. #11 Aaron Barsness
12. #P4 Benita Allman
13. #7 Kent Corbin
14. #3C Levi Cribbs
15. #42M Timothy Miller
16. #31 Robert Hicks
17. #8 Scott Kerr
18. #38 Collin Wright
19. #17 Marc Kinley
20. #03 Ken Hall, Jr. DNS
STREET STOCK
1. #36 Grady Christian
2. #04 Bubba Christian
3. #4b Michael Tovet
4. #12 Charlie Macnichol
5. #48 David Kinsey
6. #95 Steve Mooers
7. #51 Steve Oldaker
8. #20 D.J. Nobles
9. #2S Mick Kulak
10. #9 Bruce Birkitt
11. #77M Mark Maresca
12. #3 Jeffrey Bear
13. #17R Bobby Rivers
14. #13 Randy Moody
15. #36S Kenny Sowers
16. #11s James Smith
17. #54 Tim Hughes DNS
18. #88 Patrick Vareika DNS
THUNDER STOCK
1. #15 Luke Sadler
2. #03 Dave Burttram, Jr.
3. #14 James Sullivan, III
4. #17 Jason Gamble
5. #10 Scott Mooers
6. #07 Richard Calmes
7. #03 Robert Schrunk
4 CYL CHALLENGERS
1. #37E Gilbert Epsy
2. #3T Tony Laporta
3. #004 RJ Glaser
4. #39.5 Danny Lunn
5. #29L Daniel Laird
6. #01 Davey Wolf
7. #B12 Brian Smith
8. #75 Gilford Williams
9. #15 William Buell
10. #58 C.J. Johnston
11. #66 Leonard Underwood, Jr. DNS
12. #64 Mike Budka DNS
DAARA SPRINT
1. #9 Matt Jarrett
2. #77 Jack Sapp
3. #98 Dave Cash
4. #14 Don Biglow
DAARA MIDGET
1. #56 Josh Rynd
2. #71 Bill Wendt
3. #80 Fred Strickland
4. #3 Ed Johnson
5. #60 Janis Strickland DNS
6. #8 Scott Winter DNS
DAARA STOCK
1. #3x3 Clint Hamilton
2. #8 Hank Baker, Jr.
3. #1 Ronnie Kohn
4. #99 Gene Vitiello
5. #47 Roger Herbach
6. #98 JT Dunn
7. #80 Clifford Gray
8. #9 George Hall
9. #11 Tony Lawton
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