| New Winners in Victory Lane at Volusia Speedway Park | by Jane Smith
Barberville, FL (May 30, 2009) After two weeks off from racing, Volusia Speedway Park returned to action Saturday night with plenty of cars and fans ready for some great short track dirt action.
It was STIMULUS NIGHT at Volusia for anyone who has found themselves on the unemployment line in today's crazy economy. A family of four was admitted absolutely FREE for the night with their unemployment check stub and ID.
After the Late Models, Sportsman and Modifieds ran their hot laps, it was obvious that even with all the rain of the last few weeks, water needed to be added to the track surface to counter the dirt flying in the air. "Fans need to see the races," said General Manger Tonya Moschell, "and racers need to see each other." Adding the water did the trick and the track was great after that.
Twenty one Late Models filled the field for their twenty five lap feature as they prepare for the 14th Annual Powell Memorial United Dirt Late Model 75 next Friday night at Ocala Speedway. On the pole was Lawton Minchew but it was Matt Hartley who lead from green to checkered. Hartley quickly took the point on the green over Minchew, Tyler Ivey, Adam Bedenbaugh, and Joe Kump with his new J17 car. Kump wasted no time passing Bedenbaugh for fourth.
The first caution came out on lap 2 for Donnie Chappell who spun at the top of turns 1 and 2. Chappell made a quick pit for crew attention and returned to the rear of the field for the restart. Minchew on the inside, Hartley on the outside as the green waves once again. Hartley again takes the point over Minchew, Ivey, Kump and Badenbaugh. Lap 6 Badenbaugh puts the heat on Kump and takes over fourth as Kump goes to fifth. Dillon Wood now appears in the top five with his #26 making it Hartley, Minchew, Ivey, Badenbaugh, Wood, Kump, Richard Ferry, Stanton Mills, Jeff Phipps and Darrell Padgett in the top ten.
By lap 14, the two 17's are fighting for position. Ferry challenges Kump for sixth but Kump will have nothing to do with the challenge and holds the position. Suddenly on lap 16, Kump begins to slow and pulls off the track, done for the night. Lap 20 sees Ivey looking to pass Minchew for second but Michew says "no way" and shuts the door.
With one lap left to go, Robert Donaly and Jeff Phipps get together bringing out the last caution of the race. Phipps is against the wall after a hard hit but is fine but not very happy. Hartley once again takes the point on the restart and the checkered for his first win of the season followed by Lawton Minchew, Adam Bedenbaugh, Tyler Ivey and Stanton Mills.
Mark Whitener, Adam Bedenbaugh, and Tyler Ivey who came from Tallahassee to race, were the heat winners.
Twenty one Sportsman took the green for their twenty lap feature with David Clegg on the pole. Clegg quickly took the point over Shaun Daughtarty, Paul Shead, and Danny Vogel, Jr. But it was a very short green as Collin Wright brought out the caution on lap 1. Wright was fine but was towed in to the pits ending his night before it really began.
Clegg on the inside, Daugharty on the outside for the restart as Clegg once again takes the point over Daugharty, Paul Shead, Garrett Stewart, and Todd Ponce. Daugharty puts the heat on Clegg and takes over the point as Clegg slides to second followed by Shead, Stewart, and Ponce. Ponce passes Stewart for fourth as Danny Vogel, Jr. also takes advantage of Stewart and takes over fifth as Stewart settles into sixth.
Ken Hall, Jr. has problems on lap 4 as he has a right rear tire go down on the backstretch. Hall quickly goes into the pits without bringing out the caution for a new tire. Daugharty continues to lead the way over Clegg, Shead, Ponce, Stewart, Vogel, Steve Shead, Alan Peacock, Shane Williams and Aaron Barsness.
Steve Branton brings out the caution on lap 8 as he finds himself against the turn 4 wall. Branton is fine but also done for the night. Clegg on the inside, Daugharty on the outside as the green waves. As Clegg and Daugharty do some great side-by-side action for the point on the restart, it is Daugharty who wins the battle followed by Daugharty, Ponce, Shead and Vogel, Jr. Alan Peacock takes over fifth as Vogel goes to sixth. Peacock then puts the heat on Ponce but Ponce quickly shuts the door on Peacock.
By lap 15 it is Daugharty, Clegg, Shead, Ponce, Peacock, Vogel, Steve Shead, Drew Smith, Stewart, and Williams. Vogel puts the heat on Peacock and takes back fifth as Shaun Daugharty crosses the checkered and takes the win over David Clegg, Paul Shead, Todd Ponce, and Danny Vogel, Jr. Heat winners were Danny Vogel, Jr., Paul Shead and Garrett Stewart.
Ronnie Chance, Larry Burkins and Rob Underwood took the heat wins for the Modifieds. Nineteen cars took the green for the twenty lap feature with Jimmy Carter on the pole. But before a lap was in the books, the yellow came out for a pile-up in turns 1 and 2 collecting Charles Oneill, Michael Phillips, and Justin Tilton. All are able to roll away except for Charles Oneill was has to be towed into the pits for some crew attention.
Since no lap was done, a total restart was in order as Carter takes the inside and James Smith is on the outside. Carter quickly takes the point on the green over Rob Underwood, James Smith, Larry Burkins and Ronnie Chance. Chance passes Burkins and takes over fourth as Burkins settles into fifth.
Richard Livemois brings out the caution on lap 3 as he has problems coming off turn 4 and tries to make it to the pits but finds himself stopped on the frontstretch. Livemois is towed off the track and the green comes back out as Carter leads the way over Underwood, Chance, Smith and Shane Burrows. It is a fight for positions in the top five as the caution comes out on lap 7 for Charlie Phillips who has spun in turns 1 and 2. Phillips rejoins the field in the rear for the restart.
Carter on the inside, Chance on the outside as the green waves. Carter takes the point over Chance, Burkins, Dale Murray and Underwood. Chance passes Carter for the lead but Carter comes right back and passes Chance retaking the point. The caution comes out on lap 9 for Phillips, Tilton, Mark Padgett, and P.J. Wiggins who have gotten together in turns 1 and 2. Charlie Macnichol and Randy Hecker also spin over in turns 3 and 4 but are given back their spots for the restart as their spin was not the one that brought out the caution.
With Carter on the inside and Chance on the outside, the green waves once again but it is another short green as Kenneth Blair has spun in turn 1. The field goes to a single file restart as Carter takes the point on the green but the yellow comes right back out for debris on the track from Blair.
One more try at the green and this time it works as Carter leads the way over Chance, Burkins, Murray, Underwood, Burrows, Smith, Hecker, Macnichol, and Charlie Phillips. Lap 12 sees Chance take over the point as Carter goes to second. Burrows puts the heat on Underwood and takes over fifth. After a great run, Jimmy Carter is off the track on lap 14, done for the night. Chance continues to lead the way over Burkins, Murray, Burrows, and Underwood. Burrows puts the heat on Murray but Murray shuts the door. Chance builds a fifteen car lead over second place Burkins and takes the checkered for his first win followed by Larry Burkins, Dale Murray, Shane Burrows, and Rob Underwood.
Ten cars were in the field for the fifteen lap Thunder Stock race. This is the biggest field yet for the Thunder Stocks as they build up this new division. Curtis Clark had the pole and quickly took the point on the green over Scott Mooers, Richard Calmes, Sean Babcock, and Matthew Schell. Points leader Mooers wastes no time and takes over the point followed by Clark, Calmes, Schell, and Babcock. Calmes puts the heat on Schell and takes over third as Schell goes to fourth.
The caution comes out on lap 5 as Schell slows and slowly makes his way to the pit bringing out the caution. Mooers on the inside and Clark on the outside for the restart as Mooers once again takes the point over Clark, Calmes, David Walls, and Babcock. Randy Strehle's new ride begins to smoke in the corners but it does not stop Strehle as he races hard for position. The yellow comes out on lap 10 for Sean Babcock who has spun in turns 1 and 2.
Now comes the craziness of the night as the 57 of Matthew Schell is told to get off the track since he purposely brought out the caution and was told not to come back to the field. Schell removes his steering wheel, gloves and is having a nice discussion with the flagman as Randy Strehle waits in turn 4 to be pushed in since his smoking machine has given up the ghost. Schell finally puts his wheel back on but is definitely not happy with the call.
Back to the green as Mooers leads the way over Clark, Calmes, James Sullivan III, and David Walls. The yellow comes out again on lap 11 for Calmes who has spun in turn 2 and is towed in. With only four laps left to the checkered, it is an all out battle for postion as Mooers leads the way over Clark, Sullivan, Walls, and Skip Land. Mooers takes the checkered as Land spins in turn 4 going to the checkered. Mooers takes the win over James Sullivan III, David Walls, Sean Babcock, and Skip Land.
The 03 of Curtis Clark was actually second but failed to go to tech after the race and was given the tenth place finishing position. One WILD and crazy race.
Last race of the night was the 4 Cylinder Challengers with 14 cars in the field. On the pole was Dalton Strehle but it was Gilbert Espy who took the point on the green. But it was another crazy, crazy race as Strehle spins in turn 1. Things went alittle nuts as Tony Laporta found himself against the turn 2 wall and done for the night with RJ Glaser spinning to avoid Laporta. The red flag comes out as the track is cleared. This is the first race that Tony Laporta has not finished all 15 laps.
The race goes back to green as Espy has the inside and Strehle has the outside for the restart. But it is a no-start as Danny Lunn is dead in the water on the backstretch. Lunn is pushed into the pits also done for the night.
Once again, it is Espy on the inside and Strehle on the outside as Espy takes the point over Strehle, Leonard Underwood Jr., RJ Glaser, and Davey Wolf. Glaser passes Underwood for third as Underwood settles into fourth. Wolf then puts the heat on Underwood as he takes over fourth followed by Gilford Williams who takes fifth.
Lap 6 sees Danny Lunn return to the field as Espy leads the way over Strehle, Glaser, Wolf, Underwood, David Ladrie, Gilford Williams, Kasey Mircle and Lunn. Strehle tries but cannot pass Espy for the point as Espy takes the checkered for his second win of the season over Dalton Strehle, RJ Glaser, Davey Wolf, and Leonard Underwood Jr.
Join us next week as the Modifieds go for $1000 to win. The Mini Stocks will be back for $500 to win along with the Sportsman, Street Stocks, and Thunder Stocks.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK
MAY 30, 2009
LATE MODELS
1. #66H Matt Hartley
2. #23 Lawton Michew
3. #26 Adam Bedenbaugh
4. #47 Tyler Ivey
5. #16 Stanton Mills
6. #26 Dillon Wood
7. #17 Richard Ferry
8. #46P Darell Padgett
9. #09 Rob Underwood
10. #56B Dave Barber, Jr.
11. #0 Shane Williams
12. #71 Scott Sweet
13. #30 Larry Anderson
14. #32P Jeff Phipps
15. #31 Robert Donaly
16. #25 Donnie Chappell
17. #J17 Joe Kump
18. #RP1 William Bud Rose
19. #21Q Chris Freeman
20. #W5 Mark Whitener
21. #1 Wayne Shugert
SPORTSMAN
1. #00 Shaun Daugharty
2. #P4 David Clegg
3. #80 Paul Shead
4. #007 Todd Ponce
5. #99 Danny Vogel, Jr.
6. #5 Alan Peacock
7. #10 Steve Shead
8. #29 Drew Smith
9. #67 Garrett Stewart
10. #21 Shane Williams
11. #3 Ken Hall, Sr.
12. #11 Aaron Barsness
13. #42M Timothy Miller
14. #05 Dan Lane, Sr.
15. #17 Marc Kinley
16. #17H Blaise Hetznecker
17. #11R George Richards
18. #03 Ken Hall, Jr.
19. #40 Steve Branton
20. #57 Karl Heinz Hass
21. #38 Collin Wright
MODIFIED
1. #7S Ronnie Chance
2. #54B Larry Burkins
3. #66 Dale Murray
4. #01 Shane Burrows
5 #77 Rob Underwood
6. #40 James Smith
7. #11 Charlie Macnichol
8. #410 Kenneth Blair
9. #21H Randy Hecker
10. #92 Charlie Phillips
11. #11 Michael Phillips
12. #75 Jimmy Carter
13. #75C Charles Oneill
14. #23 Mark Padgett
15. #41D Darron Smith
16. #410 P.J. Wiggins
17. #49 Justin Tilton
18. #Z06 Larry Mott
19. #71 Richard Livernois
THUNDER STOCKS
1. #10 Scott Mooers
2. #14 James Sullivan III
3. #35 David Walls
4. #9 Sean Babcock
5. #0 Skip Land
6. #07 Richard Calmes
7. #24 Randy Strehle
8. #57 Matthew Schell
9. #28 Glenn Vincent
10. #03 Curtis Clark
4 CYLINDER CHALLENGERS
1. #6E Gilbert Espy
2. #75S Dalton Strehle
3. #004 RJ Glaser
4. #01 Davey Wolf
5. #66 Leonard Underwood Jr.
6. #11 David Ladrie
7. #75 Gilford Williams
8. #H17 Kasey Mircle
9. #39.5 Danny Lunn
10. #5S Thomas Parker
11. #3T Tony Laporta
12. #64 Mike Budka
13. #B12 Brian Smith
14. #15 William Buell
Have an opinion on
this story? Post a message on
The Real Racin USA Florida Fan Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!
|
