| Buzzie Reutimann Takes WILD Ride at Volusia Speedway Park | by Jane Smith
Barberville, FL (June 20, 2009) No rain in sight this time at Volusia, only hot, hot weather. But fans were extremely happy to find a new vendor on the grandstand side who had shaved ice and boy, was the line long all night at their trailer. I expect the lines will get even longer as the summer heat gets worst thru the coming months.
The first 200 Dad's thru the front gates got new hats in honor of Father's Day. Plus during intermission, one dad had his recliner on the track for an exhibition show of recliner racing. Fans got a slight delay in the night's action as it took alittle longer to get the track just right for racing but once it was done, no one was disappointed in the night's action.
The big race of the night was the Modified 30 that paid $1000 to win. Twenty six Modifieds made their way to Volusia for this event including Buzzie Reutimann who is well known for his driving skills in a Modified and also the father of NASCAR'S David Reutimann. Buzzie has fans everywhere he goes and Volusia was no different as you would see the famous #00 t-shirts and hats in the grandstands.
Winning the three heat races for the Modified feature were Rob Underwood, Tiny Greene (who just returned to racing from back surgery), and Buzzie Reutimann. On the pole for the feature was Larry Mott with Jamie Carter on the outside in Jason Davis's #145 Modified. Davis had knee surgery during the week and asked Jamie Carter to take the wheel for him in his modified.
As the green waved to begin the race, the red came out almost as fast for a mass pile-up on the backstretch involving Cody Blair, Rob Underwood, Jimmy Carter, Wayne Allen, Jr., Alan Thomas and Jamie Carter. Jimmy Carter makes a quick stop in the pits but all cars were able to continue as a complete restart was in order with no lap down.
As the green waved for the second time, it was Jamie Carter to the point followed by Buzzie Reutimann, Rob Underwood, Cody Blair and P.J. Wiggins. But on lap 1, the caution comes out for the second time for Tiny Green, Larry Mott, and Richard Hall who have gotten together on the frontstretch. The track is cleared and it is time to get back to racing.
Reutimann on the inside, Carter on the outside, Carter takes the point on the green followed by Reutimann, Blair, Shane Burrows, and Wiggins. Burrows passes Blair for third as Dave Barber takes over fourth and Blair settles into fifth. By lap 3, Reutimann has made his move to the point as Barber takes over second followed by Jamie Carter, Shane Burrows, and Cody Blair. The yellow comes out on lap 5 for a spun car but the track is cleared quickly and it is back to green flag racing.
Reutimann once again takes the point on the green followed by Burrows, Carter, Barber, and Blair. Barber puts the heat on Carter and takes over third as Carter settles into fourth. But just as it is getting really interesting, the yellow comes out on lap 7 for Barber who has spun in turns 3 and 4. Wayne Allen, Jr. then spun avoiding Barber. Both are fine as they rejoin the field in the rear for the restart.
Reutimann on the inside, Burrows on the outside, Reutimann takes the point once again on the green followed by Burrows, Carter, Underwood, and Wiggins. But another short green as Larry Mott brings out the caution on lap 10 as he has spun at the bottom of turns 1 and 2. Reutimann once again takes the point on the restart followed by Burrows, Carter, Wiggins, and Underwood. But another short green as the caution comes out on lap 11 for Wayne Allen, Jr. who has spun on the backstretch.
Reutimann on the inside, Carter on the outside for the restart but the RED is shown as Barber, Blair, Mott, Rick Scott, Greg Vandergriff, Charlie Phillips, Nick Kirkus, and James Smith have all gotten together in turns 1 and 2. NO one is hurt but Kirkus, Vandergriff and Smith see their nights come to an end on lap 12. Just as you think it cannot get any crazier, it can and does.
The green comes back out as Reutimann is on the inside, Burrows on the outside. Reutimann quickly takes the point over Burrows, Wiggins, Carter and Underwood. Underwood puts the heat on and moves to third as Jamie Carter settles into fourth with uncle Jimmy Carter moves into fifth. Reutimann has a tire going down and tries to get out of the way but instead ends up rolling over and over and lands upside down on top of Jamie Carter at the entrance of turn 1. The safety crew is right there and although it was only seconds but felt like hours, Buzzie Reutimann exits the upside down #00 Modified to the crowd's loud applause. Reutimann is helped to the ambulance as Jamie Carter exits his car okay. This is only lap 16 and once again the RED is shown.
The tow trucks set out to roll Reutimann's upside down Modified back on all fours which they do. Carter drives the hurt #145 back to the pits and you would not have thought this possible but he brings it back out in the rear of the field for the restart. But thank goodness, Buzzie is okay and so is Jamie after a wild, wild ride.
The race is now halfway completed so it is a single file restart as Shane Burrows is shown as the new leader. Burrows quickly takes the point on the green followed by Underwood, Wiggins, Jimmy Carter, and Dakotah Stephens. Stephens, who normally drives sprint cars, is doing a very good job in the Modified. Stephens races with the TBARA and Central Florida Wingless Sprints on asphalt and dirt.
Cody Blair makes his move and takes away fifth from Stephens as Stephens settles into sixth. The running order is now Burrows, Underwood, Wiggins, Blair, Jimmy Carter, Richard Hall, Stephens, Barber, Jamie Carter and Keith Briggs. Suddenly Wiggins, who has had an exceptionally good night, slows with a flat tire. Wiggins does try to make it to the pits but just quite can't do it bringing out the caution on lap 23.
Burrows once again takes the point on the restart followed by Underwood, Jamie Carter, Blair and Jimmy Carter. Jimmy Carter puts the pressure on Blair, who is still basically new to dirt track racing as he races a Pro Truck and Mini Stock on asphalt, and takes over fourth as Blair goes to fifth. Jamie Carter challenges Underwood and just as it is getting HOT and HEAVY, the yellow comes out for Charlie Macnichol who has spun at the bottom of turns 3 and 4.
With only five laps left to go, Burrows once again takes the point on the green followed by Jamie Carter, Underwood, Barber and Blair. Barber puts the heat on Underwood and takes over third as Underwood settles into fourth. It is now Burrows, Jamie Carter, Barber, Underwood and Blair.
Burrows takes the checkered for his first feature win at Volusia and $1000 but as they say, "it is not over until the fat lady sings" and in tech Burrows saw his win taken away for his spoiler. Burrows was given last place money and points as Jamie Carter, after a wild ride and having Buzzie Reutimann on top of him, is given the win in Jason Davis's #145 Modified. And it is probably a good thing that Jamie got the win and the $1000 to help Jason fix his Modified.
Top five now are Jamie Carter, Dave Barber, Jr., Rob Underwood, Cody Blair and Jimmy Carter.
With next week's Scott Thompson Memorial on the program, a number of Late Models were at Volusia practicing for that event. Twenty three Late Models were in the field even after Friday night's Powell Memorial at Ocala Speedway which saw Ivedent Lloyd take home the win in David Clegg's #07 Late Model. This week's Scott Thompson Memorial expects to see 40 plus Late Models at Volusia for the 50 lap feature with $3800 on the line for the win.
Mark Whitener, Matt Hartley, and Lawton Minchew won the heat races for the Late Models as Darell Padgett sat on the pole for the 30 lap feature race with none other than Ivedent Lloyd on the outside in David Clegg's #07 Late Model. Lloyd quickly takes the point on the green followed by Padgett, Whitener, Hartley and Jack Nosbisch, Jr. But lap 2 sees the yellow for Lawton Minchew as he slows and stops on the track.
With Padgett on the inside, Lloyd on the outside, Lloyd quickly takes the point on the restart followed by Padgett, Whitener, Stephen Castleberry and Hartley. Hartley passes Castleberry and takes over fourth as Nosbisch takes fifth. Nosbisch puts the heat on Castleberry and takes over fourth as Castleberry settles for fifth. But as it is really getting HOT, the caution comes out on lap 7 for Richard Ferry who has spun at the bottom of turn 4. Ferry rejoins the field in the rear for the restart.
Lloyd once again takes the point on the restart but it is another one of those very SHORT greens as the yellow comes out on lap 8 for three cars who have gotten together in turn 2. Involved were Dalton Lanich, Rob Underwood, Mikey Kopka, and Larry Anderson. Kopka, Lanich and Underwood are done for the night but fine.
Padgett on the inside, Lloyd on the outside for the restart, Lloyd once again takes the point over Padgett, Whitener, Hartley, and Castleberry. Castleberry passes Hartley and takes over fourth as Hartley settles into fifth. But again, another short green as the yellow comes out on lap 12 for Stanton Mills who has stopped on the frontstretch.
Once again, Padgett on the inside, Lloyd on the outside, Lloyd takes the point over Padgett, Whitner, Castleberry and Hartley. Lap 15 sees the yellow for Lawton Minchew who has hit the inside retaining wall. Minchew is fine but the same can't be said of the car. With the race halfway completed, it is a single file restart.
Once again Lloyd takes the point on the green followed by Padgett, Whitener, Castleberry and Ferry. With only one lap left two go, the yellow comes out on lap 24 for Larry Anderson. The green and white are thrown at the same time as Lloyd leads the way over Padgett, Whitener, Ferry and Castleberry.
Ivednet Lloyd takes his second win of the weekend after winning the Powell Memorial on Friday at Ocala Speedway followed by Darell Padgett, Mark Whitener, Richard Ferry and Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
Shaun Daugharty and Corey Holley took the heat wins for the Sportsman as Garret Stewart sat on the pole for the feature. But it was Alan Peacock who ran first from green to checkers and topped the field for their 20 lap feature. Peacock quickly took the point over Stewart, Daugharty, Mike Haney and Corey Holley on the green. The caution comes out on lap 1 for Donnie Birdwell, Jr. and Levi Cribbs who have gotten together on the backstretch right before the pit entrance. Cribbs is okay but Birdwell is pushed back into the pits.
Garrett on the inside, Peacock on the outside, Peacock takes the point on the green followed by Daugharty, Stewart, Haney and Steve Shead. Lap 8 sees Steve Shead right on Haney but Haney holds fifth. Halfway it is Peacock, Stewart, Holley, Haney and Shead.
The yellow comes out on lap 13 for Haney, McGillivray, Barsness, Ronnie Ponce, Dan Lane, Sr., and Blaise Hetznecker. The track is cleared as Peacock leads the way on the green followed by Stewart, Holley, Daugharty, and Shead. But it is another short green as the yellow comes out on laip 14 for Dan Lane, Sr. who has spun in turn 1. Single file restart as Peacock leads the way over Stewart, Holley, Haney and Kinley. But one lap later, the yellow is shown for Daugharty and Shead who have gotten together on the backstretch. Shead has a flat and goes in for a new tire as Daugharty also goes in for some pit crew attention. Both return to the field in the rear for the restart with six laps left to go.
Peacock takes the point on the restart but one lap later, the yellow comes back out for Daugharty who has spun in turn 4. At this time, Dane Lane also leaves the track. Peacock takes the point on the restart followed by Stewart, Holley, Haney and Levi Cribbs. Peacock holds on and takes the checkered for his first feature win in 2009 in the Sportsman division after being the former Street Stock Champion at Volusia Speedway Park.
Following Alan Peacock to the checkered is Garret Stewart, Corey Holley, Mike Haney, and Levi Cribbs.
Phil Brown and Mick Kulak won the heat races for the Street Stock division. Seventeen cars were in the field for the 20 lap feature with Charlie Macnichol on the pole and Pat Buckley on the outside pole for the start. Macnichol takes the point on the green followed by Michael Tovet, Buckley, Mick Kulak and D.J. Nobles. ' By lap 2, Grady Christian has worked his way from his tenth place starting position to sixth and is coming fast. Tovet begins to smoke badly especially in the corners as they go around the track. By lap 5, Grady has taken over third as the running order is Macnichol, Tovet, Christian, Buckley, and Phil Brown. Lap 7 sees the yellow come out for Pat Buckley who has spun at the bottom of turn 4. Tovet also takes this time to take his smoking car off the track, done for the night. Buckley rejoins the field in the rear for the restart. Macnichol on the inside, Christian on the outside for the restart as we have a new leader with Grady Christian on the point followed by Macnichol, Brown, Bubba Christian, and Mick Kulak. Lap 9 Steve Oldaker and Justin Simons get together at the bottom of turns 1 and 2. Both are fine and get going fast and DO NOT bring out the caution. It is now Grady Christian, Macnichol, Brown, Bubba Christian, and Steve Mooers leading the way. Brown puts heat on Macnichol and takes over second as Macnichol goes to third.
Mike Brown brings out the caution on lap 14 when he spins on the backstretch. At this time D.J. Nobles retires the #20 to the pits for the night. Single file restart as Grady Christian leads the way over Brown, Macnichol, Bubba Christian and Steve Mooers. Lap 15 Mooers puts the heat on Bubba Christian but Bubba holds tight. Mooers gets very, very sideways but does a great job of holding on and not spinning out the car but goes backwards in position. By lap 17 it is Grady Christian, Brown, Macnichol, Bubba Christian, and Mick Kulak.
Mooers slows for a minute but continues on as Bubba Christian brings out the caution as he spins hitting Brown on the frontstretch. Bubba goes in along with Brown for some crew attention. Brown returns to the track in the rear for the restart.
It is a green, white, checkered as Grady Christian takes yet another win in the Street Stock division followed by Charlie Macnichol, Mick Kulak, Steve Oldaker, and Justin Simons.
Last but never least, it is the 4 Cylinder Challengers up last. Dalton Strehle and Danny Lunn won the heat races. Seventeen cars are in the field for the feature with Casey Feaster on the pole and Tony Laporta outside pole for the start. Laporta leads from green to checkered to take the win.
Laporta quickly takes the point on the green follwed by Lunn, Vinnie Richards, Feaster, and Gilbert Espy. Ed Richards is black flagged for a tire going down and comes into the pits. The caution comes out on lap 4 for Gilford Williams who has stopped on the frontstretch and slowly goes around rejoining the field in the rear. Lunn on the inside, Laporta on the outside as the race goes back green. Laporta takes the point followed by Lunn, Vinnie Richards, Feaster, and Davey Wolf. Lap 10 sees the #66 of Leonard Underwood, Jr. dead on the frontstretch. The fire truck is called for assistance in pushing the #66 back into the pits.
With no more cautions, Laporta is a sure fire win for the feature. Lap 12 sees Gilbert Epsy take over fourth from Feaster who slides backwards into eighth. Running order is Laporta, Lunn, Richards, Epsy and Kevin Dugan. Laporta takes the checkered over Danny Lunn, Vinnie Richards, Gilbert Epsy, and Kevin Dugan.
Join Volusia Speedway Park next Saturday night, June 27th, for the Scott Thompson Memorial. There will be open practice on Friday night, June 26th. On June 27th, there will be a Fireworks Show, Sportsman, Street Stocks, and a. Mini Stock $1000 to win sponsored by Lake Jem Farms.
Join us on June 27th and the Scott Thompson Memorial.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK
JUNE 20, 2009
MODIFIED
1. #145 Jamie Carter
2. #56 Dave Barber
3. #77 Rob Underwood
4. #81 Cody Blair
5. #75 Jimmy Carter
6. #27 Dakotah Stephens
7. #5K Keith Briggs
8. #11 Charlie Macnichol
9. #F90 Alan Thomas
10. #8 Rick Scott
11. #21H Randy Hecker
12. #z06 Larry Mott
13. #77a Wayne Allen, Jr.
14. #15 Richard Hall
15. #410 PJ Wiggins
16. #92 Charlie Phillips
17. #00 Buzzie Reutimann
18. #11 Michael Phillips
19. #40 James Smith
20. #101 Greg Vandergriff
21. #410K Nick Kirkus
22. #54 Tiny Greene
23. #01 Shane Burrows
24. #66 Dale Murray DNS
25. #8H Jim Passino DNS
26. #9S Ronnie Schron DNS
LATE MODEL
1. #07 Ivedent Lloyd
2. #46P Darrell Padgett
3. #W5 Mark Whitener
4. #17 Richard Ferry
5. #12 Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
6. #41 John Kellum
7. #53 John Rankin
8. #66H Matt Hartley
9. #17SS Shan Smith
10. #16 Stanton Mills
11. #03C Stephen Castleberry
12. #23 Lawton Minchew
13. #56 Patrick Williams
14. #45 Bobby Richardson
15. #71 Scott Sweet
16. #30 Larry Anderson
17. #RP1 William Bud Rose
18. #25 Donnie Chappell
19. #09 Rob Underwood
20. #7C Dalton Lanich
21. #33M Mikey Kopka
22. #21Q Chris Freeman
23. #57 Chuck Julian DNS
SPORTSMAN
1. #5 Alan Peacock
2. #67 Garret Stewart
3. #11C Corey Holley
4. #22 Mike Haney
5. #3C Levi Cribbs
6. #00 Shaun Daugharty
7. #17 Marc Kinley
8. #10 Steve Shead
9. #86 Kevin Davis
10. #42M Timothy Miller
11. #96 Matt Johnson
12. #11 Aaron Barsness
13. #05 Dan Lane, Sr.
14. #57P Ronnie Ponce
15. #17H Blaise Hetznecker
16. #95 Matt McGillivray
17. #57 Karl Heinz Haas
18. #31 Donnie Birdwell, Jr.
19. #61 Lisa O'Connor DNS
STREET STOCK
1. #36 Grady Christian
2. #12 Charlie Macnichol
3. #2S Mick Kulak
4. #51 Steve Oldaker
5. #94 Justin Simons
6. #5 Mike Brown
7. #77M Mark Maresca
8. #34 Pat Buckley
9. #95 Steve Mooers
10. #13 Phil Brown
11. #76 Italo Deblasi
12. #04 Bubba Christian
13. #20 D.J. Nobles
14. #11S James Smith
15. #4b Michael Tovet
16. #9 Bruce Birkitt DNS
17. #11 George Richards DNS
4 CYL CHALLENGERS
1. #3T Tony Laporta
2. #39.5 Danny Lunn
3. #96 Vinnie Richards
4. #6E Gilbert Epsy
5. #5S Kevin Dugan
6. #75S Dalton Strehle
7. #004 R.J. Glaser
8. #20 Casey Feaster
9. #01 Davey Wolf
10. #B12 Brian Smith
11. #29L Daniel Laird
12. #11 David Ladrie
13. #7E Hank Goodrich
14. #71 Ed Richards
15. #66 Leonard Underwood, Jr.
16. #27S Alan Scott
17. #75 Gilford Williams DNS
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