by Gil Peck

BRONSON, FL (April 29, 2000) — The Bronson Motor Speedway "bullring" hosted a 50-lap feature event for the Mini-Stocks last night along with the rest of the Bronson Race Series stars and cars. The racing was spectacular and the drivers demonstrated some of the best quality racing any fan could ask for.

Dave Westrich's car owner, Randy Dean, said before the race: "Tell the fans if they want a picture of the black #6 mini-stock, they'd better take it tonight because if he wins, I'm gonna put a new body on it for the next show!"

These words proved prophetic as Westrich did indeed find himself in victory lane for the 50-lap dash for cash. It was not without some anxious moments, though. For most of the feature, Westrich was able to hold on to third while a couple of pairs of leaders battled for first position. First, Joe Lawson led, then Westrich for several laps, then Jeff Stalnaker Sr. The lead continued to be up for grabs. There was no room to breathe as Larry Goolsby was coming fast in his entry and spent the night on Westrich's bumper.

This race followed the pattern of so many thrilling Indianapolis 500's, where the lead would change only to have the leader drop out. Stalnaker led the first 39 laps of the race and was pulling away when sparks flew from the underside of the car. The car stalled in turn four on lap 40. Stallnaker leaped from the car and pulled the hood from the smoking car.

"Can you believe, the battery cable broke and caused all that," he exclaimed after the race.

He was done for the night. On the restart it was Westrich and Goolsby in the battle up front, but Jimmy Wear was closing fast. Wear grabbed the lead with a spectacular in-and-out move on Goolsby and Westrich, and was pulling away when his car broke and headed for the pits on lap 44.

Westrich grabbed the lead again, only to have Goolsby close in and try to find away around for the lead. It was not to be. Westrich wanted that new body for his car! He held on to win with the crowd yelling and on their feet. Josh Hars closed fast and grabbed third at the finish as the crowd roared their approval of a spectacular race.

Not to be outdone, the Super Stock drivers saw action just like the Mini-Stocks. Wesley Keller, Arthur Conquest and Donnie Roberts put on a great show up front. Keller started in the middle of the pack and had to overcome poor track position on a couple of restarts to challenge Conquest, Fred Tuski and Roberts, who were going at each other for the lead. These cars put on a stellar show as they pushed their cars through the corners in screaming powerslides.

In a frightening moment, veteran driver Brody Giddens sailed straight into the pits as the throttle stuck on his machine.

"That was one of the most unselfish acts of quick thinking we have ever seen around here," said one observer.

Giddens could easily have plowed into several crews and pits, but elected to take on the wall and the tire barrier to stop his out of control racer. He emerged unhurt. Not the same could be said for the car, as the engine and transmission were shoved into the drivers compartment and the car torn apart. Bet on this popular driver to be back quickly, and, Amen, to some very quick thinking and excellent driving on his part!

Keller closed and looked for an opening in his Camaro. He found it on lap 14 and in a beautiful "slide job" got around Roberts and under Conquest and grabbed the lead coming out of turn four. Just when he thought he had things well in hand, Tim Roberson spun coming out of turn four with two laps to go. This bunched the field again. The crowd held their breath as the green dropped to see if Conquest could make the pass in his Rockoustics Drywall/Doughboy Signs Nova.

Keller held him off and brought the #34 Camaro home for the win. Roberts had a great run in the D&R Fencing machine. This was just the second night out for the car.

"We're still fiddling with the bugs in it," he said. Somehow, I think they're figuring it out. Come on out and see for yourself!

You could have put a blanket over the first four Pure Stocks of David Kidd, John Hughes, Jerome Brown and Tommy Ausburn as they battled for the lead all feature long. The racing was fast and furious, but clean until just past halfway when caution flew.

"I hated that caution," said Kidd. "I knew John (Hughes) and the others were right there and I was doing everything to hang on to the lead."

Kidd didn't have quite enough this night, though, as Hughes took the "high road" and made the difficult pass on the outside on lap 14 and held on for the win. Brown closed fast in the late stages of the race and got around Ausburn for third. Brown was trying to back up last week's win in his Cheifland Flea Market Camaro. Stay tuned, as this talented group of drivers does battle again this week at the "bullring."

"What's this?," I asked of car owner Al Bouchard as he had a new driver, Norman Hamel, in the #3 mini-truck that is having a lot of success finding victory lane this year with John Naber aboard. "Oh, he's just playing around," replied Bouchard. "Just sort of getting the feel of racing again after lots of years absence."

Enough said. Hamel brought the mini-truck home in first place. So much for the "playing around" part! Mitch Clenny had a great run in his #25 Gator Haircutters machine and held second for most of the feature. He had the car out front early in only the fourth outing for the car.

Hard-working and creative Clenny said, "I just threw it together from a bunch of junk I had laying around."

It's a beautiful car and you can look for some more good finishes for it. Jeff Stalnaker Jr. closed fast in his Pinto and grabbed second away after several restarts from the rear.

This is a great class of cars to start a racing career in. They are 4-cylinder, run on street tires and need few modifications to run the 1/4-mile high banks of Bronson. This group is improving rapidly and always provide a good show.

Speaking of good shows, better mark this Saturday night for the Bronson Motor Speedway "the place to be" when the thunder and lightning division Late Model Sporstman come to town to race in the 50-lap run for $1,000 to win! Plenty of action is on tap as these cars join the rest of the Bronson Race Series for another great night of racing. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Racing is at 7:30.

RESULTS

MINI-STOCK

1. #6 David Westrich, Old Town
2. #27 Larry Goolsby, Williston
3. #04 Josh Hars, Williston
4. #20 Joe Lawson, Hawthorne
5. #00 Mitch Clenny, Archer

SUPER STOCK

1. #34 Wesley Keller, Lake City
2. #70 Arthur Conquest, Bronson
3. #24 Donnie Roberts, Bronson
4. #57 Fred Tuski, Crystal River
5. #50 James Cannon, Kanapaha

PURE STOCK

1. #77 John Hughes, Hernando
2. #03 David Kidd, Morriston
3. #25 Jerome Brown, Newberry
4. #69 Tommy Ausburn, Bronson
5. #37 Gerry Hodge, Cross City

4-CYLINDER CRUISER

1. #3 Norman Hamel, Williston
2. #10 Jeff Stalnaker Jr., Ocala
3. #25 Mitch Clenny, Archer
4. #9 Ryan Nagele, Citra
5. #60 Kyle Helt, Dunnello

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