Punta Gorda, FL - Racing action at Charlotte County Speedway came to a tragic halt on September 2 during the Lee's Auto Repair Road Warrior division second feature race of the evening when driver Ron Dushek, Sr (North Fort Myers) was taken from the Speedway by ambulance where he was pronounced dead by medical personnel from apparent natural causes. The Charlotte County Medical Examiner's office will release their findings later this week.

Prior to the tragedy, several races were run including the rained out Road Warrior feature from August 26. "Tipover" Terry Price (Punta Gorda) took the lead after starting near the back of the pack and took his first checkered flag in several months. Conrad Molter (Naples) was second and Points Leader Mike LeBeau (Port Charlotte) was third.

Gene Connell (Arcadia) built a wide lead in the Marlow-Werner Sportsman division feature race as Buzz Martin (Leigh Acres), Jerry Bryant (Punta Gorda) and Points Leader James Dubose (Arcadia) battled for second with Bryant being in second and Dubose third by the halfway point. A restart on the 14th lap caused the field to bunch up making the Top Three cars a freight train until Connell experienced a blown engine and Bryant went to the lead with Dubose hot on his tail. Bryant held on to take the checkers first, with Dubose second and Raymond "Super Frog" Jones (Arcadia), third. Scott "Macho Man" Moran (Fort Myers) and Jones were the heat winners.

Steve Duerr (Cape Coral) led the way in the Oldies 95 Open-Wheel Modifieds with Jeff Dalva (Punta Gorda) and Scott Adema (Fort Myers) right behind him. On Lap 18, Dalva was penalized to the rear in a altercation involving the three leaders. Fans rose to their feet as a battle ensued for third position between "Big, Bad" Bart Corlieto (Cape Coral), Kevin Williams (Port Charlotte), "Smoldering" Dan Atwell (Naples) and Mike "Stickman" Gamache (Palm Harbor). Duerr held on for his first feature win, taking a heat win as well. Adema and Atwell rounded out the Top Three with Corlieto taking the second heat win.

During intermission the crowd was treated to the much-touted Grudge Race between 105.5 "The Beat" disc jockey "Big Mama" and his boss Clear Channel Pure Stock driver "Gentleman" Jim Keating. The boss lived to regret giving "Big Mama" a straightaway head start, as "Big Mama" took the victory.

Mark Ludvigsen dominated the Clear Channel Pure Stocks feature but Points Leader Chuck Sweet gave him a run for his money as he made his way from the back of the pack to be in contention to attempt to pass Ludvigsen several times in the closing laps. Ludvigsen was able to hold him off, however, taking the win. Sweet followed close behind and Kevin Utter (Fort Myers) finished third. Jeff Padilla (Lehigh Acres) and Joe Reese (Bonita Springs) were the heat winners.

In the Florida Legend Cars the heat winners were Jason Reisman (Eustis) and Doug Longwell (Naples).
Cowboy Cadillac driver Robert St. John (Arcadia) took the heat win.

The third leg of the Budweiser Open-Wheel Modified 6-Pack Series takes place on September 9. Also on the racing program will be Limited Late Models, Pure Stocks, Mini-Stocks and Road Warriors. The Tampa Bay Area Racing Association winged sprint cars return to the Speedway on September 16.

By Robin Meiser

CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS SEPTEMBER 2, 2000

Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors #1
1. Terry Price #27 Punta Gorda
2. Conrad Molter #55 Naples
3. Mike LeBeau #42 Port Charlotte
4. Denny Ray, Jr. #72 Naples
5. Del Beckner #73 Naples

Marlow-Warner Sportsman
1. Jerry Bryant #9 Punta Gorda
2. James Dubose #67 Arcadia
3. Raymond Jones #8 Arcadia
4. Jeremy Goddard #40 Naples
5. Cliff Bifaro #12 Naples

Oldies 95 Open Wheel Modifieds
1. Steve Duerr #93 Cape Coral
2. Scott Adema #22 Fort Myers
3. Dan Atwell #55 Naples
4. Mike Gamache #85 Palm Harbor
5. Bart Corlieto #39 Cape Coral

Clear Channel Pure Stocks
1. Mark Ludvigsen #711 Fort Myers Beach
2. Chuck Sweet #81 Port Charlotte
3. Kevin Utter #6 Fort Myers
4. Bill Vandevender #84 Cape Coral
5. Christine Gibson #49 Lehigh Acres

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