(Punta Gorda, FL; 11/4/2000) Charlotte County Speedway celebrated Halloween late with their annual Trick or Treat the Drivers. A tradition with the local racing "family", stock cars lined the racing surface during intermission as costumed kids made their way from driver-to-driver getting treats.

Race fans also got another special treat as perennial favorites, the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association, brought the fastest show on wheels to CCS. Darren Miller and NASCAR driver, Doug Heveron (Jenson Beach), sat on the front row for their 25-lap race. Heveron led the first laps until he was passed by until fellow NASCAR driver Dave Steele who never gave up the lead. Current champion Dude Teete (Leesburg) finished second, while Joey Aguilar (Tampa), Heveron and Kevin Cahill (Land O'Lakes) also finished in the top five. Hevron, Miller and Ernie Teed (Sarasota) were winners in the 8-lap heat races.

Points Leader Cheryl "The Pearl" Weaver (Port Charlotte) made her way to the front of the Hendry's Mango Maniacs Cowboy Cadillacs early on and never looked back, taking yet another win. Hugh Alexander (Punt Gorda) managed to hold off Don Vanacker (Punta Gorda) until the last lap when Vanacker got around him on the outside to finish second, leaving Alexander third. However, Alexander did take the checkered flag first in their heat race.

A massive traffic jam occurred on the start of the Clear Channel Pure Stocks feature, taking several cars out of competition early. Past Pure Stock Champion Danny Caylor (Lehigh Acres) has been busy raising a family the past few years, but has been making his way back into the division the past few months. He showed he still has what it takes to win races on Saturday night as he led the 25-lap race from the start, after taking a heat win earlier in the evening.

Yellow fever was in the air as the caution flag flew time after time, scaring newly crowned 2000 Champion Chuck Sweet (Port Charlotte) as a car spun right in front of him. As Caylor, dominated the race, Joe Reese (Bonita Springs) maintained second position but "Outta' My Way" Kay Jackson (Punta Gorda) was sneaking up through the pack, passing Reese and fans went to their feet as Caylor and Jackson raced side-by-side, battling for position. Caylor held Jackson off, though, taking his first win in quite awhile with Jackson and Reese rounding out the top three. Elbert Butts (Arcadia) also took home a heat win trophy.

As the season winds down, things are getting mean and nasty in the Big Wheels Mini-Stock as the battle for the points championship comes down to the wire. Billy Ray, Jr. (Port Charlotte) led the way in the 20-lap crash fest. Second place in points, Steve Arnold (Cape Coral), was forced to make a trip to the pits after a racing altercation with Ronnie Allen (Lehigh Acres). This moved Ronnie's brother, Johnny Allen (Lehigh Acres), into second in points but he also had a bad night as he was penalized to the rear after spinning on the front stretch. Meanwhile, Kenny Eaton (Lehigh Acres) moved into the lead, followed by Keith Risinger (Fort Myers) and Points Leader Frank Welch (Lehigh Acres), which is how the race ended. However, five cars including Eaton were disqualified in post-race technical inspection, making Risinger the winner, Welch second and Brian Richardson (North Fort Myers) third. Heat wins went to teammates Welch and Al Vojir.

As the crash-marred evening continued, another pile-up occurred on the start of the Cat Country Limited Late Models. When the race finally got underway, Smokin' Joe Sumasky (Lehigh Acres) checked out on the rest of the field until another multi-car wreck happened on Lap 8. Precious minutes passed, as the 11:30 curfew hovered like a rabid bat over the Speedway and the volunteer broom crew made a valiant effort to get the track raceable again. Sumasky continued to lead as Points Leader Glenn Morris (Bokeelia) and past champion Brad Barkis (Fort Myers) battled for second. Sumasky took the victory, as Morris and Barkis took second and third. Sumasky took a heat win as well, as did Randy "Hondo" Fox.

The bad luck of the evening continued as another traffic jam-up occurred on the start of the Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors and another happened with just one lap in the books. Once the race got going, Kevin Mehl, Jr. (Lehigh Acres) took the lead and the win in the curfew-shortened race. Wayne Wilson (Fort Myers) and Chris Oncken (Fort Myers) also finished in the top three. Mehl (Lehigh Acres) and Andy Wood (Fort Myers) won their heat races.

With only two weeks left in the racing season, many points championships are yet to be won. On November 11, the final race in the Budweiser Open-Wheel Modified 6-Pack Series takes place with Joe Winchell (Davie) leading in points, while Wayne "Rocket Man" Jefferson (Pinellas Park) sits close behind. Also on the schedule are Outlaw Modifieds, 911 Racing, Sportsman, Mini-Stocks, and Road Warriors. Charlotte County Speedway is located at 8655 Piper Road, I-75 exit 28, and follow the Charlotte County. Airport signs. Gates open at 4 p.m. and qualifying begins at 6 p.m. For more information, call 575-2422.

-Robin Meiser-

# CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS FOR NOVEMBER 4, 2000

Hendry's Mango Maniac Cowboy Cadillacs
1. Cheryl Weaver #37 Port Charlotte
2. Don Vanacker #80X Punta Gorda
3. Hugh Alexander #91 Port Charlotte
4. Justin Bryant #24 Arcadia
5. Raymond Tucker #44 North Fort Myers

Clear Channel Pure Stocks
1. Danny Caylor #7 Lehigh Acres
2. Kay Jackson #91 Punta Gorda
3. Joe Reese #38 Bonita Springs
4. Christine Gibson #49 Lehigh Acres
5. Chuck Sweet #81 Port Charlotte

TBARA Sprints
1. Dave Steele #91
2. Dude Teete #4
3. Joey Aquilar #87
4. Doug Heveron #48
5. Kevin Cahill #63

Big Wheels Mini-Stocks
1. Keith Risinger #94 Fort Myers
2. Frank Welch #96 North Fort Myers
3. Brian Richardson #56 North Fort Myers
4. Billy Ray, Jr. #41 Port Charlotte
5. Chase Goodson #16 West Palm Beach

Cat Country Limited Late Models
1. Joe Sumasky #12 Lehigh Acres
2. Glenn Morris #107 Bokeelia
3. Brad Barkis #90 Fort Myers
4. Richie Anderson #51 North Fort Myers
5. John Garrett #59 North Fort Myers

Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors
1. Kevin Mehl, Jr. #12 Lehigh Acres
2. Wayne Wilson #88 Fort Myers
3. Chris Oncken #61 Naples
4. Eric Smith #2 Bonita Springs
5. Andy Wood #87 Fort Myers


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