Punta Gorda, FL - Although the official points racing season at Charlotte County Speedway ended on November 18, the local stock car racing family gathered at the speedway on December 2 for a night of fun racing. The Marlow-Werner Sportsman division pulled pills for positions for the first race of the evening, a 25-lapper, in which 2000 Points Champion "King" James Dubose (Arcadia) led the way with Raymond "Super Frog" Jones (Arcadia) following close behind. "Super Frog" leaped to the lead aas lapped traffic became a factor in the race. Jones took the win, followed by Dubose and Lonnie Miller (Bradenton).

A mix of ths Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors and Hendry's Mango Maniac Cowboy Cadillacs proved interesting to the spectators. Howard Higgins (Arcadia) long absent from CCS, led the way as the attrition rose with first Eric Smith (Bonita Springs) losing a wheel and then the Cowboy Cadillac of Hugh Alexander (Punta Gorda) losing a wheel. Mike LeBeau (Port Charlotte) took the lead from Higgins on Lap 19 and pulled away from the field. Just as LeBeau came around to take the checkered flag something went amiss in his car but he was able to coast across the start/finish line to take the win with Higgins finished a inch behind as he ran beside him. Chris Oncken (Naples) finished a close third. with Higgins and Chris folliwing closed behind but

The CAT Country Limited Late Models and Oldies 95 Open Wheel Modifieds also combined divisions and took over the racing surface for a 50-lap race after intermission during which two bicycles were given to lucky children during a raffle. Johnny "Action" Jackson (Ellenton) took an early lead but a horrifying wreck involving Randy "Hondo" Fox (Lehigh Acres), Charlie Lee (Lehigh Acres) and Al Fradette (Ft. Lauderdale) took place on the fourth lap.

Luckily, all three drivers emerged unhurt but a great test to the safety of stock cars was proved as the door bar of Fox's car held fast while supporting the entire weight of Fradette's car which saved Fox from injury. Lee's car was also partially beneath Fradette's and as the wreckers towed Fox's and Fradette's cars off the track, Lee made a quick trip to the pits and returned to the race, still on the lap. As Jackson dominated the race and managed to lap the entire field including the second place open wheel modified of Jeff Underwood (Plantation) until the checkered flag fell. Mike Abbott (Bradenton) finished third.

The first ever Hodge Podge Race was held as Clear Channel Pure Stocks, Big Wheels Mini Stocks, road warriors and Cowboy Cadillacs ran a 25-lap race. Kevin Utter's (Ft. Myers) pure stock led the way but another frightening incident occurred on the second lap as the mini stock of Travis Kuykendall (Punta Gorda) rear-ended the pure stock of Joe Williamson. Kuykendall was then rammed by the road warrior of Bryan Ferguson (Lehigh Acres) and a lenghthy caution ensued with quick clean-up from the all volunteer broom crew. When the race resumed Utter continued to lead with pressure from the pure stock of Kay Jackson and the mini stock of Danny Yates (Cape Coral) to take his lead. Finally, Jackson got around Utter to take the lead while Yates continued to bang on Utter's bumper, getting the bigger Ford loose a time or two. Jackson took the win with Utter and Yates rounding out the Top Three.

Jackson climbed out of his pure stock to run the second sportsman 25-lapper where he sat along Pole Sitter Buzz "The Bomb" Martin (Lehigh Acres) after the field of cars was inverted from the first race ran earlier in the evening. Jackson led the first few laps until he got loose and Martin took over the lead. However, "Super Frog" again, leaped the front and Jones took his second win of the evening, leaving Martin second and Jeremy Goddard (Naples) third.

The Speedway will be closed through the holiday season until the traditional News Year's Eve of Destruction on December 31 and Hangover Enduro on New Year's Day. The annual awards banquet will take place on January 13, 2001 at Victoria Estates Country Club in Port Charlotte.



CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS DECEMBER 2, 2000 Marlow-Werner Sportsman #1 1. Raymond Jones #8 Arcadia 2. James Dubose #67 Arcadia 3. Lonnie Miller #98 Bradenton 4. Kay Jackson #91 Punta Gorda 5. Buzz Martin #62 Lehigh Acres

Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors/Hendry's Mango Maniac Cowboy Cadillacs 1. Mike LeBeau #42 Port Charlotte 2. Howard Higgins #7 Arcadia 3. Chris Oncken #61 Naples 4. Joe Bossey #28 Englewood 5. Charles Stevens #74 Fort Myers

CAT Country Limited Late Models/Oldies 95 Open Wheel Modified 1. Johnny Jackson #1 Ellenton 2. Jeff Underwood #99 Plantation 3. Mike Abbott #23 Bradenton 4. John Garrett #59 North Fort Myers 5. Charlie Lee #55 Brian Richardson #56 North Fort Myers 4. Keith Risinger #94 Fort Myers 5. Chase Goodson #16 West Palm Beach

Hodge Podge 1. Kay Jackson #91 Punta Gorda (pure stock) 2. Kevin Utter #6 Fort Myers (pure stock) 3. Danny Yates #3 Cape Coral (mini stock) 4. Joe Williamson #50 (pure stock) 5. Howard Higgins #7 (road warrior)

Marlow-Werner Sportsman #2 1. Raymond Jones #8 Arcadia 2. Buzz Martin #62 Lehigh Acres 3. Jeremy Goddard #39 Naples 4. Dave Johnson #1 5. Kay Jackson #91 Punta Gorda

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