|
| THORNTON TAKES OVER POINTS LEAD WITH ORLANDO SOUTH 40 CLASSICS WIN | by Dave Westerman
After a month of inactivity, the South 40 Motorsports Classic Auto Racing Series was back in high gear Friday night at Orlando Speedworld with Orlando's Eddie Thornton continuing his recent hot streak by leading flag to flag to claim not only the victory, but the points lead as well.
Ed Yates, who led the points chase coming into the event, got off to a good start by taking the first heat race and started seventh in the feature while Thornton drove to the heat two win, thus earning the pole for the 15-lap headliner.
Thornton wasted little time moving out to the lead in his Mike List AMSOIL coupe with Jim Rahman and Danny Shearer tucking in behind him. Florida State Senator Bill Posey of Rockledge, making his first start in the South 40 Classics after having run several years in Late Models here and at New Smyrna Speedway, brought out the first caution when he spun following a "love tap" from Patrick Sanders. Both drivers were sent to the rear of the field for the restart.
The most controversial moment of the evening came on the restart when Ricky Wood spun in turn two while running fourth. Although most tracksiders thought Wood had simply gotten high in the corner and spun in left-over oil dry, but the only track official to witness the action said Ed Yates was also involved and both drivers were sent to the rear, a move that would ultimately cost Yates the point lead.
Thornton continued to show the way with Rahman in close pursuit as the final caution of the race came out on lap nine when Bud Spencer blew a water hose in turn two and spun. Frank Conrad had nowhere to go and tagged Spencer's car with both retiring for the night.
The race ran the remainder of the way under Green with Thornton holding off Rahman for the win, his sixth of the season. Over his past eight races, Thornton has won six times and finished second in the other two.
Danny Shearer drove his typical steady race to notch third while Dan Hammerbeck returned to the South 40 series with a solid fourth place run. After replacing a transmission between hot laps and his heat race, George Murphy drove the South 40 Motorsports sedan from 14th on the starting grid to fifth and earned the Action Performance Hard Charger Award.
Mike Albert had another good run placing a strong sixth ahead of Rodney Eary in Thornton's back-up AMSOIL car. Al Hagan placed eighth and took the FASTWAX Rookie of the Race honors. Bill Posey and Ricky Wood charged from the back of the field to round out the top ten.
Yates could do no better than 12th and dropped 14 points behind Thornton in the chase for the championship, but there's still plenty of racing to be done including a trip to Mike Cope's Bronson Motor Speedway next Saturday night.
OFFICIAL FINISH:
1. Eddie Thornton, Orlando, AMSOIL #4
2. Jim Rahman, Clermont, Magic Electric/Westmonte Homes #5
3. Danny Shearer, Melbourne, Economy Auto/Southeast Staffing/Bell Inc #77
4. Dan Hammerbeck, Clermont, Don's Paint & Body/ABC Bus Companies #2
5. George Murphy, Mims, South 40 Motorsports #42
6. Mike Albert, Winter Springs, Wood Race Cars #24
7. Rodney Eary, Orlando, AMSOIL/Eary Trim Carprentry #4X
8. Al Hagan, Merritt Island, Bryant Heating and Cooling #6
9. Bill Posey, Rockledge #00
10. Ricky Wood, Orlando, Gold Mechanical Services #54
11. Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach, Door Operating Systems/Mark's Mobil #21
12. Ed Yates, Orlando, Lakeshore Tree Farm #74
13. E.T. McGhee, Deland #1
14. George Hall III, St. Petersburg, Cold Fire Thermal Cycling #9
15. Patrick Sanders, Orlando #30
16. George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg, Cold Fire Thermal Cycling #32
17. David Marsh, Orlando #77X
18. E.B. Carr, Okeechobee, EB's Repairs/Frank's Sandblasting #90
19. Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor, Cold Fire Thermal Cycling #7
20. Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce, Frank's Sandblasting/Shriner's Hospitals #11
21. Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce, Frank's Sandblasting #78 (DNS)
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor!
|
