|
| Sizemore Reaches Victory Milestone | by Jon Harney
SATSUMA, FL (10/27) - Eddie Holton was able to overtake early race leader Jimmy Heffner at the halfway point en route to his second Hobby Stock feature win this year. Accidents and incidents relegated many of the contenders to the rear of the field or to the pits throughout the bruising 20-lap affair. Survivors included Chip Owen for second, followed by Ronnie Soltis, Mitch Wise, and George Richards.
Toby Sims led from flag to flag in a relatively incident-free Street Stock main. Mitch McCoy battled Sims when he could, but had his hands full holding off point leader Kenny Hall. The finishing order was Sims, McCoy, Hall, Richard Adams, and Mike Howsare.
In Modifieds, Marion Sizemore took the lead into the first turn and led every lap in taking a dominant win. This was his 100th feature victory of his career, so congratulations are in order for Sizemore. Yellow fever plagued this race as repeated "racin' deals" and episodes of brain-fade brought out repeated applications of the caution flag. Despite the stop-and-go theme, the race for second was as exciting as the race for first was predictable as Gary Sexton, Robby Barris, and Robbie Hager duked it out for runner-up honors. Hager was the car on the move jetting through the field from his mid-pack starting spot. At the flag the order behind Sizemore was Sexton, Hager, Barris, and Donnie Higginbotham.
Ken Durham passed L. J. Klemons on lap 5 and never looked back to pull off his second Pure Stock win in 2001. Klemons beat David Miller Jr., Floyd Martin Jr., and Brenda Little to the line in that order.
J. O. Nobles returned to his mid-season form by running away with Limited Late Model honors. Ronnie Grubb had a season-best runner-up finish and looked good in holding off determined challenges from third place John Rankin and fourth place Bill Kopka. Patrick Williams finished out the top five.
Mini Stocks recovered from less than stellar performances the previous few weeks to put on a good, entertaining race. Jake Hartley spanked the field in a crushing performance to win going away. Mike Gibbs snuck past Colt Taylor on the white flag lap to steal second and Mickey Leth just barely beat Stanton Mills at the line for fourth.
This Saturday night will be a full card of heats and features at the 3/8-mile clay oval. November 10th will be the final points race of the year with double points and double purse.
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor!
|
