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Ocala Speedway played host to the Mini Cup Series, Speedo the Clown, a 30 Lap Modified feature plus all of their other regular divisions Saturday night.
The Diamond "H" Air & Heat Modifieds ran qualifying laps to determine their starting positions. Troy Robinson (0) was the fastest qualifyier, turning a 14.99 lap, followed by Mike Wilson (79), Shane Nichols (65), David Baxley (64) and Alan McCafferty (32G) rounding out the top five. The slowest qualifying time was recorded by 2001 points champion, Red Vann, meaning he had to start at the rear of the field thus ensuring an exciting race. A pill was drawn and the first two rows were inverted for all of the races for the evening. This moved Shane Nichols to the pole with Baxley on the outside of him. Baxley and Nichols went side by side through most of the 1st lap before Baxley was able to take the lead. Vann moved up to the 6th position, but got caught up in a incident that started in Turn 4 when Robinson got loose forcing Vann up to the wall. When Vann came back down he hit McCafferty causing him to spin in Turn 1. At the front of the field, Baxley continued to lead with 3rd ! and 4th positions being traded between Nichols and Robinson. Vann was steadily working his way back up through the pack after having to start at the rear of the field again, but needed some help as the laps were winding down. Help came on Lap 21 when Rick Hall (15) blew and engine. Kelly Lawrence (11) was directly behind Hall when the engine let go and did a great job of avoiding him. On the restart Vann got by Lawrence on the backstretch and by Robinson in Turn 4 when Robinson got loose again. Robinson pitted on Lap 23 moving Vann up to 3rd and Lawrence to 4th. When the checkered flag flew, it was Baxley in 1st, Wilson in 2nd, Vann in 3rd, Lawrence in 4th and McCafferty in 5th.
The Steven A. Bagen Sportsman division got off to a big bang, literally. On Lap 1, Charles Kopach (53) was tapped from behind by Michael Mennenga (16) spinning Kopach and forcing him up into Pete Close, Jr. (86) who was working the outside groove. All three had to pit for repairs. On the restart, Bob Masciarelli (72) and Tommy Brakeman (20) got by pole sitter William Edwards (08) to take 1st and 2nd and pull away from the rest of the field. About half way through the race Brakeman started slowing down due to engine problems. This allowed Betts and Tom Posavec (01) to catch him and pass him with two laps to go. The top five finishers were Masciarelli, Edwards, Posavec, Kopach and Brakeman.
The Mini Cup Series was next. Brian Etty (3) started on the inside pole with Brandon Duchsherer (42) on the outside of Row 1. Row 2 was made up of Mark Ross (12) and Doug Smith (17). Etty led the field for two laps before giving it up to Smith. Etty eventually fell back to 5th place when Duchsherer, Ross and Mike Sweet (71) got around him. Smith took the checkered flag followed by Duchsherer, Ross, Etty and Sweet. Up and coming stars in the Mini Cup Series, Wendy Kash (05) and David Pollen, Jr. (88) finished 1st and 2nd in their division. Congratulations to all!
The Coca Cola 4 Cylinder Bomber division was on the track and ready to go. Sitting on the inside of Row 1 was Neal Durbin and Ric Fort, the current division points leader, was on the outside. Fifteen year old A. J. Schreier (98) was behind Durbin and Tom Fralish (7) was behind Fort. The green flag dropped and the race was on. Durbin was able to hold off Schreier for five laps before Schreier took off. Further back in the pack, Richard Kuhn (47), Bill Brezner (19), Dennis Harden (17) and Rocky Bowden (1) were mixing it up. Schreier continued to lead, lapping several cars before taking the checkered flag. Neal Durbin had a strong 2nd place finish followed by Fort, Kuhn and Brezner.
The Thrifty Nickel Hobby Stock division took the field. Current points leader (by one point), John Betts (08) was on the pole with David Chastain (17) on the outside. The prettiest driver at Ocala Speedway, Chauna Johnston (43) started 3rd and Paul Gladdin (9) started in the 4th position Betts' car was strong and he led the race from flag to flag with Chastain in tow. It looked like Moose Alderman (7), who is currently 2nd in the points race, might be in trouble when he got sideways coming out of Turn 4 after getting tapped from behind by Gladdin, but he held on tight and kept his position. Alderman made a clean pass on Johnston coming out of Turn 2 with five laps remaining in the race. Alderman finished in 3rd behind Betts and Chastain. Johnston finished in 4th and Mark Mitchell (71) finished 5th.
The WTRS Pure Stock division finished out the night of racing. Chuck Stewart (8), who was still smiling after winning his very first feature last week, started the night by winning his heat race. Rick Hart (13) and Michael Rosa (76) were the winners of the first two heat races. Due to the row inversion, Stewart got to start on the pole with J. T. Schimborski (0) on the outside. Stewart led the race the entire way without any challenge, but Hart wasn't as lucky. Paul Fletcher (94) was in his mirror the entire race, trying him on the inside and then on the outside. His break finally came on the restart after Bobby Valeo (8B) and Rick Bass (21) were involved in and accident in Turn 4. When the green flag flew, Fletcher went low and inside of Hart and Schimborski was right on his bumper trapping Hart outside. Stewart took the checkered flag, Fletcher finished 2nd, Schimborski finished 3rd, Hart finished 4th, and Dave Danielson rounded out the top five.
In between some of the races, Speedo the Clown entertained the crowd with his hilarious antics. Kent Tyler, Speedo the Clown, is a graduate of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Clown College and a master at his trade.
For complete results of all of the races, visit our web site at www.ocalaspeedway.com or call the Speedway office at (352) 622-9400.
The T.B.A.R.A. Outlaw Winged Sprints will be with us next Saturday night, April 13th. Grandstand gates open at 5:00 p.m. and racing begins at 6:30 p.m.
*** Diamond "H" Air & Heat Modifieds ***
David Baxley 64 Mike Wilson 79 Red Vann 32c Kelly Lawrence 11 Alan McCafferty 32 Shane Nichols 65 Chris Fadling 33 Shawn Nichols 25 Troy Robinson 0 Rick Hall 15 Scott Millar 20
*** Steven A. Bagen Sportsmans ***
Bob Masciarelli 72 William Edwards 08 Tom Posavec 01 Charles Kopach 53 Thomas Brakeman 20 Gary Crouthamel 28 Paul Fletcher 28r Pete Close Jr. 86 Michael Mennenga 16 John Smith 31
*** Thrifty Nickle Hobby Stocks ***
John Betts 08 David Chastain 17 Moose Alderman 7 Chauna Johnston 43 Mark Mitchell 71 Frank Buchanan 07 Paul Gladdin 9 Ken Asbell 89 Estle Morrow 98 Harold Edwards 65 Marty Spivey 40
*** WTRS Pure Stocks ***
Chuck Stewert 8 Paul Fletcher 94 J.T. Schimborski 0 Rick Hart 13 David Danielson 70 Darren Dukes 4 Michael Rosa 76 Bobby Carter 99 Klaus Sweat 77 Michael Fiddia 41 Rick Bass 21 Dan Geer 65 Travis Mattson 47 Kyle Maynard 72 Bobby Valeo 8b Michael Smith 68
*** Coca Cola 4 Cylinder Bombers ***
A.J.Schreier 98 Neal Durbin 33 Ric Fort 43 Richard Kuhn 47 Bill Brezner 19 Dennis Harden 17 Dale Durbin 46 Joel Eckman 27 Rocky Bowden 1 Tom Fralish 7 Kurtis Mitchell 00 John Hagans 23 Chris Antis 51 Jacob Antis 99
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