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| Anderson Wins Sunbelt Race at Orlando SpeedWorld | Bithlo, Fl (May 17, 2002) - A brief rain dampened the track
alittle but did not stop the action for long. Twenty Super
Lates qualified for the 125 lap Sunbelt Super Late Model
race with two more entering without qualifiying. The #14
of Aric Almirola and the #5 of Derik Strong. Also in the
pits was Eric Black #10 whose car was already in the hauler
when I arrived.
Dick Anderson set fast time in the #174 (Hubert Simmons,
Jr.'s #74 Super Late). Following Anderson was #89 Lee
Collins, #12 Justin Drawdy, #40 Michael Williams and
#78 B.J. McLeod. By the luck of the pill, Anderson
also started on the pole.
When the green flag flew and before the first lap was down
on the books, the #5 Derek Strong hit the turn two wall
when a tire came off. Strong was fine but not his car.
The field was realigned for a complete restart with
Anderson on the pole. When the green flew again, Anderson
quickly took the lead with #12 Justin Drawdy, #11 David
Rogers, #37 James Powell and #78 B.J. McLeod in the top
five.
Caution #2 came out for the #116 of Bruce Lawrence, Jr. who
spun in turns 3 and 4. On the restart, Anderson again took
the lead Tommy King #16k brought out caution #3 when his
car filled with smoke and he had to pit. King did return
but was a few laps down.
Anderson was able to get the jump once again on Drawdy on
the start. Drawdy looked high and low but Anderson would
always close the door. While Anderson and Drawdy were
bumper to bumper, David Rogers was in third basically
alone. Behind Rogers, a few car lengths, was James
Powell and a few car lengths from Powell was the #40
of Michael Williams and #78 of B.J. McLeod.
Caution #4 came out for the #27 of Mike Good who spun
on the bottom of the track. The #7 Scott Bramlett went
off the track at this point. Anderson still held the
lead, Then caution #5 came out for the #74 Barry
Willoughby, #54 Kevin Ingram, and #22 David Froelich.
The red flag came out, mostly for track clean-up, no
one was hurt and the #74 was towed into the pits.
Toomy King #16k returned to racing during this caution.
The track was cleared, the green flew, and Anderson lead.
David Rogers looked high and low to get around Drawdy
for second place but was not able to make the pass.
Caution #6 comes out for the #74 Jay Middleton, #57
Jim "Hoot" Flynn, and #22 David Froelich as they spun
in turns 3 and 4. Both the #74 of Middleton and #22
of Froelich pit ending their night. The #89 of Lee
Collins pulled off the track also with mechanical
problems. Also pulling off the track for the second
time was the #70 of Chad Pierce who was having not
so good of a night.
Kevin Ingram #54 brought out caution #7 when he spun
in turns 3 and 4. On the restart, Jack Cook #96 pits
ending his night with mechanical problems. Anderson
still leads with Drawdy close behind. Then the #11,
while running third, pits with mechanical problems
ending his night. At this point, 10 cars are left on
the track.
Anderson holds his lead on the restart with Drawdy,
Powell, Williams and McLeod in the top five spots.
Then the #78 B.J. McLeod hits the front straightaway
wall when a tire goes down. McLeod pits but does not
return.
Anderson lead from flag to flag and took the checkered
with Drawdy, Powell, Williams and Mike Good filling
the top five spots.
Kory Abbott #5 won the Bandolero feature. It was also
the last night that the #18 Austin Carr will race at
Orlando SpeedWorld. Austin and his family are moving to
North Carolina where Austin will race his Bandolero.
Good luck to Austin and his family.
William Sullivan #17 had the pole for the Modified feature.
But it was the #75 of Bobby Blake who took the lead and
never let go. Following Blake was #32, #30 John Foerg,
#2x Jason Boyd and #17 William Sullivan.
Paul Colgan sat on the pole for the Sportsman feature
and lead for awhile. The #77 Danny Shearer and the #4
Rick Johns get together and both are sent to the rear.
The #23 of Richard Hight also brought out the yellow
for a spin and the #31 Colgan pits while leading turning
the lead over to Kelly Jarrett #9. Jarrett tried
to hold the lead but the #4 Rick Johns is able to pass
him and take the checkered. Following Johns was
#9 Kelly Jarrett, #93 Bruce Gayton, #77 Danny Shearer,
and #llx Bill Loomis.
John Hodge #00 sat on the pole for the Super Stock feature
and was able to hold his lead for almost the entire
race until Carl Peters #1 takes the outside and is able
to make the pass for the lead. The #2 Ron Whaley and
#12 Cory Freed accidentally get together while racing
hard for fourth place and both are sent to the rear.
Following Peters across the finish line was #00 John
Hodge, #50 Jeff Wright, #7b Bob Wines, and #12 Cory
Freed.
Bernie Steinbough #81 had the pole for the Strictly Stock
feature but the #38 Matt Wolf was able to pass Steinbough
and take the lead and the win. Following Wolf across the
finish line was #81 Bernie Steinbough, #00 Mike Simpson,
and #44 K.C. Riley.
Next week at Orlando SpeedWorld, Pro Modified 50 lapper.
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