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| Thornton Beats Rain and the Field at Ocala Speedway | by Dave Westerman
After two rainouts, it looked like the third time would
not be the charm for the Classic Auto Racing Series at
Ocala Speedway as a heavy rainshower hit the track just
before racetime.
The rain stopped however, then no one could stop
Orlando's Eddie Thornton as the defending CARS Champion
won his second straight race at Ocala.
Due to the rain delay, heats were scrubbed and the
feature line-up was determined by points with the top
ten in points inverted for the start.
Ed Yates had the pole and jumped out to the early lead
with Thornton making a bold move in the first turn to
move from fourth on the grid to second.
The two leader ran nose to tail as point leader Jim
Rahman was working his way from his eighth starting
spot to fourth in front of a big crowd of vocal
supporter in the grandstands from his sponsor Ro-Mac
Lumber.
Caution flew on lap seven as Door Operating Systems
rookie contender Keith Roberts had the right front
of his car collapse while at the same time, Harvey
Ewing lost his power steering and spun in turn four.
Yates continued to hold the lead on the restart, but
Thornton got around him just as the yellow flew again
on lap nine. Joey Strehle did a quick spin on the
backstretch with enough force to snap the rear axle
on his car. Shrehle's car was towed to the pits.
Since had a full lap had not been completed, Yates was
placed back in the top spot, but it took Thornton only
two more laps to get by and he led the rest of the way
in the 25-lap event. Rahman slipped past Al "Hot Rod"
Hagan for third then chased down and passed Yates for
second just before the final caution flew on lap 20
when Keith Roberts suffered suspension failure on his
car and newcomer Wally Smith, who had just purchased
Thornton's back-up car, spun in turn four.
This set up a five-lap dash to the checker but Thornton
had the field covered as he sped to the win in front
of Rahman and Yates. Hagan backed up his Bronson win
with a solid fourth place with E.T. McGhee and another
strong run to take fifth.
Patrick "Bam-Bam" Sanders crossed the line sixth and
claimed the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Race
award. Frank Conrad, George Hall, Jr, Bud Spencer,
and George Hall III rounded out the top ten.
Next Saturday the Classic Auto Racing Series will
"do it in the dirt" at Sugarland Motorsports Park
near Clewiston.
OFFICIAL FINISH - OCALA SPEEDWAY - 8/17/02
1) Eddie Thornton, Orlando #4
2) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5
3) Ed Yates, Orlando #74
4) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
5) E.T. McGhee, DeLand #1
6) Patrick SAnders (R), Winter Garden #8
7) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11
8) George Hall, Jr, St. Petersburg #32
9) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7
10) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9
11) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90
12) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3
13) Harvey Ewing (R), Brooksville #17
14) Wally Smith, St. Myers #4X
15) Keith Roberts (R), Groveland #31 DNF
16) Joey Strehle, DeLand #42 DNF
17) Randy Grief, Deltona #71 DNF
18) Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce #78 DNS
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