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| Dixon and Ellis Lead the Pack at Ocala Speedway | by Dave Westerman
Rusty Dixon's decision to skip a chance at Desoto
Speedway's big money AACS race proved to be a
winning move as the Riverview driver walked away
with the trophy and first place prize money in
Friday night's 50-lap Super Late Model feature at
Ocala Speedway in just his second start here, while
Tom Ellis shrugged off a disqualification the previous
week to top the special 30-lapper for the Four
Cylinder Stocks.
E.J.Wise picked up $100 from Midway Transmission by
setting fast time of 15.329 sec., but would again
have to play catch-up following an early race miscue
in the feature.
The re-draw had Dixon on the pole for the drop of the
green with point leader Brock Oglesby on the outside
pole.
Dixon grabbed the top spot at the start as Wise tucked
in behind him. But headed into turn three, Wise punted
Dixon hard and Dixon spun.
A complete restart was ordered with Dixon placed back
on the pole and Wise sent to the tail of the starting
grid.
Again Dixon took off in the lead while Mike Bresnehan
tucked into second spot as Oglesby was hung on the
outside and losing ground.
Caution flew on lap two as Liquid Lee McCullough and
Brad Atkins locked horns out of tour four with Atkins'
car doing a two-wheel balancing act for a short period
of time. Neither car was badly damaged and both
continued.
Dixon and Bresnehan resumed their fight up front as the
rest of the field diced for position behind them.
A multi-car tangle brought the red flag out at lap
eleven as Lee McCullough, Atkins, Mike Wieczoreck and
Mac McCullough were involved.
No one was hurt but the only car able to stay in the
race was Mac McCullough.
Again it was Dixon and Bresnehan nose to tail following
the restart while Wise was picking off cars right and
left headed to the front.
Scott Grossenbacher spun on lap 17 with a little help
from Brian Finney to bring out the caution. Both cars
went to the rear for the restart. During the caution
period, Oglesby retired his car to the pits with
mechanical problems as Wise had now moved all the way
back to third.
Green flag racing resumed and it was obvious that Dixon
had his car dialed in perfectly as Bresnehan was doing
all he could to stay within two car lengths of him.
Dixon got a scare as he tapped the lapped car of James
Findley on lap 31. Findley spun to bring out the
caution then was black-flagged for failing to observe
the move-over flag which had been displayed to him.
Dixon's car received only minor damage and seemed to
only get faster after the restart as the final laps
went all the way under green.
Dixon crossed the stripe a car length in front of
Bresnehan while Wise raced back from his early problem
to nab third. Last weeks winner Scott Lagasse, Jr.
took fourth just ahead of Scott Grossenbacher.
Elementary schoolteacher Brian Finney, driving the
car is brother Kevin drove to victory in the Florida
Pro race at Hardeeville, S.C. the previous week,
never could quite get a handle on the tough Ocala
surface but still managed to get sixth. Robbie Smith
drove yet another steady race in his car which is
basically a Limited Late Model and gained in the Fall
points battle as leader Oglesby and third place Brad
Atkins dropped out while second place Rich Pratt was
a surprising no-show on the evening.
Lou Baldock, Keith "Last Minute" Zavrel, and Roger
Shinholser rounded out the top ten.
Dixon was elated in victory lane and pointed to Track
Manager Tim Christman as the reason for his team
making the long tow north to race at Ocala. "That
guy is the reason we're here. He does an awesome job
and makes you feel welcome. We'll definately be
back," said Dixon.
There were no sour grapes for Four Cylinder Stock
driver Tom Ellis. After his car was DQ'd the week
before for improper front springs, Ellis proved that it
didn't matter what type of springs were on the car,
but that he and his Mustang are the car to beat right
now and he proved it by outdueling Joey Durbin for
the win in the 30-lap special for the stock four-
bangers.
A much-improved Joel Byall led lap one before Joey
Durbin took over the point. Ellis, who started ninth,
slowing worked his way to second as it looked like the
race may go all the way under green.
Steve Gallagher spun on lap 13 however to bring out the
first caution. He got his spot in line back after it was
determined a couple of backmarkers had kicked some dirt
and rocks onto the speedway.
Ellis was on the charge following the restart and passed
Durbin for the lead on lap 17. A lap later Mike Oglesby
spun in turn four to bring out the caution again.
Joey Durbin's car was a rocket on restarts and he took
the point on the restart and was on top as the final
caution waved on lap 19 for debris on the track.
Durbin set the pace for the restart but Ellis was ready
to pounce again as Durbin's car began to push. Ellis
took the lead on lap 23 and never looked back on his
way to victory.
"The springs in the car that were found the week before
were there when we bought the car," said Ellis. "We
didn't know about them, but now we're right and it
didn't make a difference, this car is running great,"
he said.
Joey Durbin held off a late charge by Rick Fort to grab
second with Gallagher and Justin Durbin rounding out the
top five.
The second five consisted of Neal Durbin, Wayne Penny,
Joel Byall, Kurtis Mitchell and Chris Noce.
Heat wins were taken by Ellis, Joey Durbin and Gallagher.
Troy Robinson and his "Batmobile" dominated the 20-lap
modified run although he admitted in victory lane that
he'd lost the handle big-time and was glad to see the
race come to an end.
Robinson jumped to the point at the start and led all
the way as three cautions dotted the event. Alan
McCafferty spun on lap two but wouldn't let that
affect his run later in the race.
The big tangle occured on lap nine as two drivers
involved in the points chase, David Baxley and Mike
Wilson locked horns and went spinning. Baxley would
eventually drop out and be credited with a tenth
place finish while Wilson soldiered on to get sixth.
Wilson had set fast time on the evening at 15.355 secs.
Tom Bailey brought things to a virtual halt just past
halfway when the engine of his machine blew on the
frontstretch.
Robinson lead the remaining laps but McCaffety had made
the charge back to second and was closing before time
ran out.
John Gerstner, who arrived at the track just before time
trials, survived some wild action to grad third while
Bobby Dixon made his first visit to Ocala a good one with
a fourth place finish. Jeremy Gerstner rounded out the
top five.
Make it two wins in a row for Roger Damron in the Steven
A. Bagen Sportsman class. The Chiefland driver zipped
past early leader Tommy Roberts on lap six and never
looked back as the fans were entertained with fifteen
laps of all green-flag racing.
Roberts held off a snarling pack behind him to nab second
in a car brought up from the former Hobby division and
promptly thanked the winner Damron and several others
for helping him get the "handle" on his car.
Tom Posavec took third spot just in front of point
leader Pete Close, Jr. and William Edwards.
Damron and Close, Jr. took the heat race wins.
Frank Buchanan had been working hard to get teammate
Kyle Marnard's car working properly and it almost
backfired on him as Buchenan's just barely held
Maynard off at the checker to take the win in the
Street Stocks.
It took two tries to get the big field under way and
only one other caution would be needed for a controversial
tangle between Hillbilly John Mamph and Pete Close, Jr.
who was subbing for John Betts.
Buchanan took the lad at the drop of the green and
appeared to have the field pretty well covered but
Maynard made a last-lap charge that came up just a
half car-length short at the line.
Makr Mitchell worked his way to third at the finish
followed by David Chastain and Moose Alderman. Point
leader Doug Webster crossed the line in sixth.
The three heats for Street Stocks were won by Chastain,
Webster and Paul Gladin.
Clint Foley dominated the Mini Stock feature running
away from point leader Tater Stainaker who checkered
second.
Glenn Ervin was third at the finish followed by heat
race winner Jeff Stainaker, Sr. and Donnie Stroshal.
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