Bobby Beauchemin Wins Al Gosney Memorial at Hialeah Speedway
by Marty Little
HIALEAH, Fla. - Bobby Beauchemin, wheeling a car usually driven by Richie Henry, took the lead on lap 11 and ran to victory in the Al Gosney Memorial 50 lap special for limited late models Saturday night at Hialeah Speedway.
David Weaver set the early pace in the half-century run until Beauchemin worked his way past and was never challenged to the checkers. Joe Winchell, the evening's fast qualifier, came from the tail of the field in the closing laps but could get no closer than the back of second running Gary Padula. The top three crossed the strip in that order with Danny Maddox and Weaver rounding out the top five finishers.
The visiting pick up truck headliner fell to Jake Reedy making his first start of the season at the speedway. Tom North was the pace setter from the initial green flag but on lap 10 Reedy put his Chevrolet on the point then had to hold off Tim Shaffner to the checkers in the 30 lap contest.
Former track regular Heather Lunsford was third, Winchell fourth with North rounding out the top five.
Veteran Bubba Martone motored around early leader Ron Wilson on lap 19 and hustled to his first 25 lap street stock score. Wilson's great drive ended on lap later when suspension failure sent his car into the wall. Chad Rutherford, John Bentley, T.C. McElyea and Ken Ammerman.
Doug Hopper topped the accident marred Outlaw Modified 25 lap main for his first tour win of the season. Using his up front starting spot to good advantage, Hopper couple never relax throughout as first Steve Quick and in the closing laps Raymond Jones hounded his every move. Jones collected runner-up money ahead of Ted Hoverson, Billy Campbell and Dan Curl.
S.C. Klinger topped the short field of mini stocks for his second win this season ahead of point leader Peter Lloyd, Tommy Styer and Steve Throop.
The very hard fought cyclone 25 lap main event fell to Bob Regula as he edged Al Grimm in the final laps. Grimm took the top spot on lap eight but veteran Regula battled lap after lap for his first win this season. Grimm tallied his career best finish in second ahead of Mark Ulrich, Mike Powers and Steven Colon.
