Satsuma, FL (5/31) – Jason Fitzgerald captured his fourth win of the season in the Super Late Model division at Putnam County Speedway. Fitzgerald made steady progress from the rear of the field through a combination of passes and attrition. He caught leader Josh Manning napping on a restart to grab a lead he would never relinquish. A spectacular barrel-roll on the backstretch involving Chuck Chitty gave spectators many chills; fortunately Chitty emerged unhurt except for a pain in the pocketbook. Following Fitzgerald was Manning, Vince Muzzin, Bo Allen, and David Wells.
The Modified main also saw a heartstopping racing incident as the car of Bill Johnson spun and struck the turn three pit exit flush on the passenger door. The impact was severe enough to bend his car into the shape of a horseshoe. Johnson, fortunately, was conscious, moving, and speaking with track rescue personnel, but nevertheless was extricated from his car and helicoptered to a local hospital for observation. When the race resumed, polesitter Marion Sizemore had little trouble disposing of his opposition and won a relatively uncontested race. Jason Lowe, Robby Barris,James Blackmer, and Greg Vandergriff trailed Sizemore in that order.
Rick Singler enjoyed a pole-to-checker victory in Limited Late Models, yet that enjoyment was hard-earned as Jeff Terrell was behind Singler applying pressure throughout the first half of the race. Peyton NeSmith upended Terrell to battle Singler in the remaining laps. The final tally was Singler, NeSmith, Terrell, Shane Nichols, and Bill Kopka.
Notice was served to Street Stock points leader Kenny Hall that the nights of easy victories are over. No less than five legitimate challengers battled Hall hammer and anvil during the Street Stock feature and, on occasion, passed him. Hall showed no dog in him, however, and outlasted all would-be heirs to claim another notch on his belt. Mitch Wise was the best of the rest over Richard Adams, Jared Cooper, and Tiny Greene.
Hollywood Owen took the lead from his outside pole starting spot and cruised to an easy victory in Pure Stocks. The real battle was for second as Pete Parkes went at it against points leader Mike Tripp for many hard-fought laps with Tripp emerging ahead by a slight distance. The pay sheet read Owen, Tripp, Parkes, Steven Key, and Frank Cone
