IT'S
TIME TO RACE!!
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Dempsey Sets Pace in Blue-Grey 100
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By Marty Little
LAKE CITY, Fla. - Veteran Dwayne Dempsey snared the top spot from pole sitter Mike Johnson on the eighth lap then held off Kevin Durden to capture Sunday afternoon's Budweiser Blue-Grey 100 for Florida Modifieds at Columbia Motorsports Park.
Fast qualifier Johnson also won the first heat and to head the 20 car field around the very quick half-mile oval. For Dempsey it marked his third victory in the race's 13 year history as he set sail once around Johnson. Durden, comfortable in any type car, began to close the gap on the fleet Dempsey but neither made a mistake as they navigated the high banks lap after lap and crossed the stripe in the same order.
Durden's car owner Larry Martin claimed third money ahead of Indiana invaders Todd Gearhart and Harold Scott. Rounding out the top 10 were local standout Jason Garver, Jeremy Gerstner, track regular Charles Seroki, John Gerstner and Johnson.
The companion 50 lap street stock main, a tribute to Bill Streicher, was a barn burner from flag to flag. Eddie Gainey returned to the track after several months away and set a blistering pace for 42 laps until he got caught up in lapped traffic and an alert Jeff Prescott worked past on lap 43.
On lap 48 Garver took the top spot only to pop an engine and get run over by a sliding Gainey as the yellow flag flew. The restart saw Gainey take off only to have his left front wheel depart the car as Prescott went back in front and claimed the victory over Georgia visitor Ricky Lockhart. Garver was credited with third, Gainey fourth and David Hart rounded out the top five.
The pure stock 20 lapper fell to Jason Parker over John Roling and Mike Carr. Division hot shoe Marty Wood was not injured in a wild flip after his car ran off the third turn.
The regular season at Columbia will open with the Florida Pro Series super late models in a 100 lap event on Saturday March 6.
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