IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

February 9, 2004 FSCR Gamache Adds Another Notch On His Belt By Claude Lewis PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (Feb. 8) - That's the creed of Mike "Stickman" Gamache, who has won features in stock cars, to enduro cars, and now school buses. The racing veteran out of Palm Harbor added the another chapter to his resume by capturing Sunday's School Bus Figure 8 feature at Charlotte County Speedway. Gamache, the enduro driver extraordinaire, picked up $1,000 by beating out Brian Hayn and five other buses in the "5-lap race. "This was only the third time I drove one of these and it's the first time I won," said Gamache, who maneuvered No. 96 International around the course. "It's too much fun. I drive in what pays." Hayn, who won the only other School Bus Figure 8 race held at CCS on New Year's Day, settled for second place after he stopped at the intersection to avoid a T-bone with Al "Tiger" Fradette and announcer turned navigator Steve Hashem. There were six features running Sunday at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval. In the Sportsman 15-lapper, John Garrett benefited when leader James Dubose lost a tire and spun on lap 11. Finishing behind Garrett was L.B. Skaggs, who drove George Tanner's Super Stock No. 8 after wrecking his own car in the heat race. Mike Casady of Arcadia was third. Garrett made it two feature wins on the night when he won the Thunder Trucks 15-lapper. Mike Bialecki of Port Charlotte was second, limping home ahead of Cheryl Weaver after the two collided in turn three on the final lap. Weaver crossed third but was disqualified for bumping Bialecki after flagman Russ Gillet threw the checkered. In Super Stock, Brian Richardson of North Fort Myers made it three feature wins in a row in his No. "3 Camaro. Walt Korkiner was second and Al Welling third. Bob Waltz captured the Road Warrior feature. Jesse Gargus was second and Mike Nelson third. In the 4-Cylinder Juniors, Cody Pitts of Auburndale finished ahead of Chris Loney and Cody Benoit. In 4-Cylinder Open, Jason Wilburn banged his way past Walter Forbes. The Dwarf Cars ran a "5-lap feature with Doug Carrigan of North Carolina taking checkers. George Landis was second and Mike Belusar third. The speedway took up a collection for the family of Carlie Brucia, the Sarasota 11-year-old who was abducted and found dead last week. More than $900 was raised and more money was pledged by drivers. Charlotte County Speedway is closed next Sunday, Feb. 15, with respects to the Daytona 500. The next racing will be on Feb. ". That will be the final Sunday afternoon program before the track switches back to Saturday nights. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!