IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 8, 2004 FSCR Morrison Winner in Modifieds by Rick Anges Bradenton, Fl. - The event was billed as the "Eve of Destruction" , on the card was a 100 lap Open Wheel modified race, a Demo Derby and the awesome School Bus Figure 8 race. As the capicity crowd filed into the Speedway grandstands the fireworks began in the qualifying for the Open Wheel feature. Doug Moff last year's Limited Late Model champ took the fast time for the 100 lap event. But the real story was "the Rocket Man" Wayne Jefferson who although qualified 4th fastest, his time was dqed due to missing the post qualifiying tech inspection. Jefferson who dominated the class last season and was on a 4 race winnning streak would have to start from the rear of the pack for the feature event. Three rows were inverted for the 100 lap feature and it was John Shields who took the early lead. It wasn't long before veteran Dwayne Dempsey took the lead and began to put distance between himself and the rest of the field. Caleb Reschar had the crowd on its feet as he went hard into the turn one wall. Reschar was ok but the car was done for the evening. Also taking a hard lick into the wall was Johnny Allen. Allen smacked the front stretch wall, also involved was Dale Shelton and Eric Rudd. While action was heating up all over the track all eyes were on the #1 machine of Jefferson. Lap after lap he continued to pick up places until he moved into the second spot behind Dempsey. A week earlier these two were battling for the lead with Jefferson in the lead at Citrus County Speedway. Dempsey and Jefferson got together. Jefferson spun and Dempsey was sent to the rear. Jefferson retained his spot and went on to win that race. With the laps moving into the single digits Jefferson made his move and took the top spot but Dempsey stayed right on his back bumper. The two were nose to tail when they took the white flag for their final time around. Dempsey made his move as the pair dove down into turn 3 and as they began to go into 4 they got togther sending both cars spinning wildy onto the front stretch. Jefferson slid down into the infield while Dempsey slid across the finish line rear bumper first. After the wild scene on the front stretch the official word was Dempsey was dqed for rough driving. Jefferson meanwhile gathered his machine up and finished in the 7th spot. The most suprised person in the race was Phil Morrison who was running a strong third behind the leaders was declared the winner. Morrison said " We'll take this one that was a great race!" Second was an exhausted Ronnie Campbell who said " Man that was fun". Third was Timmy Moore, fourth was John Sarppraicone Jr., and fifth was L.B.Skaggs. School Bus Figure 8 As the 16 race ready School Buses rolled out onto the speedway the crowd, already whipped into a frenzy from the Modified race the crowd rose to thier feet in anticapation. The field took the green and it wasnt long before the action got underway. Joe Anges in the K2 bus came out of the X and going into turn three put his bus up on two wheels and was inches from going over but he was able to gather it back up and get all tires back on the ground. Former Figure 8 racer John Dutilly got by C. Mcleod and took the lead. Dutilly made contact several times at X, but with sparks flying he held onto the lead. As the laps wound down Dutilly's bus began to loose power and Doug King in the 02 closed in on the leader. Dutilly was able to hold on and take the win, King took second, third went to veteran bus racer Brian Hayan who made a late race charge to take the spot, fourth went to Micheal Gamache and fifth was Bill McLeod. The School Bus Figure 8's are now regular class at DeSoto Super Speedway running every month for the points championship at the end of the year. The next scheduled race is May 1st. Demo Derby Ralph Murchie went home $1,000 richer after smashing his way to the demo win. Pure Stocks After being told about the special series "Rolex 10" which begins in April and has a $4,000 Rolex Submariner watch as the top prize the Pure stock field was fired up and ready to race. Rick Hurley crossed the stripe ahead of the rest of the pack to take the checkers and the win, second went to Rob Taylor, third was Dave Cleary who said " I usually race Sunshine but this track is great, this is where I'm going to race!" Fourth was Roy Anderson and rounding out the top five was Richard McClough. Mini-Stocks 1.Clay Joseph 2.Todd Freed Jr. 3.Jon Bailey 4.Joe Gagen 5.Timmy Troyer DS Trucks 1.Shane Russ 2.B.J.Gill 3.Steve Gill 4.Ron Gill 5.Nick King Sportsman 1.L.B.Skaggs 2.Mark Peterson 3.Bubba Thompson 4.Keth Neff 5.James Brenner Street Stocks 1.Jimmie Best 2.Brian Tetters 3.Dan Hall 4.Robert Haygood 5.Tommy Huffstutler Rick Anges Announcer/Media Desoto Super Speedway Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!