IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 21, 2004 FSCR Aguilar Grinds Way to Fastsprint win By Claude Lewis Joey Aguilar found victory lane in just his second race with Fastsprint, but it did not go without controversy. A couple of close encounters with the second place car driven by Dan Martin Jr. had the pits buzzing following the 30-lap feature Saturday night at Charlotte County Speedway. Aguilar, who has just come over to Fastprint series from the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association, dueled with Martin for the top spot throughout Saturdays race at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval. The most visible clash came on lap 27 when Martins 00 car did a complete 360 after coming in contact with Aguilars 96 car on the back straightaway. "It was not intentional", said Aguilar, who was driving in only his fourth race in a non-winged sprint. "It was just one of those racing incidents. Hes' a great driver. I know hes going to win a lot of these". Martin, who hails from Sarasota, gave Aguilar a retaliatory bump after the checkered fell. "I know he's upset", Aguilar said. "I'd feel the same way too". Lee Cipray of Land O Lakes finished third, while Jeff Van Dusen of Englewood was fourth. It was only the second race on pavement for the young Van Dusen. Venice's Jeff Firestine was seventh. There were five regular divisions racing Saturday night at Charlotte County Speedway. In Sportsman, Arcadia's James DuBose passed Dale Dean III on lap six and held on to capture the 25-lapper. The Confederate flags were waving fast and furious as Eric Smith grabbed his first victory of the year in the 25-lap Super Stock feature. Smiths No. 10 Camaro is sponsored by the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Arcadias Elbert Butts continued his streak of top three finishes with a second. George Tanner of North Fort Myers was third. John Hanuschik took over the points lead with his fourth place finish. Anne Marie Ricardi is going to win a Road Warrior feature one of these days. The driver of out Naples grabbed a third, her best finish ever. Chris Huntoon of Englewood won the 25-lapper. Bob Waltz was second. In Thunder Trucks, Port Charlottes Mike Bialecki bested the five other trucks in the field. Cheryl Weaver was second. John Garrett took third, Walter Forbes of Punta Gorda took the checkered in the Front-Wheel Drive 4-Cylinder race. Dwarf Cars made a guest appearance with George Landis of West Palm Beach passing Dan Berry of Orlando with two laps to go. The Port Charlotte duo of Rick McElroy and Stuart Borders won the Blindfold Race. Full Finishing Order: Road Warrior 1. 30 Chris Huntoon 2. 5 Bob Waltz 3. 22 Ann Marie Ricardi 4. 18 Shane Leonard 5. 1 Jesse Gargus 6. 8 Bob Waltz Jr. 7. 2f Bobby Fischer 8. 29 Rob Popkin 9. 14 Roger Hunt 10. 11 Robert Hendry 11. 21 Lee Rhodes 12. 15 Clint Snyder 13. 40 Don Justice 14. 31 Willard Hedden 15. 9 Gary Miller 16. 88 Larry Rudd 17. 92 Richard Dupont Thunder Truck 1. 8 Mike Bialecki 2. 37 Cheryl Weaver 3. 22 John Garrett 4. 56 Bob Charette 5. 9 Ray Scott 6. 44 Raymond Tucker Super Stock 1. 10 Eric Smith 2. 31x Elbert Butts 3. 8 George Tanner 4. 83 John Hanuschik 5. 0 Clete Trimmer 6. 4w Wayne Wilson 7. 39 Fred Kight 9. 24 Aaron Zartman Sportsman 1. 67 James Dubose 2. 19d Dale Dean 3. 20 George Ellsworth 4. 30 Chris Huntoon 5. 83 Stuart VanDevender 6. 72 Shawn Reim 7. 74 John Garrett 8. 9 Jerry Bryant DNS 26 Mark Perry 4 Cylinder Kids 1. 33 Chris Loney 2. 28 Chris Libak 3. 24 Travis Gossard Jr. 4 Cylinder Adults 1. 15 Walter Forbes 2. 53 Lee Bates 3. 20 Justin Girling 4. 6 Shawn Bates Mod Lites 1. 5 George Landis 2. 44 Dan Berry 3. 8 Stan Hope 4. 2 Phil Krauthoff 5. 33 Robert Crandall 6. 49 Rick McFarland 7. 96 MarkAndre Gagnon 8. 12 Francois Gagnon 9. 17 John Bailey 10. 82 Michael Belusar DNS 6 Andre Gagnon Sprint Cars 1. 96 Joey Aguilar 2. 1 Lee Cipray 3. 99 Jeff VanDusen 4. 87 Wendy Mathis 5. 3 Daryl Smith 6. 44 Chuck Klausing 7. 93 Jeff Firestine 8. 86 J.J. Dutton 9. 2 Curtis Carter 10. 11 Tra Pissott 11. 48 Michael Smith 00 Danny Martin Pro-Challenge 1. 1 Rod Sanders 2. 2 Todd Currier 3. 18 Ken Watts 4. 12 Brad Sanders 5. 56 Howard Brennan 6. 33 David Hall Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!