by Jane Smith
Lakeland, Fla (May 1, 2004) Practice at USA International was rained out on April 30 but the sun came out brightly on May 1st over a field of 30 Mini Stocks, thirty five Super Late Models, and twenty seven Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modifieds.
Under the hot Florida sun, all divisions ran practice until it was qualifying time at 2 p.m. Mini Stocks were up first with Darren Jackson of Lakeland setting fast time at 13.687. It was Justin Drawdy of Fort Pierce in the Drawdy Brothers Construction Super Late setting fast time for the Sunbelt with a 20.800 and Dwayne Dempsey from St. Pete setting fast time for the Mods at 21.335.
The Florida Mini Stock Challenge was up first for their first adventure at USA. Ashley Larson of Safety Harbor was on the pole for the 25 lap feature. But when the green was thrown it was Dustin Deschamps taking the lead over Larson, Robbie Storer, Ronnie Larson and Chris Thornton.
On lap 4, Deschamps and Ashley Larson go side-by-side for the lead with Larson taking over followed by Robbie Storer, Ronnie Larson, Chris Thornton, and Deschamps falling to fifth. But Larson finds her hands full of a very hard charing Robbie Storer who challenges for the lead and takes it. Larson falls back to sixth with Ronnie Larson second followed by Thornton in third, Clint Foley in fourth and Deschamps fifth.
With only two cautions in the twenty five lap event, Robbie Storer takes over the lead and is able to hold it although Ronnie Larson gives it all he has to try and challenge Storer.
Robbie Yoakam, who had to start in the rear of the field due to being dq'd in tech after qualifying, ran a very good race coming up from the rear into the top ten. Robbie Storer took the checkered followed by Ronnie Larson of Clearwater, Clint Foley of Dunnellon, Robbie Yoakam of Hernando, and Lee Davis of Lakeland.
Scotty Crockett of Land O'Lakes had the pole for the 125 lap Sunbelt Super Late Model event. Drawdy, who set fast time, pulled the 7 pill inverting the top seven putting Crockett in the number one hole.
After an on-track autograph session with both Super Lates and Mods, it was time to go racing. Drivers were introduced to the fans, tires were heated up, and the green was thrown.
Dick Anderson of Wildwood and points leader going into the event for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series quickly took the lead in a borrowed car from son Wayne Anderson. Followng Anderson was Crockett, Dwayne Dempsey of St. Pete, Mike Fritts of Debary and Joe Boyd of Riverview. Dempsey puts the pressure on Crockett and takes over second with Crockett sliding to third as Drawdy takes over
fifth with Boyd sliding to sixth.
On lap 7 it was Dick Anderson, Dempsey, Crockett, Fritts, Drawdy, Boyd, Wayne Anderson, David Rogers, B.J. McLeod and Mario Gosselin leading the way for the pack. Wayne Anderson gives Boyd a small "love" kiss and gets Boyd lose enough to take over fifth with Boyd going to sixth.
Caution comes out for the first time on lap 10 when Ken Gerena of Brandon spins in turns 3 and 4. The race restarts on lap 14 but caution is thrown again as Dempsey is lifted by Crockett on the restart with Dempsey going hard into the turn 1 wall. Dempsey is okay but his car is done and Crockett is sent to the rear of the field.
Lap 22, the race goes back green with Dick Anderson, Fritts, Drawdy, Wayne Anderson, and B.J. McLeod in the top five followed by Joe Boyd, David Rogers, Mario Gosselin, Jeff Scofield, and Jimmy Cope.
Scofield and Gosselin are doing some really good side-by-side action on lap 25 for 8th and 9th place with Gosselin holding on to his eighth place. Lap 26 the leader, Dick Anderson, begins to slow ending his night and his points lead. Anderson makes his way into the pit and parks the car turning over the lead to Mike Fritts.
Lap 29, Fritts and Drawdy are doing some really good hard racing going side-by-side for the lead. Drawdy tries high, low, but Fritts holds strong keeping the point. The race stays green until lap 49 when Michael Williams of Mims brings out the yellow as his
South Forty Motorsports/Graphixs Super Late is against the turns 1 and 2 wall. Williams is fine but his night is also done way too early.
The race goes back green on lap 54 with Fritts, Drawdy, Anderson, McLeod, and Rogers in the top five. Drawdy and Anderson are now going side-by-side for the second place spot with Anderson taking it. Steve Dorer of Lakeland slows suddenly and his night is done with mechanical problems.
On lap 60, Fritts and Anderson are doing some very close racing for the lead. Fritts tries to protect his position but Anderson is able to get his nose in there and takes over the lead with Fritts falling back to second. It is now Anderson, Fritts, Drawdy, McLeod, Rogers, Gosselin, Cope, Scofield, Jacob Warren and Joe Boyd.in the top
ten.
Drawdy wants second on lap 70 and gives Fritts a real "run for the money" but a lap car stops Drawdy from his mission. Fritts holds on to second. But two laps later, lap 72, Drawdy is able to make his move, make it work as he takes over the second place spot with Fritts falling to third.
After having the pole and working his way back from the rear of the field, Scotty Crockett must call it a night also as he slows on lap 78 with mechanical problems. Crockett goes into his pit, done for the night. Lap 82, Drawdy is all over Anderson for the lead. Anderson gives it his all but Drawdy is too strong as Drawdy takes the point and checks out over Anderson.
It is now Drawdy, Anderson, Fritts, McLeod and Rogers. Lap 84 the yellow comes out as Ryan Foster of Lowell, Arkansas taps Jr. McMickle of Davey coming off turn 4 causing McMickle to hit the frontstretch inside pit wall hard. McMickle is fine but done for the night after a very good run. Foster is black flagged and sent into the pits for the rest of the night.
Lap 91 sees the restart with Drawdy, Anderson, Fritts, McLeod, Rogers, Gosslin, Scofield, Cope, Warren and Jason Crossey in the top ten. Drawdy and Anderson are now fighting again for that number one spot. Drawdy gets just alittle lose, Anderson takes advantage, and passes Drawdy for the lead on lap 105. Lap 110 sees the yellow for Joe Boyd who has hit the turn 2 wall. Boyd is fine but done for
the night.
The race goes back green on lap 115 with Anderson, Drawdy, Fritts, McLeod, Rogers, Gosslin, Scofield, Cope, Warren and Crossey in the top ten. With only ten laps left, the track heats up as Drawdy and Fritts are fighting it out for second. They touch as Drawdy goes spinning in turns 1 and 2 and with no place to go, McLeod
spins also. McLeod is given back his spot since he was not part of the caution with Fritts going to the rear of the field and Drawdy out.
Green again on lap 118 but only three laps later, lap 121, Gosslin and Rogers touch with Rogers hitting the inside track wall and shooting straight into the outside turn 1 wall. A very hard, hard hit but Rogers is okay but the TM Ranch car is not. Gosslin is sent to the rear of the field. Absolutely not a good night for anyone
who has run in the top five.
The race goes back green on lap 121 with Anderson, McLeod, Scofield, Cope and Warren in the top five. Lap 123 previous Sunbelt winner at Ocala Speedway, Fain Skinner of Live Oaks, moves into the sixth place spot.
On lap 124 bad luck strikes B.J. McLeod. Running in second and going for the checkered the engine lets go. McLeod slows on the backstretch ending his second place finish. Anderson takes the checkered followed by Jeff Scofield, Jimmy Cope, Jacob Warren and Fain Skinner.
The Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modified event was rained out. New date for this event will be announced next week.
USA International - May 1, 2004
Sunbelt Super Late Model Series
1. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood, Fla.
2. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City, Fla.
3. #61 Jimmy Cope, St. Pete, Fla.
4. #51 Jacob Warren, Orlando, Fla.
5. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oaks, Fla.
6. #17 Jason Crossey, West Palm Beach, Fla.
7. #32 Sean Murphy, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
8. #74 Barry Willoughby, Port St. Lucie, Fla.
9. #47 Chris Fontaine, Lakeland, Fla.
10. #86 Chet Morrison, Houma, LA.
11. #88 Brock Oglesby, Ocala, Fla.
12. #48 Jonny Kay, Deerfield Beach, Fla.
13. #78 B.J. McLeod, Wauchula, Fla.
14. #59 Mario Gosselin, Lake Whales, Fla.
15. #19 Kiki Thomas, Tampa, Fla.
16. #11 David Rogers, Orlando, Fla.
17. #12 Justin Drawdy, Ft. Pierce, Fla.
18. #27x Mike Fritts, Debary, Fla.
19. #5 Joe Boyd, Riverview, Fla.
20. #5k Daniel Keene, Weekiwachee, Fla.
21. #10 Eric Black, Vero Beach, Fla.
22. #63 Dawayne Bryan, Lake Alford, Fla.
23. #9 Jr. McMickle, Davey, Fla.
24. #110 Ryan Foster, Lowell, Arkansas
25. #28 Scott Crockett, Land O'Lakes, Fla.
26. #10x Steve Dorer, Lakeland, Fla.
27. #24 Ritchie Anderson, Lakeland, Fla.
28. #40 Michael Williams, Mims, Fla.
29. #48x Bill Manfull Myakka, Fla.
30. #47x Keith Zavrel, Sunrise, Fla.
31. #34 Dick Anderson, Wildwood, Fla.
32. #7 Dwayne Dempsey, St. Pete, Fla.
33. #64 Bobby Coyle, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
34. #71 Ken Gerena, Brandon, Fla
DNS - #94 Chris Turner
#90 Paul Combast
#57 Mike Bresnahan
#80 Brian Finney
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