IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 10, 2004 FSCR COLLINS HOT IN OPEN WHEELS AT CHARLOTTE COUNTY By Claude Lewis PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (May 8) - Lee Collins took over the points lead in the Corteco/GulfCoast Open Wheel Modified Series Saturday night with a victory in the 50-lap feature at Charlotte County Speedway. Photos Here: www.floridastockcarfans.com/gallery/album03 The driver out of Immokalee weathered 11 cautions and was able to take the checkered safely ahead of second-place Teddy Nelson. It was the third of eight GulfCoast Modified series races this season. Collins was third in the season opener at Bronson and fourth at Sunshine. His win Saturday made him the series points leader. "I had a good car," said Collins of his sleek No. 89 machine. "It stayed under me on long greens. All the cautions were a little aggravating, but we made it through." The biggest threat for Collins was Dwayne Dempsey, who entered the race leading the GulfCoast series in points. Dempseys No. 6 car started on the pole and led up to lap 19 when he slowed and pulled into the infield. With Dempsey out, Collins assumed the lead. Under the green, he would pull away from the 23-car field. But spins and minor wrecks kept bunching the cars back together. Dan Partelo was third in the 9 car. Mike Hinegardner, who won the St. Pete race, was fourth. J.R. Wade took fifth. The first caution on lap 2 turned into a red as track officials had to clean up a mess after the motor in L.B. Skaggs No. 71 car blew. The biggest hit of the night with the crowd was the Faster Pastor 50. Congregations cheered wildly as 14 local clergymen took to the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval in homemade 4-cylinder vehicles. Photos Here: www.charlottecountyspeedway.net/gallery/albums.php John Cross Jr. of South Biscayne Baptist in North Port was the early leader, but he was passed in traffic by Matt Cutler of San Carlos Christian Church, whose No. 14 appeared to be much quicker than the rest of the field. Cutler took the checkered well-ahead of second-place Gary Cox of the First Christian Church of Fort Myers. Video Here: www.karnacmedia.com/movies/FasterPaster050804-3.avi Jason Goss of Faith Assembly of God was third. Elbert Butts of Arcadia lost an engine in practice, but he borrowed the No. 42 car of Mike Lebeau and buzzed it to victory well ahead of Clete Trimmer and John Hanuschik. Bob Waltz "8 Ball Jr." claimed victory in the Road Warrior 30-lapper. His father came across the stripe second but his No. 5 car was disqualified in post-race technical inspection because of illegal valves. Chris Huntoon of Englewood was third. In 4-Cylinders, Robert Benning of Punta Gorda won his second straight feature. Little Cody Benoit was second and Shane bates of Arcadia was third. John Garrett won by more than a straightaway in the Thunder Trucks 25-lapper. Cheryl Weaver was second and Mike Bialecki third. Both are from Port Charlotte. Race fans are reminded there is racing at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday at CCS as the second in the TNT Super Late Model Series unfolds. FASTER PASTOR - 50 1. 14 Matt Cutler San Carlos Christian Church (6) 2. 11 Gary Cox First Christian Church of Fort Myers (4) 3. 01 Jason Goss Faith Assembly of God (2) 4. 3 Gary Gray Gary Gray Venice Assembly of God (9) 5. 7 David Weiss Cleveland Baptist Church (13) 6. 18 Mark Campbell Bible Baptist Church (3) 7. 61 Zeke Zaherek Zeke Zaherek Holy Angels Catholic Church (5) 8. 1 Darrell Ellison The Alliance Church of Sebring (11) 9. 121 Mark Branson North Naples United Methodist Church (8) 10. 2 Chuck Linback Remnant Church (14) 11. 77 Dennis Postell, Sr. Charlotte County Sheriff's Office - Chaplain Program (12) 12. 70 Bill Maginn Abundant Life Assembly of God (10) 13. 23 Lewis Wilkerson Souls Harbor Church of God (7) 14. 3:16 John Cross, Jr. South Biscayne Baptist Church (1) Road Warrior 1. 8 Bob Waltz Jr. (3) 2. 30 Chris Huntoon (6) 3. 18 Shane Leonard (7) 4. 73b Del Beckner (1) 5. 1 Jesse Gargus (5) 6. 88 Larry Rudd (8) 7. 29 Rob Popkin (2) 8. 22 Ann Marie Ricardi (9) 9. 7 Jonathan Abraham (13) 10. 11 Robert Hendry (15) 11. 40 Dar Houghtaling (19) 12. 2 Bobby Fischer (11) 13. 38 Don Justice (20) 14. 09 Doug Raastad (10) 15. 21 Lee Rhodes (12) 16. 14 Roger Hunt (14) 17. 13 John Muff (18) 18. 23 Jeff Rumbold (16) 19. 9 Gary Miller (17) 5 Bob Waltz Jr. - Disqualified in Tech (4) Super Stock 1. 31x Elbert Butts (3) 2. 0 Clete Trimmer (5) 3. 83 John Hanuschik (4) 4. 11x Mike Getts (6) 5. 85 Roger Wolfe (1) 6. 23g Brent Garland (2) Thunder Truck 1. 22 John Garrett (7) 2. 37 Cheryl Weaver (6) 3. 8 Mike Bialecki (5) 4. 37m Richard Martin (1) 5. 44 Raymond Tucker (8) 6. 56 Bob Charette (4) 7. 16 Wally Smith (3) 8. 9 Ray Scott (2) DNS 6 James Wright 4 Cylinder 1. 99 Robert Benning (4) 2. 39 Cody Benoit (9) 3. 6 Shawn Bates (3) 4. 33 Chris Loney (8) 5. 15 Walter Forbes(7) 6. 42 Daqniel Shanaway (2) 7. 32 Jason Wilburn (6) 8. 7 Jose Lopez (1) 9. 31 Michelle Riley (5) Corteco Gasket Gulfcoast Open Wheel Modified 1. 89 Lee Collins (2) 2. 34 Teddy Nelson (5) 3. 9 Danny Partelo (6) 4. 1 Mike Hinegardner (12) 5. 29 J.R. Wade (13) 6. 88 Chris Robbins (17) 7. 51 Tommy Bower (18) 8. 8 Chris Escott (4) 9. 11 Doug Spitzer (20) 10. 19 Doug Moff (8) 11. 10 Clint Wasteney (19) 12. 84 Jack Arnold III (22) 13. 80 James Houle (15) 14. 22 John Anderson (21) 15. 2b Kevin Brickley (23) 16. 112 Corky Craver (16) 17. 2 Ralph Bowman (3) 18. 23 Ron Bassett (11) 19. 31 Kurt Riley (9) 20. 6 Dwayne Dempsey (1) 21. 56 Robbie McCauliffe (7) 22. 71 L.B. Skaggs (10) 23. 55 Herman Beame (14) TQ Midgets 1. 3 unknown 2. 1 Jack Duffy 3. 4 Ted Durfee 4. 18 Eric Anderson 5. 26 Paul Huffstutler 6. 7 Murry Hall 7. 30 Joey McKinney 8. 25 Allen Eash 9. 52 Greg Dennis 10. 33 Kenny Busch DNS 17 Doug Feasel Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!