by Dave Westerman
Orlando Speedworld wrapped up a highly successful 2005 Winternationals last Saturday, the second annual version, and a third is already in the works for 2006.
Points champions were crowned after Friday's racing action. Legends Car veteran Cotton Spry of Salisbury, NC ended up in a tie with fellow NC driver Clay Hair in the Masters division. In four feature races, each won two and finished second in the other two. Spry broke the tie by virtue of having more heat race wins over the four day period.
Hair was second in the Masters points chase ahead of consistent Texas runner Bob Merino, Georgia's Brian Weimer, and Texan Gene Conley.
Mooresville NC's Nick Pistone didn't have the best of luck in the Legends Pro Division (he destroyed his car in a Friday practice crash) but he won two features and earned enough points to take the championship over Huntersville, NC driver Michael VanWingerden and Ohio driver Danny Jackson. Kentucky's Keeton Hanks and Virginia's Jason Miller were fourth and fifth in Pro Division points.
Travis Pennington was far and away the most consistent driver over the four nights in the Legends Semi-Pro division. The young Georgia driver won the Semi-Pro title by a 23 point margin over local driver Kory Abbott of Apopka, FL. Jake "The Snake" Crum of Statesville, SC was third in points ahead of Tallahassee, FL's Stuart Dutton and Hickory, NC driver Matt DiBenedetto.
Florida drivers swept the titles in the Bandelero classes with trophies going to Gerald White, Jr. of Lakeland (Bandit), Ryan Rust of Port St. Lucie (Young Gun), and Kara Clarke (Outlaw).
Plans are already under way for the 2006 Winternationals as track Promoter Rusty Marcus plans to contact all competitors for their thoughts on this year's Winternationals and what improvements need to be made to the program.
One thing we'll definitely do is start earlier each day," says Marcus. "We may also change the schedule to allow the drivers and their families and crews to have a better chance to attend the races at Daytona, but we'll see how that plan goes after we poll our drivers," he says.
Regular season action kicks off at Orlando Speedworld Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19.
TOP TEN IN POINTS - RACECEIVER RE/MAX LEGENDS CARS - 2005 WINTERNATIONALS:
PRO DIVISION:
1) Nick Pistone, Mooresville, NC #99 372
2) Michael VanWingerden, Huntersville, NC #23 367
3) Danny Jackson, Loveland, OH #5J 350
4) Keeton Hanks, Auburn, KY 338
5) Jason Miller, Berryville, VA #94 332
6) Jason Reisman, Concord, NC #25 317
7) Chris Bakaj, Farmington, CT #32 298
8) C.E. Falk III, Virginia Beach, VA 292
9) Josh Waring, Concord, NC 291
10) Jeremy Colangelo, Sanford, FL #05 275
MASTERS DIVISION:
1) Cotton Spry, Salisbury, NC #16NC 394
2) Clay Hair, Mt. Pleasant, NC #29 394
3) Bob Merino, Plano, TX #42 346
4) Brian Weimer, Cumming, GA #40 337
5) Gene Conley, Lewisville, TX 329
6) Cy Harvey, Halifax, NS #37NS 326
7) Mike Verhaagh, Ft. Myers, FL #7 321
8) James Rodriguez, West Palm Beach, FL #19 320
9) Jesse Carter, Nashville, TN #20C 312
10) Larry Friddle, Greenville, SC #8 308
SEMI-PRO DIVISION:
1) Travis Pennington, Douglasville, GA #01 370
2) Kory Abbott, Apopka, FL #5 347
3) Jake Crum, Statesville, SC #1C 337
4) Stuart Dutton, Tallahassee, FL #32 332
5) Matt DiBenedetto, Hickory, NC #44 311
6) Michael Bilderback, South Beloit, IL #2X 304
7) Brennan Poole, The Woodlands, TX #17P 295
8) Chris Wilson, Crossville, TN #10 294
9) Paddy Rodenbeck, Odessa, FL #29 286
10) Beau Browning, Collierville, TN #89 286
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