IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 8, 2005 FSCR Abbott tops PBG Legends - Robillard gets First Pro Challenge Win at OSW by Dave Westerman Round two of the PBG Florida Legends Car Tour was held Saturday evening at Orlando Speedworld with gorgeous weather greeting both drivers and fans. Twenty-six PBG Legends Cars made the trek to Speedworld for round two although among the missing were Brian Silas, who was attending his prom, and first round winner Jason Reisman, who opted not to make the trip from Concord, NC. Four cars broke into the fifteen second barrier in qualifying with Apopka's Kory Abbott setting quick time in his Kendirk Performance-sponsored car at 15.744 seconds. Right behind Abbott were Paddy Rodenbeck at 15.904, Brandon Thomson at 15.907, Darin Coker at 15.979 and Jordan Richardson at 16.034. Jordan Richardson and Darin Coker led the field to the start with Richardson grabbing the early lead. Tom Clarke spun in turn four to bring out the first caution on lap three. On the restart, Rodenbeck and Matt Bowers got tangled up with James Rodriguez tagging Rodenbeck's car. All were able to continue with the exception of Rodriguez but both Rodenbeck and Bowers restarted from the rear. Abbott, who started fifth, took second on lap four and set sail after Richardson, quickly zooming past and into the lead. Richardson and Brandon Thomson would bring out the second caution as they tangled while fighting for second on lap 19. Both continued but at the back of the pack. Abbott looked to be unstoppable but Stuart Dutton now found himself in second and was not going to be intimidated as he put his nose under Abbott on several occasions only to see the caution two more times for spins by Tim Osterlund on laps 29 and 33. During the lap 33 slowdown, fourth-running Wesley McLeod took his car into the infield, then Jordan Richardson's car stalled following the restart to keep the yellow out. The green-white-checker finish saw Abbott hold off Dutton to take the win, his first in the PBG Series and fifth overall at Speedworld this year. Coker drove a steady heads-up race to claim third while Bobby Byars scored a well-deserved fourth place finish and was the top finishing Masters Division driver just ahead of fellow "old guy" Mitch Verhaagh who came from 22nd on the starting grid to fifth at the finish. Jeremy Colangelo, Mike Verhaagh, Chris McDonald, Evan Russell, and Doc Richardson rounded out the top ten. The next race for the PBG Florida Legends Car Tour is Saturday night, May 28th at the tricky Bronson Motor Speedway. In other action, Ron Towles led every lap to take the Open Wheel Lite/Mod Lite feature win over a great field of 21 cars. The Jacksonville driver had his hands full with Brian Paradis on his bumper until Paradis slapped the wall and dropped out. Mike Belusar took up the chased but had to settle for second in a tight battle with Phil Krauthoff. Rick Lundeen took his "Flying Grape" to fourth while Sonny O'Sullivan grabbed fifth. Completing the top ten were Alain Paradis, Dennis Diehl, Jerry Heflin, Todd Diers and Joe Brayton. Open Wheel Lite/Mod Lite heats were won by Towles, Brian Paradis and Alain Paradis. Orlando's Bobby Robillard won the first race of his career in the Pro Challenge feature taking the lead from J.L. Snowden and cruising to the win. Heat winner Snowden held on for second ahead of Rod Sanders, Mike Lago, Brad Sanders, Howard Brennan, Sam White, Tim Hart and Tex Patterson. Gerald White, Jr. was again on top of the Bandelero Bandits taking yet another victory over Blake Eden, Donovan Ponder, and Zach Harris. Ryan Rust topped heat winner Dalton Bergman and Jeff Black to grab the Bandelero Young Guns win. Doug Webb drove his ABC Towing Ford Probe to the Hurricane win over the Toyotas of Jim Cornwell and Bobby Crites. F.A.S.T Karts put on an excellent show with some of the best racing of the night. Kart winners were Rusty Chancey (Pro Stock), Jack Lyerly (Star Champ), Mason Ketterman (Junior Champ), Levi Stephens (Restricted Junior), Bubba Potts ( Junior Sports Champ), Travis Potts (Senior Champ), Jim Ross (Yamaha), and Ashley Herb (Rookie). OFFICIAL FINISH - PBG FLORIDA LEGENDS TOUR RACE #2 - 5/7/05 - ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD: 1) Kory Abbott #X 2) Stuart Dutton #32 3) Darin Coker #00 4) Bobby Byars #12 5) Mitch Verhaagh #9 6) Jeremy Colangelo #05 7) Mike Verhaagh #7 8) Chris McDonald #94 9) Evan Russell #37 10) Doc Richardson #00FL 11) Brandon Thomson #54 12) Chelsea Schillig #75 13) Derrick Wood #33 14) Matt Bowers #84 15) Paddy Rodenbeck #29 16) Dion Hinskey #4 17) Bob Wilson #27W 18) Spike Sabo #5 19) Kara Clarke #21 20) Tom Clarke #66 21) Tim Osterlund #49 22) Jordan Richardson #1 23) Wesley McLeod #22 24) Mark Beebo #7X 25) Kyle Dombeck #20 26) James Rodriguez #19 Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!