IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

June 27, 2005 FSCR Abbott back on top in RE/MAX Legends at Orlando SpeedWorld by Dave Westerman Mother Nature finally gave Orlando Speedworld a break Saturday evening as showers passed close to, but never actually hit the race track for the first time in almost three weeks. The iffy weather had the car count down slightly, but the competition was keen as usual. As has been the case many times so far this year, young Kory Abbott took the measure of the RE/MAX Legends Car field although it was no cake walk. Brandon Thomson and Bobby Byars claimed the heat races with the pill draw placing Thomson on the pole for the 25 lap feature. Thomson shot out to an early lead while Abbott began to work his way up from his sixth place starting spot. Lap eleven saw South Carolina visitor Larry Friddle go around in turn three for the first caution. Doug Hall and Chelsea Schillig were both slightly involved and had to pit to get bumpers repaired with both returning before the restart. Thomson continued to set the pace, but Abbott was putting the pressure on and slipped by on lap 14 for the lead. Thomson wouldn't fall back though as he stayed on Abbott's rear bumper. The only other caution of the race came on lap 22 when Wesley McLeod spun out in turn one while running in the top five. Abbott managed to hold off Thomson over the final three laps to claim the win. Bobby Byars had his strongest run of the year as he came home third and also was the top finishing Masters Division driver. Jarrad Cawley had another good run for fourth while Darin Coker came home fifth after starting deep in the field driving the car normally steered by Tom Clarke. Mike Verhaagh, Brian Silas, Mitch Verhaagh, Mike Fazio and McLeod rounded out the top ten. Jim Rahman led all the way to claim his second Classic Car win of the year at Speedworld. After Ben Booth dropped out with an overheating problem while running second, Norm Agostinho moved up to challenge Rahman but could never muster enough power to get by. Rahman took the win followed by Agostinho, Tim Ousley, Patrick Sanders and Corey Freed. Completing the top ten were Simeon Spagnuolo, Ron Gustafson, Joey Strehle, Beaver Daughtery and Booth. Rahman and Booth took the heat wins. Gerald White, Jr. again dominated the Bandelero Bandit action taking an easy win over Donovan Ponder, Tyler Rahman, Christina Baluch, Zach Harris and Tanner Adkison. Ryan Rust took the measure of the Bandelero Young Guns topping Dalton Bergman and Gerald Campbell while Kara Clarke out ran Ashley Thomson to win the Bandelero Outlaw feature. Squeaky Gates topped Dave Ritter and a big field of incredible looking vintage race cars to win the Race Cars of Yesterday feature run while Doug Webb drove his Ford Probe to the Hurricane feature win. RE/MAX LEGENDS CAR FEATURE FINISH - 6/26/05: 1) Kory Abbott, Apopka #5 2) Brandon Thomson, St. Cloud #54 3) Bobby Byars, Palm Bay #12 4) Jarrad Cawley, Winter Garden #31 5) Darin Coker, Palmk Beach Gardens #66 6) Mike Verhaagh, Ft. Myers #7 7) Brian Silas, Lake Worth #57 8) Mitch Verhaagh, Bonita Springs #71 9) Mike Fazio, Ft. Lauderdale #38 10) Wesley McLeod, Altamonte Springs #22 11) Bob Wilson, Beverly Hills #27W 12) Chelsea Schillig, Apopka #75 13) Larry Friddle, Greenville, SC #8 14) Doug Hall, St. Petersburg #55 15) Jimmy Norman, Lake Mary #2 16) Kyle Dombeck, Palm Bay #20 17) Mark Beebo, St. Cloud #7X Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!