Samson tops Briggs and Stratton 210 at Orlando SpeedWorld
by Dave Westerman
The F.A.S.T. Kart group played host to the First Annual Briggs and Stratton Just Past Christmas Shootout Monday at Orlando Speedworld with the featured event a 210 lap endurance race for the Pro Stock class.
The race was run in four 50 lap segments followed by a 10 lap shootout for a first place prize of $1,000.
Michael Bachman was fast qualifier and definitely had the fastest kart. However his kart was also chewing up fuel at a rate that made him have to make unscheduled trips to the pits in each segment and that ultimately cost Bachman a chance at a win.
Tony Samson led the way after each 50 lap segment but was poised to fend off a number of challengers. Two of his top competitors, Corey Holley and Cody Moist, would have trouble in the final 50 lap segment leaving just Samsom, Paul Cornelius, and Brian Scherrer on the lead lap for the final ten lap dash.
Cornelius, a regular Friday night FASCAR Super Stock competitor, snared the lead and looked like he might pull off the win, but Samsom made a pass on the final lap to secure the win followed by Cornelius and Scherrer. Moist was fourth, two laps down and Bachman was credited with fifth although he was 18 laps down and the only other Kart of the 12 starters still running at the checker.
Jamie Haynes was credited with sixth place with Brandon Johnson, Tom Schemp, Jr., Jason Gillespie, Holley, Ed McKenzie, and Dylan Johnson rounding out the field.
Six 30 lap races were held for other divisions. Sixteen karts took the green for the Senior Champ race with fast qualifier Jamie Haynes leading all the way to score the win. Travis Potts took second after a great battle with Whitney Poole who came from 14th on the starting grid after suffering engine problems in qualifying. Kevin Capritta, who missed time trials altogether and started 16th, came home fourth with John Combs fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Tom Schemp, Rance Williams, Dustin Stinnett, Aaron Hughes and Doug Wright. All but Wright were on the lead lap at the finish. Completing the field were Sam Ketterman, Ryan Williams, Steve Bouthiller, Tim Hughes, and Johnny Bohannon.
David Witherby started last but finished first in Animal Heavy followed by D.J. Witherby, fast qualifier Jerry Foster, and Tom Schemp in a fantastic race that saw several lead changes.
The Dyer family got off to a good start as Taylor Dyer grabbed the Junior Sportsman 2 win over Adam Dyer, Cole Sorcey and Tyler Dyer. Adam came back with a last lap "bump and run" to beat brother Taylor in the Junior Sportsman Champ race with Tyler Mitchum third.
Jason Burke took the measure of the Restricted Junior field leading Tyler Ketelaar, Josh Elliott and Ian Witherington to the checker. Mason Ketterman out-dueled Whitney Poole to win the Junior Champ race trailed by Ray Combs, Bubba Potts and D.J. Witherby.
Animal Heavy competitor Jerry Foster had fast time of the day among all classes at 16.917 seconds.
Racing was extremely competitive with no major incidents during the day. Hopefully this event will be even bigger in 2006.
