Norm Agostinho All the Way in Florida Cracker Classics at SpeedWorld
by Dave Westerman
Davenport's Norm Agostinho led every lap to grab the win in the second race for the Florida Cracker Classics for 2006 Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld.
Driving Ray Pellitier's five window "32 Ford coupe based out of Ocala, Agostinho gave notice to the other competitors by winning heat race number one while Rodney Eary drove the Daughtrey Motorsports POW/MIA special to the checker in heat two.
Agostinho had the pole to start the 20 lap feature and took the early lead but only one lap could be completed before Tommy Kirk looped his mount in turn four to bring out a caution. Just a lap later, Greg Helton went for a spin in turn two to bring out the second yellow. Agostinho held the top spot with Bud Spencer second as the field settled down for some green flag racing. Eary got by Eddie Thornton for third on lap four and set off after the leaders.
Agostinho was the leader of an eight car nose-to-tail freight train as the cars behind him swapped positions on nearly every lap with opening race winner Ben Booth really working the high groove as he made his way to fourth spot.
Kirk and Helton got together going into turn three on lap 13 with Kirk going for a spin to bring out the third and final caution flag. The final seven laps were run under green with Agostinho holding strong for the win, his second since joining the Classics two years ago.
Bud Spencer finally got his luck turned around driving a great race to take second with Eary right on his bumper just ahead of Booth and Thornton. John Smith, Jim Rahman, Jeff Wright, Kirk, Patrick Sanders, Derrick Wood, Helton and David Nunes completed the finishing field.
The next race for the Florida Cracker Classics will be on Saturday night, April 15th, at Ocala Speedway.
