Wright gets first Florida Cracker Classics win at Speedworld
By Dave Westerman
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Florida Cracker Classics were in action Saturday night, April 29th at Orlando Speedworld in support of the FAST Media Racing program and a long-time Speedworld driver and champion picked up his first FCC win.
Jeff Wright has been racing at the 3/8 mile speedway in Bithlo for several years taking wins in both the Super Stock and Sportsman divisions, plus he is the defending Sportsman class champion at Speedworld.
Wright took over the driving chores of Kevin McGill's #44 this year when Corey Freed decided to concentrate more on racing his Modified at both Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna Speedway.
Starting on the outside pole, Wright stormed to the front of the field at the drop of the green on this night and led every lap to score his first Florida Cracker Classics win. It was the second victory for McGill as a car owner as Freed took a win late in the 2004 campaign just before the hurricanes put a damper on that race season.
Wright was the engine of a seven car freight train that ran together the entire 25 laps slowed only by three minor caution flags. No cars were damaged in any of the incidents and the entire field was still running at the end of the race.
Norm Agostinho continues to have a great year, finishing up in the second position driving Ray Pellitier's #0 while John Smith came home a close third. Rodney Eary drove the Daughtrey Motorsports POW/MIA Special to fourth with Ben Booth fifth.
Rounding out the field were Joey Strehle, Jim Rahman, Ricky Wood, Greg Helton, Patrick Sanders, Simeon Spagnuolo, Junior Kirk, and Brad Newburg.
FLORIDA CRACKER CLASSIC NOTES:
No rest for the weary as the FCC drivers are once again back in action for a regularly scheduled program at Speedworld this Saturday, May 6th.
Not all news is good. Veteran racer Bud Spencer has been forced to hang up his helmet for health reasons. Doctors fear a back problem could be aggravated if he were involved in an accident, so Spencer is reluctantly taking their advice.
Also, George Hall, Jr. and his son George III, supporters of the FCC group since day one, are retiring from the sport and have their cars for sale.
The racing is extremely competitive in 2006. Wright's win on Saturday night made him the fourth different driver to visit victory lane in the four races contested this year.
