LAKE CITY, FL (7/8) - The Brown Motorsport Summer Spectacular for the Hobby Stock division entered its second round at North Florida Speedway. With $700 waiting for the first car to receive the checkers, the local drivers had to contend with some visiting bounty hunters.
The nineteen car starting field raced into the first turn and John Ward emerged as an early leader. Heath Walker stayed close behind and the duo broke away from the battle for third between Kaleb Bedenbaugh, Dave Dowling Jr., and Windal Clark.
Attrition and accidents took their toll as the event progressed, but Ward and Walker continued their duel until the final turn when Walker lost the handle on his #55 and thereby sealed the victory for Ward. Randy Clark crossed the line for second over Windal Clark, who padded his series lead with the third place finish. Scotty Nolan outran Tim Nolan for fourth.
Dean Sands rushed from his pole starting spot to take the lead in Street Stocks. Usually the story loses its drama at this point, however, usually Sands hasn't had to contend with Eddie Gainey. Gainey picked up the second spot from Nick Reid on lap three and soon locked horns with Sands. The duel was on and this was a position that Sands was not accustomed to in 2006 as he has been the dominant driver in Streets. The racing was close yet clean and the laps clicked off quickly. Gainey found his opening on the 12th circuit and made the race winning pass to earn his first NFS win. Sands settled for second with Nevin Gainey third, Michael Bush fourth, and Hank Lloyd fifth.
The Modified main event was a messy, caution-infested affair. One of the few drivers not affected was Kyle Owen's in the #F1, who overcame polesitter Jerry Campbell for the lead during the opening lap and never looked back en route to victory. Campbell proved to be the best of the rest by finishing second over Ronald Broughton, Hollywood Owen, and Buddy Rohn.
Nevin Gainey rebounded from his third place finish in Street Stocks with a wire to wire win in the Limited Sportsman feature. This race saw few cautions and several passes for position from second place on back. All in all, a good showing for the fledgling division. Gainey was followed at the checkers by points leader Brian Scott, Terry Jones, Dewey Hall, and Jody Turner.
Pure Stocks continued their rock-'em, sock-'em ways with fans cheering and body repairmen cringing. Dean Jarvis and Michael Havard were the class of the field this evening as the pair ran from the pack despite battling each other throughout all fifteen laps. The action behind the leaders resembled a pier six brawl that bordered on an NC-17 rating. Jarvis survived the best that Havard threw at him to take win number two on the season. The remaining survivors behind Jarvis and Havard were Frank Premorel, Jesse Sullivan, and Gerald Lewis.
Winged Sprint Cars and Mini-Sprints once again team up next Saturday Night at the 3/8-mile clay oval. Pure Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and Street Stocks will also race that evening.
North Florida Speedway Saturday, July 8, 2006
Hobby Stocks (paying $700 to win) #82 John Ward, #22 Randy Clark #17 Windal Clark
Street Stocks #87 Eddie Gainey #44 Dean Sands #83 Kelly Phillman
Modifieds #F1 Kyle Owen #33 Jerry Campbell #23 Treye Wade
Limited Sportsman #17 Nevin Gainey #14 Briane Scott #74 Terry Jones
Pure Stock (under protest) #37 Dean Jarvis #88 Michael Havard Frank Premored #88S Jesse Sullivan
