Kory Abbott tops RE/MAX Legends at Orlando SpeedWorld
After a horrible crash when his throttle stuck while leading the feature during a race in June, Kory Abbott rebounded to take the RE/MAX Legends Car feature Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld.
Abbott started off the night by winning the first heat while fellow Apopka resident Chelsea Schillig captured heat two. The winner from the previous week, Andy Logan, tangled with Matt Bowers while fighting for the lead in heat one and both cars had to retire to the pits. Both cars were repaired but the pair would have to start deep in the field in the 25 lap feature.
Mike Verhaagh had the pole for the finale and led the opening four laps, but Abbott was on a mission as he sped to the front never to be headed.
Things got much worse for Logan on lap 15. Working the high side of the track, Logan was attempting to pass Tony Sansom but the Legends rookie apparently didn't realize Logan was there and forced Logan's car hard into the turn two wall where it was then struck by the cars of Kara Clarke and Mitch Verhaagh.
Logan and Clarke were both badly shaken but not seriously hurt as all four cars involved were eliminated from action.
Abbott checked out on the field as all eyes turned to a great battle for second place which eventually went to Jimmy Norman who scored the best feature finish of his young career. Bowers stormed his way from 15th on the starting grid to place third with Schillig and Darin Coker rounding out the top five. Paul Schrein, Jr., Mike Verhaagh, Jimmy Rodriguez, Doc Richardson and Troy Mahrt rounded out the top ten with Wild Willie Wilson, Michael Haney, Steve Tuberville, Shaughn McCormick, Mitch Verhaagh, Sansom, Logan, Clarke, Eric Eichelberger and Gary Verdier completing the field.
Two of the RE/MAX Legends regulars were not in attendance as Brandon Thomson joined his friend Bryan Silas in Berlin, MI as Silas attempted to qualify for his first ARCA race. Silas timed in 8th quick in a 40 car field but was unfortunately involved in an early race altercation that ended what had been a very good rookie debut for the young man from Lake Worth.
Stuart's Phil Krauthoff sped to his first Florida Open Wheel Lite win of the year as he took the lead from first heat winner Brian Paradis then held off second heat winner Rick Lundeen's "Flying Grape" to take the checker. Dennis Diehl made a late charge to third ahead of Sonny O'Sullivan and Paradis. Completing the top ten were Jeff Wolfe, Roger Wolfe, Roger Richmond, J.J. Wolfe and Alain Paradis.
When leader Brad Sanders got trapped behind a lapped car, Mark Landis took advantage a sped to the Pro Challenge win. Sanders tried to fight back but had to settle for second ahead of Johnny Allen, J.L. Snowden, and Howard Brennan. Mike Smith, Rowdy Gordon, Ken Ellefson, Lenny Lodnic and David Hall rounded out the top ten. Landis and Sanders won the heats.
Shawn Hooven grabbed his second Bandelero Bandits feature win of the year topping Donovan Ponder and older brother Mark Hooven, who won the heat race earlier. Coty Bibeau, Steven Maier and Joshua Monacelli rounded out the finishers.
Gerald White, Jr. arrived late and missed the Bandelero Young Guns heat race which was won by Gerald Campbell but sped off with the feature win over Campbell and Dillon Richardson.
Rob Reynolds took his Mazda to a wire to wire win in the Hurricanes holding off Dave "Lug Nuts" Thompson, Mark "Hello" Walls, Steven Anderson and Gary Thomas while Luke Burke took the first Junior Stock win of his career over Taylor Kasper.
OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - JULY 15
RE/MAX LEGENDS
1. #5 Kory Abbott 2. #2 Jimmy Norman 3. #84 Matt Bowers 4. #75 Chelsea Schillig 5. #00 Darin Coker 6. #74 Paul Schrein 7. #7 Mike Verhaagh 8. #19 Jimmy Rodriquez 9. #01 Doc Richardson 10. #71 Tonyt Mahrt 11. #23 Bob Wilson 12. #4 Micahel Haney 13. #77 Steve Turbeville 14. #34 Shaughn McCormick 15. #9 Mitch Verhaagh 16. #55 Tony Sansom 17. #1FL Andy Logan 18. #21 Kara Clarke 19. #47 Eric Eickleberger DNS 20. #47 Red Gary Verdier DNS
1. #2 Phil Krauthoff 2. #04 Rick Lundeen 3. #18 Dennis Diehl 4. #0 Sonny O'Sullivan 5. #68x Brian Paradis 6. #83 Jeff Wolfe 7. #85 Roger Wolfe 8. #33 Roger Richmond 9. #84 J.J. Wolfe 10. #40 Alan Paradis 11. #B14 Robert Johnson
PRO CHALLENGE
1. #21 Mark Landis 2. #2 Brad Sanders 3. #98 Johny Allen 4. #51 JL Snowden 5. #56 Howard Brennan 6. #4 Mike Smith 7. #44 Rowdy Gordon 8. #11 Ken Ellefson 9. #23 Lenny Lodnic 10. #22 David Hall DNS
HURRICANES
1. #A1 Rob Reynolds 2. #66 David Thompson 3. #68 Mark Walls 4. #27 Steven Anderson 5. #T13 Gary Thomas 6. #433 Etch
