LAKE CITY, FL (8/19) - Modifieds headlined the racing action at North Florida Speedway last Saturday evening. Jerry Campbell grabbed the early lead in the 20-lap main event but was reeled in and passed by John Bradley on the fourth circuit. Carlton Allen was aiming to duplicate his win from last week and was the man on the move as he fought his way to second from midpack.
Allen got the break he needed when a late race caution brought the field together. This week, however, Bradley was able to deny Allen as he got a great jump when racing resumed and stretched his lead to win by a comfortable distance. Bradley and Allen were followed by Kenny Blair, Kyle Owen, and Mark Padgett.
Sammy Hatcher returned to victory lane after a drought that lasted several weeks. He handily led from green flag to checkered flag in a race that had but one caution period. Things weren't as leisurely for the rest of the field as an evenly matched trio of Timmy Roach, Scotty Nolan, and Heath Walker rocked and socked for the right to challenge second-running John Ward. Walker emerged as the challenger and had enough to catch and pass Ward in the closing laps to earn the runner-up spot. The finishing order read Hatcher, Walker, Ward, Roach, and Scotty Nolan.
Week in and week out, the Pure Stocks generate the most emotion from the fans in the stands, and this week only solidified that claim as 17 cars took the opening green and 17 camps loudly cheered their driver on. In the Pure Stocks, things have a way of happening and there were several two-car melees that tested the nerves of drivers and fans. Several incidents knocked contenders to the rear of the field or out of the ballpark.
Chris Rowe enjoyed six laps of unobstructed view before Billy Brock passed him for the lead. Michael Havard survived some give and take in the middle of the pack to emerge as a challenger to Brock. On lap eleven both cars made contact and restarted in the rear.
Gerald Lewis seemed to be the only driver who was able to stay completely above the chaos as he quietly but convincingly guided his #65 to the top spot and clicked off the closing laps to earn his first victory in 2006. Havard recovered to take second over Robby Disbrow. Fourth was Chris Rowe and fifth was Jesse Sullivan.
Brittany Frosh had her best race to date at NFS as she led the majority of the Mini Sprint feature. She withstood the challenges of veteran Paul Gottschalk for ten heated, traffic-laced laps before Gottschalk finally executed the race-winning pass on lap 17. Frosh proved to be the best of the rest this evening by placing second with Andrew Griffin finishing third. Greg Skyta was fourth ahead of Randy Carrier.
Scott Spears raced from the pole to the lead in Street Stock action. Dean Sands immediately gave chase in second place. Spears and Sands momentarily slowed coming on the backstretch on the third lap and Nick Reid took advantage by passing both cars for the lead. Reid's claim to the throne was short lived as Sands recovered to pass Spears and Reid on the fourth lap.
Reid tried to stay within striking range, but terminal engine problems on lap eight ended his bid. Sands rolled on to collect his eleventh feature win on the year. Dewey Hall successfully defended against a pair of challengers to earn second place despite his car having noticeable engine problems. Michael Bush, Marvin Hassell, and Cliff Crawford finished third through fifth.
North Florida Speedway returns to racing action this Saturday night with action from the Winged Sprints, Limited Sportsmen, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and Pure Stocks. Practice begins at 6 PM and the first race takes place at 7 PM.
