CORNELIUS & ABBOTT HEADLINE SPEEDWORLD WEEKEND WINNERS
By Dave Westerman
After two weeks of nothing but rain and more rain, Orlando Speedworld finally caught a break this weekend as both the Friday and Saturday night shows saw the wet stuff hold off for some good racing action.
There were still some "weeping" problems with the track surface on Friday night, so track officials decided to start all races in single-file order in the interest of safety.
Dusty Cornelius would dominate the Super Late Model feature although it wasn't quite that easy. Cornelius spun out at the flag stand on the initial green, but since no laps were completed, he returned to his starting spot. On the second attempt to start the race, Cornelius and pole sitter Russ Shaw bumped in turn one to negate that attempt at getting under way.
Once the green flag finally flew, Cornelius zipped by Shaw and built up a big lead until Shaw spun on lap 18 to bring out the caution. On the restart, second-running Jared Allison got a bit over-aggressive sending Cornelius into a spin in turn one. Cornelius' car was not damaged but the front body work of Allison's car was knocked askew enough to force him pit side.
Cornelius was placed back in the lead and checked out over the remaining distance. Ronnie Roach was running second on the final lap but was turned around by Corey Freed who was making his very first SLM start at Speedworld. Chad Pierce took advantage to nail down second spot behind Cornelius with Miami driver Joe Piazza third. Roach recovered for fourth while Freed was placed fifth even though he crossed the line second as a penalty for spinning Roach's car.
Gary Bierlein came home sixth ahead of Ft. Lauderdale veteran Mario Maresca, who was making his first start here in five years. Shaw and Allison completed the finishers. Cornelius also won the heat race.
Mark Emberson was back in victory lane taking a wire to wire victory in the Modifieds. After dominating the heat race, Emberson was also hooked up in the feature as he drove to an easy win over Alan Bruns, Dave Debelius, Shane Held, Randy Froelich and Terri Bryant.
After winning the heat it looked like Orlando's Andy Nicholls would stop the win streak of Travis Towell in the Sportsman class, but that all ended on lap 12 of the feature as Nicholl's car was hit by the car of newcomer John Kennedy as Kennedy was being lapped in turn one. Nicholl's car slammed backwards into the wall while Kennedy's went head-on into the concrete. Both drivers were OK but done for the night.
Towell inherited the lead at that point and went on to win his third consecutive Sportsman feature ahead of John Hodge, Glen Castro and Richard Hight with Nicholls, Kennedy and Mike Santana credited with the remaining spots.
The Mini Stock feature was an outstanding one going green to checker. Michael Seay led the opening 11 laps before being passed by Kelly Jarrett who sped to his fourth win of the year. Seay held on for second over Pedie Allison, Dick Laszlo and Rex "Boneman" Hollinger. Rounding out the top ten were Tom Rose, Randy Blakeslee, Scott Jarrett, Bill Calder and Travis Rowland.
Laszlo and Blakeslee won the heat races.
The Super Stock feature also ran without a yellow flag as Robert Ward led the first two laps before second heat winner Jason Foster took over and went on to win his second straight race. Bomber Bill Loomis was the guy putting on the show as he came from tenth on the single-file grid to second at the checker. James Frisbie, who won the first heat, was third trailed by Vince Keeler and Tobi Smith. Roger Benton, Ward, Lee Wagner, Scott Keena and Johnny Brown rounded out the top ten.
Robert Remus grabbed his fourth Strictly Stock win of the year out-running Gary Thomas to the stripe. Steven Streight was third in front of Richard Barrenchea and Bob Snyder with Dave Czerwinski, Miguel Barrenchea, Louis Ballirgeon, Justin Gourley and Denny Johns filling out the remainder of the top ten.
Junior Stock trophies were won by the brother act of Zachary and Justin Curtis.
The track was in much better shape for the Saturday show but a major thunderstorm developed just west of the speedway forcing track management to make some changes to get the show in. It was decided to start the program 40 minutes early with all fans being admitted free to the grandstands. Fortunately no rain hit the track and the heat races were actually completed two minutes before the races were scheduled to start.
Despite the threatening weather, 19 RE/MAX Legends Cars showed for action with heats races going to Chelsea Schillig and Jimmy Norman.
Schillig had the pole for the 25 lap feature, but outside pole sitter Kory Abbott slipped into the lead on the opening lap and stayed there the entire way. The two young drivers from Apopka ran nose to tail the entire distance with Schillig's car looking better after a few laps under green. However, four caution flags for minor spins slowed the action which allowed Abbott the chance to cool his tires and hold Schillig at bay.
Andy Logan ran third the entire distance and was the top Masters Division finisher with Norman having another strong run for fourth and Matt Bowers fifth. Completing the top ten were Tony Sansom, Troy Mahrt, Shaughn McCormick, Jimmy Rodriguez and Mark Bibeau.
Mark Hooven won both the heat and feature races in the Bandelro Bandits taking the 12 lap feature win in front of younger brother Shawn Hooven, Nicholas Baluch, Donovan Ponder, Zachary Harris, Critter Saile, Coty Bibeau and T.J. Kirk.
Gerald White, Jr. again dominated action in the Bandelero Young Guns as he led all the way to take both the heat and feature wins. Kaleb Hearndon made a great move late in the race to get the second spot but unfortunately lost that position due to an infraction in tech. That moved Kristina Baluch up to second at the finish ahead of Gerald Campbell and Kyndall Antley.
Rob Reynolds took yet another Hurricane win in his Mazda, out-gunning Steve Anderson, Gary Thomas, Luis Ballirgeon and Dave Thompson to the checker.
This week, it's the Orlando Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep 125 for the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Models on Friday night along with a full race card that will also feature the RE/MAX Legends and Bandeleros who will be making up a rainout event.
The Legends and Bandeleros will be in action Saturday as well. Visitors will include the popular Outlaw Modifieds, the Florida Cracker Classics, and the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association.
