Everyone was searching for a full moon Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld as there was more than enough "action" to satisfy any race fan.
Twin heat races for the 22 RE/MAX Legends cars entered were won by the "Apopka Duo" of Kory Abbott and Chelsea Schillig and the draw among the top heat race finishers to determine starting spots in the 25 lap feature saw the two young drivers winding up on the front row. Abbott had the pole position and set the early pace with Schillig and Andy Logan in tow until the first of many cautions flew on lap three for a tangle between Alex Kempf and Gary Verdier in turn four.
On the restart, Shaughn McCormick and Jeremy Colangelo tangled causing a big scramble in turn three involving several cars. The two perpetrators drove off without a scratch but Mark Bibeau was done for the night and Mitch Verhaagh's car was taken to the pits for repairs before he was able to return.
Abbott again looked strong as the green reappeared, but coming off turn four to complete lap five, the engine blew in Abbott's car and he smashed into the turn four wall. A frustrated Abbott emerged from the car more upset than hurt as the car he planned to take to the Legends Asphalt Nationals in Georgia next month was badly damaged. Schillig had the lead on the restart and looked poised to pick up her first Speedworld win as she was now having to hold off Masters Division drivers Logan and Jimmy Rodriguez.
However, it didn't take long for the caution to fly again as Kempf spun in turn four. On the restart Bryan Silas got a bit too low in turn three trying to pass another car and spun himself out of sixth spot.
After the green came back out there finally was a bit of green flag racing as Schillig continued to keep the other competitors at bay. The car on the move though was that of Matt Bowers who started near the rear of the grid after a penalty following his heat race.
Bowers methodically worked his way to second then got the opportunity to close on Schillig's back bumper when the caution came out on lap 18. Mike Verhaagh was attempting to lap a slower car but the car came up the track and hit him sending Verhaagh crashing into the turn three wall. Verhaagh was not injured but needless to say he was "hot" concerning the incident with the slower car.
One lap after the restart, Tim Harris spun coming out of turn four and was hit by Dallas Ingram. Harris' car had to be taken to the pits.
This set up a six lap dash to the checker. Schillig would end up having to wait for her first win here as Bowers powered to the front with three laps to go and never looked back in scoring his first win of the year and second of his career at Speedworld.
Schillig finished a close second with Logan shaking off some recent bad luck to nail down third spot ahead of Rodriguez and Jimmy Norman who was driving a car newly purchased from Jeremy Colangelo's RE/MAX race team. Eric Eichelberger had one of his best runs ever coming home sixth with Silas driving back through the field to seventh. Rounding out the top ten were, McCormick and Colangelo. Wild Willie Wilson, Leonard Hearndon, Kempf, Verdier, Mitch Verhaagh, Harris, Ingram, Mike Verhaagh, Steve Turbeville, Abbott and Bibeau completed the finishing order. Tim McCormick did not start the feature.
There was a very scary moment in the Bandelero Bandits feature. On lap six, leaders Critter Saile and Mark Hooven got together to bring out the caution. Saile was placed back in the lead while Hooven was sent to the rear of the field.
On the restart, Zachary Harris got loose coming off turn four. Shawn Hooven went high to avoid Harris, but Harris' car suddenly turned up the race track, colliding with Hooven's car which went head-on into the front stretch wall at full speed.
After a few tense minutes, Hooven was taken from the car and transported non-emergency to the hospital by Orange County Fire-Rescue for a check-up. It appeared that the INEX/600 Racing-required safety gear including the HANS device did its job though.
Once the race got back under way, Critter Saile zipped to his first ever Bandelero Bandit win ahead of heat winner Nicholas Baluch, Donovan Ponder, Mark Hooven, Harris, and Coty Bibeau.
Young Gun Champion Gerald White, Jr. was hoping to make his last race in the Bandeleros a winning one, but his car broke while leading the feature with just two laps to go. Kristina Baluch inherited the lead and sped to her third win of the year over Kaleb Hearndon, Kyndall Antley, White, Gerald Campbell and Outlaw driver Zach Colangelo.
The Florida Mini Cup Racing Association was on hand to run not only their regularly scheduled event but had two extra features on tap to make up an earlier rained out race.
In the All Pro class it was Brett Jameson claiming the win in the opener over Doug Smith, Brandon Beach, Jason Schroeder, Tom Mellin, Jennifer Crossman, Don Mays, Randy Burris, Jerry Parker, Rick Fiore and Devin McLeod.
Schroeder made some great late-race moves to take the night-cap ahead of Jameson, Smith, Beach, Mellin, Francois Pellitier, Mays, Burris, Crossman and Parker.
Young Daniel Miller topped both ends of the FMCRA Juniors. The finishing order was exactly the same in both 20 lap races with Miller the winner over Ray Black, Jr., Devin McLeod, Brady Marshall, Zach Hoyt and Thomas Warnick.
The ABC Towing Hurricane class saw yet another first time winner in Steve Anderson as he held off A-1 Shed Transport teammate Rob Reynolds to the checker. Gary Thomas claimed third ahead of Melvin DeJockomo, Dave Thompson, Blaize Fischer, Michael Carr, Josh Fleming, Tom Stewart and Reb Huggins.
Logan Bordeau topped Austin Carr to win the Junior Stock feature.
OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD, SEPTEMBER 23
RE/MAX LEGENDS
1. #84 Matt Bowers 2. #75 Chelsea Schillig 3. #1FL Andy Logan 4. #19 Jimm Rodriguez 5. #2 Jimmy Norman 6. #47 Eric Eichel 7. #57 Bryan Silas 8. #34 Shaughn McCormick 9. #05 Jeremy Colangelo 10. #55 Doug Hall 11. #23w Bob Wilson 12. #37 Leonard Hearndon 13. #99 Alex Kempf 14. #44 Gary Verdier 15. #9 Mitch Verhaagh 16. #6T Tim Harris 17. #4r Dallas Ingram 18. #7 Mike Verhaagh 19. #77 Steve Turbeville 20. #5 Kory Abbott 21. #65 Mark Beebo 22. #34x Tim McCormick DNS
1. #27 Steve Anderson 2. #A-1 Rob Reynolds 3. #76 Gary Thomas 4. #6 Mark walls 5. #66B Dave Thompson 6. #46 Blaize Fisher 7. #41x Michael Carr 8. #2 Josh Fleming 9. #66R Tom Stewart 10. #1 Reb Huggins DNS
JR. STOCK (12-15)
1. #33 Logan Bordeau 2. #8 Austin Carr
JR. MINI CUP, RACE 1
1. #00 Daniel Miller 2. #4 Ray Black jr. 3. #04 Devin McLeod 4. #20 Brady Marshall 5. #67 Zach Hart 6. #9 Thomas Wormick
JR. MINI CUP, RACE 2
1. #00 Daniel Miller 2. #4 Ray Black Jr. 3. #04 Devin McLeod 4. #20 Brady Marshall 5. #67 Zach Hart 6. #9 Thomas Warnick
ALL PRO MINI CUP, RACE 1
1. #70 Brett Jameson 2. #20 Doug Smith 3. #1x Brandon Beach 4. #45 Jason Schroeder 5. #3 Tom Mellin 6. #1 Jennifer Crossman 7. #27 Don Mays 8. #04x Devin McLeod 9. #04 Randy Burris 10. #8 Francois Pelletier 11. #6 Jerry Parker 12. #40 Rick Fiore
ALL PRO MINI CUP, RACE #2
1. #45 Jason Schroeder 2. #70 Brett Jameson 3. #20 Doug Smith 4. #1x Brandon Beech 5. #3 Tom Mellin 6. #8 Francois Pelletier 7. #27 Don Mays 8. #04 Randy Burris 9. #1 Jennifer Crossman 10. #6 Jerry Parker 11. #40 Rick Fiore 10.
