LAKE CITY, FL (3/17) - Fifteen B-Modifieds took the green at North Florida Speedway on St. Patrick's Day. Jamie Carter led the way for the first five laps and was pulling away when he spun his car in the first turn on lap six. This gave the lead to Hollywood Owen who slugged it out with Ronnie Chance over the next five laps until Chance wrestled the lead away. From that point Chance raced unchallenged to the checkers to take his second win in 2007. Hollywood Owen held on for second ahead of Gene Owen, Vennis Pipkin, and John Timbie.
Kevin Mills and David Ponton battled for Street Stock supremacy for the first ten laps until Ponton lost the handle on his car on the back stretch and fell out of contention. Mills was able to run the table in the closing laps to take his first win of the season. Casey Murphy worked his way into second ahead of Cliff Crawford, Nick Reid, and John Coffey.
Heath Walker passed polesitter Travis Barnes on the third lap and led the 17-car Hobby Stock field in the opening laps. Last week's feature winner Scotty Nolan started in eighth, but was not going to be denied as he sliced into second on lap six and needed just four more laps to overtake Walker and seize a lead he would never relinquish. Walker kept Nolan within sight, but had nothing for the #59 at the end. The top five were Nolan, Walker, Michael Havard, David Miller Jr., and Barnes.
Another large field of Pure Stocks gave the crowd plenty of thrills and spills. The 20-something car field left no position unchallenged. At the top of the heap, Billy Smith and Shane Taylor waged war through open track and through traffic. Smith was stronger in the open field while Taylor was better in the trenches. A late caution worked to Smith's benefit as that guaranteed a clear track ahead and played to his advantage. Smith raced to his first victory and snapped Taylor's winning streak. Behind the lead duo Gerald Lewis finished third ahead of Clay McRae and Russ Moseley.
Kyle Van Sickle crushed the Mini Stock field. Van Sickle was in the process of lapping the third and fourth place cars before a yellow flag with a handful of laps remaining temporarily ended the beatdown. Van Sickle had no problem resuming his dominance when the green flag came back out and coasted to victory. James Conway was a distant second and was followed in the standings by Tonya Lewis, Jonathan Rutledge, and Denny Conway.
Winged Sprint cars make their first 2007 appearance at North Florida Speedway this Saturday night. The Modifieds, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and Pure Stocks will also race heats and features. Gates open at 4 PM and racing begins at 7 PM.
