Covington and Gustafson winners in Saturday Night Action at Orlando SpeedWorld
By Dave Westerman
Seven classes of cars highlighted action Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld with two drivers getting their initial Speedworld victories.
Ron Gustafson scored his first career win in the Classic Cars as he led all the way slowed only by one yellow flag on lap 11 when third-running Greg Helton had problems with the right front suspension on his car. Gustafson crossed the stripe well in front of second place Brad Norburg who came back from engine problems in practice to score his best career finish. Jim Rahman battled an ill-handling car to a third place finish with Andrew Gustafson and Danny Dixon rounding out the top five. Gustafson also won the heat.
Pro Challenge racers were a late addition to the program and put on their usual good show. Rowdy Gordon led the opening two laps of the feature before Mark Landis took over and led the rest of the way despite a late caution when Gordon spun out of third spot. J.L Snowden tried to put on some pressure in the remaining laps but settled for second in front of Ryan Rust, Gordon, Jarrett Snowden and Bruce Gibson. Landis also took the heat race win.
Heat winner Bruce Gayton was forced to start at the back of the starting grid as the heat race finishers in the ABC Towing Hurricanes were inverted for the feature. However, it took Gayton just a lap and a half to take the top spot from Thomas Mosher and he sped to an easy win. Rob Reynolds was a distant second and took the checker ahead of Miguel Barrenchea, Brian Townson and Gary Tyler. Gary Thomas, Brian Cosier, Jimmy Scripter, Mosher and Mark Walls completed the top ten.
Matt Covington finally got his car to stay together the entire feature race distance and he took a wire to wire win in the Outlaw Strictly Stocks, his first at Speedworld. Rudy Arnold's blown engine on lap six brought out the caution and that gave Anthony Robinson a new lease on life after an early race spin had put him well behind. Robinson stayed close but Covington held on for the win over Robinson, Bobby Jones, Gilbert Steele, Arnold and Rick Petty. The heat race was also won by Covington.
The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association was also in action with Cory Lane and his Dodge Dart Late Model taking an easy win in the Stock Cars over the '32 Ford of Eddie Grant. The top two were trailed by Johnny Clay, Jim Kaserman and Tony Layton.
In the DAARA Midget feature it was Dale Miller making a late pass to take the win over Bill Wendt, Vance Cunningham, Jerry Paquin and Don Bigelow.
Devin McLeod topped the Mini Cup feature taking the win over Brady Marshall and Ty Larsen.
OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD MAY 12, 2007
OUTLAW STRICTLY STOCK
1. #7 Matt Covington 2. #38 Anthony Robinson 3. #8 Bobby Jones 4. #9 Gilbert Steele 5. #3 Rudy Arnold
HURRICANES
1. #71 Bruce Gayton 2. #A1 Rob Reynolds 3. #22 Miguel Barrenechea 4. #22T Brian Townson 5. #13 Gary Tyler 6. #76 Gary Thomas 7. #27 Brian Cosier 8. #7 Jimmy Scripter 9. #6 Mark Walls 10. #7 Thomas Mosher 11. #104.1 Doug Webb DNS 12. #24 Brenda Taylor DNS
CLASSICS
1. #38 Ron Gustafson 2. #75 Brad Norburg 3. #5 Jim Rahman 4. #9 Andrew Gustafson 5. #74 Danny Dixon 6. #3 Greg Hilton 7. #21x Derrick Wood DNS 8. #21 Simeon Spagnolia DNS
PRO CHALLENGE
1. #21 Mark Landis 2. #40 l/2 JL Snowden 3. #18 Ryan Rust 4. #24 Randy Gordon 5. #4 Jarrett Snowden 6. #33 Bruce Gibson
DAYTONA ANTIQUE AUTO RACING ASSOCIATION STOCK 1. #78 Cory Lane 2. #8 Hank Baker 3. #73 Johnny Clay 4. #21 Jim Kaserman 5. #11 Tony Layton
DAYTONA ANTIQUE AUTO RACING ASSOCIATION MIDGET
1. #1 Dale Miller 2. #71 Bill Wendt 3. #9 Vance Cunningham 4. #14 Don Biglow DNS 5. #10 Jerry Parquin DNS
