After three weeks of inactivity, Orlando Speedworld was back in action Saturday night with a full racing program.
As always, the RE/MAX Legend Cars were the headline attraction and despite several of the regulars missing in action due to a variety of reasons, 18 cars still signed in to do battle with the twin heat races being taken by Alex Kempf and Kory Abbott. Dallas Ingram then won the Charger feature over Charlie O'Melia to qualify himself for the "A" Main.
Teammates Leonard Hearndon and Kempf shared the front row but it would take three tries to get the 25 lap race started. Gary Verdier spun around on the initial try and had to go pit side with a dragging rear bumper. The second attempt saw several cars jump the start. Third running Jimmy Norman tried to drive under pole sitter Hearndon and made contact with him, knocking the rear bumper loose on Hearndon's machine. Hearndon was forced to go to the pits and Norman moved up to the pole position for the third try at going green without penalty. Both Verdier and Hearndon made it out for the restart but were forced to start from the rear.
Once the race went green, it was all green flag racing. Kory Abbott started third and took the lead on the opening lap never looking back as he scored his seventh win of the year. Norman stayed withing shouting distance but settled for second over Kempf, who scored his best career feature finish. Chelseas Schillig was fourth with Shaughn McCormick fifth.
Sixth through tenth were Andy Logan, Rick Wetmore, Eric Eichelberger, Dave Gleason and Doug Hall. Rounding out the finishing field were Ingram, Gerald White, Jr., Verdier, Hearndon, Bob Wilson, Gerald Campbell, Bryan Beland and Mark Bibeau.
The Florida Pro Challenge cars and trucks ran a pair of very competitive 25 lap feature races. Mike Smith won his first ever race here in taking the heat race, then went from last on the starting grid to first in the opening feature for his first ever feature win. Ryan Rust came home second ahead of Paul White, Jarrett Snowden, Gene Dibble, Rowdy Gordon, J.L. Snowden and David Hall.
Smith again went from last on the grid to the top spot in the second feature but could not hold off Rust in the late going as the young driver came home with a win on a night where he was promoting the Adopt a Marine program which is featured on his web site www.ryanrust.com.
Smith took second while White scored his second third place finish. J.L. Snowden was fourth in front of Jarrett Snowden, Dibble, Gordon and Hall.
The Florida Open Wheel Lites saw Phil Krauthoff look like a sure winner until a late caution allowed Max Howe to move to the front on the restart and score his second win of the year. Krauthoff was second while Jeff Ripley came back from an early race tangle to finish third ahead of Rick Lundeen and Sonny O'Sullivan. Rounding out the top ten were Roger Richmond, Zack Raymond, David Kellogg, Jason Kellogg and Jason Stout. Heat race wins were taken by Krauthoff and Ripley.
In Hearndon Construction Bandolero action, Critter Saile led every lap in taking the Bandits feature over Shawn Hooven, Jake Perkins, Zach Harris and Coty Bibeau.
Mark Hooven also led all the way in taking the Young Guns main event over Donovan Ponder, Carl Haag and Bruce Bennett. Both Saile and Hooven also won their respective heat races.
Rob Reynolds drove to the win over a big field of ABC Towing Hurricane cars. Reynolds' Ford Probe out ran the Mustang of William Hindman to the checker.
Mark Walls came home with the third spot ahead of Brian Townson and Mike Dresch. Completing the top ten were Brian Cosier, Shane Sutorus, Chester Sutorus, Jim Erb and Gary Thomas. Heat race wins were taken by Reynolds and Hindman.
Matt Covington took the win in the Outlaw Strictly Stock heat then came back to win the feature race over Rick Poffenberger, Joe Arnold and Scott Mickens.
OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD OCTOBER 20, 2007
1. #17 Mark Hooven 2. #8 Donovan Ponder 3. #48 Carl Haag 4. #12 Bruce Bennett
PRO CHALLENGE RACE 1
1. #33 Mike Smith 2. #18 Ryan Rust 3. #25 Paul White 4. #4 Jarrett Snowden 5. #2 Gene Dibble 6. #24 Rusty Gordon 7. #7 JL Snowden 8. #22 David Hall
CHARGER
1. #33 Dallas Ingram 2. #48 Charlie Omellia
OPEN WHEEL LITES
1. #59 Max Howe 2. #2 Phil Krauthoff 3. #60 Jeff Ripley 4. #04 Rick Lundeen 5. #0 Sonny O'Sullivan 6. #33 Roger Richmond 7. #1-Z Zack Raymond 8. #28 Dave Kellogg 9. #88 Jason Kellogg 10. #27 Jason Stout
RE/MAX LEGENDS
1. #5 Kory Abbott 2. #2 Jimmy Norman 3. #99 Alex Kempf 4. #75 Chelsea Schillig 5. #34 Shaughn McCormick 6. #1FL Andy Logan 7. #06 Rick Wetmore 8. #47 Eric Eichelberger 9. #07 Dave Gleason 10. #55 Doug Hall 11. #33 Dallas Ingram 12. #38 Gerald White, Jr. 13. #44 Gary Verdier 14. #53 Leonard Hearndon 15. #27W Bob Wilson 16. #88 Gerald Campbell 17. #6A Bryan Beland 18. #65 Mark Beebo
OUTLAW STRICTLY STOCK
1. #7 Matt Covington 2. #43 Rick Poffenberger 3. #3 Joe Arnold 4. #9 Scott Mickens 5. #8 Bobby Jones DNS
PRO CHALLENGE RACE 2
1. #18 Ryan Rust 2. #33 Mike Smith 3. #25 Paul White 4. #7 JL Snowden 5. #4 Jarrett Snowden 6. #2 Gene Dibble 7. #24 Rowdy Gordon 8. #22 David Hall DNS
HURRICANE
1. #A1 Rob Reynolds 2. #69 William Hindman 3. #104.1 Mark Wells 4. #22 Brian Townson 5. #54 Mike Dresch 6. #35 Brian Cosier 7. #3-15 Shane Sotorus 8. #39 Chester Sotorus 9. #32 Jim Erb 10. #76 Gary Thomas 11. #22 Miguel Barrenechea 12. #8b Greg Bruce, Jr. 13. #53 Chrtis Mogel 14. #7 Blaize Fisher 15. #5 Dally Lloyd
