"I'm
noticing a turn of the tide on racing Web sites like Florida's
Karnac.com, the gathering place for the most dedicated race
fans in the state." -Orlando Sentinel
Race fans at Charlotte County Motorsports Park have grown accustomed to watching orange Monte Carlos capture Road Warror features so far this year.
If it's not the 93 car, then it's been the 32. Jeff Firestine has claimed three checkereds, while Dean Butrum has grabbed two.
Butrum was the winner in last week's wild 25-lapper at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval, piloting the 32 to the front after Firestine's 93 was put in the wall.
Butrum is a 27-year-old who now calls Venice home. He met Firestine a few years ago while racing at DeSoto Speedway. They soon became friends.
Butrum showed that he had racing talent, winning back-to-back Mini Stock points championships at DeSoto earlier in his career.
Butrum decided that he wanted to race an eight-cylinder car, so he went out and bought a Monte Carlo that had rolled around the old Sunshine Speedway in St. Petersburg.
Meanwhile, Firestine still had an old Monte Carlo that his ex-wife Milena used to drive in Road Warriors.
They decided to have some fun. They painted them orange and ran bomber at DeSoto.
After a couple of races, they decided to switch cars.
"He didn't like how his car handled and I didn't like how mine handled," Firestine said. "We switched and it worked out great." Butrum found instant success, winning a couple of races at the high banks.
They decided to bring their act south to Charlotte County Motorsports Park. Butrum won a race at Punta Gorda near the end of the 2007 season.
This year, the two are running for points at CCMP.
"DeSoto is a nice track, but Bobby (Diehl) makes it a pleasure to race at Punta Gorda," Firestine said. "It's a challenging track." Elmer "Drive It Like you Stole It" Buckingham Automotive out of Venice is the sponsor for the two cars.
Firestine is first in Road Warrior points, while Butrum is close behind in second.
The two will race in Saturday night's Road Warrior feature. The other members of the Big Orange team -- Jerry Teting (39), Clint Snyder (15), Ernie Sparks (95) and Jason Carr (37) will also be there.
