IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 4, 2008 Thomas Holds Off Jones to Take the Checkered at Volusia Speedway Park By Tera Gunter Thirty sprints showed up to battle it out as the Florida Sprint Car Association descended the fast ½ mile oval of Volusia Speedway Park Saturday night. After three heat races that saw Tommy Denton, Otto Scrape, and Danny Jones take the checkered in their respective heats, 10 cars entered a B main from which the top 6 finishers would transfer to the A main. Looking to repeat his finish of two weeks ago, Lee Scrape won the B main and 25 sprints started the feature event. Rick Byerly and Mike Love lined up on the front row and Love took the lead at the green flag drop. Mike McCance shot past Phil Pettay to challenge Love for the lead until a red flag was thrown for Lee Scrape who flipped down the front stretch after contact with Ryan Partin. Scrape was ok but the incident ended the race early for Scrape and Partin. The restart saw Love and Mike McCance once again battling for the lead. McCance displaced Love only to see Gavin Thomas snatch the lead from him before the field was red flagged again on lap 6 for a 4 car incident in turn 1 that ended the night for Brett Cole, Denton, and Al Kaluzniak. Scott Anderson, who found himself vertical on the turn 1 wall, was able to continue the race. The restart saw green flag to checkered flag racing incident free. Thomas shot out in the front as Danny Jones challenged McCance for right to usurp Thomas. Jones dispatched McCance and set off after Thomas who had gained a good lead over the field. Bruce Durden took up position behind Jones as Jones became a man on a mission to unseat Thomas. Several times Jones closed in on Thomas but Thomas kept a strong hold on the lead position. Gene Machuga and Barry McCance settled into the 4th and 5th positions as Perry Caudill worked his way through the field to pass Otto Scrape for 6th. By lap 17, Thomas gained ground over Jones and 8 laps later took the checkered over Jones, Durden, Machuga and Barry McCance. Anderson recovered after the turn 1 incident on lap 6 to move through the field and place a strong 8th behind Caudill and Otto Scrape. The FSCA returns to action on May 17th at the fun, ¼ mile banked red clay oval of Albany Motor Speedway in Albany, Georgia. For more information, visit the FSCA at www.racefsca.com Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!