"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
Sean Bass gave Ross Chastain everything he could handle in a Fastruck race that had fans on the edge all 35 laps. Chastain had the early lead, with Bass getting the second spot in the 14 truck field early on. For most of the last 25 laps of the race the two young warriors battled side by side with Bass trying to conquer Charlotte's outer groove.
Chastain held off Bass who was returning to truck racing, taking a break from his ASA late Model racing. Several times Sean Bass would seem to get the lead off the corner, only to see Chastain pull away on the straightaway.
In a rain-shortened night at the Punta Gorda speedway, the late models fielded a 21 car starting field after a few entries had to scratch. The fans turned out as well, though the initial 1500 or so fell to about half that as the rains brought a lenghty delay.
Blake Koch, a fresh face on the Florida late model scene this year, started on the pole and appeared to have the field covered. But Blake learned Saturday night, that even a slow lapped car can bring trouble.
Sporting a half straight lead on the field and beginning to pass the back of the field, the #1 car of Terry Vaughn, mad con tact with Koch coming off turn two, the #34 of the former Motocross racer from West Palm ending up against the wall.
He was however able to stay on the track, kept his spot, though with a damaged car that was now too tight to hold the lead, settling for a great second place run in the 100 lap event.
Wayne Morris took the winner's chare of the purse in what is becoming a preety solid field of competitors at the speedway.
The race ended right at the 11:30 curfew time and other classes were postponed to alter dates.
Finishes for 7-26 CCMP
Fast Trucks 1.) 36 Ross Chastain Alva Fast Time 16.219 2.) 34 Sean Bass Tampa 3.) 69 Stephen Nasse Pinellas Park 4.) 64 Brent Huber Venice 5.) 12 Charlie Montgomery Venice 6.) 40 Jessica Green Lakeland 7.) 51L Tyler Lau Bradenton 8.) 53 Mario Romay Coconut Creek 9.) 50 Danny Anderson Bradenton 10.) 39 Blaire Pontioua Bradenton 11.) 51R Stuart Robertson Ft. Lauderdale 12.) 9 Danny Warnick Ormond Beach 13.) 82 Steve Jones DNS Tampa
Late Models
1.) 56 Wayne Morris Mulberry 2.) 34 Blake Koch West Palm Bch 3.) 15 Joe Winchell Dade City 4.) 19 Kevin Macy Bartow Fast Time 15.184 5.) 36 Ross Chastain Alva 6.) 82 Danny Maddox Hialeah 7.) 07 George Crenshaw Lakeland 8.) 10 Ron Regula Miami 9.) 5 Robert Regula Miami 10.) 127 Karo Vaughn Naples 11.) 49 Ron Lofquist Auburndale 12.) 8 Bobby Shelton Delray Beach 13.) 48 Johnny Kay Deerfield Beach 14.) 23 Cory Collum Cape Coral 15.) 69 Stephen Nasse Pinellas Park 16.) 1 Terry Vaughn Arcadia 17.) 97 Patrick Staropoli Plantation 18.) 77 Ed Leeke Ft Lauderdale 19.) 11 Dave Weaver Plantation 20.) 26 Jason Kuykendal Port Charlotte 21.) 86 Sean Bulaskas Deerfield Beach 22. 36 Gary Padula DNS Pompano 23. 99 Rick Fenton DNS West Palm Beach
8 MINI STOCKS will run make up week after next due to curfew
13 Road Warriors will run ma ke up next week due to curfew