"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
Powder Puff Drivers Steal the Show at Desoto Super Speedway.
By Tom Blakeley
Saturday evening wasn't just another steamy August night in Florida. It was a Saturday Night Special at Desoto Super Speedway.
The ladies took over and put on 'A BIG SHOW' for the fans, husbands, and male drivers. Some might even go so far as to say ?them gals out drove them boys?!! It was a fun event and that was what everybody had?. good old family fun.
As one driver expressed it very well, ?it was a thrill of a lifetime?. Everyone was looking real hard and no one could even see one cell phone being used or make up being applied during the whole race by any of those Powder Puffers.
It is amazing what we can live without sometimes!! We all can?t wait till November when the Powder Puffers take over the place, again. Jamie Cassidy rebuilt the entire motor of the 72 car by working on it all night Thursday and Friday night so that his wife Angie could drive in this race?talk about dedication. Our hats are off to you Jamie!!
The evening started with a bang!! The ?Rockem-Sockem? Bombers were the first to hit the track. The 25 Lap race featured 13 racecars and was bumper to bumper racing from start to finish. The action was plentiful as there were 6 Yellow Flags. Megan Spicer spun out twice on turn 4 in the blue 83 car. Megan is preparing for her leaving for Air Force Boot camp on October 28, and we all wish her the very best. John Stewart in the 02 car lined up in the number one spot and held it through the entire race. Michael Crooks in the 33 car, Jody Collins in the 44X car, Jeff Firestine in the 93 car and Dean Butrum in the 32 car all took turns going bumper to bumper with Stewart. The end result was John Stewart driving to victory lane with Jeff Firestine coming in second and third place belonged to Jody Collins. The night was hot, the racing was hotter and the tempers even hotter as the Desoto Super Speedway fans were treated to a ?two for the money show?. That would be the 25 Lap feature race, and also what appeared to be a ?Crash A Rama,? all in the same event. It was a Bomber racing fan?s delight.
Street Stocks were next on the firing line. The 20 Lap feature showcased another win for Gregory Krom in the 35 car. James Nanney was second in the 6 car and Dale Reigle in the orange 86 car, blasted into third place
The Pure stock Class showed up in force and did a great job of racing. The 17car field ran hard and fast and when the checkered flag flew it was Randy Johnson in the 73 car winning. The second spot belonged to Robert Crisp in the 02 car, and third was William Carlbert Jr in the 07X car. It was good clean racing and lots of fun to watch these drivers fight hard for victory.
The Trucks took center stage for their 50 Lap feature race. Al Neumann was a welcome sight as this was his first race since back surgery had him on the mend for the past several months. Were glad to see you back at it and in the 4 Truck, Al. After the inversion the trucks blasted on first sight of the green flag. Then 50 Laps later it was Charlie Montgomery in the 12 Truck pulling into victory lane. Steven Darvalics in the 41 truck second and Tyler Lau in the 51 Truck third. Before the race Tyler Lau said they had done a lot of work on re-staging the 51 truck and he was excited to see how it would perform?obviously the hard work paid off for Tyler and his team with a great run for the third place finish.
The Sportsman feature event was the next drawing card. The 20 Lap race was won by non-other than Roger Welch in the hot 98 car. Finishing second was Joe Shaver in the 111 car and Robert Haygood in the 6 car, pounded out a tough third spot.
The Main Event for the evening was the Late Model Goodyear Challenge 100 Lap feature race. The late models put on an awesome show and after the dust settled and the yellow flag dropped 10 times the 5K car took the victory and the 57 car was second with the 31 car flying into the third position. The 07 car had held the lead for 57 Laps before being passed by the 5K car. We all thank the late models for a great race and look forward to their return to Desoto Super Speedway, watch for the details.
The fun began with the Powder Puff Street Stock Race. These ladies turned into animals behind the wheel of these slick racecars. They ran for 20 Laps and it was a thrill a minute as they came to the checkered flag in the following order:
1 Donna Steger #07
2 Donna Lowe #30A
3 Dee Patton #13X
4 Mary Anne Davis #6X
5 Brandi Dutilly #71
6 Harriett Andries #02
7 Cindy Coorsen #6
8 Courtney Andries #10
9 Cindy Dring #13
10 Gloria Raad #21X
11 Renee Montague #44X
12 Susan Slack #44
Congratulations to all of these wonderful ladies.
The fun continued with our second Powder Puff race of the evening. The bomber class Powder Puffs continued the ?Rockem-Sockem? style of racing that their male counter parts started earlier in the evening. Driving over, around, and through the field these Powder Puffers had many a race fan calling them the ?cardiac kids?. Driving a great race were the following ladies:
