IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

September 16, 2008 Anthony Campi wins the Super Late Model Feature at Desoto Super Speedway By Tom Blakeley (September 13, 2008 Bradenton, FL) On a hot summer Saturday night the action was even hotter at Desoto Super Speedway. Pure Stocks got the evening off to a great start with a 25 lap feature race. The 10 cars battled but Allan Bragg in his great looking #89 car jumped into the lead on the fist lap and never looked back. Troy Meredith in the #75 car was running bumper to bumper with Allan Bragg for most of the race but the crafty Bragg knew how to get it done. With only one yellow flag the race was run fast and clean. Victory circle belonged to Allan Bragg in the #89, 2nd was Troy Meredith in the #75 car, and 3rd was Billy Calbert Jr. in the #07. Billy Calbert did an amazing job of driving. After a tire change he went from last to 3rd and looked on fire. What a way to start the night. The Magic 4’s were next up on the inner oval asphalt. These kids are great, they all hang out together and seem to be willing to do anything to help each other out. They buckled up and drove hard for 20 laps. Alex Patten in the #13 car took an early lead and finished in 1st place and he got a chance to enjoy Victory Circle again. Right behind him and closing in was Jessica Osstrovskis in the pink #91 car. Brittany Barr in the #81 car drove an excellent race and came in 3rd. After the race they all seem to want to congratulate each other, what an awesome way to learn about growing up the right way. It’s Rockem – Sockem time!!! Yes the Bombers took to the oval. The 25 lap feature race was a shoot out from the start. Michael “The Punisher” Crooks in the #33 car jumped to an early lead, but pushing him and playing “bumper de bump” was Jody “The Slammer” Collins in his #44X car. The Punisher prevailed and drove the #33 to Victory Circle. Jody “The Slammer” Collins took a hard fought 2nd in the 44X car. John “The Mayor” Stewart drove the #02 car to a 3rd place finish. This race also showcased a brand new car and driver. It was Dustin “The Rookie” Strott in the #12 car racing for the very first time. Despite a spinout on the 14th lap he drove a very good race. And a good time was had by all!! After a ten minute Intermission the action was back on. The Street Stock class took to the track. On the 1st lap the #57 car of James Brenner and the #6 car of James Nanney got tangled up in turn four and the race had to be restarted. After 25 laps Greg Krom in the #35 car pulled into Victory Circle one more time, while Joe Shaver in the #11X car finished 2nd. Dale “Rock” Reigle in the orange #86 car finished an impressive 3rd . The Legends were next to be front and center. What an exciting race this was. The 25 lap feature race stopped at lap eleven as the #6 car of Josh Williams and the #7 car of Michael Verhaagh got tangled and the #7 car spun out. The #6 car was sent to the rear. The amazing thing about this is that the #6 car drove to a 2nd place finish and was gaining on the leader. However, Devin McLeod in the #21 car drove to the checkerd flag. Placing 3rd was Michael Verhaagh in the #07 car. Next up, the Sportsmen class. The 20 lap feature race had a small but mighty field. When it was all said and done L.J. Grimm in the #25 car took the victory. Myakka City’s Duane Best drove to 2nd place and 3rd place belonged to Timmy “T low” Lowe in his #57X car. The Super Late Models now had their turn. The feature race had a 4 car inversion. Early in the race Robert Yoho in the #00 car spun out and hit the wall, doing major damage to the rear of his car. He continued to race even with the damaged rear end and spun out 2 more times. In lap Thirty Three the #36 car of Ross Chastain hit the wall. In lap 47 the red flag had to be dropped due to an injury in the pits. A fan on the pit side bleachers had a seizure and fell head first to the ground injuring himself, and he was taken to the hospital. The night was hot and the drivers had to sit in their cars that were extremely hot so they decided to finish the race with a Three lap shoot out to fifty laps. Claiming Victory Circle was Anthony Campi in the #81 car, taking 2nd was Wayne Anderson in the #92 car. David Pollen finished 3rd in the #88 car. This was a very big win for the young Campi. The School Bus figure 8 race is always a great way to end an evening. It was a heart pounding fantastic race. Robert “CooneyGump” Coon had been working for months building a new bus and he got to show it off in amazing fashion. His new version of the “8 UP” bus took off at the drop of the green flag and kept control of the 1st spot to the checkerd flag. Of course there were the moments of uncertainty and lots of screams from the fans at all of the close calls at the intersection. The lone yellow flag came when the #44 bus of Eugene Helfrick flipped on it’s side, but all was ok. Robert Coon in the #8 UP bus was the winner and Joe Seykora in the #0 bus was 2nd. The #4 bus of Earnest Helfrick finished a strong 3rd. This group should be called the “cardiac crazies” The class act award for the evening goes to Allan Bragg. Allen gave two tires to the Bombers so they could do the race. You did us all proud Allen, thank you and..Way to go!! Join us next Saturday at 7 PM for another evening of family fun and racing at The South’s Fastest Short Track, Desoto Super Speedway. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!