"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
The fans were treated to two nights of racing, this past weekend at Charlotte County Motorsports Park. Friday night was the “Night of Twisted Metal” that kicked off the 2009 racing season. First race of the evening was the 4 cylinder Flag Pole race with Ken Smith taking the victory. Jason Perkins finished second and Thomas Willis was third. Eddie Lawler took the win in the V8 Flag Pole race with Don Jericka in second and Jeff Dufresne third.
The V4’s then had to race around the track the opposite direction for the Reverse race. Wally Smith led every single lap and took the win. Ken Smith came in second with Jeremy Perkins third. Eddie Lawler brought home another victory with the V8 reverse race with Paul Peterson and Ryan Pancoast completing the top three.
50/50 race saw Wally Smith take the victory for the V4’s with Thomas Willis second and Ken Smith third. Jeff Dufrense won for the V8’s with Mike Bialecki and Bruce Moerlins in the top three.
The girls were first to go out for the 4 cylinder Men and Women switch off Enduro. Janene Elwell had never raced a racecar prior to this and pulled off the victory for the girls, holding off Ann Marie Ricardi and Chelsea Lajoie. Janene turned the driving duties over to Jason Perkins for the men’s half of the race. However Jason was not able to hold on to the lead long. Wally Smith took the lead from Perkins on lap 11 and stayed thei r to win the men’s part of the switch off. Ken Smith came in second and Jason Perkins third.
Ann Marie Ricardi won the V8 woman’s part of the Men and Woman’s switch off Enduro. Dawn Jericka was second with Chelsea Lajoie third. Don Jericka took the win from the men’s half with Jeff Dufresne and Mike Bialecki completing the top three.
The track went dark for the Paul Revere “Midnight Ride” for the last race of the evening. Wally Smith walked away from the field for the victory. Eddie Lawler came in second with Jeremy perkins third.
Saturday Evening started out with a fifty lap Pro 4/ Fab 4 race. Eugene Connell lead the first thirteen laps before Wally Smith challenged him for the lead. David Amelotte took the lead from Smith the following lap and stayed there to capture the victory. Wally Smith came in second and Eugene Connell third. Randy Spicer won the fifty lap Road Warrior race. Ander Jackson was second and Don Jericka third.
Florida Suncoast Outlaw Street Stocks ran their make-up race from December 8, 2008. Dave Davis was the fast qualifier with a 16.803 seconds lap Davis started in the ninth postion with bobby Mobley on the pole. Mobley led the first couple of laps before Robert Crisp took the lead Casey Hall took the lead from Crisp by lap thirteen. Casey Hall would go on to win the race with Donnie Ollie Jr all over his back bumper. Darrin Ellis came in third. Donnie Ollie Jr was declared the 2008 Florida Suncoast Outlaw Street Stock championship after the race.
William Hindman sat on the pole for the fifty lap 4 Cylinder Enduro. Hindman led all fifty laps and lapped all the cars in field except for the second and third place cars. William Hindman was the winner with Codey Benoit finishing second and Ken Smith third. After the Enduro the second place car of Benoit and third place Smith was disqualified in tech. Other cars failed post race inspection as well and the second place was award to Jason Perkins who originally finished sixth and Billy Calbert Jr third. Calbert Jr. originally finished eighth.
The last race of the evening was the 109 lap V8 Enduro. Jim Erb started on t he pole and led up till lap 33 when Michael Gamache took over the lead. Michael Gamache and Eddie Lawler battled back and forth for the lead for a several laps. Eddie Lawler took the victory. Michael Gamache had to settle for second with Jay Seykora finishing third.
This Friday night Charlotte County Motorsports Park will be crowning our 2008 division champions for all classes at Sun and Shade RV Park in Punta Gorda. Please call the office for tickets. Then on Saturday night we will be racing Fastruck Pro and kids, Legends, Road Warriors, Pro 4, Fab 4 and Thunder Trucks Then on Sunday will be the “Verizon Breast Cancer Memorial” 150 Late Model race and “Verizon Race For The Cure” 75 Open Modified race.
