"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
April 4,2009, Bradenton FL With over $21,000 in contingencies and awards the Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Series is gaining momentum as the series you want to race in and win. The 17 car field was as fast as many veteran officials at the ASA Sanctioned Desoto Super Speedway remember seeing.
Prior to the race many of the drivers had a lot to say about the Series and the Track. Veteran driver Marty Pierce said that he is really glad to see the great sponsorship of the series and he is in hopes of winning some of the contingencies. Pierce had not been to Desoto in 4 or 5 years as he moved to Alabama to run a quarter mile race track with his Dad. He is a former Desoto Champion as in 2000 he won the Limited late Model Championship. He is glad to be back and loves the track. Pierce added he has a new appreciation for the ownership of all race tracks.
James Glover driver of the #3 car said he really likes the concept of the series and hopes it works as it could be very good in the future. Glover also said he loves Desoto Super Speedway and has been racing there for 19 to 20 years. He remember coming to Desoto to watch his dad race.
“This track is fast and wide, if you spin out you can do it without ruining your car. The track offers many ways to avoid wrecking your car, you can actually race a full season without having to change a body panel.”
Raymond Lovelady driver of the 7X car said that he thinks the series is great and will be a big benefit to all the drivers with the corporate sponsorships. He added that being able to buy four tires for the price of three is huge and a very big help for him.
Brandon Anderson, driver of the #21 car said that he loves the track and it’s ability to race. “It is fast and fun’ he said, then continued by saying “heck, we live only 15 minutes from Auburndale but we consider Desoto our home track.” Brandon is only 21 years old and has taken the steering wheel from his dad Gene Anderson who ran fourth in points last year in the AACS. Both Dad and Son agree that the series is a great opportunity for all the drivers and they hope it works out and grows.
Scott Walters driver of the #55 car also had some thoughts on the series and track. Walters said that Desoto is a fun, fast track to race and a joy to run on. He added that the track has some little variances that also make it interesting to run on and make it more fun. He thinks the series is great and will help get the car count back up. The sponsorship is great and really helps the drivers and he thinks John Sarppraicone is trying very hard to help the drivers and the class by offering the tire deal of the century.
The Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Series started the evening with three heat races. The winner of the first heat was Marty Pierce in the #75 car. The winner of the second heat was Richard Sapp Jr. in the #44 car. The winner of the third heat was Joe Boyd in the #5 car. After intermission there was a 6 lap dash for cash which paid $200 to win, $100 for second and $50 for third and fourth. Winner of the dash for cash was Joe Boyd in the #5 car.
he 75 lap feature race was one exciting event. The fans got all they came for and more as there were numerous yellow flags with spinouts and chain reaction fender benders. Going to Victory Circle with the checkered flag and collecting the $2,000 was Joe Boyd in the #5 car, second place belonged to James Glover in the #3 car and winning third place was Marty Pierce in the #75 car. There was also a $100 cash bonus to the leader at the Halfway Leader and that was won by James Glover in the #3 car. The race was so close that there were no lap cars until lap 47.
Two drivers that ended up in the pits were Scott Walters #55 car and Anthony Campi #81 car, as they both had mechanical problems. Walters was making a run at first place when something broke on the car and he had to pit.
he drivers and fans want to thank the sponsors that include Racecar Engineering, Basset Wheels, Southern Racing Fuel, E-Z Up Tent, Longacre, Wilwood, FLF Chassis, Advanced Racing Shocks, Butler Built Motorsports Equipment, Quickcar, Allstar, Sweet Parts of Florida, Joe’s, Ricky Sanders Pit Equipment, Winters Performance, Ringers Gloves, Howe Racing Enterprises, Five Star Stock Car Bodies, Arp Automotive Products & Bodies, BDH Construction Metal Framing and Design, Simpson Racing Suits and Hoosier Racing Tires. This is one great series, off to one great start.
The fans were also treated to some fast laps at intermission by the Extreme Bullet Car. This prototype car was turning low to mid 15 second laps and flying around the track. The car is selling for around $15,000 which is a lot less than the Super Late Models which are equal in speed. Contact Fred Hawkins or Gus Coorssen at 941-355-6875 for more information.
Magic 4’s. The Magic 4’s ran a 6 lap heat race which was won by Dallas Troyer in the #01 car. The 20 lap Feature Race was won by Brittany Barr in the #81 car, second place was Austin Cavey in the #20 car and third place was won by Joann Danielson in the #38 car. The Magic 4’s raced a very good hard but clean race.
Legends. The legends had a terrific car count and really raced a great race. When it was all said and done the winner of the Legends Feature Race was Gerald White in the #38 car. Taking second place was Tony Sampson in the #61 car and winning third spot was Dustin Brown in the #8 car.
Flyin 4’s. This class is really on the move. New to Desoto Super Speedway this year there was a surprising 15 cars starting the Feature Race. There were two heat races for this class with Alex Patton in the #13 car winning the first Heat Race. The second Heat Race was won by Randy Johnson in the #01 silver bullet car.
The 20 Lap Feature race was won by Alex Patton in the #13 car. Taking second place was Jessica Ostrovskis in the #91 car while third place belonged to Rob Boos in the 21 B car. “This class is really coming on “ said John Sarppraicone Desoto Super Speedway owner.
Street Stocks. Derek Lucas in the #88 car won the Heat Race for the Street Stock class. Winning the Feature Race was Joey Barnes in the #66 car. Driving a great race and capturing second place was Dennis Wilson in the #42 car. Third place belonged to Derek Lucas in the #88 car. James Nanney in the #6 car fought a hard race but ended up having to pit near the end of the race.
Rockem Sockem Bombers. The bombers ran two Heat Races tonight. The first Heat Race was won by Steve Elder in the #42 car. The second Heat Race was won by Jody Collins in the #32 C car. The 25 lap Feature Race was won by Jody Collins in the #32C car but Randy Spicer lead for many laps and gave Collins a run for the money. Randy Spicer took second place while Michael Crooks took third. Good clean racing and lots of fun for these Bomber drivers tonight.
Race Results DeSoto Speedway April 4, 2009
HOOSIER ELITE - HOOSIER ELITE Pos Driver Car # 1 JOE BOYD 5 2 JAMES GLOVER 3 3 MARTY PIERCE 75 4 RAYMOND LOVELADY 7X 5 BRAD BISCHOFF 53 6 BRANDON ANDERSON 21 7 RICHARD SAPP JR 44 8 DENNIS NEIGHBOR JR 82 9 SCOT WALTERS 55 10 ANTHONY CAMPI 81 11 WESTLEY BASS 6X 12 MATTHEW COHEN 46 13 ERIC PURCELL 2 14 ROBERT YOHO 00 15 STEVE DORER 10 16 DENNIS NEIGHBOR SR 83 17 PERRY LOVELADY 50
BOMBERS - BOMB 20L Pos Driver Car # 1 JODY COLLINS 32C 2 RANDY SPICER 83 3 MICHAEL CROOKS 33 4 JOHN PETERS 7 5 JOHN STEWART 02 6 SAMMY COGHILL 22 7 STEVE ELDER 42 8 LOU RUSSELL 3
BOMBERS - HEAT 1 Pos Driver Car # 1 STEVE ELDER 42 2 MICHAEL CROOKS 33 3 LOU RUSSELL 3 4 JOHN PETERS 7
BOMBERS - HEAT 2 Pos Driver Car # 1 JODY COLLINS 32C 2 RANDY SPICER 83 3 JOHN STEWART 02 4 SAMMY COGHILL 22
FLYIN 4s - FEATURE Pos Driver Car # 1 ALEX PATTEN 13 2 JESSICA OSTROVSKIS 91 3 ROB BOOS 21B 4 DALTON BALDWIN 4 5 RANDY JOHNSON 01 6 ARTHUR DANIELSON 38 7 WILLIAM CARLBERT JR 11 8 JOSEPH WELDEN 40 9 DILLON CRAMER 50X 10 BRAD STEGER 2 11 PAUL HUFFSTUTLER 74 12 ANDREW MOON 31 13 TOMMY HUFFSTUTLER 88 14 CHRISTOPHER JAMES 60 15 ADAM CROSS 55
FLYIN 4s - HEAT 1 Pos Driver Car # 1 ALEX PATTEN 13 2 ARTHUR DANIELSON 38 3 CHRISTOPHER JAMES 60 4 JOSEPH WELDEN 40 5 TOMMY HUFFSTUTLER 88 6 DILLON CRAMER 50X 7 ANDREW MOON 31 8 BRAD STEGER 2
FLYIN 4s - HEAT 2 Pos Driver Car # 1 RANDY JOHNSON 01 2 JESSICA OSTROVSKIS 91 3 ROB BOOS 21B 4 DALTON BALDWIN 4 5 WILLIAM CARLBERT JR 11 6 PAUL HUFFSTUTLER 74 7 ADAM CROSS 55
HOOSIER ELITE - HEAT 1 Pos Driver Car # 1 MARTY PIERCE 75 2 ANTHONY CAMPI 81 3 ROBERT YOHO 00 4 MATTHEW COHEN 46 5 BRANDON ANDERSON 21 6 DENNIS NEIGHBOR SR 83
HOOSIER ELITE - HEAT 2 Pos Driver Car # 1 RICHARD SAPP JR 44 2 JAMES GLOVER 3 3 SCOT WALTERS 55 4 BRAD BISCHOFF 53 5 WESTLEY BASS 6X 6 DENNIS NEIGHBOR JR 82
HOOSIER ELITE - HEAT 3 Pos Driver Car # 1 JOE BOYD 5 2 STEVE DORER 10 3 ERIC PURCELL 2 4 RAYMOND LOVELADY 7X 5 PERRY LOVELADY 50
