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April 3, 1999 Crown, Connell Spring Ahead at Thunder Cross
Okeechobee, FL (KRN) - Easter was in the air Saturday night at Thunder Cross
Motorsports Park. Seven classes were in action on the red clay oval. A
solid crowd was on hand for the fast paced, high energy show with ground
pounding Late Models topping the card.
Perry Crowe started on the pole for the 20 lap late model main event. He
held off early charges from Ken Murphy and late race pressure from Danny
Ahrens, Jr for the wire-to-wire feature win. Murphy got by Ahrens at the
finish for second with Ahrens, David Farmer and David Augspurger rounding
out the top five. The track had developed several ruts in turn three that
made racing difficult. Saturday was a clean sweep for Crowe as he also won
the heat race.
Mike Lieberman led early in the Olds Fisher, GM Performance Parts Sportsman
feature. Lee Connell inherited the lead when Lieberman dropped out of the
race. After that, it was all Connell pulling away in the caution free
feature. Trapper Boetcher, Mark Ward, Vince Muzzlin, and points leader
Danny Cox rounded out the top five. As with the Late Models, Connell
doubled up in Sportsman by winning the heat race.
Fifteen cars took the green flag in the Eli's Western Wear and Wrangler
Street Stock feature. Mark Minro started on the pole with Steve McAllister
alongside. When the green flag fell, Brett Carlton passed both men to
assume the point. Jamie North who started fourth and Tim Powers who started
sixth quickly moved in line behind Carlton. North and Powers put on a great
dual for second and pressured Carlton for the lead. Neither would see
victory lane as Carlton had just enough car to hold on for the win.
Following Carlton under the checkers were North, Powers, John Hunter, and
Jeffery Bobst. North and Powers notched heat wins earlier in the night.
Seventeen Bombers started their 18 lap feature and it was a wild one right
from the start. There were several early cautions for cars spinning
although no one was damaged too seriously. Thunder Cross has time limits on
their races and it came into play tonight as suddenly, the checkered flag
was waving. Thomas Scott had the early lead and benefited from the cautions
holding on for the win in a wild last lap. I was surprised by the early
finish and was unable to catch the other top runners. Jimmy Hagel and Ricky
Beadnell were the heat race winners. Rich Clouser watch: Rich finished
fifth in the first heat after spinning out early. He started deep in the
feature race and managed a top 10 finish.
Only eight cars for Saturday's Mini Modified feature. John Choquette put
his #1C car at the front early and was tough to catch. Thunder Cross Star
of the Week and division point leader Pete Jacobs worked his way up from the
back of the pack into second place and was gaining on Jacobs but ran out of
time. Wayne Hilderbrand, Tony Giambatista, and Dale Byrd rounded out the
top five. Mini Modifieds were running lap times equal to or faster than
Late Models during their feature. Hilderbrand won the Mini Modified heat
race.
Richard Dutter and Mike Sprague started on the front row in the 18 lap Mini
Stock feature. Nineteen cars took the green with Dutter driving his number
3 car to the point. He would not relinquish the front spot and led
wire-to-wire for the win. A good battle for second saw Brack Gill beat
point leader Carson Storey and Jay Zeller with Mike Goff taking down fifth
place. Zeller and Ron Farris won Mini Stock heats.
Junior Minis ran the final feature of the night. The class is for 12 and 13
year olds running in full fleged mini stocks. Taylor Green started thrid
but quicly moved to the front. Jeff Choquette moved up from the fifth and
final spot on the grid to challenge Green for the lead. Choquette spun
dropping him back in the field. Green had clear sailing after that as he
took the win. Choquette battled back for second with Phillip Powers, Johnny
Webb, and Jason Farris rounding out the top five. Green also won the heat
race.
Next week Thunder Cross is in action with Mini Modifieds, Bombers, Pure
Stocks, Street Stocks, Sportsman, VWs, and Mini Sprints. A kids bicycle
race is also planned. Action starts at 7pm with heats and features for all
classes. The Late Models will return on April 17. Thunder Cross
Motorsports Park is located off State Highway 70, three miles east of the
city of Okeechobee. Call (941) 357-2277 for more details.
-John Matthews Comment on this story on the Message Board .
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