With a full night of racing on tap at the Punta Gorda Speedway and fun things for the kids, the fans and kids were not disappointed. Right before the features started was the parade lap, speedway owner Kevin Williams had a special guest he drove around the track, Mr and Mrs Claus.
While Jr Fan Club leader Jessica had the kids club all making their own Christmas Ornaments to take home and hang on their trees.
The night started off with the Cowboy Cadillacs that always put on a good show and tonight was no different. While Jeff Deeble of Port Charlotte jumped to the early lead and never looked back to take the win. With no cautions it was hard for Mike Bialecki to catch Deeble as he gave it his all and finished second. Coming home in the third spot was Mike True.
The Legend cars came out for their feature and while Mike Endee of North Port led the first four laps,
it was Mike Verhaagh that got by him and never looked back. Mike Verhaagh was the winner with Tony Steinbuck second and Carl Haag third.
It was a sad night for the T.Q. Midgets as they raced with heavy hearts for a fellow driver and friend that had passed away. John Ciolino had passed away and the T.Q drivers went through the stands during the parade lap to collect money for the family and did the missing man formation. After the featured race that saw Chris Gimmler as the winner, Rob Kohler second and Jimmy Wilkens III third, all the drivers and crew were in the winners circle.
The Street Stock feature was up next as we knew there would be a new winner tonight since Ryan Pancoast was a no show. Richard Nelson of Port Charlotte clearly had a fast car as he led the entire race being chased by Jimmy Meiser. With no cautions it was Nelson, Meiser and the 57X of David Bowman was third.
The race that everyone was waiting for was the Super Late Models for 100 laps that saw twenty three of some of the best drivers in the state show up and put on a good show. While all the drivers were on the track and getting ready for intros, some of them got to pull kids and adult tickets. Speedway Owner Kevin Williams gave away four kids bikes and lots of adult tool sets and mugs and giveaways.
Daryl Shelnut had won three in a row and after qualifying was over and B.J. MeLoed set fast time and a new track record of 14.711. David Green of Ft Pierce sat on the pole while Shelnut was outside and the cars were all bunched up and the green flag dropped. It was Green that got the inside jump on Shelnut and led the first fifty laps with Shelnut in second. Joe Winchell in a red 88 car was fast and stayed in the third spot right behind Shelnut till lap thirty two when Richie Anderson got by Winchell and took Wayne Anderson with him slipping Winchell back to fifth. Same running order for a few more laps till they started to lap cars and just at the halfway mark coming out of turn three with lap traffic in the way, cars touched and brought out the caution. When the smoked cleared it was Winchell that had to be taken off on the flatbed while he made the long walk down the front stretch to his pits as fans cheered for him. Billy Bigley Jr would be involved and have to pit along with David King. After the clean up, Bigley was the only one able to return with what looked to be his fenders duck taped on and the green flag dropped. Shelnut got by Green on the start and never looked back as he went on to win his fourth race in a row. Richie Anderson had moved up to second when it appeared something broke on the twelve of Green and by lap sixty five, Wayne Anderson made his move and got around Richie for second. That is how they would cross the line with no other cautions in the last fifty laps. Scott Walters had to pit on lap twenty eight and take up the rear but worked his way through the field one by one to finish fourth while Steve Gill was fifth. Bobby Shelton hung on for a good race in sixth, Joe Boyd who broke a rear end early when he rolled the car onto the track out of the trailer and worked all day to get the car fixed before the feature was seventh and Mike Knoteck brought home a strong eighth.
Road Warriors came out for twenty five laps and Phil Ellis led the first five laps while battling the five of Jeremy Daring. Ellis trying to get back in front of Daring on lap eight hit the back stretch wall and broke the right front and had to retire for the evening. Chris Scott was on a roll as he passed Daring on the restart and went on to win the feature while Daring was battling with Chris Loney, but it was Jeremy Daring that hung on for second, Chris Loney third.
The last feature of the night was the Pro 4 class that did not see Kris Bridges make the bell as he broke the transmission in the heat races. It was the first lap and everyone fighting to cross the line first, coming out of turn four, cars touched, some spun and Skyler Null got the worst of it as his car went head first into the wall. Sklyer was ok but not the car, as he has been getting that car faster every week. Cars were lined back up and Paul Richards Jr was in the lead by lap five and the last caution was lap nine. It was Richards in first and Ryan Collver chasing him in second the remained of the race, while were did she come from, the back, Jessica Ostroviskis picking the cars off one by one. Jessica’s car was minus a few body parts as she was caught up in the first lap wreck but made the pass on the last lap to take over that third place finish.
Next week Dec 22nd the speedway will be closed for the holiday, so drivers, crews, fans and staff can spend time with their families.
DEC 22nd CLOSED
Have a Merry Christmas from our team at PGS
DEC-29th FAMILY FUN NIGHT
PRO TRUCK 75 LAPS 1200 TO WIN ,ROOKIE TRUCK,
COWBOY CADILLACS 30 LAPS =15 right 15 left,
ROAD WARRIORS 30 LAPS =15 right 15 left,
PRO 4 30 LAPS =15 right 15 left,
ROAD WARRIOR 40 LAP switch off race 20 laps Men,20 Laps lady’s
either one can start first,
PRO 4 15 LAPS Flag Pole race
ALL 30 lappers pay 300 to win
Lady’s and Men’s switch off pays 400 to win,
Flag Pole Race Pays 200 to win
Let’s all end this controversial year by having
a Fun Family night of racing
at the South’s Toughest Track to tame PGS
regular racing times for this night, and check our web site for all up to date information.
PUNTA GORDA SPEEDWAY RESULTS
12/15/2012
Super Late Model #9
1. 7 Daryl Shellnut Lake City
2. 84 Wayne Anderson Wildwood
3. 51 Richie Anderson N. Fort Myers
4. 55 Scott Walters Naples
5. 5x Steve Gill Sarasota
6. 34 Bobby Shelton Delray Beach
7. 5 Joe Boyd St. Pete
8. 13 Mike Knotek LaBelle
9. 4 Randy Anderson Wildwood
10. 47 Chris Fontaine Lakeland
11. 28 Billy Bigley Naples
12. 28b Dylan Bigley Naples
13. 177 Branen Hester Lakeland
14. 77 B.J. McLeod Wachula Fast Time
15. 77h Ray Hester Lakeland
16. 12 David Green Fort Pierce
17. 112 Steve Weaver Plantation
18. 22 David King Alturus
19. 88 Joe Winchell Dade City
20. 36 Gary Padula Pompono Beach
21. 14 Mario Maresca Fort Lauderdale
22. 14g John Garrett Port Charlotte
23. 28d T. J. Duke Southwest Ranches
Road Warrior
1. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
2. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh
3. 33 Chris Loney Naples
4. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres
5. 1 Rick Reed Punta Gorda
6. 18 Logan leonard Cape Coral
7. 22 Ann Marie Ricardi Naples
8. 31 Brandon Kolz
9. 8 Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte
10. 44 Rick Hess Englewood
11.80 Richard Nelson Port Charlotte
12. 13 Justin Teston Lehigh
13. 29 Phil Ellis Englewood
14. 17 James Stokes Lehigh
Street Stocks
1. 80 Richard Nelson Port Charlotte
2. 88 Jimmy Meiser Cape Coral
3. 57x David Bowman Bradenton
4. 57B Jim Brenner
5. 2 Bobby Fischer Naples
6. 33 Jim Middendorf Naples
Cowboy Cadillac’s
1. 8 Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte
2. 92 Mike Bialecki Arcadia
3. 26 Mike True
4. 22 Ric Mills Arcadia
5. 63 James Wright Naples
6. 32 Shawn Shinault
7. 88 Trey Almand Port Charlotte
Legends
1. 7 Mike Verhaaugh Fort Myers
2. 54 Tony Steinbuck Tamarac
3. 48 Carl Haag Port St. Lucie
4. 01 Mike Endee North Port
5. 55 Conrad Molter Naples
Pro 4
1. 61 Paul Richards Jr. Naples
2. 04 Ryan Collver Ft. Myers
3. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis St. Pete
4. Corey Bigley Naples
5. Dan Collver Ft. Myers
6. 56 Stephen Babcock Punta Gorda
7. 13 Alex Teston Lehigh
8. 87 Skyler Knull Fort Myers 56 Stephen Babcock Punta Gorda
7. 13 Alex Teston Lehigh
8. 87 Skyler Knull Fort Myers
9. 63 Kris Bridges Venice D.N.S.
T.Q. Midgets
1. 51 Chris Gimbler Palm Beach Gardens
2. 30 Rob Kohler Naples
3. 11 Jimmy Wilkens Jr. West Palm Beach
4. 7 Jamie Barman Brooksville
5. 63 Mike Belusar Punta Gorda
6. 2 Jeff Steiner
7. 6 Jay Stutz Riverview
8. 17 Ray Smith Brooksville
9. 58 Stu Chamberlain Pine Island D.N.S.