Speedweeks are over and most of the visitors have packed up and gone back home. The racers with names we usually only read about have gone back to their respective tracks and series......Just what are we left with?
FLORIDA STOCK CAR RACING THATS WHAT!!!!!!!! I had the pleasure of being at opening points night of "The South's Fastest Short Track" to watch some action packed stock car racing like it was meant to be....

The Dwarf cars came out first in fast paced 25 lap feature with Michael Fortin powering his way through the field to take the win followed by Mario Girad in 2nd also from Hollywood and Allan Paradin from Clermont 3rd.

Attrition was the name of the game in the Mod-Minis as most of the initial top runners either ran into mechanical problems or the wall!!! #17 John Cohee survived the melee's came home with the checkered flag, 2nd place was the #98 Mike Mirtrisin and 3rd #33 Tim Rivere.

#7 "Cowboy" Howard Higgins in a Dodge looked like the car to beat in the Pure Stock Battle as he powered by the field and appeared to have the feature in hand when his car began to slow and as he pulled into the infield it was apparent that his Mopar was overheated. This left the door open for Peggy Hurst in her #3 Chevrolet who in her 3rd year of racing at DeSoto took her first victory following her across the finish line was #57 Gary Flinn 2nd and 3rd #56 Gary Flinn.

"The Rocket" Teddy Nelson #17 came back with a vengeance after last weeks motor problems to power his way to front and take the victory in the fast paced Open Wheel Modifieds, Steve Hauser jr. #52 in a fast new car came home in the 2nd spot 3rd went to #89 "the Felda Flash" Lee Collins, 4th #72 John Grimm and rounding out the top 5 was #15 Bill Davis.

Sportsmen were up next and what a slug fest it was as #11 "ChickenMan" Joe Shaver( who its said races with a live chicken strapped into his race car) and #41 Gus Coorssen swapped paint racing for the lead until they spun each other out and were sent to the rear. The infield crew got quite a scare as Shaver running full bore apparently lost his brakes and headed right for them narrowly missing the pace car and a broken #03 "Bear" Carlsons car. #98 Lonnie Miller who is wowing them all in the sportsman class made his way to the front and never looked back at the battle behind him to take first points feature win Coorsen raced his way back up to a 2nd, #18 George Shaver of Arcadia was 3rd.

Limited Late Model action saw the #23 of Mike Abbott totally dominate the race from green to checkers. Jeff Wogoman the #01 looked like the favorite as he blistered qualifying but apparently had a transmission problem that kept him out of contention. Also with problems after an early strong run was the #18 of Brian Mansfield who pulled it into infield. Jimmie Best in the #67 held on and came in 2nd, John Shields got 3rd.

The Street Stocks came out next and what a show it was, #33 Scott Faulkner, #3 Duane Best and #05 Bruce Sherwood jumped out the early lead breaking away from the field that was nose to tail and side by side all the way back bumping and grinding their way around the high banked 3/8th mile track. Then Best spun coming out of turn 2 bringing out the caution but the spin was caused by oil leaking out of the Faulkner machine ending the #33's bid for a win. On the restart Sherwood was able to get by a hardcharging Best and take over the lead but Battling up through the pack was the #42 of Dennis Wilson jr and after a nudge to Sherwood Wilson was able to get by bringing with him the #8 of Rich Closer with Sherwood close in toe. Wilson was able to hold them off for the win, Closer was 2nd and Sherwood who broke an axle coming out of turn four, lost a wheel in the process went airbourne and crossed the finish line backwards for a dramatic 3rd place finish.

Arlin Pope in the #98 drove his way from mid-pack to take the win in the Mini-Stock feature with after running door handle to door handle with the #95 of Clay Joseph who took the 2nd spot, Syndee Brown #17 came from the rear of the field and took a well earned 3rd place.

It was great being back good Florida short track racing, the improvements made at DeSoto are really fan friendly and the show went off very timely and without any hitches.

From Bradenton......Rick Anges

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