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| Dick Anderson Takes Triple Crown Championship | by Ken Willis
DeSoto Speedway closed out the 2000 racing season with a roaring afternoon of stock car racing that featured Dick Anderson of Wildwood winning the third leg of the Super Late Model Triple Crown event.
Coupled with a third place finish on Friday at Orlando Speedworld, a second place finish Saturday at New Smyrna the win also gave Anderson the Triple Crown championship. "I owe it all to Jimmy Harris and all the guys that got this car ready," said Anderson, who celebrated his 52 birthday. "And thanks to all the fans too. You're the greatest."
Jonathan Brown of Sarasota set fast time for the 125 lap race with a 14.48 (93 mph) lap time, but with the luck of the draw James Powell III of Astor took the pole with team mate Bobby Beauchein of Davie on the outside. Young B.J. Mcleod of Wauchula, who won Friday's race at Orlando, appeared to be a shoo-in for the win by quickly moving into second place behind Powell. Mcleod pressured Powell through 100 laps as Anderson began to make his move toward the front. Mcleod experienced car problems and dropped back, leaving Anderson in second place.
On lap 114, Anderson shot low and took the lead in a blaze of power. "I think we could have had it," Powell said. "We're getting closer and closer. The tide will be turned." Caution flags (16) slowed the race but the top drivers of all three event placed in the last one. Saturday night winner at New Symra, Ricky Carlton of Homosassa, took third place in the caution-filled race.
"We had a good car," Carlton said. "When you got veterans like Dick behind you it's hard to do thing. The only thing better than second or third is winning. To run with these guys is always fun out there." The Lakewood Ranch High School marching band kicked off the last afternoon of racing at DeSoto Speedway with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem to the rousing cheer of more than 2000 race fans. "They were wonderful," said track owner Camille Sarppraicone. "It was a real pleasure to have them and we want them to come back."
Top Ten Winners: Triple Crown:
1. #00 Dick Anderson, Wildwood
2. #37 James Powell, Astor
3. #34 Ricky Carlton, Homosassa
4. #72 Mike Franklin
5. #61 Jimmy Cope, Pinellas Park
6. #37x Bobby Beauchein, Davie
7. #31 Jeff Sloan, Beverly Hills
8. #1w Wayne Jefferson, Pinellas Park
9. #89 Lee Collins, Immokalee
10. #82 Denny Neighbors, Jr., Largo
The Lakewood Ranch High School marching band also had an opportunity to strut their stuff at half-time to the delight of the crowd. After the half-time festivities which included an exhibition race by the winged Sprint and a fan participation race came the Southeast Street Stock Nationals.
Street Stock Nationals
Dennis Wilson, Jr. of Bradenton claimed the checkered flag in the first ever Southeast Street Stock National 100 lap event. Wilson's win added the emphasis to his points championship this year, but the race wasn't as easy as running a regularly featured 20 lap race.
"The trick was to save the right rear tire," Wilson said. "I rode easy the first 50-60 laps. The only thing I did different for the 100 lap race was lock the rear end and put on new tires." The brutal 100 laps took a toll on the cars. Junior Purcell of Sarasota who had qualified first with an 17.18 (78 mph) lap time blew his motor on lap 40. Wallace Ramsey in second also suffered a blown motor on lap 70 which gave Bill close of Bradenton the lead, with Wilson in second place. Wilson made an inside pass on lap 82 and took the lead. Close drove high and low, looking to retake the lead but spun out going down the stretch leaving Johnny Allen in second and Travis Vickery third. "Bill had more car," Wilson said. "But he was as loose as I was. He drove a good race but lost it in the turn."
The first Southeast Street Stock National 100 lap event was a success, according to promoter Rick Anges of Bradenton, and expectations to make it an annual event are high. "It was rough getting the first one together," Anges said. "But it was fun and next year we'll be coming back better. I'll take a break for about two weeks and then get to work on next year. We expect to have a lot more cars."
Street Stock Nationals:
1. #42 Dennis Wilson, Jr., Bradenton
2. #98 Johnny Allen
3. #81 Travis Vickery
4. #12 Casey Hall, Tampa
5. #47 Bruce Ahlers, Bradenton
5. #75 Bill Close, Bradenton
6. #12 Dan Hall, Sarasota
7. #93 Jeff Firestein, Nokomis
7. #19 Joey Barnes, Bradenton
8. #2 David Dick, Parrish
8. #95 Clint Roberts, Duette
9. #28 Joe Kurtz, Dover
9. #18 Wayne Dove,
10. #51 Clarence Smith, Sebring
DeSoto Speedway Trucks
James Glover of Pinellas Park drove a hard tough race to the checkered flag in the DeSoto Speedway Pro Trucks feature event. "I went low and Todd (Bontrager) went high," Glover said. "I guess high wasn't the way to go. I ended up in the good truck. It was a really good run for the Q Motorsports team. I got to thank DeSoto for having the track and Leonard McCue for having me do this for a living." Points champion Todd Bontrager of Sarasoto claimed second place. "It's been a great year for us," Bontrager said. "We've got some really good competition and we're getting more trucks. We're looking forward to coming back next year." Bradenton's racing attorney Leonard McCue, the other half of the Q Racing team took third place in 26 truck race."It's real nice to be up here," McCue said. "I don't know what blew but something went real bad on the last lap. I'm lucky I made it. I want to give John thanks for having the trucks, he's done a great job."
DESOTO SPEEDWAY PRO TRUCKS:
1. #71 James Glover, Pinellas Park;
2. #8 Todd Bontrager, Sarasota;
3. #71 Leonard Mccue, St Petersburg;
4. #97 Kurt Haywood, ;
5. #03 Charlie Worth, Loxahatchee;
6. #40 Paul Grenewicz, Hudson;
7. #22 James Govr Sr, ;
8. #99f Danny Foster, Sarasota;
9. #93 Jeff Firestine, Nokomis;
10. #9 David Baute, Brandon
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