by Dave Westerman
Auburndale Speedway saw its biggest crowd of the year Saturday night as the fans were treated to some outstanding racing. On top of the racing action, one lucky fan took home nearly $550 in the 50/50 raffle and “Lindsey’s Little Racers” gave away four brand new bicycles complete with helmets to four lucky kids. Two of those bikes were purchased and donated Saturday afternoon by Ronnie Sims of Becton-Sims Racing.
A top-notch field of 23 Late Models were on hand although mechanical issues in practice kept Jonathan Guy from competing. With several veteran hot shoes in the field it was youth being served in time trials as Jason Vail surprised everyone by setting quick time. The Clermont youngster had his Ron Vail Plumbing #407 on rails turning a lap at 13.472 seconds while recent FAST Series winner Jeff Scofield was second quick at 13.492. Tim Russell, making his first-ever venture to the Auburndale track, turned third quick time ahead of Georgia visitor Jason Hogan and “The Bulldozer,” Kevin Ingram. Vail’s quick lap was worth an extra $100 from JPL Auto Empire.
Luck of the re-draw would put Russell on the pole for the feature and that pretty much was “all she wrote” as Russell had clearly the dominant car on the night.
Russell moved out to a huge early lead as the race went the first 31 laps under green before Steve Avinger’s car slowed to a stop on the high side of the track to bring out the caution flag. Once green flag racing resumed, Russell again moved away at will while Vail was gamely holding on to the second spot. On lap 40, Hogan and Ingram both slipped under a fading Vail and took over second and third spots but were unable to close on Russell as the field continued to motor along under green. Russell took the BDH Construction half-way leader award of $200 as he set the pace over Hogan, Ingram, Vail, Chris Fontaine, Scofield, Tyler Laing, Ross Chastain, Keith Lilley and Ryan Lisak.
Lap 60 saw Scofield begin his charge as he passed Fontaine for fourth spot. It wasn’t until lap 74 that the second and final yellow flag flew as Vail and Laing got together in turn one fighting for the sixth position. Both were sent to the rear of the lead lap cars.
Scofield motored around Fontaine for third spot on lap 85 as the remainder of the race ran caution free. Russell was just too strong as he claimed an easy victory and was pumped in the winners circle. “I really want to thank my crew for giving me an awesome race car tonight,” said the winner. “It’s really fantastic to win in front of a big crowd like this and we will definitely be back for more races this year,” Russell added.
Hogan was equally happy finishing second. “To come down here and run this good is really fantastic,” said Hogan. “I really have to hand it to Rex (Guy) and the track for putting on such a great race and I really want to thank all the fans for coming out.” he continued. Hogan, who hails from Cleveland, GA, near the Tennessee border, took home the “Farthest Tow” award put up by Gary Fountain of Fountain Motorsports.
Scofield, who said he “waited too long” to make his charge, was still pleased with his third place run. Fontaine came home fourth while Ingram took the checker in fifth which was good for an extra $100 from Frasier Construction.
Chastain had a solid run to take sixth with Lilley, Joe Boyd, Perry Lovelady, and Vail rounding out the top ten. Vail’s tenth place run brought him an extra $100 from GGR Roofing while Jason’s dad Ron (Ron Vail Plumbing) put up $100 to the fiftheenth place finisher. That award went to David Weaver of Hialeah. Cody Lane was the first car out of the event but as a consolation the young Port Richey driver picked up the $100 “Last Place” award which was supplied by Ingram Construction.
Emotions were high in victory lane after the V-8 Bomber feature race. When leaders James Wright III and Brandon Duchscherer tangled near mid race, third running Brian Harbin took over and raced to the win trailed by point leader Josh Borem, Duchscherer, Wright and David Fletcher.
For Harbin, his family, crew and friends, the win couldn’t have come at a better time. Earlier in the evening, Harbin had taken his car around the track slowly during the National Anthem to pay tribute to his long-time car owner and friend David Stinson who had passed away earlier in the week.
“David pulled my car back and forth from the track for ten years. He meant so much to me,” said an emotional Harbin.
Dave Dunkin was back on track in the Sportsman class. After having to go home and get his back-up machine when his primary car had problems during hot laps, Dunkin led all the way for his third win of the year although Bart Weatherford stayed right on his rear bumper all the way before settling for the runner-up spot. Mark Medeiros was third trailed by Chris Lewellen and Austin Carr.
Fred Harrison, Jr. ran off and hid from the field in the Mini Stock feature as he added to his already building points lead. Donnie Guy held off a swarm of competitors for second place with Chris Spring taking third ahead of Chris Narramore, Sr. and Marilyn McCrary.
The Mini Cup race was wild from beginning to an eventual early ending. Numerous cautions for wrecks and spins saw the race cut from its scheduled 25 lap distance to 20 laps but the time limit ran out before even that number of laps could be made.
Rick Ragan led the opening lap before Harold Crooms took over the point. Meanwhile, all eyes were on young Sam Scott. Scott had set quick time earlier, earning $50 from Quality Aircraft Salvage. However, Scott started dead last on the grid after Becton-Sims Racing offered him an extra $150 if he could win the race from the rear.
Scott nearly got the job done as he avoided all the trouble on the track and was challenging Crooms for the lead late in the going before time ran out. Crooms thus took the win with Scott second. Ragan, John Beach and Brandon Beach rounded out the front five.
Gerald White, Jr. scored his second consecutive win in the Legend Cars. Devin McLeod led the first 21 laps but could not hold off the charge of White.
Once White took over, McLeod began having mechanical issues and pulled off the track. Fast qualifier Tyler Smith would come through to take second place followed by Justin Brown, Jake Perkins and Mason Ketterman.
Gene Harrison crossed the stripe first in the Scrambler feature but was set down for an infraction in tech as the win was awarded to Gary Brown, Jr., his second of the year. Trailing Brown were Chad Cutting, Brian Tyre, point leader Kim Gullet and Gary Brown.
Kids Club honors went to Matt Anderson as he made a late-race pass of Heather Guy to claim the victory. Dakota Hunt was third ahead of Brandon Guy and Megan Gosselin.
Andy Metz won his first Bandolero feature finishing in front of Teddy Lively and Cameron White.
Next week at Auburndale Speedway the Open Wheel Modifieds return along with the Modified Mini Stocks, V-8 Bombers, Mini Stocks, Legend Cars, Bandoleros, Scramblers and Street Stocks. For more information call 863-551-1131 or log on to www.auburndaleracing.com.
LATE MODELS – AMF CHASSIS 100:
1-#36 Tim Russell, Longwood
2-#5x Jason Hogan, Cleveland , GA
3-#07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City
4-#47 Chris Fontaine, Lakeland
5-#21 Kevin Ingram, Lakeland
6-#36 Ross Chastain, Fort Myers
7-#5 Joe Boyd, Riverview
8-#50 Perry Lovelady, Lakeland
9-#123 Keith Lilley, Lakeland
10-#407 Jason Vail, Clermont
11-#39 Tyler Laing, Southwest Ranches
12-#54 Ryan Lisak, Lakeland
13-#111 Donny Williams, Mt. Dora
14-#23 Rusty Ebersole, Apopka
15-#11 David Weaver, Hialeah
16-#22 David King, Bartow
17-#49 Ron Lofquist, Auburndale
18-#82 Danny Maddox, Crystal River
19-#69 Steve Avinger, Winter Haven
20-#88 Jimmy Castleberry, Lakeland
21-#177 Ray Hester, Lakeland
22-#7 Cody Lane, Port Richey
DNS-#42 Jonathan Guy, Auburndale
SCRAMBLERS:
1-#52 Gary Brown, Jr.
2-#00 Chad Cutting
3-#66 Brian Tyre
4-#28 Kimberly Gullett
5-#62 Richard Brown
6-#98 Edward Schultz
7-#96 John Roberson
8-#4 Scott Russ
9-#7 Tony Tidwell
DQ-#88 Gene Harrison
DQ-#9 Ashton Hunt
SPORTSMAN:
1-#71 Dave Dunkin
2-#1 Bart Weatherford
3-#13 Mark Medeiros
4-#19 Chris Lewellen
5-#22 Austin Carr
6-#47 Bobby Mobley
7-#8 Brandon Duchscherer
8-#60 Richard Fiore
9-#51 Kyle Alford
V-8 BOMBERS:
1-#24 Brian Harbin
2-#111 Josh Borem
3-#42 Brandon Duchscherer
4-#56 James Wright III
5-#1 David Fletcher
6-#60 Greg Valdez
7-#05 Buddy Phillips, Jr.
8-#18 Kevin Barton
9-#105 Ronald Norman
10-#12 Dustin Strott
11-#0 Paul Bookmiller
12-#A6 Justin Meyer
DQ-#2 Alan Seay
MINI STOCKS:
1-#21 Fred Harrison, Jr.
2-#33 Donnie Guy
3-#42 Chris Spring
4-#3 Chris Narramore, Sr.
5-#4 Marilyn McCrary
6-#88 Kevin Steadman
7-#1 Bill Bell
8-#46 Mike Bruno
9-#2 Dwight Ryals
10-#551 Mark Wells
LEGEND CARS:
1-#38 Gerald White, Jr.
2-#4 Tyler Smith
3-#8 Justin Brown
4-#59 Jake Perkins
5-#71 Mason Ketterman
6-#31 Lynn Wiles
7-#7 Dakota Baggett
8-#5 Seth Adams
9-#07 Dave Gleason
10-#4R Zach Napoleon
11-#51 Roger Englund
12-#83 Danielle Stratton
13-#99 Leroy Moore
14-#21 Devin McLeod
KIDS CLUB:
1-#22 Matt Anderson
2-#30 Heather Guy
3-#9 Dakota Hunt
4-#32 Brandon Guy
5-#10 Megan Gosselin
BANDOLEROS:
1-#48 Andy Metz
2-#96 Teddy Lively
3-#38 Cameron White
MINI CUPS:
1-#07 Harold Crooms
2-#14 Sam Scott
3-#21 Rick Ragan
4-#74 John Beach
5-#47 Brandon Beach
6-#05 Cindarae Irish
7-#22 Rick Cline, Sr.
8-#27 Dale Pulst
9-#24 Mike Holt
10-#8 Chuck Harrison, Jr.
11-#9 Cole Partelo
12-#66 Shawn Edge
13-#48 Carlos Pinto
14-#18 Dwayne Foster
15-#08 Tyler Scofield
16-#3 Dan Suggs
17-#37 Rick Cline, Jr.
18-#57 Brittany Huntington
19-#2 Skip Baird
DNS-#00 Charles Tegethoff
DNS-#99 Carlie Lewis
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