After a ‘forced” week off to dry out from Hurricane Matthew, Auburndale Speedway was back to business Saturday night with the Desoto-Auburndale Race Truck Series (DARTS) heading up a great night of racing action.
Michael Goddard of Naples took his “Gray Ghost” National Roofing Special around the track in 14.670 seconds to just edge Lakeland’s Cody McDuffie for fast time. McDuffie circulated the “bullring” at 14.676 seconds with third quick time going to Cody Martell with a lap of 14.842 seconds. Rounding out the top five in qualifying were Derek Pugh and point leader Becca Monopoli.
McDuffie drew a five for the inversion placing Monopoli on the pole for the 50-lap feature and she wasted little time building up a nice advantage over Pugh as Martell could not find the handle on his truck, backsliding from third to tenth in the first ten laps. Fast qualifiers McDuffie and Goddard were on the charge moving around Pugh for second and third on the 11th circuit.
This race would not go all 50 laps under green like the last one as Mike Kohut spun off turn two just as the 14th lap was completed. On the restart, it took McDuffie just one lap to slip by Monopoli for the top spot while Goddard would fall victim to a multi-truck mess in turn three on lap 17 that damaged his truck along with those of Tommy Kelly, Jason Lester and others. McDuffie continued to set a blistering pace as the third yellow flag of the night was displayed for Martell who spun in turn four.
That would be the final caution as McDuffie led Monopoli, Danny Anderson, Goddard and Pugh at the crossed flags signal for half way. Goddard began to apply pressure getting by Anderson then taking the measure of Monopoli on lap 43 to move into second. By then McDuffie, driving the Southern Air Compressor/DP Realty Special, was in another zip code as he took the checker a full straight ahead of Goddard. Monopoli held on for third ahead of Anderson and Pugh with Kelly rebounding for sixth. Martell worked his way back up to seventh at the end trailed by Billy Carlbert, Jr., Sam Scott and Zach Briggs who scored a nice tenth place finish in his first-ever Truck race. Completing the finishers were Kristin Clements, Cody Carlbert, Kohut and Jason Lester.
The Legend Car feature got of to a rocky start when Joey Langis and Dave Fusco got tangled up coming off turn four just as the opening lap was completed with Fusco unable to return to competition.
Once the race got going it turned out to be the best one of the night as Dave “Too Tall” Gleason grabbed the early advantage only to be quickly tracked down by Seth Adams who was going for his fourth win in a row. Lap after lap the two battled it out as 21-year-old Adams drew alongside on several occasions only to have each effort thwarted by the 59-years-young veteran Gleason.
Gleason held on for a very popular win with Adams right on his bumper. Alan Hiefnar took the show spot and watched the great lead battle from about a half-straight back. Fourth went to Bobby Diestler (making his first Legend Car feature start) trailed by Mitch Verhaagh, Langis, Cale Nolen and Fusco.
Gleason also won the heat race.
Things were back to normal in the Mini Stock class as Chris Narramore, Sr. nabbed the point from early leader John Cummins, Jr. on lap nine then breezed to yet another victory padding his insurmountable point lead in the process.
Only a lap 13 caution for debris on the track slowed Narramore’s progress as he took the win several car lengths ahead of Cummins, Jr. who had his best run in several weeks. Bruce Cozad was third followed by Danny Leet, Fred Martin, heat winner Donald Gatlin, David Meyers, Jr. and Colt Cecil.
The Scrambler feature was a slam-bang affair that saw several caution flags for tangles and spins that led to some upset feelings by race’s end. Shane Bennett led for 18 laps before giving way to Dustin Wilson with a pair of laps remaining. Matt Miller also slipped by Bennett but he was set down in tech due to weight moving Bennett back up to second just in front of his teammate Kyle Little. Little added just slightly to his point lead in the class by finishing one spot better than Nicole Green who is battling him for the Scrambler title. Fifth went to William Kerns trailed by Anthony Carroll, Danny Burchfield and Josh Clouse. David Purvis did not start. Bennett was the heat race victor.
The Mini Cup class ran green to checker in their 15 lap feature with heat winner Brey Holmes grabbing the lead at the drop of the green and never looking back as he broke Russell Bush’s three race win streak. Bush came home a distant second on this night followed by Clay Samuels, Bill Rychel, Douglas Herrin, Jr. and Doug Higbie who saw a podium finish go away on the last lap when his chain broke.
This coming weekend, October 22nd and 23rd, it’s the DASS Sportsman 75 on Saturday night with The Sunoco 100 for Super Late Models on Sunday along with the “Race of Legends” and much more racing. For more information visit the track web site at www.auburndalespeedway.net or just go to the Auburndale Speedway Facebook page.