By Dave Westerman
GEORGIA INVADER RAYHALL TOPS IN LEGENDS – STREET STOCKS FALL TO HALL
Kyle Hall Gets first feature win of 2011
Auburndale Speedway concluded the 2010 regular season in style Saturday night with some great racing as three of the four regular classes saw first-time winners. A light rain shower delayed qualifying by about a half-hour but the night proceeded without any more precipitation and a bright full moon in the sky.
Even though several “regulars” like point champion Jake Perkins and runner-up Gerald White, Jr. failed to show, 22 Legend Cars still filled the pits with St. Cloud’s Brandon Thomson setting quick time at 15.046 seconds.
Kory Abbott’s 15.172 was second fast while Lynn Wiles and Georgia invaders Sean Rayhall and Mason Massey were fourth and fifth quick.
A re-draw among the top six qualifiers found Rayhall on the pole for the 50-lap feature race with sixth fastest timer Dakota Baggette on the outside pole. Quick qualifier Thomson started fourth.
The two Peach State youngsters, Rayhall and Massey quickly jumped out front at the start. Abbott passed Massey for second on lap three only to see that pass negated by the first caution flag that appeared for Danielle Stratton who spun on the backstretch.
Once the green came back out Abbott wasted little time in getting back by Massey for second and began to chase Rayhall. The pair would continue to run that way through two more caution periods as North Carolina visitor Mike Dunning spun on lap eight and Joey Collins went around to display the yellow on lap 15.
Lap 22 would see a jumble in the standings as newcomer Camron Ray spun while being lapped by the leaders. Wiles and Bagette, running fifth and sixth at the time, collided trying to avoid Ray’s car eliminating both from further competition.
Sean Rayhall
Rayhall continued to hold off the pressure from Abbott and Thomson who was running in third and he began to pull out some distance before the caution flew yet another time on lap 31 as Ray and Stratton tangled in turn one. Two more late cautions for a Gary Verdier spin on lap 44 and an errant bumper on the track on lap 47 allowed Abbott and Thomson another chance at the leader but Rayhall was simply too strong and came home the victor, worth a nice $500 payday to the 15 year old who hails from Winston, GA Despite this being his first year in the Legend Cars, Rayhall showed up at Auburndale Speedway with an impressive 2010 resume. Rayhall, racing in the Young Lions division of the Legends, made 45 point-paying starts this year and won 30 of them along with finishing in the top five an astonishing 42 times.
Rayhall was very successful at the Charlotte, NC Motor Speedway this summer winning the Summer Shootout Legend Car Young Lions championship, then coming home first in the combined Semi-Pro/Young Lions race in the Legends Million.
He finished third in the National Points for the Legend Car Young Lions class behind North Carolina’s Sean Shalvoy and Auburndale Speedway title holder Jake Perkins of Ocala.
Not only did Rayhall have a great rookie year in the Legends, but he was also the 2010 SCCA FE Pro Series champion as well, becoming the the youngest driver in the history of the SCCA to win a professional championship.
Abbott, himself a multi-time Florida State Legend car title holder, came home in second trailed by Thomson, Massey and Justin Brown. Rounding out the top ten were Tyler Smith, Mason Ketterman, Jimmy Norman (back behind the wheel after a year’s absence), Joey Collins and Dave Gleason.
It was the final night of point action for the very competitive Street Stock class and Matt McCrary earned the 2010 championship simply by starting the
40-lap, $500 to win feature.
Kyle Peters, who pretty much dominated the class over the final third of the season, set fast time at 15.055 seconds followed by Jeff Waterman, James Wright III, Kyle Hall and Cody McDuffie. Like the Legend Cars, the top six from qualifying re-drew for their starting spots and it was Hall who drew the pole position.
Hall wasted little time working his way to the lead with Peters quickly moving to second meaning the “Kyle vs. Kyle” show was in full gear. McDuffie got loose and hit the backstretch wall on lap six for the first caution flag as Wright III did a wild slide through the wet infield grass in order to avoid hitting McDuffie’s machine.
On the restart, Peters began to really apply the pressure on Hall but found the door slammed on him in each turn. Action was slowed by David Williams’ spin on lap 15. Once again, Hall and Peters continued to duke it out as the crowd began to cheer for their favorite. As the two leaders battled, third and fourth running Dave Colpritt and Jeff Waterman closed in to make it a four car fight.
Lap 31 saw the third caution of the race as McCrary tapped Michael King into a spin. Four laps later McCrary looped his car again for the final yellow flag of the contest.
Despite Peters’ best effort, Hall led the remaining distance to claim his first win of the year and the $500 check to go with it. Peters was a very close second followed by Colpritt, Waterman and Travis Roland who had trouble in time trials and started the race in last position. Wright III was sixth with remainder of the top ten Kevin O’Quinn, King, McCrary and Joe Dowdy.
Scott Mishler led from start to finish to claim his first Mini Stock feature of the year. Marilyn McCrary saw her three race win streak snapped but still finished second on this night ahead of Jason Swilley, Donnie Guy and Kevin Steadman. Mishler also won the heat race.
Brian Tyre also led from green to checker in the Scrambler feature after doing likewaise in the heat. Tyre took his fifth win of the year finishing just ahead of class champion Kimberly Gullett, Shane Bennett, Richard Brown and Jason Miller.
A very entertaining Ladies “Powder Puff” race was won by Michelle Gosselin after doing a spin-and-win routine. Vickie Cutting finished a distant second trailed by Kristen Lawrence, Kendra Fawcett and Marcy Williams.
Auburndale Speedway’s final event of the year will take place on Saturday night, December 11th. CRASH N’ BASH will feature the Florida State Championship School Bus Figure 8 race along with a Chain race, FWD Demo Derby, Flag Pole race, Skid Car race, Boat/Trailer race, 4-6-8 Cyl. Stock Enduro, the Green Mamba Jet car and much more. Gates will open at 5PM and the show will start at 7 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids aged 5-12, and all kids aged 4 and under are free. A Family Pack (2 adults and 2 kids aged 5-12)
is $40. For more information call 863-551-1131 or log on to www.auburndaleracing.com powered by Palm Tree Computers.
Street Stocks
1. #17 Kyle Hall
2-#53 Kyle Peters
3-#4 Dave Colpritt