By Rick Anges
Bradenton, Fl. The Icebreaker race has been a main stay at ASA sanctioned DeSoto Super Speedway for over thirty years and it would be fitting that this race would be the kick-off for the new Florida United Promoters Late Model Series.
Twenty-five of some of the best late models lined the infield for qualifying for the 100-lap feature. When the final checkered flag fell for time it was local favorite Jessie Dutilly topping charts with fast time. Dutilly would run in the top five early in the feature but a front brake problem would send him into the pits. He would return and battle back for a twelfth place finish. Steve Dorer, Tim Russell, Anthony Campi and Justin Larson would round out the top five.
When the green dropped it was Steve Dorer out front but it wasn’t long before Jeff Scofield would muscle his way around on the outside and take over the top spot.
Several laps later Dorer would pull into the infield and the crowd gasped as his car suddenly burst into flames. Although there was a lot of fire Dorer was able to quickly escape and the flames were extinguished. Dorer would end up twenty-second on the night.
Tim Russell would use the same outside groove and get by Scofield for the lead. Russell would pull away to almost a ¾ of straightaway lead as Scofield and Campi battled for second. Campi would eventually make the pass and set his sights on Russell.
Several cautions would put second place Campi on the outside of the leader Russell for the double file restarts but each time the crafty Russell would be on his game and get a good jump to hold onto the top spot.
With just a handful of laps left the yellow came out for the last time and this time Campi would stay right with Russell on the start. The top two would go into turn one side by side and when they came out of two Campi was the new leader and would hold on to take the win. Russell would finish second and in his post race interview said he had spun the tires on the final restart. Jeff Scofield in the familiar #92 of Dick Anderson came home in third. Anderson was the winner of the first Icebreaker in 1980. Anthony Sergi came from his ninth starting spot to finish fourth and in fifth would be Justin Larson.
The Florida United Promoters Late Model Series next race will be Auburndale Speedway on March 19th.
Icebreaker 100 – Florida United Promoters Late Model Series – Feature
Pos Driver Car #
1 ANTHONY CAMPI 81
2 TIM RUSSELL 36
3 JEFF SCOFIELD 92
4 ANTHONY SERGI 20
5 JUSTIN LARSON 88
6 JAMES GLOVER 70
7 JOE BOYD 5
8 JAKE PERKINS 59
9 JOE WINCHELL 64
10 ZACH HARRIS 54
11 RAY BLACK 19
12 JESSE DUTILLY 30
13 SCOTT MILLAR 20X
14 DAVID KING 22
15 JAMES CARTER 21
16 STEVE GILL 5X
17 JONATHAN GUY 42
18 COLE POWELL 25
19 JOSHUA TODD 89
20 CODY BLAIR 15
21 ALAN CURRELI 2
22 STEVE DORER 10
23 LB SKAGGS 71
24 AMANDA FERGUSON 7
25 RYAN LISAK 17
QUALIFYING
Pos Driver Car #
1 JESSE DUTILLY 30
2 STEVE DORER 10
3 TIM RUSSELL 36
4 ANTHONY CAMPI 81
5 JUSTIN LARSON 88
6 JEFF SCOFIELD 92
7 STEVE GILL 5X
8 ALAN CURRELI 2
9 ANTHONY SERGI 20
10 COLE POWELL 25
11 LB SKAGGS 71
12 JAMES CARTER 21
13 SCOTT MILLAR 20X
14 JOE BOYD 5
15 JONATHAN GUY 42
16 JOSHUA TODD 89
17 ZACH HARRIS 54
18 JOE WINCHELL 64
19 JAKE PERKINS 59
20 CODY BLAIR 15
21 JAMES GLOVER 70
22 RYAN LISAK 17
23 RAY BLACK 19
24 DAVID KING 22
25 AMANDA FERGUSON 7
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED – FEATURE
Pos Driver Car #
1 KYLE BOOKMILLER 03
2 LB SKAGGS 71
3 TRAVIS ROLAND 10
4 STEVE ARNOLD 19
5 JAMES GLOVER 20
6 MIKE BIRK JR 10
7 LJ GRIMM 25
8 RALPH BOWMAN 2
9 DALTON BALDWIN 4
10 MICKEY “MARY” WRIGHT 6
11 VERNON HART JR 48
12 KEITH LILLEY 87
13 ERIC RUDD 12
14 DAN PARTELO 9
15 KYLE MAYNARD 127
16 WAYNE JEFFERSON 1O2
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED – HEAT 1
Pos Driver Car #
1 ERIC RUDD 12
2 LJ GRIMM 25
3 LB SKAGGS 71
4 KEITH LILLEY 87
5 TRAVIS ROLAND 10
6 KYLE MAYNARD 127
7 DAN PARTELO 9
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED – HEAT 2
Pos Driver Car #
1 WAYNE JEFFERSON 1O2
2 KYLE BOOKMILLER 03
3 JAMES GLOVER 20
4 STEVE ARNOLD 19
5 DALTON BALDWIN 4
6 RALPH BOWMAN 2
7 MIKE BIRK JR 10
8 VERNON HART JR 48
9 MICKEY “MARY” WRIGHT 6
PURE STOCKS – FEATURE
Pos Driver Car #
1 ROBERT CRISP 2
2 DARRIN ELLIS 71
3 DUANE BEST 3
4 GEORGE BARTIMAC 21X
5 KEITH THORBIN 88
6 KENNY GIBSON 43
7 DEAN BUTRUM 93
PURE STOCKS – HEAT
Pos Driver Car #
1 DARRIN ELLIS 71
2 DUANE BEST 3
3 ROBERT CRISP 2
4 KEITH THORBIN 88
5 GEORGE BARTIMAC 21X
6 KENNY GIBSON 43
7 DEAN BUTRUM 93
BOMBERS – FEATURE
Pos Driver Car #
1 MICHAEL CROOKS 33X
2 RANDY SPICER 22
3 JOHN STEWART 02
4 JIMMIE BEST 67
5 STEVE ELDER 42
6 JEFF FIRESTINE 93
7 ALEX PATTEN 81
8 KYLE BEST 3X
9 MARK PETTY 43
10 KEN (PAUL) SMITH 11
11 MARK MILTHALER 29
BOMBERS – HEAT 1
Pos Driver Car #
1 MICHAEL CROOKS 33X
2 STEVE ELDER 42
3 JIMMIE BEST 67
4 ALEX PATTEN 81
5 KEN (PAUL) SMITH 11
6 KYLE BEST 3X
BOMBERS – HEAT 2
Pos Driver Car #
1 JEFF FIRESTINE 93
2 JOHN STEWART 02
3 RANDY SPICER 22
4 MARK PETTY 43
5 MARK MILTHALER 29
DS TRUCKS – FEATURE
Pos Driver Car #
1 NICK HERNANDEZ 37
2 DAVID DAVIS 6
3 DENNIS COLLETTI, JR 4
4 DENNIS COLLETTI SR. 75
5 JOEY LOGAN 4X
6 CORY FRANCE 38
7 JIM ALTERIZIO 3
DS TRUCKS – HEAT
Pos Driver Car #
1 NICK HERNANDEZ 37
2 DAVID DAVIS 6
3 DENNIS COLLETTI, JR 4
4 DENNIS COLLETTI SR. 75
5 JOEY LOGAN 4X
6 CORY FRANCE 38
7 JIM ALTERIZIO 3