Cody Allen captures the win in the 40 lap race at Punta Gorda Speedway

From Linda Jericka

With a threat of another rain out, just when the twenty two 4 cylinders pulled into the infield for qualifying for their big 40 lap event, PGS was spared while the wall of rain went around the track and the racing was started.

A big Thank You to the Charlotte County Royal Order of Ponce de Leon Conquistadors for being on hand with the ship that gave a ride to all the kids during the parade lap. With so many kids on hand the ship had to make an extra lap around the track during the parade lap ceremonies.

First up for the night was the SE Champ Karts that ran for twenty five laps and after all the drafting and running at times four wide, it was the 15 Kart of Chris Ellis that crossed the finish line first.

T.Q. Midgets took to the track next and the 7 of Jamie Barnum jumped out to the lead until lap seven when Steven Maier took over the lead. Lap twelve a caution was thrown for debris that had come off of one of the cars when the second and third place cars could not stop in time and sent them flipping over each other in turn one. At the end of the race it was the 1 of Jack Duffy that would bring home the win Mike Belusar in second and Geoff Styner third.

The 4 cylinder cars are one of the backbone classes at the track, which means they run almost every week and are supporters of the track. The class is usually divided into two classes, the Fab 4, which are rookie drivers and then Pro 4, that are more experienced drivers that want to race in a more affordable class. You can usually find a father and son, brothers, friends, and more, driving the same car but in the different class which makes it fun, affordable and like a family affair of supporters to the track. This was the first time for qualifying the class as twenty two of them pulled to the infield to see who would be clocked with the fastest time and that went to Cody Allen of Lehigh. With the field set, it was Wally Smith of Naples that started on the pole and jumped out to the early lead until visiting driver Randy Johnson of Bradenton took over the lead on lap fourteen. Cody Allen who had to start farther back in the field made his way up to challenge Johnson and the two battled back and fourth for position. Known for usually running there races caution free, the forty laps were ran with only two cautions which made it hard for some to stay on the lead lap. When the checkers flew on lap forty it was the 98 of Cody Allen that crossed the line first with Randy Johnson second, Ryan Collver third, Dan Collver fourth and Phil Ellis would round out the top five.

Super Stocks had a few visiting drivers to make up the field for twenty five laps which were all battling hard with each other to get to the front. Shane Leonard would bring home the win again but a constant challenge by second place finisher Brian Harbin out of Bartow and Bobby Fischer of Naples third. Some of the visiting drivers from the class hauled all the way from some areas such as St. Pete, Lake Wales and Pinellas Park and was there first time on the track but made the super stock race a great show for the fans.

Open Wheel Modifieds also had an extended race running 75 laps that they qualified for with Doug Moff of Ft. Myers setting fast time. The field was set with Doug Miller out of Largo on the pole and Shawn Harper outside and when the green flag waved there was a caution before they could get the first lap in and through out the race the yellow caution flag would wave twelve more times. Moff made his was up to take over the lead on lap twelve from Miller who was being challenged by Randy Anderson who was making his first run in the Open Wheel Class. The battle was going on behind Moff with Anderson and Steve Arnold who had been sent to the back early for spinning out the leader and Miller. With five different restarts in the last twenty five laps Arnold just could not get the jump he needed, being on the outside of Moff but Anderson learned something from those restarts sitting behind Moff. With three laps to go the caution came out for the last time and that is when Anderson made his move and got around Arnold and was on the bumper of Moff when the white came out but it was Moff who held onto his winning streak with Anderson second and Arnold third.

The last race of the night is another backbone class of the track, the Road Warriors who always come out to give it everything they have to be the winner of the night. Randy Kile out of Lehigh ran all twenty five laps as the leader and with only one early caution it hard for some of the drivers to make it to the front. Kile came home in first and Derrick Horton second and Rick Reed from Arcadia third.

May 28^th the PGS Late models return also will be Pro Trucks, Rookie Trucks, Legends,  Bandoleros, Cowboy Cadillacs and the Thundering Heard Road Warriors for fifity laps.  So make plans now because Punta Gorda Speedway is the place to be on Saturday Nights.