The day started off with all drivers and crews having to roll through tech with all their safety gear, it was a long hot process but something the PGS owner strongly believes in. Mostly all the PGS backbone classes were in compliance with the safety regulations since they have been through safety inspections before at PGS. It wasn’t the same for some of the drivers from the super late model s, which is a visiting class, that learned some of their safety equipment should be updated.
There were plenty of things going on around the track in honor of Tyler Morr, every driver was given a ribbon to wear with Tyler’s name on it that was made by Linda Deeble. The Milthaler family had a table set up all evening selling raffle tickets for items and also handing out ribbons they made to all the fans. Jr Fan Club leader Jessica had the kids write quotes on balloons and the kids let them go during a special prayer and missing man, in the 4 cyl class. Drivers passed the helmet through the stands and you could really tell what the meaning of racing family truly is.
The racing started out with the Rookie Trucks for 25 laps and it was Chad Chastain from Alva that led every lap but it wasn’t an easy night for him. There were three cautions and Chastain had great restarts but was strongly challenged by Corey Bigley from Naples in the 00 truck till lap twelve. Then Chastain had his hands full of the 20 driven by Kenny Gibson who was putting the chrome horn to him, till Phil Ellis gave it a shot the last four laps. Chastain would hang on and bring it home in first and raise his slice of watermelon in victory lane. Phil Ellis would finish second and Corey Bigley fought back for third.
Pro 4 class was started with the missing man in honor of Tyler Morr, and brothers Ryan Dan Collver was hoping to finish in the one two spot. Paul Richards Jr. had other plans as he was after a track record in the class and that was five wins in a row and Richards of Naples did that as he brought home his sixth win in the class. Ryan Collver would finish second and brother Dan Collver third.
Road Warriors took to the track with a pretty clean side by side bumper to bumper racing that only saw two cautions for their 25 laps. Jason Miller got around team mate Jeremy Daring on lap six and ran his number 10 to the finish line in the first spot, team mates Jeremy Daring and Rick Reed would finish second and third. There were some strong challenges from drivers like Chris Loney Derrick Horton and Cody Allen but fell just a bit short on the lap that counted.
The big race that all the fans came out to see was the super late models for 100 laps that were all lined up on the front stretch as introduction were made. It was good to see some drivers back at PGS in the 123 pack series like Joe Winchell, B.J, McLeod and Casey Caudill. Fast qualifier was Wayne Anderson but it was Joe Winchell that was sitting on the front row as the green flag dropped. A few cars were a little aggressive and wanted to get to the front on the first lap and that caused the 28 of Dylan Bigley to pit with a flat tire and a not to good handling 78 car of McLeod. The next caution came out when L.B. Skaggs tagged the 5 of Joe Boyd and an innocent Mike Knotek had no place to go which ended his night. The next thirty laps would be caution free as Winchell was leading but Billy Bigley Jr was picking them off on the outside, that’s right Bigley passed passed Richie Anderson on the outside on lap twenty three then went by Winchell on the outside on lap twenty five to take over the lead. Lap forty five while running in second, Winchell lost power or something broke and had to pit and never returned. It was Bigley and Richie Anderson while Steve Gill was battling his way through the
field, and was challenging Anderson for that second spot at the half way mark. After twenty five laps, Gill made his way around Anderson and had his sight on the 28 of Bigley and that first place position. Gill somehow got by Bigley on lap 
80 and went onto win while Bigley cruised behind him in second and Richie Anderson hung on for third Wayne Anderson Was fourth and Jeff Schofield rounded out the top five. It was a special win for Gill as he was driving the 24 car in honor of his dad that had just recently passed away.
Pro Trucks put on a great show for thirty five laps and it was Sportsman driver Bill Vandevender in the 77 Dellea truck that just dominated the race start to finish. We heard that the 77 truck had some problems and after a quick consulting form Bill’s dad the truck was a winner winner waffle house dinner truck as Bill would call all his wins in the sportsman class. While Kelli Burns set fast time and was the points leader going into the night’s race she had some handling issues and a few spins. Not the same for Whitney Poole in the 00 truck that got in a little banged up truck after the rookie race but she really wheeled that truck to the front. Poole passed Travis Gossard jr for second on lap twenty on and went on to finish in second while Gossard was third and Sam Scott fourth.
The last race of the night was the cowboy cadillacs and as track announcer racin Jason said you sure can have a race with three trucks. After twenty laps and each truck being sent to the back at least once, no fenders on the 88 truck and a visit from the flagman to tell them in person what the black flag means, wow, if you did not stick around for the excitement. At the last lap only it was Stuart Vandevender that crossed the line first and great hard fought battles from Jeff Deeble that finished second and Brad Wegert third. Deeble and Wegert were found afterwards saying what a fun race that was side by side and giving it their all to break the winning streak of Vandevender.
Punta Gorda Speedway June 2 nd racing action
Open Wheel Modified 35, TQ Midgets,
Legends, Bando, Pro 4, Street Stock and the very popular fan participation
PUNTA GORDA SPEEDWAY RESULTS
5/26/12
Super Late Model
1. 24 Steve Gill Sarasota
2. 28 Billy Bigley Naples
3. 51 Richie Anderson N. Ft. Myers
4. 84 Wayne Anderson Wildwood
5. 77 Jeff Scofield
6. 32 Casey Caudill Port Orange
7. 12 David Greene Fort Pierce
8. 5 Joe Boyd Riverview
9. 28D Dylan Bigley Naples
10. 22 David King Alturas
11. 28D T. J. Duke Southwest Banches
12. 92 Michael Cenzi Naples
13. 71 L. B. Skaggs N. Ft. Myers
14. 64 Joe Winchell Dade city
15. 11 David Weaver Plantation
16. 13 Mike Knotek Labelle
17. 78 B. J. McLeod Wachula
18.17 Eddie King Sr. Alturas
19. 7 Amanda Fergusen Clearmont D.N.S.
Pro Trucks
1. 77 Bill Vandevender Cape coral
2. 00T Whitney Poole Vero Beach
3. 47 Travis Gossard Jr.
4. 14 Sam Scott Naples
5. 21 Scott Reeves Royal Palm Beach
6.4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
7. 32T Dylan Bigley Naples
8. 25 Darin McCurdy Port Charlotte
9. 44 Erick Elsea Cape Coral
10. 20 Tom Carlough Venice
11. 18 Mark Hooven Orlando
12. 93 Jeff Firestine Venice
Cowboy Cadillac’s
1. 36 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral
2. 8 Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte
3. 88 Brad Wegert Port Charlotte
Road Warrior
1. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres
2. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh Acres
3. 10x Rick Reed Punta Gorda
4. 7 Cody Allen Lehigh
5. 27 Derrick Horton N. Ft. Myers
6. 33 Chris Loney Naples
7. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
8. 96 Rob Vigilo Bradenton
9. 29 Phil Ellis Jr. Rotonda
10. 8 Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte
11. 15 Dean Butram Venice
12. 17 James Stokes Lehigh
Pro 4
1. 61 Paul Richards Jr. Naples
2. 04 Ryan Collver Ft. Myers
3. 00 Dan Collver N. Ft. Myers
4. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis St. Pete
5. 30 Stephen Babcock Punta Gorda
Rookie Trucks
1. 36 Chad Chastain Alva
2. 32 Phil Ellis Nakomis
3. 00 Corey Bigley Naples
4. 77 James Dellea III Port Charlotte
5. 20 Kenny Gibson
6. 93 Dean Butrum