Sport Allen has accomplished a lot during his sprint car racing career, which has included wins on both dirt and asphalt.But one thing Allen had never done before was come from the back of the field twice for a victory. He can now add that particular accomplishment to his list of accolades after recovering from two early spins and taking Saturday night’s 40-lap Winged Sprint Car feature at Desoto Speedway.
Outside polesitter Johnny Gilbertson grabbed the lead at the start and was joined by Dude Teate, who climbed to second from his starting spot of eighth in just three laps. As the pair were racing for the lead on lap 6, Teate got into the back of Gilbertson heading into turn three causing the leader to spin in front of the field.
Allen and Larry J. Brazil were also collected in the spin. Gilbertson’s night would come to an end as a result of damage.
Teate assumed the lead on the restart. Joey Aguilar cleared polesitter Dave Retzlaff for second on the seventh lap and was starting to close on Teate for the lead when the yellow flew again for Allen’s spin coming out of turn four on lap 9.
Allen went to the rear for the second time as a result of the spin and wasted no time knifing his way through the field. In 10 laps Allen worked his way to fifth and continued his march to the lead after getting by Retzlaff and Adema.
On lap 32 Allen made his move, first getting by Aguilar for second coming out of turn two and passing Teate for the lead before coming out of turn four on the same lap.
“I was probably driving like a maniac and hopefully I didn’t put anyone in danger,” Allen said of his charges through the field. “When I get mad, I turn into a different driver.”
From that point on there was no doubt that Allen would be denied. he pulled out to a straightaway lead in less than three laps and cruised to the victory.
“I was extremely, extremely jealous when I saw Troy DeCaire come from last to first here last year,” Allen said, referring to Decaire’s drive from 27th to first in a TBARA race at Desoto last fall. “I saw him running up the top and keeping it in the gas and make three lanes around the track. I think I had a little of his skill with me tonight.”
Teate finished second, with Adema, Retzlaff and Ernie Teed rounding out the top five. Aguilar’s car fell off the pace with two laps to go, resulting in a sixth place finish.
In the LKQ Pick Your Part Pure Stocks 25-lap feature, a fiery accident took place involving the cars of Brad Tindal, Kyle Best and James Widner. Fire engulfed Tindal’s and Best’s cars, but all three drivers were able to escape the inferno without serious injury.
When racing resumed Jimmie Best would lead Brian Hillyer and Jeff Firestine for the next several laps. Donny Funk, who was sent to the rear after tapping Tindal’s car and triggering the lap 7 accident, quickly worked his way up through the field and passed Hillyer for second with six laps to go.
Funk quickly closed in on Best and the two ran nose-to-tail for the final five laps. On the white flag lap Funk got a run coming off turn two and dove underneath Best heading into turn three. The two cars made contact coming through the final corner, but it was Funk who edged Best in a photo finish. Hillyer finished third.
Bobby Mobley went from seventh to first in the first 13 laps of the 25-lap Take Aim Gun Range Street Stock feature. Mobley had built a huge lead when the caution flew for early leader Jimmy Castleberry’s spin in turn four on lap 24.
Mobley survived a challenge from Jonathan Heidenthal and Mike Karrivan on the restart and cruised to the victory. Karrivan finished second after a battle with Heidenthal over the final laps.
In other action Saturday night, Aaron Williamson kicked off the Sportsmen season by leading from green-to-checker in the 40-lap feature event; Lee Davis survived a last-lap battle with Travis Barfield to win the 25-lap Modified Mini feature; and Dean Butrum won the 25-lap Bomber feature.
Pro Late Models, Pure Stocks, Street Stocks, Rookie 4’s, Mini Stocks, and the new 4-cylinder/V6 Strictly Stock class will be in action next Saturday night at Desoto Speedway.