It was a long hot day for the drivers but the track was spared with not one drop of rain. Fans were treated to some of the best short track racing in the state. The night started out with the Fab 4 class that saw the 98 of Aaron Hardgrove of Lehigh in the lead from start to finish. Paul Richards Jr of Naples tried everything he could to make it three in a row but came up short to finish second.
The always entertaining Cowboy Cadillac were up next and they lived up to their name with the 8 truck of Jeff Deeble out in front till lap eight. James Dellea of Port Charlotte was to start outside the 8 but took up the rear to make it more interesting and that he did. Dellea battled his way through the field and found himself scored in first place by lap nine. The battle was with the 18 truck of Robert Willms and Deeble for that second spot but Willms would end up second and Deeble third.
Everyone was waiting for the Super Stock race and wondering what kinda of drama would unfold in this very competitive class. It was Shane Leonard of Cape Coral that jumped out to an early lead with Jimmie Meiser on his bumper till the first caution came out on lap eighteen. Lance Sober of Arcadia was running in the third spot with his dad Randy Sober of Punta Gorda behind him while Logan Leonard was on the back bumper of Sober trying to get by. The caution was thrown by flagman Greg Roeback who pulled over the 2 of Sober and then Leonard to give them a few words of wisdom on their driving skills. Randy Sober tried to make a pass on son Lance for third but Lance shut the door on the 2 which gave way to Logan Leonard who was able to then get around the 2 and try to make a move on Lance. With one lap to go Logan was on the gas and as they came out of turn four to take the checkers the car got loose and Logan spun just shy of the finish line were he sat and watched the cars behind him go by. Shane Leonard of Cape Coral was the winner with Jimmie Meiser second, Lance Sober was third, who would then be DQed in tech for being over 100 lbs to light, that graciously gave that third spot to his dad, Randy Sober.
Fan Participation was the half time show and what an exciting show it was, with 9 drivers lined up in the X in their personal vehicles to do battle against each other. Their were big trucks and “Really Big” trucks, little trucks and a firebird, as they were buckled up, helmet on and ready for their 1 lap elimination. The last two standing were Jarrett Cornell in the firebird who was outside Don VanAcker in the ford truck and the green dropped for this two lap shoot out. Jarrett Cornell smoked the ford truck of VanAcker for “bragging rights and a trophy as the fans cheered him on.
Pro 4 class took to the track for their feature were Paul Richards Sr was out front till the half way mark of this caution free race. Ryan Collver would make it four wins in a row as he took over the lead on lap sixteen and then to the winners circle. Paul Richards Sr hung on for second and Cody Allen who was shooting sparks from under the car brought it home in third.
Seventeen strong competitive sportsman drivers showed up for the fifty lap feature that had fans on the edge of their seat cheering or booing and what a show they put on. Brian Richardson of Cape Coral sat on the pole and jumped out to an early lead and tried his best to stay in that spot. Seven restarts in the first fifteen laps due to cautions was not what Richardson was hoping for and on lap sixteen fast qualifier Greg Krom who started fourth row back would find himself with his first trip to the rear. Bill Vandevender made his was by Richarson on lap eighteen bringing James Duboes with him and sending Richardson to third. At the half way mark Richardson and Jeremy Goddard of Naples found themselves taking their cars to the pits with mechanical problems as Timmy Lowe was in the mix for the battle running in third. The racing was heating up and the laps were clicking and when the checker flags were finally in the air it was Bill Vandevender to bring it across the line first.
After Bill’s win he said “Wow, what a day and night!! Started off with the clutch going out in practice, had to send Dad back to the house and get the spare. Busted our rumps to get it buttoned up just in time to make a qualifying lap (no practice), qualified 6th, started 4th..Car was awesome with the adjustments we made, Finished 1st!!!! I would like to thank John Boyer first, without him i wouldn’t have made it out there, also Dad, My wife, Stuart, Steve, Kent Mclean, Scotter, Brian and all of TCS racing. Thanks guys
James Dubose of Arcadia brought home a strong second place finish and Timmy Lowe of Pinellas Park was third.
The fans stuck around for the final race of the night which was the thundering heard Road Warriors and they were still around after the race talking about the exciting final laps of the race. The Road Warriors are another class that is so full of action you just don’t know who or what to watch in fear you might miss something cause there is action going on all around the track. The speedway owner set the field for this race by inverting the field from the heat finish and what a race it was. Cody Benoit jumped out to the lead with Randy Kile behind him and then battling beside him, while the back cars were charging through the field. What a move by Phil “ The Thrill” Morrison who took it to the dirt to take the third spot from Chris Scott and brought the 80 of Richard Nelson with him. Nelson would get sent to the rear on lap thirteen for spinning the 89 of Morrison, who on the restart took over the lead from Benoit. Morrison had a fast car and Benoit ran strong in second while Kile charged Benoit for the second spot with five to go. Nelson found him self pointed to the rear again for spinning the 10 of Jason Miller who had got by Benoit for that third spot. The two to go was shown and Nelson putting pressure on the 10 of Miller who was now in second, got loose so Nelson took advantage and made a move down in the dirt, passed Miller and brought Kile with him to finish second and third. Miller was not happy finding himself in the fourth finishing spot.
Make plans now for next weeks racing action
Oct 1- Goodyear Late Model 100 6 pack Series #4, Legends, Bandolero, Road Warriors, Pro4, Fab4
Results from 9-24-2011
Punta Gorda Speedway
Results from 9-24-2011
Sportsman 50 Lps.
1. 84 Bill Vandevender N. Ft. Myers
2. 67 James Dubose Arcadia
3. 57 Timmy Lowe Pinellas Park
4. 35 Greg Krom Sarasota (Fast Time)
5. 7 Danny Caylor Jr. Lehigh
6. 68 Gary McFall Jr. Venice
7. 09 Donnie Ollie Jr. Lehigh
8. 98 Danny Brown Lehigh
9. 39 Philip Johnson Naples
10. 8 Dan Scott Naples
11. 36 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral
12. 63 Ricky Bullard Jr. Arcadia
13. 56 Brian Richardson Cape Coral
14. 38 Jeremy Goddard Naples
15. 6 Greg Gorniak Homestead
16. 9 Danny Daniels Jr. Lehigh
17. 9B Jerry Bryant. Punta Gorda
Super Stock
1. 18 Shane Leonard Cape Coral
2. 88 Jimmy Meiser Cape Coral
3. 2S Randy Sober Punta Gorda
4. 57 Logan Leonard Cape Coral
5. 98 A. J. Mott Ocala
6. 2 David Fischer Naples
7. 7 Rick Shellnut
8. 1 Lance Sober Arcadia D.Q.
Road Warriors
1. 89 Phil Morrison Lehigh
2. 80 Richard Nelson Bradenton
3. 14 Randy Kile Lehigh
4. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh
5. 1 Rick Reed Acadia
6. 20 Cody Beniot Buckingham
7. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh
8. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
9. 22 Derrick Horton N. Ft. Myers
Cowboy Cadillacs
1. 77 James Dellea Port Charlotte
2. 18 Robert Willms Cape Coral
3. 8 Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte
4. 33 Les Couch Punta Gorda
5. 30 Ken Badali Port Charlotte
6. 88 Brad Wegert Port Charlotte
Pro 4
1. 04 Ryan Collver N. Ft. Myers
2. 61 Paul Richards Sr. Naples
3. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh
4. 28 Dylan Bigley Naples
5. 00 Dan Collver N. Ft. Myers
6. 84 Ron Sorensen Jr. Pinellas Park
7. 29 Phil Ellis North Port
8. 32 Corey Bigley Naples
9. 27 Jeremy Perkins N. Ft. Myers
10. 63 Kris Bridges Venice
11. 1 Robbie Boos St. Pete D. N. S.
Fab 4
1. 98 Aaron Hardgrove Lehigh
2. 61 Paul Richards Jr. Naples
3. 3 Zac Campilonga Bradenton
4. 27 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers