You can always count on Punta Gorda Speedway to do their best to put on a great show of racing action, even when Mother Nature strikes. A shower came through during practice and it looked like the night was a wash, but the drivers were there and ready to race. The track was dried, the fans came out and they were not disappointed as you can always count on great fast and furious racing action from the PGS drivers.

First up for the night was the T.Q, Midgets that saw the 63 of Mike Belusar lead the first twenty laps with cars flying around the track on three wheels behind him. Five to go young Chris Gimmler saw his chance to get by Belusar and took it and brought the 51 machine home in the first place winners circle. Mike Belusar would settle for second while “cowboy” Rob Kohler coming out of three on three wheels would finish third.

Rookie truck class came out for twenty laps and you got to give the kids a big shout out for a great job of holding their own.  After a hard fought twenty laps it was Dean Butrum first, Chad Chastain second and Kenny Gibson who was third.

Road Warriors saw Phil Ellis start on the pole and take off like a rocket and lead the first twenty laps while cars were battleing for position behind him. The only caution came out on lap 19 for the 8 of Jeff Deeble that broke and was sitting in turn four. Ellis had a big lead before the caution and now had to start double file with five laps to go. Ellis was scored in first as they crossed the line on twenty but Rick Reed was coming, looked like to much gas as Ellis spun the tires coming out of four which gave Reed just enough to get by him. Rick Reed would bring it home in first while Phil Ellis had a strong second place finish and Jason Miller was third.

Pro Trucks were fourteen strong at the start of the race as Whitney Poole started the race on the pole with fast qualifier Travis Gossard Jr outside her. The green dropped and it was Poole off to the lead as Kelli Burns got by Gossard to run second then lap eight Nick Hernandez got by Burns to challenge Poole for first. Lap ten Sam Scott spun the 77 driven by Bill Vandevender in turn one that caught the 93 and then 99 drove into the stopped trucks, that retired both 99 and 93 trucks for the night. Lap thirteen Burns made her way up to Poole and got to close as she brought out the caution for spinning Poole and was sent to the rear. What great driving by Poole on the inside and Hernandez outside as Poole kept digging to stay in front as she drove the 00 just high enough coming out of the turn to keep the 37 from getting a run to pass. Hernandez stayed outside giving it his all as both drivers never touched side by side lap after lap but it was Poole being scored as the leader. Lap twenty, fast qualifier Travis Gossard got by Hernandez and had his site on Poole as he was reeling her in. Poole was not wanting to see the caution come out on lap forty for a big piece of fiberglass laying on the front stretch which put the trucks double file for the restart with Gossard outside Poole. Gossard got by Poole and went on to win the fifty lap feature and Poole was second, Nick Hernandez third, Brent Huber fourth and Kelli Burns battled through the field for fifth.

Late Model Sportsman saw Aaron Williamson break the winning streak of Brandon Morris but it wasn’t easy as the drivers are stepping up their game with the competition in this class. It was Brian Richardson who set fast time and was out front first with a fast race car till the 09 of Donnie Ollie Jr got sideways in turn four and did a great job of saving the car while running in second and missing the entire field behind him. The next caution came out when rookie driver Michael Atwell and returning for the first time in years, veteran driver Danny Yates tangled after a chain reaction from the restart when Williamson put the chrome horn to Richardson on the restart. Ten laps in the books Williamson got by Richardson to take over the lead and go onto win the 50 lap feature while Morris tried to keep his winning streak by battling Williamson but would settle for second. Brian Richardson hung on for third, David Williamson fourth and Donnie Ollie battled back from the rear to fifth.

The last race of the night was the street stocks, that saw three cars taken out on the first lap of the heat race including Ryan Pancoast who won the last five features. All cars were able to make it out for the feature as Richard Nelson ran in first place with a huge lead over second place Bobby Fischer while Pancoast was struggling in fourth. The 77 of Dellea brought out the one and only caution of the race on lap seventeen that gave the other drivers hope and took away Nelsons big lead. Bobby Fischer was able to get by Nelson on lap nineteen and Pancoast was right behind him. Pancoast took to the outside of Fischer and passed going down the front stretch to take over the lead and go on to make it six wins in a row. Fischer came in second while Shane Leonard got around Nelson on the last lap for third.

June 23- Super Late Models for 100 laps- Race #5.

It’s the last Super race before the summer break and Richie Anderson of N. Ft Myers is the points leader by one point over Billy Bigley Jr and only fourteen points between the top five drivers.

Also racing: Legends , Bandoleros, Road Warriors 50 Laps, Perfect Pest Control Pro 4 40Laps, S.E. Champ Karts
Make plans now for a great night of racing, all the classes are really heating up before the summer break.


Results from 6-16-2012

T.Q. Midgets
1 51 Chris Gimmler
2. 63 Mike Belusar
3. 30 Rob Kohler
4. 7 Jamie Barnum
5. 5 David Patterson
6. 23 Steven Maier
7. 58 Stu Chamberlain

Rookie Trucks
1. 93 Dean Butram Venice
2. 36 Chad Chastain Alva
3. 20 Kenny Gibson Venice
4. 77 James Dellea III Port Charlotte
5. 32 Kyle Case Venice
6. 00 Corey Bigley Naples

Road Warrior
1. 10X Rick Reed Port charlotte
2. 29 Phil Ellis Nakomis
3. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh
4. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh
5. 97 Chris Scott Nakomis
6. 27 Ann Marie Ricardi Naples
7. 33 Chris Loney Naples
8. 8 Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte

Pro Trucks 50 laps
1. 47 Travis Gossard Jr. Naples Fast Time
2. 00 Whitney Poole Vero Beach
3. 37 Nick Hernandez Palmetto
4. 64 Brent Huber Venice
5. 4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
6. 14 Sam Scott Naples
7. 32 Dylan Bigley Naples
8. 44 Erik Elsea Cape Coral
9. 20 Tom Carlough Venice
10. 84 Pat Mahoney Venice
11. 77 Bill Vandevender N. Ft Myers
12. 93 Jeff Firestine Venice
13. 99 Geoff Gulvin Venice
14. Dennis Colletti Sarasota

Late Model Sportsman
1. 13 Aaron Williamson Mulberry
2. 56M Brandon Morris Mulberry
3. 56R Brian Richardson Cape Coral Fast Time
4. 12 David Williamson Mulberry
5. 09 Donnie Ollie Jr. Lehigh
6. 67 James Dubose Arcadia
7. 22 Danny Yates Cape Coral
8. 98 Bill Vandevender N. Ft. Myers
9. 8 Dan Scott Naples
10. 81 Larry Braswell
11. 51 Michael Atwell Naples
12. John Garrett Port Charlotte

Street Stock
1. 47 Ryan Pancoast N. Ft. Myers
2. 2 Bobby Fischer Naples
3. 18 Shane Leonard Cape Coral
4. 80 Richard Nelson Port Charlotte
5. 77 James Dellea Port Charlotte
6. 98 A.J. Mott Lehigh
7. 57X Dave Bowman Bradenton