[slideshow id=2]Orlando SpeedWorld returned to action Friday night and fans were treated to a
good night of racing despite some unseasonably chilly temperatures and a cold
wind.
A dozen Legend Cars made the trip to the high-banked three-eighths mile with
Dakota Baggette and Jordan Black winning the pair of heat races.
Dave “Too Tall” Gleason grabbed the early advantage at the start of the 25-lap
feature but caution flew at the end of lap one for a three car tangle in turn
one involving Robbie Lyons, Tony Steinbuck and Joey Langis.  Lyons got a good
piece of the concrete and was eliminated from competition while Steinbuck and
Langis continued.
Baggette sped around Gleason on the restart and began to build a good-sized
lead while Black got around Gleason for third on the fifth lap and set sail
after the leader.  Black was on a rail and passed Baggette for the top spot on
lap 14, then led the remaining distance to score the victory.  Baggette
claimed second with Gleason third.  Becca Monopoli made a late pass to take
fourth spot ahead of Keith Sinkula.  Donovan Ponder took the checker in sixth
with Noah Cornman, Steinbuck, Langis, Ted Ruffo, Roger Englund and Lyons
rounding out the finishers.
After Jeff Cuddy led the opening lap of the Super Stock Feature, Danny Frye
claimed the front spot and led the remaining distance despite constant
pressure from heat winner Donny Funk.  Frye, who appeared to have half the
fans in the grandstands wildly rooting for him, took a close win over Funk and
hard-charging Bobby Cuddy.  Young Michael Held did a superb job coming back
from a lap four spin to take fourth spot over Ernie Tuminello.  Rounding out
the top-ten were Brandon Christian, Art Hendren, Jeff Cuddy, Denny Snyder and
Warren Schurr.
Alan Bruns overcame a problem with a broken shifter to top the Pro Late Model
feature after a good battle with Rickey Moxley who settled for second spot
ahead of Tommy Mackey.  Zach Harris led the first lap of the feature but
mechanical woes put him in the pits before the completion of the event.  Bruns
also won the heat race.
Biggest surprise of the night came in the Sportsman class as Daniel Conlin,
Jr., making his first-ever start in a full-bodied race car, won the Sportsman
feature going away.  The young driver, who raced Bandoleros and Legend Cars
here over the last few years, made it look easy as he won by a large margin.
Trailing Conlin to the checker were heat race winner Richard Fiore, Ron
Gustafson, early leader Derrick Wood and Donny Funk.
Matt Jarrett also scored a runaway victory in the E-Modified class as he led
every lap to take the win over Earl Beckner, Bruce Packer and Roger Benton.
Beckner won the heat race but his car appeared to be extremely loose in the
feature after the weather turned cooler.  John Hodge missed the show after
blowing an engine in hot laps.
Shane Sutorus topped the Strictly Stock feature after taking the lead from Jim
“Crusher” Erb on lap ten and they finished in that order in front of a
fast-closing Wes Railing, Jr. who had to settle for third.  Fourth went to the
“Big Bad Buick” of Zach Curtis with Luis Guillen fifth.  Completing the
finishers were Eddie Moran, Donald Springer and Tyler Jewer. Sutorus also won
the heat.
Sam Cornman came home victorious in the very competitive Bandolero feature,
passing Brett Suggs on the final lap.  Suggs spun out coming to the checker
allowing heat winner  Ryan Pierce to take second.  David Owen was third ahead
of Colton Bramlett and Suggs.
This Friday night, April 12, The Super Late Models are at SpeedWorld for a
100-lap event as part of the Brighthouse Challenge Series. Also in action will
be the Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Pro Trucks, Super Stocks, Strictly Stocks and
Bandoleros.