Bronson and Mathews Battle For $1000 at Volusia

by BJ Cavin- VSP Media

40B Kyle Bronson leads 33 Jeff Mathews down the Volusia frontstretch on his way to a $1000 Budweiser Modified victory

BARBERVILLE, FL-  The excitement level at Volusia Speedway Park was cranked up a notch on Saturday night as the Quality Brands Budweiser Modifieds attacked the high speed half mile and each other for a $1000 payday, and four more of Volusia’s top divisions went racing for points and respect.  And as if that were not enough to entertain the fans, Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat sponsored a Powder Puff Event featuring Volusia’s Street Stock cars that produced a fender banging finale to the night’s racing action.

The fans and some racers were a bit surprised during heat racing as action on the track paused long enough for a circling helicopter to land in the Gator Pond area behind Volusia’s backstretch.  The chopper was part of a plan hatched by Volusia Speedway general manager Ken Sands, plus Bubba Raceway Park owner and promoter Bubba Clem, to get racer Jeff Mathews from one venue to another in order to race at both facilities in the same night in two different divisions.  Ken Sands moved his schedule to allow the Budweiser Modified $1000 to win race to be the first feature of the night, and Bubba Clem set his schedule so that Mathews would have time to run at VSP, then fly back across the forest to race his late model in the Powell Memorial.  It worked out well for Mathews, who scored two top three finishes on the night, and gave the fans some extra entertainment, plus it opened a door of communication between Bubba Clem and Ken Sands that has not closed, and is promising further cooperation between two of the top dirt tracks in Florida.

And Mathews was out to race as he won his heat handily and looked to be the dominant force going into the 20 lap Quality Brands Budweiser Modified feature for the $1000 paycheck, but in order to get the dough Mathews had to work first as he began the feature on the third row with plenty of exceptional and motivated racers in front of him.  Mathews began his quest from 4th place early on as Garret Stewart snatched the early lead and an all out brawl developed for the top five spots.  PJ  Wiggins had an even deeper starting spot than Mathews but shot forward quickly, climbing into the top five by lap 6.

Dale Murray was also involved in the mayhem up front, finally wrestling the lead away from Stewart but then relinquishing it almost immediately as Mathews sped to the front.  That could have been the end of it, but on lap 12 Kyle Bronson found something in the clay that made his machine very happy, and Bronson climbed all over Mathews before passing him by on the next circuit around the track.  And try as hard as he might, Jeff Mathews had nothing for Kyle Bronson after that point in the race as Bronson sailed to a victory with Jeff Mathews following for second place.  PJ Wiggins climbed up to the third spot by the finish, and Garret Stewart hung on for fourth place.  And credit is due to Jared Allison and his crew after an early race tangle in turn 3 left his car battered and limping into the pits on a flat tire.  Allison kept his wits about him and recovered nicely, coming home in fifth place.

As some racers have been struggling with the choice between protecting their points standings at one track and maybe earning an extra dollar or two at another, Philip Brown has seized the resulting opportunity to assert himself as the man to beat in the Daytona Sportswear Street Stocks at Volusia Speedway Park.  Mick Kulack was a winner a couple of weeks ago but missed last week’s event that Brown won, so as the green flag waved all eyes were on both racers as Kulak grabbed the early lead from the pole.  But Phil Brown was out to take over and shot forward, and contact between he and Kulack sent both backward and launched Chris Lane to the lead on lap 2.

While Kulack never really recovered from that incident and mainly held his own for the remainder of the race, Philip Brown refocused himself and went back to the front, overtaking Lane and grabbing the lead for good on lap 4. And from there he held off all challengers with ease to seal another win and celebrate in the Destination Daytona Victory Lane, while Chris Lane settled for as trip to the scalehouse after finishing in second place.  Mick Kulack held on for third place, followed by Robert Sirmons and Mark Maresca for fourth and fifth.

Another Volusia racer who is quickly asserting his dominance in his division is Tom Hughes, as the Belleview racer grabbed yet another victory over Volusia’s Thunder Stocks on Saturday night.

Alan Lane led from the pole but held his lead for a matter of feet before Tom Hughes overtook him, and Hughes lost his lead briefly to Alan Peacock as two spins by Ron Adams forced two restarts in the first three laps of the race.  But from there Hughes was unstoppable, and Alan Peacock lost another position as DJ Nobles came blasting forward to tangle with the top three.  Tom Hughes notched the win and solidified his points lead while DJ Nobles was pleased with a second place finish, and Alan Peacock settled for third place.  Brian Schrunk and Alan Lane rounded out the top five finishers.

Blaise Hetznecker made his return to the Daytona Machine Shop Sportsman Division on Saturday night and grabbed the early lead of the feature race from the pole position, but Scott Lagasse was at the controls of the 11 car and rocketed from a third row starting position and into the top three in less than a lap, then went to work on Steve Shead who was following Hetznecker in second place. Shead refused to allow Lagassee any slack, and as Hetznecker slipped back and allowed Shead to take the lead, Lagasse went to the front with the 10 car.  And while Shead and Lagasse went at it for the top spot, Matt Mcgillivray was all over Hetznecker for third place. Lagasse surpassed Shead on lap 11, and Mcgillivray got the better of Hetznecker on lap 14.

A late race tangle in turns 3 and 4 shook things up as Mike Haney mounted a late charge into the top three.  Paul Shead’s spin resulted in a caution as Blaise Hetznecker and Marc Kinley spun to avoid the mess, and Mike Haney was penalized 2 positions for jumping the restart.  And with just a lap of racing left to settle the score, Scott Lagasse went on to another interview in Destination Daytona Victory Lane while Steve Shead scored a respectable second place finish.  Mike Haney recovered from his penalty to take third place, and Matt Mcgillivray was fourth.  And Cheyenne Cox rebounded to finish in fifth place after two turn four spins during the race for her best Daytona Machine Shop Sportsman finish to date.

The Sparkle and Shine Car Wash Challenger feature turned into a wild event with so much position swapping and fender banging that even the track officials were having a tough time keeping track of all of the action, but as usual two of the main characters near the front of the pack were Casey Feaster and RJ Glaser, as those two determined competitors continue their friendly rivalry.  Last week’s winner, Ray Hunter, also figured into the mix, as did a hard charging Dalton Strehle who fought his way into the top three and kept stirring the pot for lap after lap with gutsy racing.  Even Reid Christensen got into the fray late in the race, fishtailing his way through turn four and down the frontstretch as he joined the front pack.

The final result saw Casey Feaster change his approach to the big half mile, staying off the bottom of the track to snatch a win away from second place finisher Ray Hunter.  Dalton Strehle created tons of excitement on his way to his third place finish, and Reid Christensen got the better of RJ Glaser as they finished fourth and fifth on the night.

Saturday’s racing was topped off by a wild Street Stock Powder Puff Race, featuring two ladies who were both determined to get the win at all costs.  Shelly Daugharty Peterson climbed into Phil Brown’s number 13 car that had won earlier in the night, while Mark Marasca’s 77 machine was driven by drag racer Alli Triplett, and both spent the majority of the race side by side as they tried to get the better of the big half mile and each other. A spin on the final lap by the 13 machine could have ended the race, but officials threw a caution and set up a one lap dash for the win. and when Alli Tripplett accidentally slid up and into Shelly Daugharty Peterson’s car in turn one, everything changed.  That unexpected contact angered Peterson, and she focused that anger to speed away and seal a win.

Racing returns to The World’s Fastest Half Mile on Saturday, June 11th, as the Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat Late Models will be back in action along with the Daytona Machine Shop Sportsman cars, the Daytona Sportswear Street Stocks, Volusia’s wild Thunder Stocks, and the Sparkle and Shine Car Wash Challengers.  Fans are reminded that changes have been made to the racing schedule in the coming weeks, and the updated schedule can be viewed by visiting www.TheVolusiaSpeedway.com.

Volusia Speedway Park Results for 6/4/11

Quality Brands Budweiser Modified (20 laps/$1000 to win)

1- 40B Kyle Bronson
2- 33 Jeff Mathews
3- 22 PJ Wiggins
4- 67 Garret Stewart
5- 18 Jared Allison
6- 75 Jamie Carter
7- 66 Dale Murray
8- 40S James Smith
9- 54 Larry Burkins
10- 10 Scott Mooers
11- Z06 Larry Mott
12- 00 Ryan Crosby
13- 7S Ronnie Chance
14- 2H Cory Hupp

Daytona Sportswear Street Stock

1- 13 Philip Brown
2- 5 Chris Lane
3- 2S Mick Kulack
4- 94 Robert Sirmons
5- 77 Mark Maresca
6- A2Z Chuck McHone
7- 28 Jeff Miller
8- V1 Delbert Moyer

Volusia Speedway Thunder Stock

1- 29 Tom Hughes
2- 15 DJ Nobles

3- 13 Alan Peacock
4- 16 Brian Schrunk
5- 05 Alan Lane
6- 118 Ron Adams
7- 32 Jim Shaw
8- 4C Richard Calmes
9- 3 Jeff Baer
10- 30 Mike Tovet
11- 9 Jim Goemple
DNS- 24 Randy Strehle
DNS- 312 Donnie Birdwell
DNS- 44 Jamie Anderson

Daytona Machine Shop Sportsman

1- 11 Scott Lagasse
2- 10 Steve Shead
3- 22 Mike Haney
4- 94 Matt Mcgillivray
5- 20 Cheyenne Cox
6- 17K Marc Kinley
7- 17H Blaise Hetznecker
8- 80 Paul Shead
9- 96 Matt Johnson
10- 71 Dave Cline
11- 54 Tim Hughes
12- 57 Heinz Hass

DNS- 11C Corey Holley
DNS- 101 (Driver Unknown)

Sparkle and Shine Car Wash Challenger

1- 20 Casey Feaster
2- 79 Ray Hunter
3- 5 Dalton Strehle
4- 30 Reid Christensen
5- 004 RJ Glaser
6- 3 Brandon Haseleu
7- 15 Jamie Hughes
8- 78 Ken Hutchenson
9- 49 Larry Langston
10- 01 Daniel Wolf
11- 6 Sonny Espy
12- 60 James Smith
13- 41 Bobby Super
14- 12 Nathan Rhoades
15- 21 Art Souther

Daytona Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram Fiat Street Stock Powder Puff

1- Shelly Daugharty Peterson

2- Alli Triplett

Photos courtesy of Bob Perran: