Jim Rouse, BRP Media (10-12-12) Ocala, FL – The Fall Brawl highlights the Florida State Sprint Car Championship for our Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars while the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models, Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators put on a wonderful show as well on Fan Appreciation Weekend!
First up were our very own Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks and a great show was in store. Buddy Pope dominated the heat race and was dominant in the first half of the feature. Travis Staats began to catch Pope with 4-to-go in the 10-lapper but couldn’t do anything with him. Reid Christensen would stay 3rd the entire night but he showed real progress as his rookie campaign in the Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks class. Buddy Pope was excited with his run as he gained some big points with his win. Travis Staats was a solid 2nd and Christensen finished 3rd on a strong caution-free night!
Next up were the Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models with JO Nobles the leader after 1 from his 4th place starting spot. Caution 1 would fly when Cheyanne Cox and Billy Holmes had trouble right in front of the lead pack; only those 2 would be involved, however. JO Nobles was simply on the path to victory before a caution came out with 2-to-go that allowed Waylon Haynes and David Showers a shot at him. It wouldn’t happen as Nobles held Haynes and Showers off with Christian McGillivray and Cory Hupp rounding out a strong top 5.
The Florida Sprint Car Championship was the 3rd of 4 races on the night. They put on a 30-lapper with a shot at the ring on the line and Mark Ruel, Jr. shot from pole to a comfortable lead. He wouldn’t keep it long as Tyler Godwin made the pass on lap 2. AJ Maddox smacked the backstretch wall on lap 8 but never got more than 2 wheels off the clay- he was uninjured, his car was not. Colin Cabre had a wild ride on lap 17 when he flipped his #12 in turn 4 all by himself. Cabre was okay but the #12 was not- he now moves on to the NASCAR Combines on Monday. With just 5 to go Stephen Darvalics made a pass on Godwin for the lead after his tie-rod broke, an unfortunate end to Godwin’s dominant night. Shane Kreidler flipped his #88K in the same region as Cabre and the result was the same- driver okay but car was not. Darvalics would not be denied a victory on this night. Robbie Smith, Matt Kurtz, Mark Ruel, Jr., and Tony Agin completed a tough top 5.
The Rent-N-Roll Gladiators ended the night with an amazing battle that you couldn’t believe. Steve Johnson took the early lead but lost it on lap 4 when he broke his right rear wheel off. Tony LaPorta would inherit the lead but had drivers such as Brandon Haseleu and Jordan McMillon behind him. The race had just 1 caution which allowed Brandon Haseleu to go from worst to first after he made an aggressive pass on LaPorta for the lead. Haseleu held on for yet another big win while LaPorta would finish a tough 2nd. Jordan McMillon finished 3rd with Shane Guessford and Steve Johnson the top 5.
Tomorrow we race the Twisted Tea Top Gun Sprint Cars again as they fight for a championship ring! The Scorpion Racing Products Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, and the 1-800-ASK GARY Thunder Stocks will also fight for points and glory. Don’t forget the $1 Coors Banquet and Pabst, fountain sodas, hotdogs, and popcorn! Pits open at 4, stands at 5, and racing will start at 7! See you for the ending of the Florida State Sprint Car Championship.
Bubba Raceway Park Results (10/12)
Florida State Sprint Car Championship Night One
1- 24 Stephen Darvalics
2- 6S Robbie Smith
3- 92 Matt Kurtz
4- 83 Mark Ruel, Jr.
5- 38 Tony Agin
6- 8 Rich Alexander
7- 88K Shane Kreidler
8- 38T Tyler Godwin
9- 12 Colin Cabre
10- 36 Ken Laureno
11- 3A AJ Maddox
12- 0X Phillip Pettay
13- 82 Danny Martin, Jr.
DNS- 7 Kyle Pitts
Buddy’s Home Furnishings Limited Late Models
1- 18 JO Nobles
2- 11H Waylon Haynes
3- 118 David Showers
4- 5C Christian McGillivray
5- 11C Cory Hupp
6- 2X Caleb McGillivray
7- 102 Jason Pope
8- 21 Forrest Gough
9- 30 Joey Brinson
10- 20C Cheyanne Cox
11- 14 Tyler Clem
12- 7 Billy Holmes
Barfield Law Group Mini Stocks
1- 81 Buddy Pope
2- 1AR Travis Staats
3- 30 Reid Christensen
Rent-N-Roll Gladiators
1- 3 Brandon Haseleu
2- 3T Tony LaPorta
3- 68 Jordan McMillon
4- 8 Shane Guessford
5- 81 Steve Johnson
6- 83 Kody Fisher
7- 33 Paul Ashford
8- 69 David Pate
DNS- 21 Reid Christensen