It was a great night for racing at Punta Gorda Speedway, the weather was cool but some tempers were hot and the new “young guns” showed what they got. All the qualifying and heat races were done and Chaplin Stone gave a moment of silence for Al Newman before the parade and features got under way.
First up were the Bandoleros that saw the X of Johnny Holmes of Port Charlotte loose control and bounce off the tires in turn three before one lap was in the books. Johnny Holmes was lucky to hit the tires and not the wall which made him able to walk away but end his night of racing. Keith Sinkula of Palm City scares the crowd as he drives pedal to the metal and never lifts as he flys around the track to bring home the win. Braden Nash crossed the line second and A.J. Freitas third Sam Audie wrecked in practice and wrenched all afternoon to make the feature but just could not get the car right to be in the chase.
T.Q. Midgets came out for their feature and saw Chris Gimmler from Palm Beach Gardens dominate all twenty five laps. Gimmler who usually finds himself chasing the 30 of Mike Belusar was flying around the track as the leader and it was Belusar that could not catch him. One lap to go, Gimmler with a big lead comes down the front to take the checker and crosses the line as something goes in the car. Gimmler would finish first but his car not able to make it to the winners Circle with Belusar second Geoff Styner was third.
Rookie Trucks came out for their final points race of the season and the battle was on when not even a lap was in the books when down the front stretch who could cross the line first, trucks got loose and trucks went everywhere. After the third attempt of a restart it was Chad Chastain out of Alva that drove on the outside of Michael Atwell to take over the lead on lap two. Chastain was well on his way to a victory and breaking Kelli Burns winning streak as he was being scored in first with Burns second and Atwell third. Halfway was shown when Atwell and Burns were close, Atwell got called for spinning Burns and brought out a caution. Atwell must not of liked the call as he bumped the back end of Burns under caution and the flagman showed him the black flag and sent him to the pits. Chastain knew he had to smash the gas and go on the restart as Burns was along side him Chastain spun the tires and Burns took off and took over the lead. Kelli Burns would hold on to her winning streak and bring it home in first making it six wins in a row. Chad Chastain would finish second and Cody Martell third.
Pro 4 class saw Dylan Bigley of Naples run start to finish as the leader while Phil Ellis battled Ryan Collver on the outside for fifteen laps and being scored second. Ellis just wore that car out running on the outside when Collver got by to take over that second spot then had to battle Paul Richards Sr who was right on his bumper. Ryan Collver would bring it home in the second spot, Richards got by Ellis for third and brought Cody Allen along to finish fourth and a wore out Phil Ellis had to settle for fifth.
Legends cars saw the 94 of Matt Blankenship set fast time of 16.922 start the feature fourth row back while Josh Williams who had second fast started in the rear and Mike Verhaagh on the pole. Darin Coker of Palm Beach Gardens jumped out to an early lead while Shawn Hooven from Orlando was chasing him in the second spot while Blankenship had made it up to third. Williams was picking them off one by one and was running fifth by lap ten when a caution came out for Tyler Audie and Joey Langis who got tangled up on the backstretch and into the wall. Langis had to much damage to continue and Audie would take up the rear while Williams made a pit stop for and adjustment or ran over debris but was not able to make it back out before the green came out. Hooven got by Coker for the lead while Blankenship was putting the pressure on some cars that made flagman Greg Roeback throw a caution and pull Blankenship aside to warn him about rough driving as he had passed Coker for second. On the restart Blankenship got a good start and passed Hooven for the lead bring Coker with him for second and Hooven would have to settle for third finishing order.
The 2nd annual Al Newman Pro Truck race was on for fifty laps were good friend of Newman, Danny Anderson out of Bradenton, set fast time but would start third row back. Al Newmans family was on hand and good friend Danny was racing in honor of Newman and since the Rookie points were over the young Rookies took up the tail to pay tribute to a great racer. Travis Gossard Jr looked to have a fast truck again this week as he lead for the first thirty five laps but Danny Anderson was on a mission and was chasing him down in the second spot by lap sixteen. Who knew the rookies would run like pros as Michael Atwell was picking off the pro drivers one by one running in fourth and Chad Chastain fifth when the caution came out with twelve laps to go. Anderson had just got by Gossard before the caution as Gossard seamed to be not running as strong and Chastain was sent to the rear for the caution. Anderson on the front and Gossard outside for the restart with Hooven and Atwell tightened up behind them and the green flag drops and Hooven takes over the second spot. Gossard dropped back and finally pulled it to the infield while Michael Atwell out of Naples who turns twelve on Sunday got by Hooven for second place. The checker flags come out and it was Danny Anderson to bring home the win in memory of good friend Al Newman, while young Atwell finished second, Hooven third, Billy Bigley Jr fourth and thirteen year old Chad Chastain made his way back up to round out the top five.
The Super Stock who always brings exciting “drama” to the track were up next and it was Logan Leonard that ran start to finish in the twenty five lap feature. Logan’s dad Shane Leonard was running a strong second while being chased by David Fischer, while Lance Sober was caught a second time for bringing out the caution and being sent to the rear. With the field lined back up and five laps to go the green came out and so did Jimmy Meiser, out of nowhere, to pass Shane Leonard and take over second. Was Mieser going for the win or trying to stay away from Sober as they crossed the stripe it was Logan Leonard first with Jimmy Meiser second and Shane Leonard third and Lance Sober would be Dqed for pulling a “Kyle Busch” and hitting Meiser after the race was over.
Last race of the night was the Fab 4 who saw James Dellea Jr running away with the lead and Paul Richards Jr second. Half way through the race Dellea’s car blew up and Richards took over the lead to go onto win with Zac Campilonga second and Phil Ellis Sr came home in third.
Next week you don’t want to miss another great night of racing action
Nov 12- Goodyear Late Model 100 6 pack Series #5, Sportsman 35, Road Warriors, Pro4, Fab4, SE Champ Karts, Dwarf Cars, Cowboy Cadillac.
Nov 19- Closed
Punta Gorda Speedway
Results from 11-05-2011
Bandolero
1. 19 Keith Sinkula Palm City
2. 14 Noah Weaver Sarasota
3. 13 Braden Nash Wimauma
4. 2 Cooper Battalio Peachtree City, Ga.
5. Y Sam Audie Orlando
6. 23 A. J. Freitas Newport Richie
7. X Johnny Holmes Port Charlotte
Super Stock
1. 57 Logan Leonard Cape Coral
2. 88 Jimmy Meiser Cape Coral
3. 18 Shane Leonard Cape Coral
4. 2 David Fischer Naples
5. 51 Jarrett Cornell Ft Myers
6. 1 Lance Sober Arcadia D. Q.
Legends
1. 94 Matt Blakenship Lake Placid Fast Time
2. 01 Shawn Hooven Orlando
3. 00 Darin Coker Palm Beach Gardens
4. 5 Seth Adams Lakeland
5. 59 Becca Monopoli Lakeland
6. 7 Mike Verhaagh Fort Myers
7. 14 Brady Marshall Sarasota
8. 22 Tyler Audie Orlando
9. 9 Mitch Verhaagh Bonita Springs
10. 54 Tony Steinbuck Tamarac
11. 48 Carl Haag Port St. Lucie
12. 02 Josh Williams Port Charlotte
13. 26 Joey Langis Coral Springs
Rookie Trucks
1. 4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
2. 36 Chad Chastain Alva
3. 99 Cody Martell Arcadia
4. 39 Michael Atwell Naples
Pro 4
1. 28 Dylan Bigley Naples
2. 04 Ryan Collver Ft. Myers
3. 61 Paul Richards Sr. Naples
4. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh
5. 29 Phil Ellis North Port
6. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis St. Pete
7. 32 Corey Bigley Naples
8. 87 Jeremy Perkins N. Ft. Myers
9. 13 Justin Teston Lehigh
10. 73 Chad Wittle Lehigh
11. 00 Dan Collver N. Ft. Myers
Pro Trucks
1. 50 Danny Anderson Bradenton Fast Time
2. 39 Michael Atwell Naples -turns 12 on Sunday
3. 17 Mark Hooven Orlando
4. 001/2 Billy Bigley Jr. Naples
5. 36 Chad Chastain Alva -turned 13 last week
6. 14 Sam Scott Naples
7. 00 Whitney Poole Vero Beach
8. 47 Travis Gossard Jr. Naples
9. 24 Ceasar Bacarella West Palm Beach
10. 4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
11. 99 Cody Martell Arcadia
12. 51 Mark Anderson Arcadia
13. 38 Ricky Moxley West Palm Beach
T. Q. Midgets
1. 51 Chris Gimmler Palm Beach Gardens
2. 30 Mike Belusar Punta Gorda
3. 2 Geoff Styner Cape Coral
4. 7 Jamie Barnum Brooksville
5. 1 Jack Duffy Sarasota
6. 23 Steven Meier Port St. Lucie
7. 14 John Ciolino Cape Coral
8. 6 Jay Stutz Riverview
Fab 4
1. 61 Paul Richards Jr. Naples
2. 3 Zac Campilonga Bradenton
3. 29 Phil Ellis Sr. Venis
4. 87 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers
5. 30 Linda Badali Port Charlotte
6. 77 James Dellea Jr. Port Charlotte
7. 73 Alex Teston Lehigh
8. 98 Chris Loney D. Q.