By Rick Anges

Bradenton, FL –  The Wild and Crazy School Bus Figue 8’s were the headliner for this week ASA Sanctioned racing at DeSoto Super Speedway.

Sixteen buses strong rolled out for the twenty five lap feature and the fans were not denied the close action at the X.

Lap after lap the field strung out which made the action heat up at the intersection. The drivers were sometimes three and four wide battling positions.

The entire distance was run under the green with many time winner Ernest Helfrick taking the checkers but as the second place bus of veteran figure 8 racer Wayne Calkins crossed the finish line he was still full throttle headed toward the X and with a loud thud collided with another bus coming from the other direction. Safety crews were right on the scene and to the cheers of the fans both drivers climbed from their damaged rigs.

Jerome “Sideways” Watland had an outstanding run for third, Mike Gamache finished fourth and fifth was Mark Jackson.

Open Wheel Modifieds

“The Rocketman” Wayne Jefferson dominated the twenty five lap feature for the open wheels but it was “Shake and Bake” Dalton Baldwin who drove his ride deep into turn three on the inside of Mike Birk Jr. to take the second spot. Don Skaggs would finish fourth and fifth was Mary Wright.

SCHOOL BUS FIGURE 8 – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 15 4 Ernest Helfrick Myakka City, Fl
2 9 14 Wayne Calkins Largo , Fl
3 5 31 Jerome Watland Holiday , Fl
4 12 85 Michael Gamache Tarpon Springs, Fl
5 10 25 Mark Jackson Bradenton , Fl
6 2 21 Jason Godwin Parrish , Fl
7 7 88 Larry Saffold Brandon , Fl
8 8 13 April Latinka Bradenton , Fl
9 4 22 Craig Jackson Bradenton , Fl
10 1 90 Tommy Harper Bradenton , Fl
11 3 89 Jimmy Volk Bradenton , Fl
12 14 76 Amy Jones Bradenton , Fl
13 11 0 Jay Seykora Palm Harbor, Fl
14 6 44 Eugene Helfrick Myakka City, Fl
15 17 53 Amy Jones Bradenton , Fl
16 13 67 Amy Jones Bradenton , Fl

MODIFIED MINIS – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 4 01X Chris Zimmerman Largo , Fl
2 6 21 Fred Hanson Polk City, Fl
3 2 09 Jody Robbins Tampa , Fl
4 1 82 Timothy Herrington Zephyrhills , Fl
5 5 29X Mike Kerrivan Myakka City, Fl
6 3 6 David Davis , Fl 34.00

PURE STOCKS – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 4 2 Robert Crisp Largo , Fl
2 3 71 Darrin Ellis Myakka City, Fl
3 2 3 Duane Best Myakka City, Fl
4 1 3X Jimmie Best Sarasota , Fl

BOMBERS – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 33X Michael Crooks St Petersberg, Fl
2 4 67 Jimmie Best Sarasota , Fl
3 8 02 John Stewart Pinellas Park, Fl
4 3 42 Steve Elder St Petersberg, Fl
5 6 3X Kyle Best Myakka City, Fl
6 1 43 Mark Petty Venice , Fl
7 5 81 Alex Patten St Petersberg, Fl
8 7 44 Shanna Clark St. Petersburg, Fl

OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED – FEATURE
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 1 Wayne Jefferson Pinellas Park, Fl
2 7 4 Dalton Baldwin Oldsmar , Fl
3 5 10 Mike Birk Jr Pinellas Park, Fl
4 4 09 Don Skaggs Modol , In
5 6 6 Mickey “mary” Wright , Fl
6 3 9 Dan Partelo St Petersburg, Fl
7 1 60 Pat Nanney Bradenton , Fl