Story and results from 9-10

The night started out with remembering those we lost, prayer and a salute given by Chaplin Dick Stone from Storm Ministries in remembering 911, then the flag at half mast during the playing of our Nation Anthem. The sun went down and the full moon came out which brought wrecks, flips and even a Wedding to PGS on a hot summer night.

Pro 4 class started the night off with a 25 lap featured event that usually runs caution free, was it really the full moon that brought a caution before the first lap was scored. After some words of wisdom to some drivers from the flagman, the cars were lined back up and and the green was out. What looked to be advice well taken as the sixteen car field battle through sixteen laps with Naples driver Dylan Bigley out to the lead. Cody Allen from Lehigh fought his way up to challenge Bigley till a caution came out on lap sixteen, after a few more cautions and a few questionable restarts the checkered flag was out and all the rumors were put to rest as all sixteen cars were crossing the finish line. Who knew as the cars crossed the line to finish the race a few cars would “tangle” and the end results would be some innocent drivers sitting on the track with their cars tore up. The 04 of Ryan Collver crossed the line in first place with Dan Collver second and Bigley held on for third.

The rookie trucks were up next and what a battle some of these kids have been doing for the win and the championship title. With a rough start on the first lap were pole sitter Chad Chastain, Cody Martell and Keli Burns were all fighting to be in the first spot when they crossed the stripe. Kelli burns of Port Charlotte would take the lead and with the battle still going on with just three laps in, Chad Chastain out of Alva came out of turn four and who knows how but the truck went air borne and barrel rolled all the way down the front stretch till it stopped on the front wall by turn one. Safety first makes a difference when you make sure your driver has the right equipment as Ralph Chastain does when his boys race and that is why ten year old Chad got out of his truck ok as the crowd cheered. Kelli Burns went on to win her fourth feature in a row, with Michael Atwell from Naples second and Cody Martell third.

Bandoleros saw the X of Johnny Holmes and Noah Weaver battle back and fourth for the lead the entire race. It would be Noah Weaver that crossed the line in the first spot and Johnny Holmes second and Clyde tucker third.

Dwarf cars came out for 25 laps were “Cowboy Rob Kohler” got shuffled to the rear of the field before the first lap was in the books. The 08 of Rebecca George and the 4 of Andy Pryor were battling for the lead but Kohler was on a mission and charging through the field. Rob Kohler took the lead on lap fourteen and never looked back as Rebecca George was second and Andy Pryor was third.

The field was set for the Legend race as fast qualifier Shawn Hooven was in the third starting position and points leader Jordan Black sat on the pole. Shawn Hooven made his move and was in the lead for all the laps while Jordan Black was in hot pursuit. With one to go their was lap traffic and now the checkered flag waving, coming out of turn four their was rubbin and tire smoke and it was Jordan Black that crossed the line first with Brady Marshall second and Shawn Hooven was pushed back to third.

Then track Chaplin Richard Stone Married Andrew and Tish Moon on the front stretch which had brides maids, grooms and flower girls.

Fifteen Thundering Heard Road Warriors were up with Phil Morrison on the pole and Richard Nelson outside which took a few times to get the start right but after being warned were to fire, the race was on. Phil Morrison took the lead and had Nelson chasing him the entire twenty five laps. Phil Morrison out of Punta Gorda held on strong to win the feature with Richard Nelson a respectable second place and Randy Kile of Lehigh was third.

Pro Trucks were on for thirty five laps and the 36 truck of Chad Chastain climbed back in the truck for a lap or two to “get back on the horse that threw ya” good job Chad and the Chastains for getting that truck back out. Full moon was back at it while many cautions came out and trucks got wrecked, fenders and hoods were off and tempers were flared. When the smoked cleared it was the 41 of Steve Darvalics that brought home the win with Michael Burns of Port Charlotte second and Sam Scott of Naples third.

Fab 4 was the last feature to end the night with more rubbin and wreckin and tempers flaring. With two cars left on the track by lap fourteen the checker flag came out and Paul Richards Jr. out of Naples was the winner.

Sept 17 th racing action will be:

Open Wheel Modified Twin 35, Pro 4, Fab 4, TQ Midgets, SE Champ Karts, Road Warriors, Cowboy Cadillacs.

Go to the speedway website for more information at www.puntagordaspeedway.com or call 941-575-7223.