by Dave Westerman
Dodging rain storms all evening long, Auburndale Speedway put on yet another great show for the fans who braved the forecast as James Wright III picked up his first win of the year in the Open Wheel Modifieds picking up some extra cash from race sponsor Florida’s Barn.
A very disappointing field of just nine Open Wheel Modifieds made the trip to the speedway with many no-shows blaming the weather conditions for not being there. The only rain to hit the area though was just before the pit gates opened at 2PM and it lasted just shy of an hour. The only other precipitation that fell was a light drizzle just before race time as all the other heavier showers missed the track and eventually the fans were treated to an awesome sunset.
The nine OWM machines that did make the trip were all good ones as James Wright III let it be known he was really serious this week as he dusted the field in qualifying, then drew the pole for the 40 lap Florida’s Barn feature.
Wright, who came in as the point leader despite not having won a race so far in 2010, jumped to a big lead right away and had several car lengths on the field when the first caution flag flew on lap eleven when David Grogan ran up on top of Travis Roland’s car in turn one. Both continued but Roland’s machine had heavy sheet metal damage.
Just after the restart, second-running Wayne Morris spun coming off turn four with plenty of help from the third place car of Keith Lilley. Lilley told track officials it was his fault so Morris was placed back in second while Lilley went to the rear of the field for the restart.
From that point it was all Wright as Morris held off a snarling group of cars for second place. Wright was obviously happy to finally get a victory after several podium finishes in previous races. Morris, who missed the lasdt event and subsequently lost the point lead to Wright, said he really had nothing for the winner but was OK with his second place run. Morris also said he is planing to get more “serious” about his racing in the coming weeks.
Harold Crooms bounced back from some early race problems to grab third spot while Roland drove his beat-up machine to fourth and Lilley recovered for fifth. Rounding out the finishers were Rick Coffin, Bobby Blake, David Grogan and Von Pope.
The Modified Mini Stocks brought out their biggest field of the year but point leader Scotty Sharpe wasn’t fazed at all. Sharpe made a late pass to take the heat race win then led all 25 laps in the feature that ran green to checker.
Jason Rendell finished several car lengths back in second while Corbin Gibbs was back in action for the first time in a long while driving his beautiful new Dodge Mod Mini to a very strong third place. Mike Sweet was fourth with Drew Carter fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Bo Collier, Bruce Anderson, Ashton Hunt (making her debut in the class after running the Kids Club and Scramblers), Danny Dobbins and Dennis Jones.
Kyle Peters took his second Street Stock win of the season leading all 20 laps after winning the heat race as well. Lap nine proved to be a rough one for several competitors as Jeff Waterman spun and was tagged by Cody McDuffie.
Dave Colpritt and Jamie Dunnahoe were also involved. Waterman and Dunnahoe were through for the evening and McDuffie dropped out soon after the restart as the damage to his car was too much to allow him to run at speed.
Peters didn’t have an easy run as Matt McCrary gave him plenty to worry about. McCrary couldn’t make a pass though and settled for second but built on his point lead. Kyle Hall picked up the third position while Colpritt drove his bent-up car to fourth. Larry Braswell was fifth trailed by James Wright III, Jamie Castleberry, Brian Harbin, McDuffie and Dunnahoe.
Preston Davis notched his second straight V-8 Bomber win in wire to wire fashion winning by a full straight over Matt Johns, Buddy Phillips, Jr., Frank Pierce and Mark Roadarmel, Jr. Davis also topped the heat race.
Fred Harrison, Jr. dominated a short field of Mini Stocks has he took both the heat and feature. Point leader Chris Spring was second followed by Marilyn McCrary, Jason Swilley and Mark Wells.
A big crash on lap 12 of the Scrambler feature sent Jerry Pruitt head-on into the turn four wall after a tangle with George Gorham, Jr. Pruitt was unhurt but his car was a write-off. Brian Tyre added to his new-found point lead as he led all the way to capture his second win of the year. Richard Brown took the runner-up spot trailed by Chad Cutting, Jeremy Watts and Kimberly Gullett. Tyre also won the heat. This Saturday night, August 14, the racing schedule will consist of the Auburndale Trucks, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Legend Cars, Bandoleros, Kids Club, V-8 Bombers and Scramblers. Racing starts at 7 PM. For more information call 863-551-1131 or log on to www.auburndaleracing.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS – AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY – 8/7/10:
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS:
1-#56 James Wright III
2-#98 Wayne Morris
3-#07 Harold Crooms
4-#10 Travis Roland
5-#87 Keith Lilley
6-#29 Rick Coffin
7-#75 Bobby Blake
8-#101 David Grogan
9-#01 Von Pope
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STREET STOCKS:
1-#53 Kyle Peters
2-#5 Matt McCrary
3-#17 Kyle Hall
4-#4 Dave Colpritt
5-#80 Larry Braswell
6-#56 James Wright III
7-#86 Jamie Castleberry
8-#8 Brian Harbin
9-#25 Cody McDuffie
10-#62 Jamie Dunnahoe
11-#42 Jeff Waterman
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MODIFIED MINI STOCKS:
1-#89 Scotty Sharpe
2-#15 Jason Rendell
3-#2 Corbin Gibbs
4-#55 Mike Sweet
5-#85 Drew Carter
6-#02 Bo Collier
7-#07 Bruce Anderson
8-#9 Ashton Hunt
9-#36 Danny Dobbins
10-#45 Dennis Jones
11-#80 Mike Bruno
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MINI STOCKS:
1-#21 Fred Harrison, Jr.
2-#42 Chris Spring
3-#4 Marilyn McCrary
4-#40 Jason Swilley
5-#551 Mark Wells
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V-8 BOMBERS:
1-#89 Preston Davis
2-#51 Matt Johns
3-#05 Buddy Phillips, Jr.
4-#7 Frank Pierce
5-#81 Mark Roadarmel
6-#111 Josh Borem
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SCRAMBLERS
1-#66 Brian Tyre
2-#62 Richard Brown
3-#00 Chad Cutting
4-#77 Jeremy Watts
5-#28 Kimberly Gullett
6-#7 George Gorham, Jr.
7-#71 Dave Canfield
8-#17 Gary Pruitt
DNS #18 Bobby Rowland
DNS #88 Jason Sopczak
This Saturday night, August 14, the racing schedule will consist of the Auburndale Trucks, Sportsman, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Legend Cars, Bandoleros, Kids Club, V-8 Bombers and Scramblers. Racing starts at 7 PM. For more information call 863-551-1131 or log on to www.auburndaleracing.com.
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