Orlando SpeedWorld was back in action Friday night with some picture perfect weather as seven classes competed in NASCAR Whelan All-American Series action.
Daniel Keene slipped by early leader Ricky Moxley on lap 15 of the 25-lap Pro Late Model feature and went on to an easy victory slowed only by a lap 18 caution flag for a Zach Harris spin. Keene set the pace to the checker with Moxley a strong second over Brock Oglesby, Harris and Steven Simpson. Keene also won the heat race.
Dave Gleason led the opening lap of the Legend Car feature only to be passed by Keith Sinkula and the second lap. Sinkula’s time at the point was short-lived as heat winner Darin Coker grabbed the top spot on the third lap just before Gleason and Becca Monopoli tangled sending both strong-running cars to the rear of the field for the restart. From that point, Coker and fellow South Florida driver Sinkula drove away from the field to finish one-two ahead of Mason Ketterman. Gleason and Monopoli drove back through the field to finish fourth and fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Tony Steinbuck, Paul Ingram, Ted Ruffo, Dallas Ingram and Roger Englund. Coty Bibeau was unable to start due to a heat race crash.
Donny Funk made it back-to-back victories in the Super Stock class and had to do it the hard way. After having engine trouble during practice, Funk was not able to make the call for the heat race and had to start the 25-lap main event scratch on the field. Heat winner Jeff Cuddy grabbed the early advantage but
Funk methodically worked his way to the front and took over the lead on lap 16, then held on through three yellow flag periods for minor spins to claim the win. Zach Curtis slipped into second spot late in the race and stayed there for his third straight runner-up finish. Michael Held took third ahead of Cuddy and Charles King. Art Hendren, Brandon Christian, Russell Perdue and Denny Snyder completed the finishers.
Daytona Beach driver Matt Wheeler dominated the Modified headliner leading every lap. Shain Held was doing all he could to track down Wheeler but spun out of second spot near the finish allowing Josh Todd to gain second at the finish while Held recovered for third ahead of Ted Head. Held won the heat. The Mini Stock feature had a wild finish that saw the winning car with severe front end damage sitting in turn one. Heat winner Ted Vulpius was leading rather easily when a caution flew for Mark Broat’s spin on lap 13. David Russell put his foot to the floor and took the top spot on the restart and held on the rest of the way but he and Vulpius locked horns as they took the checkered flag while lapping the slowing car of Kelly Jarrett whose engine had soured. The incident had Russell’s car slamming hard into the right rear
corner of Jarrett’s machine with both cars suffering extensive damage. After a somewhat heated discussion in the pits, both Russell and Vulpius shook hands and agreed it was just a racing incident. Jarrett was scored third at the finish trailed by Broat and Ray Hindman. Wes Railing, Jr. was the third and final leader of the Strictly Stock feature and he led the remaining laps to take his first win of the year. Shane Sutorus came home second while Luis Guillen’s third place finish earned him the “Fan Fun Race” collection of $75. Richard Fore took fourth followed by Megan Matheny, Mike Trotter, Tyler Jewer and Scott Sweat. David Owen led all the way to take the victory in the Bandolero feature although Brett Suggs made it close at the end. Ryan Pierce, Colton Bramlett, Brandi Bibeau (making her very first start in a race) and Derek Pugh rounded out the finishers.
