From Linda Jericka

Super Late Model 100 winner Keith Lilley

Mini Stock was the first class to take to the track at the Punta Gorda Speedway on May 7th were a hot afternoon of practice took it’s tool on some motors and had a couple drivers watching from the pit side.

Chris Zimmerman of Largo jumped out to an early lead and with only one caution on lap six were the elder Zimmerman went a little high sending the 55 of James Pate into the back stretch wall and retiring to the infield for the remainder of the race. After the restart it Chris Zimmerman in the winner’s circle and his father Tom Zimmerman was right behind him and Dustin Perez third.

Pro 4 class was up next with a twenty five lap feature that was caution free saw the battle was between Ryan Collver of Ft. Myers and Cody Allen of Lehigh. Collver took the lead early while Allen chased him down until the half way mark when Allen took the lead and Collver chased him to the finish. The finish would be Cody Allen first and Ryan Collver second and Phillip Ellis of North Port would come in third.

T.Q. Midgets held their 3rd annual “FAST” Freddie Stutz memorial race and ran 26 laps in honor of Freddie’s number 6. Freddie’s granddaughter Hunter was the honorary started of the race as she stood in the flag stand and waved the green flag for the 26 laps event. The 7 of Jamie Barnum took the early lead but it would be the 30 of Mike Belusar of Punta Gorda cross the line first with Chris Gimmler second and Barnum would settle for third.

The always exciting Road Warriors were up next and with Derrick Horton at the front of the pack for the start, jumped out to the lead and held off several challengers. Hortons car seem to be two lanes wide while attempts from the A1 of Jessie Gargus, the 80 of Richard Nelson and finial the 2 of Brian Harbin. While Harbin out of Bartow started the feature in the rear, he made his way up to Horton with five to go. It was lap twenty five when the checker and caution was out at the same time when a move bump from Ortega in the 9 sent the 80 of Nelson around fighting for that fourth spot finish. Horton was the winner with Harbin second and Randy Kile third and Nelson would be given his running spot of fourth and Ortega would take up the rear.

Twenty One Super Late Models took to the track for the main event of the night for 100 laps of side by side racing action. Kieth Lilley out of Lakeland was fast qualifier in his 87 machine and had the luck of the drawn also with pulling for the stating position of the outside pole. Lilley jumped out to the lead and lead all 100 laps while several battles were going on behind him trying to race for position. Kevin Macy also from Bartow passed Dustin Dunn on lap sixteen to take over second while the cars behind them were making there way through the field until the third caution came out on lap forty one that saw veteran driver Dave Pletcher in the backstretch wall. After several cars making pit stops during the caution that was taking Pletcher off of the track on the hook it was time to line back up and go racing. Macy had a fast car and was going to give Lilley a challenge but after five laps of green Macy would retire to the pits with mechanical problems giving that second spot back to Dustin Dunn of Tallahassee but everyone’s eyes were set on the 5 car of Steve Gill. Steve Gill was on a mission and driving the wheels off the car while trying to keep it going forward with all the banging he was getting from behind and Gill made it to second and reeling in the leader. Ten laps to go when Gill dove into turn one so hard he lost control and would be sent to the rear for bringing out the caution and giving that second spot over to Anderson. The final lap of the race saw Keith Lilley bring home the Trophy with Wayne Anderson second Dustin Dunn hung on for third and “Hard Charger” L.B. Skaggs would finish fourth while Dylan Bigley put the moves on his dad Billy Bigley Jr to finish in front him at the line.

Super Stock saw the battle between Shane Leonard and Bobby Fischer continue as Leonard out of Cape Coral jumps out to the lead while Fischer out of Naples is chasing down that first place finish. Again it would be Leonard as the first place finisher and Fischer would have to settle for second again while the 88 of Jimmy Meiser would come home third.

The last race of the night was the Fab 4 for twenty laps that came down to a photo finish for the second spot. Zac Campilonga led the entire race while a battle for the second spot was going on. When the checkers flew it was Campilonga crossing the stripe with a nice lead while the 98 of Fred Tolano and the 1 of Brittney Barr crossed the line almost even for the second spot. Tolano had half a bumper showing over the line first and given the second spot while Barr was third.

May 14th racing schedule will be

Sportsman, Dwarf cars, Road Warriors, Pro 4, Fab 4 and Cowboy Cadillacs

Front gates open at 5:00pm with racing to start at 6:00

All this racing for only $10.00 so bring a friend and come hungry, great food and ice cold drinks and some of the best racing in the state.

That is why Punta Gorda Speedway is the place to be on Saturday Night

Admission is only $10.00 for Adults $8.00 for seniors children 12 and under are FREE.

Punta Gorda Speedway is located at 8655 Piper Road. Punta Gorda Exit 161 for more info you can call the speedway at 941-575-7223 or visit www.puntagordaspeedway.com . you can also find us now on face book just type in Punta Gorda Speedway

Punta Gorda Speedway Results 5/07/11

Super Late Model 100 laps

1. 87 Keith Lilley Lakeland

2. 84 Wayne Anderson Wildwood

3. 59 Dustin Dunn Tallahassee

4. 71 L. B. Skaggs N. Ft. Myers

5. 28B Dylan Bigley Naples

6. 28 Billy Bigley Jr. Naples

7. 4B Alan Bruns Claremont

8. 141 Travis Hansen Cooper City

9. 51 Richie Anderson N. Ft. Myers

10. 23 Barry Bartlett St. Pete

11. 12 Steve Weaver Jr. Plantation

12. 23x Todd Brown Lake Panasoffkee

13. 5 Steve Gill Sarasota

14. 14 Martin Marisca

15. 1 Rick Reed Arcadia

16. 02 Mike Finn Jupiter

17. 88 Jeff Schofield Plant City

18. 19 Kevin Macy Bartow

19. 75 Dave Pletcher New Port Richey

20. 22 David King

21. 93 Phil Morrison Punta Gorda

Super Stock

1. 18 Shane Leonard Cape Coral

2. 2 Bobby Fischer Naples

3. 88 Jimmy Meiser Cape Coral

4. 57 Logan Leonard Cape Coral

5. 1 Lance Sober

Road Warriors

1. 27 Derrick Horton N. Ft. Myers

2. 2 Brian Harbin Bartow

3. 14 Randy Kile Lehigh

4. 80 Richard Nelson Bradenton

5. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres

6. A1 Jessie Gargus Naples

7. 74 Johnny Allen Lehigh Acres

8. 33 Chris Loney Naples

9. 90S Chris Stockton Hollywood

10. 11 Willard Hadden

11. 17 James Stokes Lehigh Acres

12. 9 Nic Ortega Naples

13. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis

14. 7 Blaine Baer Port Charlotte

15. 51 Jarrett Cornell

Mini Stock

1. 29 Chris Zimmerman Largo

2. 01 Tom Zimmerman Largo

3. 0 Dustin Perez

4. 21 Fred Harrison Polk City

5. 55 James Pate

6. 21h Dustin Eldrige Aburndale D.N.S.

Pro 4

1. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh

2. 04 Ryan Collver aft. Myers

3. 29 Phillip Ellis Jr. North Port

4. 00 Dan Collver N. Fort Myers

5. 28 Dylan Bigley Naples

6. 32 Corey Bigley Naples

7. 61 Paul Richards Sr. Naples

8. 38 Kris Bridges

9. 05 David Doty N. Ft. Myers

10. 78 Charles Null N. Ft. Myers

11. 1 Robbie Boos St. Pete

12. 31 John Balzarano Naples

Fab 4

1. 3 Zac Campilonga Bradenton

2. 98 Fred Talano

3. 1 Brittney Barr St. Pete

4. 32 Karl Garrard Naples

5. 30 Linda Badali Port Charlotte

6. 38 Duane Vandevender Cape Coral

7. 61 Paul Richards Jr. Naples

8. 87 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers

T. Q. Midgets

1. 30 Mike Belusar Punta Gorda

2. 51 Chris Gimmler Palm Beach Gardens

3. 7 Jamie Barnum Brooksville

4. 2 Geoff Styner Cape Coral

5. 1 Jack Duffy Sarasota

6. 14 John Ciolino Cape Coral

7 6 Jay Stutz Riverview

8. 15 Terry Taylor Dunedin

9. 23 Steven Maier Port St. Lucy