Moff makes it three in a row in the Open Wheel Modifieds

From Linda Jericka

Sportsman winner Bill Vandevender

Punta Gorda Speedway is the place to be on Saturday night if you looking for some of the best racing action in the state of Florida. Since Speedway owner Kevin Williams continues to have the lowest front gate prices, the stands are always full and fans get treated to some of the best side by side racing action every week.

Features started off with the T.Q. Midgets for 25 laps that saw the 30 of Mike Belusar from Punta Gorda, run start to finish as the leader. Chris Grimmler out of Palm Beach Gardens was in hot pursuit of Belusar for the second half of the race but could not make a pass and would settle for second while Jack Duffy came in third.

Pro 4 cars took to the track with both heat winners setting the pace of the race as the 04 of Ryan Collver was on the pole and the 98 of Cody Allen outside. It took Cody Allen of Lehigh six laps to get by Collver to come home the winner with Ryan Collver second and Phil Ellis had a strong third place finish.

Sportsman class has been growing in numbers and Saturday night there were eighteen cars that showed up with some of the best driving talent in the state. The field was set with the 98 of Roger Welch on the pole and Josh Gorniak outside as the field came around to take the green, by lap one Welch was still in the lead but Bill Vandevender took over the second spot leaving Gorniak on the outside. Vandevender took over the lead on lap eight while the cars behind him were battling for position until the third caution of the race came out on lap eighteen. Cars were lined back up with the 84 on the pole and the 98 outside to restart the race as the green flag was back out, while all the cars were on the gas coming out of turn four, the big one happened right on the front stretch that brought all the fans to there feet. Something either broke on the 98 or he lost power as they came down the front stretch and that is when the entire field behind him piled up and cars were going everywhere. Returning to the sportsman class, away since 2004, driving his same number 9 car was Jerry Bryant who was having a strong run was the first to get into the back of the 98 but the 91 of Ander Jackson took a spin that sent him backwards into the turn one opening, off the track coming to a stop on top of the tire barriers. Josh Calvert was another car that got heavy damage and once the safety crew cleared all the drivers as ok, the red was lifted and a stream of cars entered the pits. When the clean up was done, all cars but Jackson and Calvert were able to continue and though some were missing hoods and fenders the battle was back on. Vandevender had a fast car and went on to win the feature with James Dubose of Arcadia second and points leader Greg Krom of Sarasota battled back to third after a pit stop on lap 21 to change a flat tire.

The Road Warriors eighteen car field were up next and always exciting to watch, saw the 89 of Phil Morrison out to an early lead but racing buddy L.B. Skaggs came from the back to the front in five laps to put the pressure on Morrison. Skaggs ended up spinning Morrison on lap seven and was sent to the rear and came back through the field to give Morrison a couple hard hits until race director Greg Roeback stopped Skaggs on the track and gave him a warning about the rough driving. After another good shot to the rear of Morrison Skaggs was shown the black flag and retired to the pits giving Morrison a smooth ride to the finish line with Randy Kile second and Jason Miller third.

The Q Auto Injury Attorney sponsored Open Wheel Modifieds qualified for position with Doug Moff setting fast time and it was decided to invert the entire field. Jimmy Wilkens III out of Fort Pierce would set the pace of the race and lead the first eight laps while Moff and Steve Arnold were making there way up through the field. Arnold led a few laps till some beating and banging went on between him and Moff fighting for that first spot when Moff beat Arnold out of that first place spot on lap seventeen. The race would finish with Moff bringing home his third straight win with Arnold second and the 76 of James Wilkens Jr. out of Fort Pierce third.

The last race of the night was the Fab 4 that saw the 98 of Aaron Hardgrove take his third win in the class making him no longer eligible to run in the class. Paul Richards Jr came in second and Zac Campilonga of Bradenton who brings a bike to give away every week to some lucky kid in the stands came home third.

May 7^th the Goodyear Late Model series returns for 100 laps

along with 3^rd Annual “Fast” Freddie Stutz Memorial were the T.Q. Midgets run for 26 laps in Honor of Freddie’s number 6

Road Warriors, Pro 4, Fab 4, Super Stocks and Mini Stocks

all that racing for a $10.00 ticket, that is why Punta Gorda Speedway is the place to be on Saturday night.