by John Berti – Karnac.com Contributing Writer
Pinellas Park, FL -August 11, 2012- Went back for the second week in a row to mainly check out the Sprint Cars and Sportsman which were running as part of the racing card on this night. Joining these two classes were the Micro Sprints, Street Stocks and Mini Stocks.
Another very good crowd showed to be dazzled by the high speeds generated by the twenty Sprint Cars which showed up to do battle.
Promoter Robert Yoho’s creativity showed once again as rather than run the usual two lap single car at a time, boring method of time trialing,Yoho changed things up by running three groups of six to seven cars racing against each other for six laps maintaining times on each car in the process. This proved to meet with aroused enthusiasm from the fans. You just never know what Yoho will come up with to make a show better for the fans.
Garrett Green was the fastest from the first group with a time of 12.475 seconds. The second group was lead by Stan Butler with a time of 12.712 seconds while the third group best time came from Mickey Kempgens at 12.604.
Three 8 lap qualifying heats were run for the Sprint Cars, the first being won by Mark Gimmler, the second by Dude Teate and the third was taken by Johnny Gilbertson. The Dash for Cash was won by Gimmler.
Thirty five laps was the distance for the Sprint Car feature with Ray Bragg and Dude Teate leading the field around for the start of the race. Bragg shot into the lead at the drop of the initial green and withstood two cautions to take the win. Teate finished in the runner up spot with Kempgen third. The Butlers: Shane & Stan rallied in the closing laps for fourth and sixth place finishes respectively with Gilbertson sandwiched in the middle for fifth.
A quality field of Sportsman necessitated the running of two qualifying heats. Taking the win in the first heat was Aaron Williamson with the second going to Steve Gainey. Just like the Sprint Cars 35 laps would be the distance for the Sportsman feature. Three different drivers led for a time: David Williamson, Rick Haugh and finally Brandon Morris who took the checkered flag. Haugh was second, Gainey third, Mark Nelson fourth, and Mark Peterson fifth.
In other feature action in the Street Stock division it was Bill Carlbert, Jr in for the 20 lap win followed over the stripe by Mike ? at the wheel of the 51 and Mike Wilson. Sorry, as the field was really spread out with a lot of passing going on I was unable to determine the 4th and 5th place finishers.
Greg Leonard was victorious in the 20 lap Micro Sprint Feature. He had his hands full dealing with early race leader young Nicole Voisey who was forced to drop out with a mechanical problem. Leonard had to make a last lap pass by Scott O’Neil to get the checkers. Darren Martz took third with Reese Alves and Voisey rounding out the top 5.
Garnering the win in the 20 lap Mini Stock Feature was Ron Sorenson Jr. second went to Cole Partelo, with the #110 third, Ken Smith fourth and Eric Wallace fifth.
In Street Stock Figure 8 feature racing action it was Shane Grigsby picking up the win. Mason Love was the runnerup with Carlbert, Jr, Larry Triana following to the checkers. Brandon Henault and Ricky Larson were DNFs.
Once again it was an efficiently run race program that, this week, included a brief intermission. Still 11 preliminary events and six features were run off in less than three hours with fans on their way home at little before 10 p.m.
Next week the mighty Open-wheel Modifieds return along with the ever popular School Bus Figure 8s, Pro Figure 8s, Street Stocks, Street Stock Figure 8s, Mini Stocks, and a possible Mini Stock Figure 8 race.
Sure looks like a lot of bang for your racing buck. Racing action starts promptly at 7 p.m.
PS – Please remember that all of these results are unofficial, recorded at the conclusion of each event by myself, and subject to change as a result of post race inspections and any subsequent DQs. I am not a speedway official.
Street Stock Figure 8s
1 – 4 Shane Grigsby
2 – 32B Mason Love
3 – 11 Bill Carlbert Sr.
4 – 1 Larry Triana
5 – 0 Brandon Henault
6 – 28 Ricky Larson
Mini Stocks
1 – 84 Ron Sorensen Jr.
2 – 9 Cole Partelo
3 – 110 Mike Meadows
4 – 11 Ken Smith
5 – 21X Eric Wallace
6 – 13 Steven White
7 – 25 Roy Healey
8 – X66 Cody Riley
9 – 39 Bethany Swanson
Micro Sprints
1 – 80 Greg Leonard
2 – 09 Scott O’ Neil
3 – 8 Darren Martz
4 – 17 Reece Alvis
5 – 96 Nikole Voisey
6 – 20 Chris Belcher
7 – 7 Chris Branch
8 – 99 Jerrid Leonard
Street Stock
1 – 11 William Carlbert Jr.
2 – 51 Mark Bartimac
3 – 68 Mike Wilson
4 – 28 Ricky Larson
5 – 37 Joshua Seitz
6 – 32B Bobby Blakley
7 – 1 Larry Triana
8 – 4 John Blakley
9 – 02 John Stewart
10 – 0 Brandon Henault
Sportsman
1 – 56 Brandon Morris
2 – 77 Rick Haugh
3 – 79X Steve Gainey
4 – 13 Aaron Williamson
5 – 11 Mark Nelson
6 – 73 Mark Peterson
7 – 67 James Dubose
8 – 83 Denny Neighbor Sr.
9 – 98 Roger Welch
10 – 12 David Williamson
11 – 28 Justin Monahan
12 – 84 Ronnie Whitley
Sprints
1 – 18 Shane Butler (#66 Disqualified)
2 – 0 Dude Teate
3 – 5 Mickey Kempgens
4 – 81 Stan Butler
5 – 21 Jimmy Alvis, Jr.
6 – 22 Johnny Gilbertson
7 – 3 Garrett Green
8 – 51 Mark Gimmier
9 – 89 David Slavick
10 – 85 Rex Hollinger
11 – J1 Michael Tharp
12 – 01 Ty Decaire
13 – 69 Ric Voisey
14 – 6 Frankie Hurst
15 – 8 Alan Randisi
16 – 6X Skeeter Faulconer
17 – 2 Larry Brazil Jr.
18 – 90 Bobby Gordon
19 – 75 Curtis Sutton
20 – 66 Ray Bragg