Opening at Punta Gorda Speedway Brings Night of Excitement

From Linda Jericka

Photos by R. E. Wing Photo

Punta Gorda, FL  -February 26, 2011- A record out crowd witnessed the opening of the 2011 racing season at Punta Gorda Speedway. The track which has recently undergone major improvements in both structure and format has gained a reputation as a family friendly venue for exciting racing entertainment.  The first event of the 2011 season lived up to that reputation.

The racing card premiered with the Fab 4 class in an exciting 20 lap feature.  There were three lead changes in the first seven laps as hotly competitive drivers, Zac Campilonga and David Patterson exchanged positions before giving up the lead to Carl Garrard on lap seven. Once Garrard took the lead he was never challenged again.  Paul Richards, Jr. took second while Linda Badali finished third.

In the Outlaw Modified Division the race was highly competitive with three time champion Raymond Jones leading the first several laps of the race.  NorthPort driver, Mike Endee kept pressuring Jones until he passed him on lap ten and never looked back.  Endee stretched his lead to half a lap by the end of the 25 lap feature.  Second place was secured by Jones and Doug Hopper finished third.

The Rookie truck division had seven cautions in the 15 lap feature, one of which resulted in a top contender, James Bullard ending with a wrecked car.  The race was an exciting battle between Kelli Burns, Michael Atwell, and Chad Chastain with the three of them exchanging positions until Burns took the top spot and held off her challengers.  Atwell finished a strong second with Chastain pressuring Atwell to the end of the race.

The Road Warriors division always brings thrills to the Punta Gorda Speedway crowd and opening night was no exception.  The father-son team of Shane and Logan Leonard was a race within a race.  The two competed for third place before making contact sending Shane into a spin.  Then just a few laps later Shane was following Logan into turn one when Logan lost his steering and his dad was caught up in the resulting wreck. Neither car was able to finish the race. Leader Chris Scott was challenged throughout the race by Richard Nelson who finished second.  Randy Kile edged out Rick Reed, 2010 champion, for third.

The Dwarf Cars ran the Tommy Bowles classic and despite numerous cautions leader Bo Bass led the race from green to checkered. The race is run annually to honor race driver Tommy Bowles who lost his life at the track in 1999. This year’s classic was led the entire way by Bo Bass although he was first challenged by Andy Prior and Mike Belazar.  Belazar who was put to the back of the pack following an early spin out raced his way back to fifth position by the end of the race.  Andy Prior finished second behind Bass while third place went to Larry Hubbard Jr.

The Pro Truck series started out to be quite a battle between Stephen Darvalics and Josh Williams who raced side by side around the track in each of several restarts.  On the 15^th lap of a scheduled 35 lap event, a six car pile-up on the front stretch brought out the red flag.  The crowd was silenced as it watched for a few anxious moments as veteran driver Phil Morrison was shaken up and slow to get out of his car.  Fortunately, all drivers involved, including Morrison were uninjured.  Their cars were not so lucky.  All six cars had to be towed from the track.  The officials called the race giving the cars leading at the time an official finish.  At the time of the accident Steven Darvalics was leading and was awarded first place.  Josh Williams was given second place while Mike Smith was awarded third. One of the drivers involved in the accident was guest celebrity Bubba “The Love Sponge” Clem from FM 102.5.  While his car was being towed, he entertained and pleased the crowd by signing autographs.

The Sportsman class was a clean race with only two cautions in the 25 lap event.  The lead was held by Brian Richardson for the entire race but second and third positions were hotly contested throughout.  Following Richardson at the checkered flag were Greg Krom in second and Bill Vandevender in third.

The final race of the night was in the Pro 4 Division.  Fans that stayed until the end of the evening were treated to a hard fought battle where Ryan Collver held off challengers Wally Smith and Dylan Bigley for the win.  Bigley never gave up and passed Smith for second at the checkered flag.  Smith ran third.