It was to be the last night of racing for the 2011 race season and three class championships were still up for grabs. The pits opened early, practice was just about done, when the track was covered with dark clouds and rain. What a way to put a damper on the last night of racing, some fans started to pull in and after two hours the rains slowed. After checking the radar and seeing the rain should be done, speedway owner Kevin Williams says, it is what it is, dry the track, open the gates and lets go racing. The track was dry, the fans came out and it was time to see what happens when it is a full moon and the last night for points.
It was seven o’clock when the first class took the track, the 4cyl race, since it was a non points race, only nine cars “dared” to show up to put on a great battle for twenty five laps. Ryan Collver sat on the pole and started the race off as the leader with Cody Allen outside and running in second. Collver led with Allen right on his bumper, lap nine the caution came out and Allen made the move to get by Collver to be scored as the leader. Collver took only three laps to get back by Allen for the lead when the last caution came out with four to go. Ryan Collver on the pole, Cody Allen outside and Dan Collver behind Ryan for this last dash of four laps to the checkers. Ryan took off and brought brother Dan with him while Allen was on the outside and that’s how they crossed when the checkers flew with Phil Ellis finishing fourth. Ryan Collver, the 2011 points champion, ended the season with one more trip to victory lane.
Legends cars came out for a twenty five lap race that was also a non points race and saw the 54 of Tony Steinbuck of Tamarac on the pole with Naples driver Conrad Molter outside. After two bad starts of Molter trying to get the jump on Steinbuck and causing and altercation with the 48 of Carl Haag, who had to retire to the pits for the night. The race was finally underway and it was a battle between brothers, Mitch and Mike Verhaagh who put on a great battle for the lead. When the checkers came out it was the 7 of Mike Verhaagh from Fort Myers that won with brother Mitch Verhaagh of Bonita Springs second and the 22 of Tyler Audie, all the way from Orlando third.
Cowboy Cadillacs were up for their last points race of the season and the points leader Les Couch of Punta Gorda was sitting on the sidelines as his motor had blown up in the practice rounds. Second place in points Ken Badali of Port Charlotte made a true sportsman gesture and tried to find a ride for Les so he could battle on the track to see who would be the champion. Les and Ken were the only two drivers to not miss a race all season but with no luck the race was on and Les sat this one out. Stuart Vandevender was in first place by lap two with Terry Price in hot pursuit when the only caution of the race came out on lap eleven when the 35 of Price broke the whole drive train and had to pull in the pits for the night. Vandevender went on to win the race with a nice lead, Jeff Debble was second and Ken Badali was third. After the drop race was determined in, it was Les Couch that was crowned the points Champion by seven points and Badali offered up his truck for Les to do a few Championship donuts on the front stretch.
Super Stocks came out for a non points race and after qualifying, the field was inverted with A.J. Mott from Ocala on the pole and Randy Sober of Punta Gorda outside. Sober jumped out to the lead and had Bobby Fischer on his bumper for a great race till the only caution came out on lap fourteen. Bobby Fischer from Naples broke a ball joint coming out of turn two and did a good job to keep the car under control but would have to retire to the pits for the night. With the cars lined back up and Fischer in the pits, that gave the number two spot to Logan Leonard who would start on the outside of Sober. The green was dropped and Sober gave Leonard plenty of room staying low when they came across the stripe it was Sober that stayed out front and in the lead. Leonard was not so courteous and put the “chrome Horn” as the track announcer calls it, to the back of Sober several times till the flagman pointed the flag to Leonard. Sober was able to keep it under control after several bumps from Leonard to cross the line and win the race. Leonard came home in second and A.J. Mott from Ocala who was racing with a heavy heart after the passing of his sister, came in third.
There was time for a short intermission while helmets were being passed for fellow racer Blaine Baer and awards being handed out.
Speedway Owner Kevin Williams, Manager Greg Roeback and favorite driver Randy Kile were all given very nice awards that said “thank you for all you do” from your Special Needs Friends.
These Friends are at the track every week as guest of the speedway and you can see some of them in the winners circle photos of their favorite drivers, they just love racing.
There was a lot of talk leading up to this race, it was the final points night for the 2011 season and some wanted to take away the “hardware”, some wanted the “Waffle House Dinner”, and them some just wanted the Championship title no matter what. The Sportsman race is what everyone was waiting for, how was this going to play out, with a full moon and five points separating first and second place. The field was set with the two cars on the pole, that have the 3 link and some other drivers ready to sell there cars over the new rule change for 2012. The green dropped and it was the 13 of Aaron Williamson who jumped out to the lead with Brandon Morris right behind for second and Gary McFall third. Cars were bumper to bumper and side by side and the 67 of James Dubose picked up a little extra left side weight when the 35 of Greg Krom squeezed on the inside of him so close, a piece of Krom’s car lodged into the side of Dubose and stuck. There was beating and banging and rubbing and racing going on by some more than others all through the field till the caution on lap twenty came out. Before the caution it was Williamson and McFall in the one two spot with Morris third, Timmy Lowe fourth and Bill Vandevender patiently waiting in fifth. On the restart it was McFall on the outside of Williamson and as Williamson tried to keep McFall outside, way outside, Morris was able to slip on the inside for the lead and it was Williamson second Vandevender third while McFall got shoved back to sixth. This was just hard racing by some who were side by side and beating and banging by some who were trying to get to the front. Lap 35, three wide coming down the front, McFall, Dubose and Krom and the outcome was McFall having a flat tire and bring out a caution. More contact being made and now the 67 of Dubose has to pit with a flat and now with the restart on lap thirty nine there was a lot of break checking and rough driving till flagman Greg Roeback throws a caution and makes a trip on to the track. Roeback walks up to the 35 of Krom shows him the black flag and says we do not race that way here and Krom says so not so nice words back that made Roeback throw the black flag at Krom’s car and point to the pits. The fans seemed to like the call as they all cheered as Krom went to the pits. Six laps to go and Vandevender knows how to “Get It Done” and moved by Morris to take over the lead while Timmy Lowe made the pass for third and Williamson for fourth. Dubose trying to make the pass on Williamson going into one and Williamson gets caught for bringing out the caution. Five laps to go and it would be Vandevender who crossed the finish line first, Morris second, Lowe third and Dubose hung on for fourth, Williamson made it back to place fifth. Bill Vandevender would make this his sixth points race win in a row, as he takes a “bow” in front of the crowd and claims the points champion title for 2011 and his comment would be “ Winner Winner Waffle House Dinner.”
The last race of the night was Road Warriors which was the final points night and the crowd stayed till the end. Jarrett Cornell from N. Ft Myers sat on the pole and jumped out to the lead when the green flag dropped and was happy to final have the bugs worked out of the 51 machine. Lap six it was Jason Miller that got by Cornell bringing Derrick Horton with him and leaving Cornell running on the outside for third. Randy Kile and Rick Reed got together on lap twelve and brought out the first caution with Kile having to pit for a flat tire. Johnny Allen of Lehigh made his way to the front to take over the lead from Miller on lap sixteen and was on his way to make it three in a row wins. Caution come out on lap twenty as the 89 of Johnny Allen blows up in front of the field. Five laps to go, Derrick Horton is in first Shane Leonard battling for that spot. Checkers come out and it is Horton first, Leonard second Points Champion Richard Nelson third, Miller and Cornell hung on for fourth and fifth.
The Speedway will be closed throughout the holidays but would like to thank everyone for a great 2011 racing season and look forward for an Awesome 2012 that will start January 21st for the first of 12 Super Late Model races.
Have a safe and Happy Holiday and we will see you on the 21st of January.
Keep checking the website for the latest updates at www.puntagordaspeedway.com
Punta Gorda Speedway
Results from 12-10-2011
Winner Winner Waffle House Dinner for Bill Vandevender who wins one of the best sportsman race of the season
Sportsman
1. 84 Bill Vandevender N. Ft. Myers
2. 56 Brandon Morris Mulberry
3. 57 Timmy Lowe Pinellas Park
4. 67 James Dubose Arcadia
5. 13 Aaron Williamson Lakeland
6. 98 Danny Brown W. Palm Beach
7. 09 Donnie Ollie Lehigh
8. 68 Gary McFall Venice
9. 1 Lance Sober Punta Gorda
10. 7R Kyle Rice LeBelle
11. 77 James Dellea Port Charlotte
12. 14 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral
13. 93 Shawn Wade Lehigh D. N. S.
14. 35 Greg Krom Myakka City D. Q.
Super Stock
1. 2S Randy Sober Punta Gorda
2. 57 Logan Leonard Cape Coral
3. 98 A.J. Mott Ocala
4. 2 Bobby Fischer Naples
Road Warrior
1. 27 Derrick Horton N. Ft. myers
2. 8 Shane Leonard Cape Coral
3. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres
4. 51 Jarrett Cornell
5. 1 Rick Reed Arcadia
6. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
7. 96 Rob Viglilo Bradenton
8. 8up Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte
9. 80 Richard Nelson Bradenton
10. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh Acres
11. 11 Willard Haden Naples
12. 89 Johny Allen Lehigh
13. 14 Randy Kile Lehigh
14. 13 Justin Teston
Legends
1.7 Mike Verhaagh Fort Myers
2. 9 Mitch Verhaagh
3. 22 Tyler Audie Orlando
4. 55 Conrad Molter Naples
5. 54 Tony Steinbuck Tamarac
6. 48 Carl Haag Port St. Lucie
7. 26 Joey Landis Coral Springs D. N. S.
Cowboy Cadillac
1. 36 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral
2. 8 Jeff Deeble Port Charlotte
3. 30 Ken Badali Port Charlotte
4. 88 Brad Wegert Port Charlotte
5. 35 Terry Price Port Charlotte
6. 33 Les Couch Punta Gorda D. N. S.
Pro 4 Fab 4
1. 04 Ryan Collver N. Ft. Myers
2. 00 Dan Collver N.Ft. Myers
3. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh
4. 29 Phil Ellis Rotonda
5. 05 Ronald Robinson Bradenton
6. 13 Alex Teston Lehigh
7. 87 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers
8. 77 James Dellea 3 rd . Port Charlotte
9. 73 Randy Johnson Bradenton D. N. S.