Ronnie Chance Tops Open Wheel Mods At NFS

By Jeff Bean-NFS Media-

Lake City,  Fl. -April 16, 2011- Fans were treated to another great night of racing action Saturday at North Florida Speedway and the kids had some special events of their own. Intermission brought a chance for the younger fans to get a ride along in a race car and that was followed up by an Easter Egg Hunt.  The excitement of the kids to ride in a real race car created a buzz that could be felt and heard by all of those in attendance. A big thank you to all the drivers who particapated is in order but many of the drivers were just as excited as the kids.

Ronnie Chance took top honors in the Burkins Chevrolet Open Wheel Modifieds. Nevin Gainey won the Sportsman main event with Randy Moody emerging on top of the Street Stock field. Kevin Underwood took down another Box Stock win and Chip Owen returned to action and claimed the victory in the Pure Stocks.

The first feature to hit the track was the Sportsman and Sonny Thompson and Jamie Dayhaw would lead the field to green. An early race scramble would see Kevin Davis take the lead followed by Nevin Gainey and Sonny Thompson. With Davis setting the pace Gainey applied the pressure and looked to have taken the lead at the halfway point but a caution negated all of Gainey’s hard work. Once the action resumed Davis continued to lead but Gainey was able to make the pass for lead when Davis slid up the track just enough to open the door for Gainey. But Gainey had one last scare on the final lap when a radiator hose came loose and smoke poured out of the number eight going into turn two and the car pushed up the track but Gainey regained control and would collect the win. Davis would chase Gainey to the checkers with Spud Lockwood Jr. rounding out the top five.

The Burkins Chevrolet Open Wheel Modifieds were next up and Jeff Bagent and Dave Barber would make up the front row. On the opening lap third place starter Duane Paul Jr. would try to make it three wide coming off turn two and the result would see Bagent into the backstretch wall and Paul suffering damage that would result in a water leak retiring both cars for the night. Ronnie Chance would be the benefactor of the first lap fireworks and would inherit the pole for the second attempt to get the race underway. Chance would make the most of the oppurtunity and seize the lead that he would not relinquish.  There was plenty of action behind the leader with Cody Garner spinning in turn one to bring out the caution on lap two. Second place runner Dave Barber would spin in turn two on lap number eight which would end his night. On the next lap David Crews Jr. would spin while running third putting his bid to make it two in a row in jeopardy. Lap eleven would see Garner spinning again in turn one. On lap seventeen the caution would be displayed for Dave Wansley putting down water on the track. While Crews was working his way back through the field his efforts to challenge Donnie Hall for third fell short and he went for his second spin on the final lap. David Pollen followed Chance across the finish line and Donnie Hall would finish third.

Lady Luck has turned her back on 2010 Street Stock champion Randy Moody the last few months and Randy was more than willing to turn things around. Ray Durrence Jr. and John Phillps started on the front row and a three wide battle for the lead on the opening lap saw Durrence take control of the field. The lead was short lived however as Moody flexed the new muscle under his hood to grab the top spot. A caution on lap five foor a spin by Kenny Hicks was not going to deter Moody and he would continue to control the race when the caution flew again for a spin by Durrence. Moody would continue to pace the field and all the action was behind him as he cruised to the checkers and finally shed the monkey on his back. Point leader Marty Smith would follow Moody to the line with William Edwards coming home third.

Kevin Underwood has been the man to beat in the Box Stocks lately and starting in the eighth position was just a small bump in the road for the Macclenny Fl. driver. By the end of the first circuit Underwood was in control of the race. and looking to pull away from the field. John Windham would give chase in the early going but in the end it would be Bobby Dennard and Bryar Zimmerman following Underwood to the checkers.

Pure Stocks were the final division to hit the clay and as always they provided plenty of excitemment. Jim Langtry and points leader Jerry Fortner got the action underway but one of Chip Owen’s patented early race surges to the front would see Owen in front after one lap was completed. Brent Zimmerman would bring out the first caution on lap two a single car spin. Behind Owen the action was intense with Shane Taylor, Andy Olson, Jerry Fortner and Nevin Gainey trading positions and paint. While Owen would end up winning the race the positions behind him were shuffled after post race technical inspection. When all was said and done Rick Reed and Doran Cheney would round out the top three.

Racing will resume on April 30th as we take Easter weekend off.Join us April 30th at 7:00 P.M. with double points on the line for Late Models, Limited Mods, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks and Box Stocks. Go to www.northfloridaspeedway.com to register to vote for driver awards and more info or call 386- 754-8800.

Results For April 16th 2011

SPORTSMAN
1. Nevin Gainey #8
2. Kevin Davis #86
3. Spud Lockwood Jr. #32jr
4. Wayne O’Neal #0
5. Lee Brinkley #57
6. Terry Pless #11
7. Jamie Dayhaw #21
8. Shawn Creech #07c
9. Scott Spears #2
10.Jody Turner #18
11. Kevin Bayless #07b
12. Sonny Thompson #75
13. Mark Yarbrough #17

OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. Ronnie Chance #7s
2. David Pollen Jr. #88
3.Donnie Hall #5j
4. James Edgeley #95
5. Cody Garner #47
6. Joey Brinson #8b
7. Johnny Mullner #28
8. David Crews Jr. #10
9. Josh Sanford #3
10. David Wansley #28w
11. Dave Barber #56
12. Charles Howard #7h
13. Duane Paul Jr.#51
14. Jeff Bagent #94

STREET STOCK
1. Randy Moody #13
2. Marty Smith #18
3. William Edwards #08
4. Bobby Rivers #17
5. Devin Walker #55jr
6. Heath Walker #nine
7. John Phillips #j4
8. Kenny Hicks #15
9. Tim Harrell #29
10. Ray Durrence #2

BOX STOCK
1. Kevin Underwood #5
2. Bobby Denard #7L
3. Bryar Zimmerman # lil ooz
4. Cory Crews #21
5. Daryl Larson #15d
6. Dylan Hurston #26
7. Brandon Henault #1
8. John Windham #65
9. Jacob Lockwood #4
10. Amber Willis #12
11. Rob Shelly #44

PURE STOCK
1. Chip Owen #21o
2. Rick Reed #66
3. Doran Cheney #98c
4. William Martin #01
5. Chris Rowe #23
6. Jim Langtry 7x
7. Richard Reed #91
8. Charles Strickland #28
9. Corey Howard #74
10. Danielle Creech #07
11. Brent Zimmerman #OOZ
12. Sky Sanford #31
13. Shane Taylor #82 DQ
14 .Andy Olson #13 DQ
15. Jerry Fortner #F16 DQ
16. Nevin Gainey #57 DQ