by Dave Westerman

Fans were treated to seven classes of racing action under perfect weather conditions Saturday night at Auburndale Speedway.

Twenty-one Legend Cars filled their section of the pit area with a pair of heat races going to point leader Jake Perkins and Tyler Smith, who was back in action taking a break from his college studies down in Fort Myers.

Smith broke out on top at the drop of the green for what would be a caution flag-filled 25 laps. The race got off to a clean first few laps although outside pole sitter Perkins began dropping back like he was tied to a pole unable to get out of the high groove. Meanwhile, Legend Car veteran Brandon Thomson, subbing for Bryan Silas, quickly moved from his mid-pack starting spot to second by passing Justin Brown on lap seven.

The first caution flag flew for a spin by Zach Napoleon on lap 11 then, on the restart, Ryan Shattuck pounded the wall coming off turn two shedding his right front tire in the process. Shattuck, driving his first Legend Car race here since moving up from the Bandoleros, was OK but his car required a tow to the pits. Only one more lap could be completed under green before Napoleon and Danielle Stratton tangled in turn one putting both drivers out for the rest of the race.

Turn one was the scene of the next yellow flag just one lap later for a three car altercation involving Leroy Moore, Seth Adams and Joey Collins. Adams was unable to restart. Smith continued to set the pace with Thomson right on his bumper as the next caution came out on lap 16 as Moore spun off turn two. As the field slowed for the yellow, Perkins took his car to the infield and out of the event after working his way back up to sixth spot. One final caution flew on lap 18 as Austin Blankenship spun in turn two.

Smith held off the pressure from Thomson and led the rest of the way to claim his fifth win of the year. Brown ran a steady race to grab third while Gerald White, Jr. cut into Perkins’ point lead by finishing fourth while Perkins was credited with 16th.

Lynn Wiles raced to fifth in the final tally with Dakota Baggette (celebrating his 15th birthday), Dave Gleason, Mason Ketterman, Anythony Cataldi and Tyler Schule rounding out the top ten. After two false starts Clint Foley grabbed the lead and simply dominated the Modified Mini Stock feature. Foley, who is leading the points at Citrus County Speedway and has nine feature wins there this year, was making just his second Auburndale start of the season and won the 25 lap headliner by a half lap over Auburndale point leader Scotty Sharpe and Mike Sweet.

Fred Harrison, Jr. made his first-ever start in the class a good one by nabbing a fourth place finish while Jason Rendell was fifth. Bo Collier was sixth with Ashton Hunt, Nathan Florian, Danny Dobbins and Drew Carter completing the top ten. Heat races were won by Foley and Sharpe.

Brian Harbin took over Bobby Mobley’s car and led all the way to win the Street Stock feature. Harbin’s win wasn’t an easy one as he had to throw everything including the kitchen sink at Kyle Peters who put incredible pressure on the leader before contact between the two sent Peters to the rear of the field for the restart.

Jeff Waterman took up the chase at that point and gave Harbin a fit before Harbin finally prevailed over Waterman, Matt McCrary, Cody McDuffie and Jammie Donahoe. The rest of the top ten consisted of Ken Lawrence, Dave Colpritt, Larry Braswell, Peters and David Williams. Harbin and Peters won the heats.

A short field of Open Wheel Modifieds saw heat winner Keith Lilley lead flag to flag to score his third win of the season. James Wright III took home the runner-up spot and all but wrapped up the 2010 OWM point title. Steven Hise took third trailed by Bobby Blake and Bobby Mobley.

The Mini Stocks were back in action and Donnie Guy jumped back in the car he had sold earlier in the year and won his first feature of 2010. Marilyn McCrary actually was in charge of the feature from the drop of the green and appeared on her way to a big win but pulled off the track on lap 11 handing the lead to Guy. Kevin Steadman gave chase but had to settle for second ahead of Jason Swilley, Josh Borem and Mark Wells. Guy also won the heat race.

Preston Davis has now won four of the last five V-8 Bomber features as he won the heat race and led all the way to top Josh Borem, Alan Seay, Buddy Phillips, Jr. and Gator Hise.

Teddy Lively won the Bandolero feature over Cameron White.

Next week the Sportsman, Street Stocks, V-8 Bombers, Legends, Bandoleros, Scramblers and Kids Club will be on the card. The drivers will be giving away Halloween candy to all the kids on the race track during intermission. Come dressed in your Halloween costumes for a fun night of racing. For more information call 863-551-1131 or log on to www.auburndaleracing.com powered by Palm Tree Computers.

OFFICIAL RESULTS – AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY 8/23/10:

LEGENDS:
1-#4 Tyler Smith
2-#57 Brandon Thomson
3-#8 Justin Brown
4-#38 Gerald White, Jr.
5-#31 Lynn Wiles
6-#7 Dakota Baggette
7-#17 Dave Gleason
8-#71 Mason Ketterman
9-#00 Anthony Cataldi
10-#88 Tyler Schule
11-#87 Austin Blankenship
12-#28 Joey Collins
13-#65 Coty Bibeau
14-#2 Corey White
15-#99 Leroy Moore
16-#59 Jake Perkins
17-#5 Seth Adams
18-#83 Daniele Stratton
19-#4R Zach Napoleon
20-#13 Ryan Shattuck
21-#96 Chase Fitzgerald

STREET STOCKS:
1-#29 Brian Harbin
2-#42 Jeff Waterman
3-#5 Matt McCrary
4-#25 Cody McDuffie
5-#62 Jammie Dunnahoe
6-#65 Ken Lawrence
7-#4 Dave Colpritt
8-#80 Larry Braswell
9-#53 Kyle Peters
10-#18 David Williams
11-#142 Chris Spring
12-#92 Roger Blevins
13-#45 Joe Dowdy

MODIFIED MINI STOCKS:
1-#7 Clint Foley
2-#89 Scotty Sharpe
3-#55 Mike Sweet
4-#21 Fred Harrison, Jr.
5-#15 Jason Rendell
6-#02 Bo Collier
7-#9 Ashton Hunt
8-#26 Nathan Florian
9-#36 Danny Dobbins
10-#85 Drew Carter
11-#45 Dennis Jones
12-#56 Robert Douglas
DNS #80 Mike Bruno

OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS:
1-#87 Keith Lilley
2-#56 James Wright III
3-#2 Steven Hise
4-#75 Bobby Blake
5-#71 Bobby Mobley

V-8 BOMBERS
1-#89 Preston Davis
2-#111 Josh Borem
3-#2 Alan Seay
4-#05 Buddy Phillips, Jr.
5-#43 Gator Hise
6-#81 Matt Bozeman
7-#51 Matt Johns

MINI STOCKS:
1-#3 Donnie Guy
2-#88 Kevin Steadman
3-#40 Jason Swilley
4-#11 Josh Borem
5-#551 Mark Wells
6-#12 Scott Mishler
7-#4 Marilyn McCrary

BANDOLEROS
1-#96 Teddy Lively (Outlaw)
2-#38 Cameron White (Bandit)

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