Bill Vandevender takes home the win at Punta Gorda Speedway

From Linda Jericka

It was a full moon over the speedway Saturday night, the fans packed the place and were ready for the always exciting racing that has been going on Punta Gorda Speedway.

Eight classes thrilled the fans with some of the best racing so far. The Sportsman class is one of the classes to follow this year as fifteen cars took to the track for their 35 lap feature. The 84 of Bill Vandevender of N. Ft Myers started the race on the outside pole and jumped out to the lead on the first lap and ran as the leader for all 35 laps. James Dubose of Arcadia tried for all 35 laps to take over the lead but finished second. The real battle was third on were several cars gave it all they had trying to get to the front with some of the best side by side racing action of the night. Timmy Lowe would finally be the one after a hard fought battle to claim that third spot with Ander Jackson of Punta Gorda fourth and Greg Krom fifth.

When a class has a week off as the Road Warriors did they came back in full force with 19 cars showing up to take home the trophy. They are not Road Warriors for nothing and all 19 came to do battle on the 3/8^th mile oval with a lot of beating and banging and shoving their way to the front. Blain Baer of Port Charlotte lead all the laps except for the one that counted and Shane Leonard of Cape Coral after 24 laps of pressure to the leader finally got that spot at the checked.

Bandoleros ran a 15 lap feature event with only 2 cars but ten year old of Trever Taylor and the son of radio host Bubba the Love Sponge Tyler Clem ran side by side to make the first appearance

in the class that they will be running in regularly at the speedway. Bubba the Love Sponge sponsors both race cars and was in the winner circle after the race for picture with the kids as they thanked all their sponsors.

March 26^th racing will be the first night for the PGS Late Models

Open Wheel Modifieds for 50 laps, Super Stock, Strictly Stock V-6, Pro 4, Fab 4, Mini Stock and the always entertaining Cowboy Cadillac.