Punta Gorda Speedway wins against Mother Nature, with rain and lightning all around the state and the track, not one drop of rain fell on the speedway Saturday.
Never count PGS out on Saturday Nights because they do what it takes to let the drivers that pull from all over the state have a chance to race.
With Qualifying and heat races done it was time to go racing and first up for the night was the Fab 4 class that had a heck of a battle going. The Pink rocket of Jessica Ostrovskis got an early pass for the lead over Zac Campilonga on lap two till Skyler Null driving the 98 lead in lap four. JRC Jess and Campilonga’s battle ended with Jess bringing out the only caution of the race with a flat tire. Jess returned and while Null had a good lead the 91 and 3 continued their battle till the end. Null won but would be to light as he crossed the scales in tech giving the win to the girl that fought her way back to the second spot over Campilonga and Mike Simmons would move up to the third spot.
Bandoleros ran next and saw the entire race dominated by the 19 of Keith Sinkula out of Stuart who never lifted off the gas for the entire race. Trevor Taylor cruised into second Johnny Holmes third, Tyler Clem fourth and Noah Weaver rounded out the top five.
It took the rookie trucks a few times to get the first lap in as they all wanted to win it on the first lap. After they settled down and warnings from the flagman it was Kelli Burns of Port Charlotte that lead the entire race. Chad Chastain out of Alva thought he had that second spot wrapped up till a caution with two to go for Mathew Green tightened the field back up. Chastain, Atwell and Coty Martell all battling for that second spot as they see the white flag, Chastain brushed the back stretch wall which gave way to Atwell to take over second and Chastain would end up third.
Pro 4 class saw the 00 of Dan Collver run start to finish while Cody Allen did everything he could but came up short to finish second and Dylan Bigley third.
The US Legends National Qualifier race ran for 35 laps were eighteen drivers showed up to put on one heck of an exciting race that only saw one caution but some of the best racing of the night. Speedway owner offered a two hundred and fifty dollar bounty to any driver that wanted to start in the rear and try to win the race and one driver stepped up for the challenge. Cory Abbott from Apopka Fl drew the number one pill to start on the pole but took the challenge to start in the rear, fast qualifier was the 7X of Dakota Baggette of lakeland who started outside the third row.
One more bonus of one hundred dollars was awarded from speedway owner, Kevin Williams to the driver that towed the farthest to race and that was awarded to Paul Shafer from Chicago who was in North Carolina racing in the Summer Shoot out. The green flag dropped and the race was on and Cory Abbott had made his way up to second when the caution came out on lap nine. Abbott jumped into the lead and fast qualifier Dakota Baggette got around Chase Fitzgerald on lap twenty to take over the second spot and challenge Abbott. With no other cautions and lap traffic coming into play, Abbott would go on to win the feature and the bonus money with Baggette second Chase Fitzgerald second Austin Blankenship four and Paul Shafer fifth.
Sportsman had a fifty lap feature that saw some of the regular drivers still not back from the last two races that saw some pretty tore up race cars. Brian Richardson won the last feature and set fast time, but it would be Stuart Vandevender that won the draw and started on the pole.
Bill Vandevender started farther back in the field and by lap eighteen had made his way up to challenge his brother Stuart for the lead and made the pass on lap eighteen. Bill’s car was on a rail while Timmy Lowe was on the hunt for that trip to victory lane and at the half way mark Richardson’s motor went and James Dubose also with problems pulled it to the infield. With the field tightened up and still twenty laps left, Stuart was trying what he could to keep Greg Krom from taking the third spot until they saw five laps to go. With the pressure from Krom, Stuart left enough room for Krom to get inside and then closed it off, Krom spun and the call was on Stuart, sending him to the rear. The 36 of Stuart hit Krom under caution sending him to the pits with four to go. On the restart it was Lowe and Krom battling side by side and Krom gave it to much as he spun on his own sending him to the back with two to go. Bill Vandevender finally saw the checker flag and took the car to the winners circle with Timmy Lowe second and a long time coming third place went to Donnie Ollie Jr and Greg Krom made it back to fourth.
Pro trucks ran thirty five laps and saw the 41 truck of Steve Darvalics lead the entire race with Ross Chastain of Alva battle through the field for a respectable second, T.J. Duke third.
Road Warriors were the last race of the night were Jason Miller lead the first fifteen laps until the eight of Shane Leonard made the pass to take over the lead and go onto to win. Miller would hold on to the second spot holding off Richard Nelson who came in third.
Next week the speedway will be closed in observance of July 4 th, but visit the speedway website for all updates at www.puntagordaspeedway.com or find them on Facebook at Punta Gorda Speedway
Punta Gorda Speedway Results 6/25/2011
Sportsman 50 laps
1. 84 Bill Vandevender N. Ft. Myers
2. 57 Timmy Lowe Pinellas Park
3. 09 Donnie Ollie Jr. Lehigh
4. 35 Greg Krom Sarasota
5. 98 Roger Welch
6. 67 James Dubose Arcadia
7. 56 Brian Richardson
8. 14 George Richardson Cape Coral
9. 68 Gary McFall Venice
10. Andy Allen DNS
11. 36 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral D. Q.
Pro Trucks 35 laps
1. 41 Steve Darvalics Venice
2. 36 Ross Chastain Alva
3. 28 T.J. Duke Venice
4. 14 Michael Burns Port Charlotte
5. 14s Sam Scott Naples
6. 17 Mark Hooven Orlando
7. 47 Travis Gossard Naples
8. 75 Robert St. John Arcadia
9. 15 Jeff Dulaney D. N. S.
Road Warriors
1. 8 Shane Leonard Cape coral
2. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres
3. 80 Richard Nelson Bradenton
4. 14 Randy Kile Lehigh
5. 1 Rick Reed Arcadia
6. 27 Derrick Horton N Ft. Myers
7. 33 Chris Loney Naples
8. 43 Mark Petty Venice
9. 2 Pete Bloodgood Venice
10. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh Acres
11. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
12. 93 Jeff Firestine Venice
13. 15 Clint Snyder Venice
Legends
1. 5 Cory Abbott Apolka
2. 7x Dakota Baggette Lakeland
3. 96 Chase Fitzgerald Lutz
4. 87 Austin Blakenship Ft. Lauderdale
5. 71 Paul Shaffer Chicago, Il.
6. 00b Anthony Cataldi Umatilla
7. 00x Darin Coker Palm Beach
8. 94 Matt Blankenship Lake Placid
9. 01 Shawn Hooven Orlando
10. 14b Jordan Black Orlando
11. 14 Brady Marshall Sarasota
12. 7 Mike Verhaagh Fort Myers
13. 83 Danielle Stratton Tavares
14. 26 Joey Langis Coral Springs
15. 48 Carl Haag Port St. Lucie
16. 55 Conrad Molter Naples
17. 8 Donovan Ponder Orlando
18. 54 Tony Steinbuck Tamarac
Pro 4
1. 00 Dan Collver N. Ft. Myers
2. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh
3. 28 Dylan Bigley Naples
4. 04 Ryan Collver Ft. Myers
5. 31 John Balzarano Naples
6. 32 Corey Bigley Naples
7. 29 Phil Ellis North Port
8. 87 Charles Null N. Ft. Myers
9. 21 Jeremy Perkins N. Ft. Myers
10. 97 Josh Flesher Bonita
Fab 4
1. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis St. Pete
2. 3 Zac Campilonga Bradenton
3. 67 Mike Simmons Punta Gorda
4. 87 Brent Null
5. 97 Chuck Flesher
6. 98 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers D. Q.
Rookie Trucks
1. 4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
2. 39 Michael Atwell Naples
3. 36 Chad Chastain Alva
4. 44 Mathew Green Orlando
5. 99 Cody Martell Arcadia
Bandolero
1. 19 Keith Sinkula Stuart
2. 7 Trevor Taylor Zellwood
3. X Johnny Holmes Port Charlotte
4. 14 Tyler Clem St. Pete
5. 14b Noah Weaver Sarasota
6. 12 Tyler Audie Orlando
2. 57 Timmy Lowe Pinellas Park
3. 09 Donnie Ollie Jr. Lehigh
4. 35 Greg Krom Sarasota
5. 98 Roger Welch
6. 67 James Dubose Arcadia
7. 56 Brian Richardson
8. 14 George Richardson Cape Coral
9. 68 Gary McFall Venice
10. Andy Allen DNS
11. 36 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral D. Q.
Pro Trucks 35 laps
1. 41 Steve Darvalics Venice
2. 36 Ross Chastain Alva
3. 28 T.J. Duke Venice
4. 14 Michael Burns Port Charlotte
5. 14s Sam Scott Naples
6. 17 Mark Hooven Orlando
7. 47 Travis Gossard Naples
8. 75 Robert St. John Arcadia
9. 15 Jeff Dulaney D. N. S.
Road Warriors
1. 8 Shane Leonard Cape coral
2. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres
3. 80 Richard Nelson Bradenton
4. 14 Randy Kile Lehigh
5. 1 Rick Reed Arcadia
6. 27 Derrick Horton N Ft. Myers
7. 33 Chris Loney Naples
8. 43 Mark Petty Venice
9. 2 Pete Bloodgood Venice
10. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh Acres
11. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
12. 93 Jeff Firestine Venice
13. 15 Clint Snyder Venice
Legends
1. 5 Cory Abbott Apolka
2. 7x Dakota Baggette Lakeland
3. 96 Chase Fitzgerald Lutz
4. 87 Austin Blakenship Ft. Lauderdale
5. 71 Paul Shaffer Chicago, Il.
6. 00b Anthony Cataldi Umatilla
7. 00x Darin Coker Palm Beach
8. 94 Matt Blankenship Lake Placid
9. 01 Shawn Hooven Orlando
10. 14b Jordan Black Orlando
11. 14 Brady Marshall Sarasota
12. 7 Mike Verhaagh Fort Myers
13. 83 Danielle Stratton Tavares
14. 26 Joey Langis Coral Springs
15. 48 Carl Haag Port St. Lucie
16. 55 Conrad Molter Naples
17. 8 Donovan Ponder Orlando
18. 54 Tony Steinbuck Tamarac
Pro 4
1. 00 Dan Collver N. Ft. Myers
2. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh
3. 28 Dylan Bigley Naples
4. 04 Ryan Collver Ft. Myers
5. 31 John Balzarano Naples
6. 32 Corey Bigley Naples
7. 29 Phil Ellis North Port
8. 87 Charles Null N. Ft. Myers
9. 21 Jeremy Perkins N. Ft. Myers
10. 97 Josh Flesher Bonita
Fab 4
1. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis St. Pete
2. 3 Zac Campilonga Bradenton
3. 67 Mike Simmons Punta Gorda
4. 87 Brent Null
5. 97 Chuck Flesher
6. 98 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers D. Q.
Rookie Trucks
1. 4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
2. 39 Michael Atwell Naples
3. 36 Chad Chastain Alva
4. 44 Mathew Green Orlando
5. 99 Cody Martell Arcadia
Bandolero
1. 19 Keith Sinkula Stuart
2. 7 Trevor Taylor Zellwood
3. X Johnny Holmes Port Charlotte
4. 14 Tyler Clem St. Pete
5. 14b Noah Weaver Sarasota
6. 12 Tyler Audie Orlando
Sportsman 50 laps
1. 84 Bill Vandevender N. Ft. Myers
2. 57 Timmy Lowe Pinellas Park
3. 09 Donnie Ollie Jr. Lehigh
4. 35 Greg Krom Sarasota
5. 98 Roger Welch
6. 67 James Dubose Arcadia
7. 56 Brian Richardson
8. 14 George Richardson Cape Coral
9. 68 Gary McFall Venice
10. Andy Allen DNS
11. 36 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral D. Q.
Pro Trucks 35 laps
1. 41 Steve Darvalics Venice
2. 36 Ross Chastain Alva
3. 28 T.J. Duke Venice
4. 14 Michael Burns Port Charlotte
5. 14s Sam Scott Naples
6. 17 Mark Hooven Orlando
7. 47 Travis Gossard Naples
8. 75 Robert St. John Arcadia
9. 15 Jeff Dulaney D. N. S.
Road Warriors
1. 8 Shane Leonard Cape coral
2. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres
3. 80 Richard Nelson Bradenton
4. 14 Randy Kile Lehigh
5. 1 Rick Reed Arcadia
6. 27 Derrick Horton N Ft. Myers
7. 33 Chris Loney Naples
8. 43 Mark Petty Venice
9. 2 Pete Bloodgood Venice
10. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh Acres
11. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
12. 93 Jeff Firestine Venice
13. 15 Clint Snyder Venice
Legends
1. 5 Cory Abbott Apolka
2. 7x Dakota Baggette Lakeland
3. 96 Chase Fitzgerald Lutz
4. 87 Austin Blakenship Ft. Lauderdale
5. 71 Paul Shaffer Chicago, Il.
6. 00b Anthony Cataldi Umatilla
7. 00x Darin Coker Palm Beach
8. 94 Matt Blankenship Lake Placid
9. 01 Shawn Hooven Orlando
10. 14b Jordan Black Orlando
11. 14 Brady Marshall Sarasota
12. 7 Mike Verhaagh Fort Myers
13. 83 Danielle Stratton Tavares
14. 26 Joey Langis Coral Springs
15. 48 Carl Haag Port St. Lucie
16. 55 Conrad Molter Naples
17. 8 Donovan Ponder Orlando
18. 54 Tony Steinbuck Tamarac
Pro 4
1. 00 Dan Collver N. Ft. Myers
2. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh
3. 28 Dylan Bigley Naples
4. 04 Ryan Collver Ft. Myers
5. 31 John Balzarano Naples
6. 32 Corey Bigley Naples
7. 29 Phil Ellis North Port
8. 87 Charles Null N. Ft. Myers
9. 21 Jeremy Perkins N. Ft. Myers
10. 97 Josh Flesher Bonita
Fab 4
1. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis St. Pete
2. 3 Zac Campilonga Bradenton
3. 67 Mike Simmons Punta Gorda
4. 87 Brent Null
5. 97 Chuck Flesher
6. 98 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers D. Q.
Rookie Trucks
1. 4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
2. 39 Michael Atwell Naples
3. 36 Chad Chastain Alva
4. 44 Mathew Green Orlando
5. 99 Cody Martell Arcadia
Bandolero
1. 19 Keith Sinkula Stuart
2. 7 Trevor Taylor Zellwood
3. X Johnny Holmes Port Charlotte
4. 14 Tyler Clem St. Pete
5. 14b Noah Weaver Sarasota
6. 12 Tyler Audie Orlando
3. 09 Donnie Ollie Jr. Lehigh
4. 35 Greg Krom Sarasota
5. 98 Roger Welch
6. 67 James Dubose Arcadia
7. 56 Brian Richardson
8. 14 George Richardson Cape Coral
9. 68 Gary McFall Venice
10. Andy Allen DNS
11. 36 Stuart Vandevender Cape Coral D. Q.
Pro Trucks 35 laps
1. 41 Steve Darvalics Venice
2. 36 Ross Chastain Alva
3. 28 T.J. Duke Venice
4. 14 Michael Burns Port Charlotte
5. 14s Sam Scott Naples
6. 17 Mark Hooven Orlando
7. 47 Travis Gossard Naples
8. 75 Robert St. John Arcadia
9. 15 Jeff Dulaney D. N. S.
Road Warriors
1. 8 Shane Leonard Cape coral
2. 10 Jason Miller Lehigh Acres
3. 80 Richard Nelson Bradenton
4. 14 Randy Kile Lehigh
5. 1 Rick Reed Arcadia
6. 27 Derrick Horton N Ft. Myers
7. 33 Chris Loney Naples
8. 43 Mark Petty Venice
9. 2 Pete Bloodgood Venice
10. 5 Jeremy Daring Lehigh Acres
11. 97 Chris Scott Nokomis
12. 93 Jeff Firestine Venice
13. 15 Clint Snyder Venice
Legends
1. 5 Cory Abbott Apolka
2. 7x Dakota Baggette Lakeland
3. 96 Chase Fitzgerald Lutz
4. 87 Austin Blakenship Ft. Lauderdale
5. 71 Paul Shaffer Chicago, Il.
6. 00b Anthony Cataldi Umatilla
7. 00x Darin Coker Palm Beach
8. 94 Matt Blankenship Lake Placid
9. 01 Shawn Hooven Orlando
10. 14b Jordan Black Orlando
11. 14 Brady Marshall Sarasota
12. 7 Mike Verhaagh Fort Myers
13. 83 Danielle Stratton Tavares
14. 26 Joey Langis Coral Springs
15. 48 Carl Haag Port St. Lucie
16. 55 Conrad Molter Naples
17. 8 Donovan Ponder Orlando
18. 54 Tony Steinbuck Tamarac
Pro 4
1. 00 Dan Collver N. Ft. Myers
2. 98 Cody Allen Lehigh
3. 28 Dylan Bigley Naples
4. 04 Ryan Collver Ft. Myers
5. 31 John Balzarano Naples
6. 32 Corey Bigley Naples
7. 29 Phil Ellis North Port
8. 87 Charles Null N. Ft. Myers
9. 21 Jeremy Perkins N. Ft. Myers
10. 97 Josh Flesher Bonita
Fab 4
1. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis St. Pete
2. 3 Zac Campilonga Bradenton
3. 67 Mike Simmons Punta Gorda
4. 87 Brent Null
5. 97 Chuck Flesher
6. 98 Skyler Null N. Ft. Myers D. Q.
Rookie Trucks
1. 4 Kelli Burns Port Charlotte
2. 39 Michael Atwell Naples
3. 36 Chad Chastain Alva
4. 44 Mathew Green Orlando
5. 99 Cody Martell Arcadia
Bandolero
1. 19 Keith Sinkula Stuart
2. 7 Trevor Taylor Zellwood
3. X Johnny Holmes Port Charlotte
4. 14 Tyler Clem St. Pete
5. 14b Noah Weaver Sarasota
6. 12 Tyler Audie Orlando