July 29, 2011 –Well Mother Nature FINALLY smiled on Volusia Speedway and the racers and fans were treated to a great night of racing on the big half mile, a great crowd was on hand for the first regular Friday night of racing action. The evening began with the Daytonas Machine Shop Sportsman and Point leader Blaise Hetznecker was out to prove that he will be the man to beat for the championship, starting 5th on the field, Hetznecker wasted no time getting to the front and took the lead from Mark Kinley on lap 2 and never looked back. Rounding out the top 5 were Chris Day, Mark Kinley, Matt McGillivray and Joe Belkey Jr.
14 Budweiser Modifieds were on hand and when it was all said and done it was Kyle Bronson back in the Destination Daytona Victory Lane, Bronson took the lead from Jared Allison on lap 5 and easily cruised home for the win over Allison, Dalton Lanich, Scott Mooers and Garrett Stewart. Point leader Jeff Mathews was involved in an accident on the first lap and was never a factor on this night.
The question in The Daytona Harley Davidson Sprint Car division is who will stop the streak of Danny Martin Jr.? Martin continued his domination of the division and remained undefeated for the year at Volusia, Otto scrape led the field of 23 cars to starter Deric Smith’s initial green flag, Scrape only held the top spot for one lap when Robbie Smith took over on lap 2, then a red came out for Shane Kreidler who flipped his #52 going down the back stretch, Kreider was OK and the action resumed with Smith keeping the top spot til Martin took over on lap 6 and cruised home for the win, Smith held on for 2nd over Matt Kurtz, AJ Maddox and Shawn Murray.
The always exciting Daytona Sportswear Street Stocks saw young James Smith hold off current point leader Phillip Brown for his first win of the season, Smith led for the first 2 laps of the event til Pat Buckley took over the top spot, Buckley looked strong but Smith stayed right on his bumper and when Buckley slipped up on lap 10, Smith took the top spot back and held off all challenges from that point forward, Brown was credited with second over Buckley, Steve Branton with Mick Kulak rounding out the top 5.
Donnie Birdwell put some excitement in the last 2 laps of the Thunder Stock main event, Birdwell took the lead from Alan Lane on lap 4, and was just cruising along until with just 2 laps to go, Birdwells car had a fire start under the hood, but Birdwell was not going to let that stop him, he continued on and came under the checker flag with flames shooting out, stopping in turn 2 for the fire crew to put the fire out, they pushed the car around to Destination Daytona Victory lane for pictures, Birdwell finished ahead of Johnny Blackwelder, point leader Tom Hughes, Brian Shrunk with Alan Lane holding on for 5th.
Chris Pacetti won the Florida Mini Sprint Main event.
SPORTSMAN – Blaise Hetznecker, Chris Day, Mark Kinley, Matt McGillvary, Joe Belkey Jr., Paul Shead, Don Tingley, Heinz Haas, Steve Shead, Tim Hughes, Ronnie Ponce, Blake Spencer
MODIFIEDS- Kyle Bronson, Jared Allison, Dalton Lanich, Scott Mooers, Garrett Stewart, Dale Murray, Rob Underwood, Steve Mooers, Barry Sheffield, Larry Mott, Larry Burkins, Lonnie Wagner Jr., Ryan Crosby, Jeff Mathews
SPRINTS- Danny Martin Jr., Robbie Smith, Matt Kurtz, A J Maddox, Shawn Murray, Brett ODonnell, Otto Scrape, Tim Grubaugh, Terry Witherspoon, Mark Ruell Jr., Dennis Misuraca, Gene Machuga, Brandon Grubaugh, Dan Statter, Gary Avera, Andrew Griffs, Kurt Taylor, Jeff Parks, Troy Knowles, Tony Agin, Shane Krieder, Daniel Bagley, Tim George
STREET STOCKS- James Smith, Phillip Brown, Pat Buckley, Steve Branton, Mick Kulak, Robert Sirmons, Chuck McHone, Jody Stratton, Chris Lane, Mark Maresca, Chris Manucy, Robert Donnelly, Waly Kahrs, Jason Lee, Ken Hall Jr.