by Rick Anges
Bradenton, Fl. February in Florida means a lot of different things to a lot of different people but for most of us it just means racing! From the shores of New Smyrna Beach to the depths of the Everglades there was the roar of engines.
For thirty years this has also been the weekend of the Icebreaker at Desoto Super Speedway. Some of the top names in all of stock car racing have run this big late model race.
The drivers that were competing for this years trophy included two governors cup winners, several series champions, current and former NASCAR drivers and more then a few track champs.
Nineteen of Florida’s Top Late Model Aces lined up for their two lap qualifying runs. When it was all said and done the 2009 Governors Cup Champ Tim Russell took the fast time with a 14:698 run around 3/8 mile.
Anthony Campi was second fast followed by Joe Boyd, Jeff Choquette and Justin Larson for the top five.
Three cars were inverted from qualifying putting Joe Boyd on the pole for the 100-lap feature. Three fans from the stand gave the drivers the command to start your engines and field came to life.
Joe Boyd jumped out to the early lead with Russell following in his tire tracks. Meanwhile Choquette and Campi were hard at it for the second spot.
The first of only three cautions was brought out Larry Bryant who backed his car into the turn one wall. On the restart Boyd once again took the top spot but as the race wore on Russell would get around Boyd for the lead.
Boyd would lose the handle on his ride and fade to a disappointing sixteenth place finish on the night. Also having his problems was Jeff Choquette. Choquette who won his first asphalt race at Desoto began to push up in turn four. Campi, the 2009 Hoosier Elite Series champion would soon get by and set his sites on the leader Russell. Choquette would finish the eighth.
The long green flag run was just thing that Russell needed as his car just got better and better as he would add the 30th annual Icebreaker to his already impressive resume and collect over $5,000 for the win. Anthony Campi would come home with an impressive second place run, Justin Larson would run third in this start studded race, fourth would be none other then Darryl Shelnut and fifth went to Chris Fontaine.
Sarasota Ford Hoosier Elite Series Late Models
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 6 36 Tim Russell *Fast Time Apopka , Fl
2 5 81 Anthony Campi Sarasota , Fl
3 2 88X Justin Larson Safety Harbor, Fl
4 8 7 Darryl Shelnut Lake City, Fl
5 1 47 Chris Fontaine Auburndale , Fl
6 7 51N Stephen Nasse Pinellas Park, Fl
7 13 55 Scot Walters Naples , Fl
8 3 70 Jeff Choquette Loxahatchee , Fl
9 17 9 Rob Partelo Largo , Fl
10 14 70X James Glover Pinellas Park, Fl
11 10 31 Jeff Sloan Beverly Hills, Fl
12 11 30 Jesse Dutilly Bradenton , Fl
13 16 5X Steve Gill Sarasota , Fl
14 9 1X John Jackson Ellenton , Fl
15 15 00 Robert Yoho Pinellas Park, Fl
16 4 5 Joe Boyd Riverview , Fl
17 12 28 Billy Bigley, Jr Naples , Fl
18 18 28B Dylan Bigley Naples , Fl
19 19 99 Larry Bryant
Open Wheel Modifieds
The “Rocketman” Wayne Jefferson took the in a caution filled thirty-five lap feature. Pat Nanney would blaze from the back of the pack on old tires to finish second, Teddy Nelson also came from near the back to finish third, fourth was early race leader Ralph Bowman and fifth was Scott Kleiber.
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 4 1 Wayne Jefferson Pinellas Park, Fl
2 5 60 Pat Nanney Bradenton , Fl
3 2 94 Teddy Nelson Pinellas Park, Fl
4 6 2 Ralph Bowman Largo , Fl
5 1 5X Scott Kleiber Naples , Fl
6 8 53 Doug Miller Largo , Fl
7 9 12 Eric Rudd Naples , Fl
8 11 2R John Rogers Naples , Fl
9 13 5 James Glover Pinellas Park, Fl
10 3 46 Doug Moff Ft Myers, Fl
11 12 89 Joshua Todd Polk City, Fl
12 7 99 Sean Mclaughlin Port Charlotte, Fl
13 10 63 Phil Morrison Punta Gorda, Fl
Sturdy Built Trailers Flyin 4’s
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 11 73 Randy Johnson Bradenton , Fl
3 3 81 Brittany Barr St Petersburg, Fl
4 7 3 Duane Best Myakka City, Fl
5 1 36 Todd Morey Wachula , Fl
6 9 74 Paul Huffstutler Bradenton , Fl
7 6 11 William Carlbert Jr Bradenton , Fl
8 2 20X Austin Cavey Parrish , Fl
9 10 11B Joshua Piller Wesley Chapel, Fl
10 8 17 Brad Steger Clearwater , Fl
11 4 38 Arthur Danielson Pinellas , Fl
Magic 4’s
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 6 3 Kyle Best Myakka City, Fl
2 4 30 Zac Campilonga Bradenton , Fl
3 2 38 Joann Danielson Pinellas , Fl
4 3 11 Justine Carlbert Palmetto , Fl
5 5 01 Dallas Troyer Bradenton , Fl
6 1 44 Shanna Clark St. Petersburg, Fl
Mini-Stocks
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 3 88 Anthony La Point Zephyrhills , Fl
2 2 33X Joshua Carbone Bradenton , Fl
3 1 32 Jesse Dutilly Bradenton , Fl
Q Auto and Injury Pure Stocks
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 2 30 Robert Crisp Largo , Fl
2 4 47 William Carlbert Jr Bradenton , Fl
3 6 71 Darrin Ellis Myakka City, Fl
4 11 89X Joshua Todd Polk City, Fl
5 1 00 Troy Meredith Largo , Fl
6 8 13 Chelsea Lau Bradenton , Fl
7 9 88 Jamie Wilson Sarasota , Fl
8 5 67 Jimmie Best Sarasota , Fl
9 7 70 Leonard Mccue St Petersburg, Fl
10 3 21X George Bartimac St Petersburg, Fl
11 10 3 Duane Best Myakka City, Fl
Jr.’s Trim Shop Bombers
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 3 02 John Stewart Pinellas Park, Fl
2 1 44 Todd Jacobs Palmetto , Fl
3 2 70 Jeff Taylor Seminole , Fl
4 4 96 Tom Blakeley Bradenton , Fl
Desoto Pro Trucks
Finish Start Car Driver Hometown
1 3 8 Todd Bontrager Sarasota , Fl
2 1 64 Andrew Gipson Bradenton , Fl
3 5 64 Brent Huber Venice , Fl
4 7 12 Charlie Montgomery Venice , Fl
5 4 41 Stephen Darvalics Venice , Fl
6 2 37 Nick Hernandez Palmetto , Fl
7 8 50 Danny Anderson Bradenton , Fl
8 6 48 Bill Manfull Bradenton , Fl