From CL Whalin

Top Gun Sprints

North Florida Speedway, March 19, 2011

Heat #1

1)      0 Jimmy Ballew Jr. (Riverveiw, FL)

2)      14 Ryan Partin (Orlando, FL)

3)      92 Matt Kurtz (Jacksonville, FL)

4)      34 Darrin Orth (Jacksonville, FL)

5)      F21 Ted Filides (Odessa, FL)

6)      88 Andrew Griffin (Seminole, FL)

7)      83A Christine Auld (Largo, FL)

Heat #2

1)      43 Terry Witherspoon (Jacksonville, FL)

2)      24 Danny Martin Jr. (Sarasota, FL)

3)      1* Tim George (Venice, FL)

4)      83 Mark Ruel Jr. (Jacksonville, FL)

5)      36 Kenneth Laureno (Port Charlotte, FL)

6)      38 Tony Agin (Ft. Myers, FL)

7)      14W Dan Jones (Valrico, FL)

Feature

1) 24 Danny Martin; 2) 43 Terry Witherspoon; 3) 14 Ryan Partin; 4) 83 Mark Ruel Jr.; 5) 1* Tim George; 6) 92 Matt Kurtz; 7) 88 Andrew Griffin; 8) 0 Jimmy Ballew Jr.; 9) F21 Ted Filides; 10) 34 Darrin Orth; 11) 36 Kenneth Laureno; 12) 83A Christine Auld; 13) 14W Dan Jones DNS; 14) 38 Tony Agin DNS

Commentary

The Top Gun Sprints made their first visit of 2011 to the North Florida Speedway in LakeCity on Saturday March 19, 2011. There were 14 cars at the track to give fans two heat races and a 25 lap feature race.

The heat races are lined up using a pill pull system, and Ted Filides in the F21 had the pole for the start of the first heat race, with Jimmy Ballew Jr. in the 0 on the outside. Which Jimmy had the better start and took the race lead at the start and held on to take the race win. Terry Witherspoon had the pole for the start of the second heat race in the 43 car, with Kenneth Laureno in the 36 on the outside. Terry had the better start took the lead and the checkered flag and the win. On lap 2 Dan Jones in the 14W had mechanical problems and was done for the event. On lap 6 Tony Agin was running bottom line and got to low in turn 1, as he clipped the big tire it took out the front axle and also had frame damage, he also was done for the night.

Using a passing points system to line up the feature race and a six car inversion, Terry Witherspoon in the 43 car had the pole for the start of the feature race, with Tim George in the 1* car on the outside. The race got underway and Terry Witherspoon took the race lead on lap 6 the caution came out for the 34 of Darrin Orth, 36 of Kenneth Laureno, and  83A of Christine Auld. The next lap the F21 of Ted Filides brought out the caution with the lost of rear tire. After restart found Danny Martin in the lead and never looked back taking the win. Terry Witherspoon in the 43 finished in second place, followed by Ryan Partin in the 14, Mark Ruel Jr. in the 83, with Tim George in the 1* car finishing out the top 5. The winner of the KSE Hardcharger Award went to Ryan Partin in the 14 car.

Top Gun Sprint Car Series Points as of March 19, 2011

Car Driver Points

1.         24        Danny Martin                      300

2.         14        Ryan Partin                         290

3.         43        Terry Witherspoon            290

4.         83        Mark Ruel Jr.                       284

5.         1*        Tim George                           280

6.         0          Jimmy Ballew Jr.                270

7.         36        Kenneth Laureno               260

8.         14W    Dan Jones                            186

9.         27        Johnny Gilbertson             138

10.       92        Matt Kurtz                             138

11.       88        Andrew Griffin                     136

12.       6          Mike Schroeder                   134

13.       F21     Ted Filides                            132

14.      01        Rebecca George                 130

15.       34        Darren Orth                          130

16.       8          Rich Alexander                   128

17.       83A     Christine Auld                     126

18.       59        Danny Statter                      124

19.       4C       Tyler Godwin                       122

20.       38        Tony Agin                             60

The Top Gun Sprints will be at Volusia Speedway Park April 30, 2011.