Satsuma, FL  -January 22. 2011-  A new day and age dawned at the all new Putnam Speedway yesterday. New owners Bob and Ingrid McClellan made their debut as track entrepreneurs.

With clear skies, cold and windy conditions 31 thunder stocks and 11 open wheel modifieds made their way to the track for some action under the sun.

Drivers came from all over the state of Florida and from as far away as Kentucky.

Fans from near and far attended the event with an open mind and a need for racing with all the sights and sounds that go along with it.

Heavy rains had plagued the area for a few days prior to Saturday’s race leaving the track in dire straits due to the newly applied clay surface. The track was very heavy and loose but never the less the drivers made the best of it and took the track for a shot at the $2500 dollar pay day that awaited the winner.

The thunder stocks were greeted with cheers and yeehaws from the fans as they took to the track for 3 heat races. The top 2 from each heat advanced to a 5 lap dash for cash which awarded the winner $100 for besting the 6 car field. That $100 prize was picked up by Archer, FL  resident Kevin Durden who was pretty much in command of the event  from green to checker.

Then it was on the the open wheel modified division for a 35 lap $1000 pay day to the victor. Paul Sizemore Jr. looked to be a sure winner in the race but while trying to negotiate lapped traffic Silver Spring, FL driver Jeff Bagent made use of a lap car and drove by Sizemore to take the lead with about 15 laps remaining.  Sizemore seemed poised and ready to take the lead back from Bagent but an engine failure retired him for the day.

Despite a valiant effort from Jacksonville, FL wheel man David Crews Jr., Bagent went on to pick up the win and all the accolades of the day. A very happy man exited the car in victory lane and thanked all the fans for coming out and supporting the track and, thanked new owners Bob and Ingrid for taking a chance on the track.

Then it was time for the big dance to take place, 31 drivers poised and ready to take the green for the thunder stocks 100 lap feature.  Among the drivers was a notable NASCAR competitor and K&N Series driver Michael Cherry, driving a grey Camaro number 34.

Up on the front row it was to be a stellar duel of drivers. The pole position featured Dash for Cash winner Kevin Durden and veteran dirt track ace Randy Strehle from Deland, FL leading the field to the green.

With track conditions rapidly deteriorating the field began to thin out do to attrition. Much of the race was marred with cautions with it becoming more and more difficult for the drivers to negotiate the motorcross like conditions being dealt with in turns one and two.

Durden seemed to have his race car in check leading from the green without much of a challenge from the field.  Durden is a veteran driver with many years of experience on just about any type of track surface and track condition, so this gave him an advantage.

Randy Strehle looked to be one of the drivers that could give Durden a challenge but he was plagued with overheating problems during the race which saw him return to the pits and put him deep in the field each time he returned to the track.

Howard Osteen seemed to have a little bit for the leader but had much difficulty getting through turns one and two and saw his car go airborne a few times in the process.

Strehle managed to get his car back to the front and at the checkers finished third. Despite the the Monte Carlo turned baja truck, Howard Osteen brought his car home in second. The big dog of the day was Durden who led wire to wire and brought the car to victory lane to collect the $2500 check.  He thanked the new track owners and fans for coming out and made the humbling statement that if he had to start deep in the field he may have not have faired as well. He was lucky to have started from the pole.

Michael Cherry came home an impressive 4th place telling me after the race that he tried to play it smart and rode it out until it was time for him to go.

The funny thing was that Durden’s  car was pulled into the tech shed and the door was closed without anyone being able to see what was transpiring inside.  My opinion that failed in my eyes due to the lack of the rest of the top three being able to see what was inspected and if those items were in fact legal. Wrong thing to do? You bet!

With the first event in the can at Putnam Speedway I hope that this was a learning day for everyone involved. We should not give up hope yet and give the facility a chance to thrive, so lets support the track and talk about this subject in 6 months from now.

Special Event January 22, 2011

Open Wheel Modifieds 35 Laps

Thunder Stocks 100 Laps