Featured | Karnac Racing News

Brandon Sheppard Shocks the Field and Wins the Dirt Track World Championship

PORTSMOUTH, OH (October 19, 2013) – Brandon Sheppard of New Berlin, IL captured the biggest race of his young career winning the 33rd Annual RED BUCK Dirt Track World Championship at Portsmouth Raceway Park on Saturday Night. Sheppard at age 20 became the youngest driver in the history of the DTWC to win the crown jewel event. Sheppard earned $50,000 as he became the 24th different driver to win the DTWC and captured his first career Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series victory.

Sheppard piloting the #1 Mark Richards Racing, Rocket House Car charged through the field from his seventh starting position using the very top groove to pass Scott Bloomquist for the lead on lap 43. Sheppard would motor away from the field after each restart through the middle stages of the race fending off challenges from several seasoned veterans en route to his victory in front of a capacity crowd. Steve Francis of Ashland, KY advanced from his 15th starting position to finish second at the checkers and clinching second place in the final LOLMDS Championship Points Standings. Jackie Boggs of Grayson, KY took home third followed by 14th starting Jason Feger of Bloomington, IL. Jimmy Owens of Newport, TN rounded out the top five. With his fifth place finish Owens was crowned the 2013 Lucas Oil late Model Dirt Series National Champion for the third year in a row. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-21T19:44:28-04:00October 21st, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Lucas Oil Late Model Dirt Series, Race Results|Comments Off

Danny Martin, Jr. Wins Eagle Jet Top Gun Sprints, Jack Nosbisch, Jr. Wins Late Models At East Bay Raceway Park

Martin-Winner-10-19-13 October 19, 2013 – Tampa, FL – Double Features would be held for V8 Warriors along with the Eagle Jet Top Gun Sprints, Late Models, Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Street Stocks and the Outlaw Fours. Aaron’s Bail Bonds and Alafia Marine sponsored the $1,000 to win for the Eagle Jet Top Gun Sprints.

First Feature would belong to the V8 Warriors make-up feature. Starting on the front row was Bill Whitney and Derek Gray. When the green waved it was Gray leading the way until Whitney spun in turn two bringing out the first caution. Gray would lead the way once again until Jeff Weaver took over the lead on lap three. Weaver would then surrender the lead over to Marco Reyes as they battled crossing the line on lap six with Reyes leading by a half a car length. Weaver would end up with a flat and he spun in turn one leaving him with a seventh place finish. Reyes would go on to win with Kevin Cassaday, Tim Stoffel, Ron Smith and Henry Wiley rounding out the top five. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-21T19:34:55-04:00October 21st, 2013|East Bay Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off

PJ Wiggins Memorial A Success At Bubba Raceway Park

Jim Rouse, Ocala, FL – The Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Modifieds, Bubba Army Late Models, Limited Late Models, Hobby Stocks, and Rent-N-Roll Gladiators all fought for cash and glory as they honored a great racer in Florida in PJ Wiggins.

Limited Late Models were up first and would start with Shane Koperda up front. Tyler Clem would make quick work and had the lead by lap two. A lap eight caution for a Ricky Land spin set up Clem, Forrest Gough, and Koperda up front and Gough made quick work of the eleven year old. Lapped traffic would begin to play it’s hand, but Gough managed it and held the gap over Richard Ferry and Clem as the 25-lapper progressed. Gough would hold on to grab his first win at Bubba Raceway Park over Ferry, Clem, Koperda, and Ricky Land.

The Hobby Stocks saw Scotty Kay, Jr. lead the opening stint which included a wreck between Devin Walker, Chuck Cessna, and Heath Walker that saw the latter two retire. Eric Moon would rocket past Kay on lap ten and pull away, even through a couple of cautions for solo spins. As Moon entered turns three and four, the lapped car of John Florkowski would be present and Moon slipped and spun into the infield. Scotty Kay, Jr. was nearly two seconds back, but would pass the idle car of Moon and claim his first career win at Bubba Raceway Park and he buried the nickname of “Perennial Bridesmaid.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-21T19:28:16-04:00October 21st, 2013|Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off

FULL RACE CARD GAVE FANS PLENTY OF THRILLS

After an exciting third place finish in the 35-lap Open Wheel Modified Race at the Full Throttle Speedway, driver Doug Moff insightfully explained racing’s broad-based appeal.

“Smoke, tires, rubber and racing, that’s why you come out. You don’t come out to watch follow the leader,” Moff said. “Good competitive racing, that’s why you come out.

Saturday night, the racing fans got all that and more.

The card of full throttle racing the night after a full moon began with five 6-lap heat races.

In the Junk Yard Dogs heat, a trio of Myakka City drivers took the top three spots. James Widner took the checkered flag by finishing ahead of Dalton Ellis and family rival Josh Widner.

The Pro 4 heat featured a spinout, a caution flag and a restart before Randy Johnson of Bradenton finished ahead of David Patterson of Port Charlotte and Johnny Marra of St. Petersburg.

The Road Warriors division had two heat races. Chris Loney of Naples took the first heat and Shane Leonard of Cape Coral won the second heat. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-21T19:24:49-04:00October 21st, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Full Throttle Speedway, Race Results|Comments Off

PJ Wiggins Memorial Brings The Best To Town

REW-BubbaRP-9-14_2745 copy Ocala, FL- The PJ Wiggins Memorial will be run for the third time as we honor a fallen driver in the Modified ranks of Florida. PJ won his final race at Bubba Raceway Park in June of 2011 before he passed away just a few months later. Bubba had no question on what the first memorial race he would create would be and “One Last One For PJ Wiggins” was born. Rich Pratt defeated NASCAR star David Reutimann in a 40-lap thriller, and last year Kyle Bronson swept both nights of the two-night affair with Reutimann the runner-up on Saturday. While Pratt and Bronson look for their second “PJ Wiggins Memorial” victory, drivers like Jeff Mathews, Ronnie Chance, and Scott Kurtzner will try to take their first win in an event for a man who was loved and respected by all. Others, such as Bryan Bernhardt, Hunter Gustafson, and Paul Snyder will attempt to just make it into their first race. There is a raffle for a 32″ TV (generously donated by BendinRulesEmporium.com) with all proceeds going to PJ’s wife and his children. Who will leave their name in the history books as a winner of the PJ Wiggins Memorial at Bubba Raceway Park?

The main event is, of course, our $3000 to win Scorpion Racing Products UMP DirtCar Open-Wheel Modifieds feature. The Bubba Army Late Models will battle for $2000 and many drivers will most likely pull double duty (Bronson, Mathews, Late Model points leader Pratt, Bernhardt, and more) and chase a $5000 prize. The Limited Late Models have $1000 on the line and young Tyler Clem will fight to hold on to his points lead and grab the second largest payday of his young career. Hobby Stocks will race for $600 and no one has points to worry about as Devin Walker has wrapped up the division title early. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-17T19:52:00-04:00October 17th, 2013|Bubba Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, Upcoming Events|Comments Off

The Florida United Promoters Series Super Late Models Return to Auburndale Speedway

The Florida United Promoters Series Super Late Models will return to their “Home Track”, Auburndale Speedway this Saturday October 19th for the running of the REGAL KIA-CHEVY 100. With just a few races remaining for the crowning of the 2013 Champion, the points battle has tighten up between Wayne Anderson who lost twenty five points and was fined after an altercation at Citrus last month and Daniel Webster from Brooksville now only seven points separate them. Third place in the standings forty points behind Webster is Sarasota’s Jessie Dutilly who holds a thirteen point lead over Naples Billy Bigley Jr..

In the Sunoco Rookie of the Year battle, young guns Anthony Cataldi and Dylan Bigley are separated by only two points and are expected to contend for the win on Saturday. Also expected are, Randy Anderson, Jonathan Guy, Kevin Macy, Steve Dorer, Todd Brown, Patrick Starpoli, Joe Winchell, David King, Joe Boyd, Anthony Sergi and a host of others.

There will be open practice on Friday Oct. 18th from 5-10pm.. Joining the line up on Sat. will be the V8 Bombers, Scramblers, Mini Stocks, & Street Stocks, pits open at 10am, grandstands at 5pm, racing at 7:00pm.

For More Info: www.floridaunitedpromotersseries.com

By Scott|2013-10-14T18:36:04-04:00October 14th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Late Models, Upcoming Events|Comments Off

Busha Wins Dega 100 And Thomas Is The Chevy Super Series Champ

Tim Busha of Boaz, AL climbs out of his Kilpatrick Racing GRT in Victory Lane to celebrate his $6,000 win in the Dega 100 Presented By Chevrolet Boaz for the Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series on Saturday night at Talladega Short Track in Eastaboga, AL. (Mark Bochiardy Photo)

EASTABOGA, AL – Tim Busha of Boaz, AL drove the Kilpatrick Racing GRT to his second Chevrolet Performance Super Late Model Series win of the season on Saturday night and picked up a $6,000 check in the Dega 100 at Talladega Short Track. William Thomas of Phenix City, AL finished seventh and won the $10,000 2013 Chevy Super Series Championship.

Busha led the first 56 laps of the race, survived a mid-race side-by-side battle with National Dirt Late Model Hall of Fame Inductee Ronnie Johnson of Chattanooga, TN, and then took the lead for good on lap 62 to take a 4.336 second margin of victory over Adam Martin of Talladega, AL in the Seals Insurance Special.

“I’ve got a lot of laps around this place, and you have to set your car up to run either the bottom, middle, or the top, and tonight was the first time I could drive any groove I wanted to whenever I wanted to,” Busha said. “These cars with the Chevrolet Performance CT 525 Engine are so drivable and affordable over the open super late models. It’s just a blast to drive them.”

Ross Martin of Talladega, AL finished third in the Blake Dorsett Trucking GRT and Brad Hall of Knoxville, TN took the fourth spot in the Pilot Travel Centers Warrior. David Earl Gentry of Murfreesboro, TN drove the Eads Farms/Hardy & Associates Warrior to a fifth-place finish, and Brent Barrett of Cleveland, TN was sixth in the Custom Spraying, Inc. GRT.

Thomas finished seventh in the Alexander’s Industrial Service GRT, and Johnson dropped back to finish eighth in the Tommy Pope Construction Warrior. Matthew Turner of Dawsonville, GA took the ninth spot in the J.T. Kerr Racing Equipment Special, and David Brannon of Elora, TN rounded out the top ten in the Elora Gin Company Special. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-14T18:33:35-04:00October 14th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, NeSmith Chevrolet Dirt Late Model Series, Racing News|Comments Off

Late Restart Gives Welding Win

In auto racing, they like to say that it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. At the Full Throttle Speedway Saturday night, it was a case of where you restart that decided where you finish. Bill Vandeveder of North Fort Myers led for the first 30 laps of the Street Stock 35 lap featured race before a restart enabled J.R. Welding of Sarasota to seize the lead and take the checkered flag. “I knew the restart was going to kill me,” Vandeveder said. “My tires were five months old and I couldn’t get a grip.” In spite of numerous caution flags, assorted spinouts and falling sheet metal and steel from various race cars, Vandeveder maintained his narrow lead. Almost as remarkable as Vandeveder’s gritty performance was a third place finish by Bobby Fisher of Naples. On the 18^th lap, Fisher tapped out for causing Vandeveder to spin out on the straightaway. That moved Fisher to the back of the pack. In 17 laps, Fisher skillfully moved from last place to third. Twenty one cars came to do battle and after all the smoke cleared and the checkers were flying, thirteen cars crossed the finish line. Some of the cars were clearly not in the same shape as they arrived in with fenders, hoods and a lot of missing sheet metal missing but the drivers put on a great battle to the end for the fans. There was an autograph session for the Street Stock drivers before their featured event, that had many fans and lots of kids down on the track, up close and personal to meet and greet them. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-14T15:57:26-04:00October 14th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Full Throttle Speedway, Race Results|Comments Off

Wayne Kissam And Jimmy Baker Win Double Features For Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers

Kissam-Baker-10-12-13 October 12, 2013 – Tampa, FL – Double Features would be held for the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers as Mother Nature put an end to their features two weeks ago. Also making up a feature event from two weeks ago were the Florida Mini Sprints. Limited Late Models, Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds, Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Street Stocks and the Outlaw Fours were also on hand.

First feature of the night before intermission was the make-up feature for the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers. On the pole were Wayne Kissam and Richard Humfeld. When the green flag waved it was Kissam leading the way until lap three when Gary Lucas had problems and came to rest on the frontstretch. Also under caution Richard Humfeld lost a wheel ending his night for the first feature. When the green waved Kissam once again led the way with Darrell Taylor and Jimmy Baker on his back bumper. When the checkered waved Kissam was the winner with Jimmy Baker, John Moore, Raymond Vann and Darrell Taylor rounding out the top five.

Next up was the Florida Mini Sprints. Winning their heats were Nicholas Snyder, Eddie Moss, Jr. and John Moss. Jodie McKenzie and Paige Moss made up the front row for the feature. McKenzie quickly took the lead until problems for Andrew Keerjack as he stopped on the front stretch. The green waved once again and McKenzie took over but Eddie Moss, Jr. was on a mission as he took over a few short laps later. Eddie Moss, Jr. went on to win in Memory of his father Eddie Moss, Sr. who recently passed away. No more cautions would come out for the remainder of the race as Moss, Jr. stated in Victory Lane that the rest of the year the Moss Racing family would be racing in Memory of his Father. Rounding out the top five was Nicholas Snyder, Dirk Miller, David Hall and Connor Borah. (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-14T15:26:19-04:00October 14th, 2013|East Bay Raceway Park, Featured, Front Page News, Race Results|Comments Off

Donny Schatz Powers to 22nd Victory at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park

Five-time champ closes gap in quest for another World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car title

101313_Top3Photo ELBRIDGE, N.Y. – Oct. 12, 2013 – Donny Schatz’s remarkable World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series season continued on Saturday night at Rolling Wheels Raceway Park as he powered to his 22nd victory of the year.

Schatz, who is chasing Daryn Pittman for the series championship, put his STP/Armor All J&J on the pole for the 25-lap main event, where he was nearly untouchable in a dominating performance that sliced into Pittman’s advantage. Schatz will trail Pittman, who finished fourth, by 52 points entering the World Finals on Nov. 7-8-9 at The Dirt Track at Charlotte.

“It was a good night, I got qualified decent and had a good heat race, really good dash and built on it for the feature,” said Schatz, of Fargo, N.D., who is fourth all-time in World of Outlaws STP Sprint Car Series history with 146 wins, seven behind Mark Kinser. “In the 25 laps, the car changed quite a bit, but the guys did a really good job, and they keep finding ways to make this car better and more fun for me to drive. I tried to play my lap traffic smart and get around them as quick as I could without jeopardizing anything.” (more…)

By Scott|2013-10-14T15:22:38-04:00October 14th, 2013|Featured, Front Page News, Race Results, Sprint Cars|Comments Off