MONOPOLI TAKES 2019 PRO TRUCK TITLE

Auburndale Speedway returned to action Saturday night with great early fall weather and a nice crowd of fans who were ready for a pair of 50-lap contests for the Pro Trucks and the Sportsman cars. The Pro Truck event would be the season finale for the class.

Time trials for the Pro Trucks saw young Carter “Mac n’ Cheese” Brown pull off a big surprise by setting fast time for the first time in his career. His lap of 14.597 seconds topped the laps of Cody McDuffie, Brey Holmes, Becca Monopoli and Danny Anderson.

The top four qualifiers were inverted for the start placing Monopoli on the pole flanked by Holmes. Monopoli jumped out to a quick lead with McDuffie following into second only to see the yellow flag out at the end of lap one for a Bryton Horner spin in turn one. Monopoli and McDuffie took off again on the restart as Danny Anderson slipped by Holmes for third spot.

Monopoli and McDuffie broke cleanly away from the field with Monopoli eventually stretching her lead to almost a full straight over McDuffie until the next caution of the race flew on lap 39 when J. R. Garcia stopped in turn two. Garcia pitted and returned but ran just one more circuit before dropping out.

Holmes slipped by Anderson for third on the restart as Monopoli again pulled away before the final caution came out on lap 46 for a turn two spin by William Kerns. Monopoli easily pulled away to take the win over McDuffie, Holmes, Brown and Anderson. Sixth place went to Jacob Nicoletti trailed by Kristin Clements, Rodney Tower, Colt Cecil, Jody Gill, Kerns, Garcia and Horner.

For Monopoli it was her third win here in the four Pro Truck races run and it earned her the 2019 track championship. The 30-year-old now has 14 track titles to her credit in her nine year racing career.

Just eight cars showed up for the Sportsman contest and the night belonged to George Gorham, Jr. who set quick time and was slated to start fourth in the feature race. The event was red-flagged almost immediately as outside pole sitter Adam Briggs had the throttle stick on his car and he slammed hard into the turn two wall. Briggs was unhurt but the same could not be said about his racer.

With Briggs out, Gorham started from the outside pole and that was all she wrote. The 50 laps ran green to checker and Gorham was easily the class of the field winning by over a full straight. Brett Jenkins was a distant second followed by Charlie Brown. Fourth was taken by Shawn Harper who finished ahead of Ross Francisco, Jamie Kennedy, Tom Zimmerman and Briggs.

Jimmy McLeod led the first two laps of the V-8 Bomber feature before Brandon Love took over looking for his second straight win. James Wright III closed in and the pair battled for several laps before coming together in turn four during the 13th lap. Love pitted with a flat right front tire and did not return to action. Wright had the top spot for the restart and sped away for his sixth win of the season. Ronnie Abney returned from a lap one flat tire to score a second place run while McLeod earned his first podium finish of the year. Bubba Healey claimed fourth ahead of Jason Sopczak, Brian Harbin, Bud Reed, Love and Danny Burchfield. Jamie Castleberry did not start. Wright also won the heat race.

Many of the V-8 Bomber drivers also entered the Pure Stock class but no one had anything for Matt McCrary. McCrary zipped by newcomer Ryan Thompson, Jr. on lap nine the raced his way to his second consecutive victory. Thompson had a fine run for second ahead of James Wright III who put his V-8 Bomber on the podium a second time on the night. Jammie Dunnahoe, Jr. had a good late run as the “Wild Child” took the checker in fourth ahead of Aaron Holmes, Bubba Healey, Jason Sopczak, Brian Harbin and Jimmy McLeod. Holmes won the heat race.

Guy Kolmel caught and passed early leader Eli Thompson on lap ten then ran off to his fifth Scrambler win of the year. Thompson held on for the runner-up spot with heat winner Fred Wilson third ahead of 11-year-old Trenton Henick, Guy Kolmel, Sr. and Bubba Healey.

Wilson Martins, Jr. got by Russell Bush on lap seven then went on to score his 7th Mini Cup victory making him the winningest driver so far this year at Auburndale Speedway. Bush held on for second over Leandro Martins, Maria Martins and Bryton Horner.

Chris Narramore, Jr. won both the Mini Stock heat and feature. For Narramore it was win number four on the year as he led David McCaig, Tav Gary and Freddy Martin to the checkered flag.

Auburndale Speedway was back in action Saturday night and a big crowd enjoyed some beautiful breezy weather along with some very intense racing.

Headlining the bill were the Sunoco/WPCV-97 Country Super Late Models for 100 laps of competition. Thirteen teams were on hand and it was local favorite Jon Guy, driving a brand new car, who set quick time at 13.582 seconds. Auburndale’s own Chris Fontaine was second quick but his time was disallowed as his machine came up light on the scales relegating him to the rear of the grid for the start. That handed second quick time to Joe Boyd over Chase Lovelady, new daddy Matt McCrary and Daniel Webster.

The invert was a three placing Lovelady and Boyd on row one for the start. Boyd set sail at the drop of the green and began to rocket away from everybody. Boyd, Lovelady, Guy, Webster and McCrary ran 1-5 with Boyd building up over a half lap advantage by lap 40 when a “competition caution” was thrown per track rules for races of 100 laps or more. At this point Webster pitted but did not return due to what was described as a “minor part failure.” Harold Crooms, Nick Neri (driving for Bryan Dorer) and Alexa Anderson also pitted and returned.

Lovelady had been doing an outstanding job holding off Guy for second but the restart proved his undoing as Guy slid into second behind Boyd while McCrary backslid all the way to sixth. Fontaine was now on the charge as he took fourth from Roger Blevins on lap 48 then third from Lovelady three laps later.

Lap 65 saw the first “actual” caution of the race as Lovelady went for a slide on the back stretch off the front end of Blevins with both continuing. Boyd continued to lead Guy and Fontaine following the restart but Fontaine was showing his speed as he passed Guy for second on the outside lane just as lap 77 was completed then reeled in Boyd with 15 laps to go. The final caution came out on lap 88 for Alexa Anderson’s spin in turn two.

On this restart both Fontaine and Guy powered by Boyd into the front spots and that’s the way it finished with Fontaine pulling away for his second straight win here with Guy and Boyd chasing from several car lengths back. Lovelady was fourth just ahead of McCrary with Roger Blevins sixth, Alexa Anderson seventh and Nick Neri eighth and the last car running. Charles Kopach was credited with ninth trailed by Brandon Anderson, Crooms, Webster and Kendall Anderson.

Seventeen Legend Cars were in attendance for their 30-lap feature with Jarrett Wagman leading the way through several cautions. That allowed Noah Cornman to close in and grab the point on lap 26. Cornman looked to be on his way to a fourth victory on the year but he got hooked up with some lapped traffic in turn four on the final lap allowing Wagman to sneak back by and score his first career win here.

Cornman held on for second ahead of his younger brother Sam Cornman with Brandon Taylor fourth and Steve Carpenter fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Chris Stansbury, Dorsey Strickland, Ashton Chilton, Mike Verhaagh and Bryton Horner. Completing the finishers were Chase Lloyd, Jason Carpenter, Brandon Hershey, Sherri Miles, Dylan Brewer and Lee Miles. Stephen Hartley did not start.

The Modified Mini Stock feature got off to a rocky start as some three wide action going into turn one saw Bruce Cozad go hard into the wall while most recent winner Mike Rudder was eliminated as well. It was a tough break for nice guy Cozad who is moving into the class driving the car that was steered to last year’s championship by Chris Spring. Cozad should be back and will be a factor in the Mod Minis the rest of the year.

Once the race got going it turned into a two car battle between Mike Kerrivan and Rachelle Rudolph. Clint Holmes was reeling the two in by lap 16 when Rudolph looped her mount coming off turn four. Mike Prevatt was trailing not far behind and smashed into Rudolph’s car nearly head-on. Prevatt was OK but Rudolph exited her car slowly complaining of pain in her back, leg and foot. She was later taken to the hospital for precautionary X-rays but appeared to be only badly bruised up.

The race was called official at that point with Kerrivan scoring his first win of the year over Holmes as they were the only two cars left in competition. Rudolph was awarded third ahead of Prevatt, Richard Brown, Rudder and Cozad.

The V-8 Bomber feature was a wild one that produced some awesome racing and a bit of a controversial finish. Jimmy McLeod led the opening seven laps before Ronnie Abney took the point for one circuit. James Wright III then powered to the front on lap nine and looked to be on his way to yet another win but Brandon Love had other ideas. Love tried an inside move in turn two during lap 24 and both cars half spun as no caution was needed. With Abney and Bubba Healey now in the mix, Wright stormed back out front only to see Love come flying back to pass him on the final lap as all heck broke loose coming to the checker with one of Healey’s tires riding along the catch fence at the end.

As the dust settled Love had his second win of the year with Wright second and the three-wheeling Healey third. Victory lane resembled a boxing ring after a close match with plenty of shouting and a bit of shoving but cooler heads finally prevailed. Fourth place went to Abney followed by Jimmy Castleberry, Jason Sopczak, Dave Canfield, McLeod, Walt Kirk and Jammie Dunnahoe, Sr.

Veteran Mini Cup racer Russell Bush topped the field for the second time this year and halted a six race win streak by Wilson Martins, Jr. Martins would come home third behind older sister Maria Martins in this one with their cousin Leandro Martins fourth ahead of Bill Rychell, Hunter Strickland and Rick Kase.

Tav Gary became a first time winner in the Mini Stocks as he out-ran Chris Narramore, Jr., David McCaig and Freddy Martin to the checker.

Guy Kolmel won his fourth Scrambler feature of the year ahead of Chuckie Harrison and Guy Kolmel, Sr.

Rain tried its best to dampen the spirits of everybody Saturday at Auburndale Speedway but track owner Rex Guy would stick a dagger in Mother Nature and the show went on despite a late start in front of a very good crowd… and it would be a long night.

Persistent rain, heavy at times, fell at the track off and on between 2 and 5 pm as everything was put on hold.  Just after 5, the skies began to clear and it was time to dry the track and get to the business of racing.

The big event of the night would be a 50-lap point race for the Florida Pro Truck Challenge Series and the pits were crowded as 32 Truck teams showed up to do battle.  Qualifying was held almost two hours late from its scheduled time with 31 of the Trucks getting laps in as Jacob Nicoletti’s team was thrashing on his machine after hitting the turn four wall in hot laps.

Quick time would again go to Derek Pugh who seems to have a handle on how to get around Auburndale Speedway all by himself.  Pugh’s lap of 14.364 topped the laps turned by Cody McDuffie, Jason Lester, Becca Monopoli and Brent Huber.  The top 16 in time trials were locked in to the big show with everybody else relegated to a pair of 15-lap B-Main qualifiers including Huber who had to run one of the B’s after being set down in post-qualifying tech.

The top four in each race would move on to the 50 lapper that would start a field of 24.

Huber worked his way through the field to claim the first B-Main trailed by Adam Briggs, Shea Montgomery and Dodge Carlbert as those four moved on to the feature.  The night ended early for Bryton Horner, Carter Brown, Dave Fewox and Nick White.

Leroy Moore, celebrating his birthday, led all the way to claim B-Main number two with Billy Carlbert second and Jeff White third.  Dylan Martin spun on lap three but drove like crazy to grab the final transfer spot.  Martin was making his first start in his Pro Truck since a near-fatal motorcycle accident several months ago.  Failing to transfer were Nicoletti (who did a great job considering his big wall hit in practice), Johnny Marra, Mark Kemick and Josh Haranda.

The top six qualifiers were inverted for the start of the 50-lap contest placing young Brennon Pletcher on the pole flanked by veteran Truck racer Steve Darvalics who quickly powered his way to the lead at the drop of the green.  Caution was out quickly on lap five as Colt Cecil bit out a chunk of the back stretch wall.  Cecil pitted and was able to return to action.

Darvalics continued to set the pace but McDuffie was on the move taking second from Monopoli on lap eight then blasting his way to the lead two laps later.

Pugh moved by Pletcher into fourth as McDuffie was already in lapped traffic by the 16th circuit.  At that point McDuffie was in a class of his own as he had opened up a full straight lead by the half way mark.  The top ten at lap 25 consisted of McDuffie, Darvalics, Monopoli, Pugh, Lester, Mike Kohut, Pletcher, Rich Clouser, Danny Anderson and Richard Griffis.

Everything would change big time on lap 26, though, as the trucks running 3rd thru ninth would all end up with damage after an altercation off turn two with several lapped trucks.  Pugh and Lester pitted as did Kohut who did not return.  Other machines with damage included Clouser, Pletcher, Shea Montgomery and Jeff White.  Both Pugh and Lester made it back out for the restart which saw another multi-truck melee on the front stretch that ended the night for Kristen Clements.  Also receiving damage were the trucks of Danny Anderson, Adam Briggs and Brent Huber although all would eventually continue.  Rich Clouser pitted his machine during the caution and did not return.  At this point 19 trucks were still in the running.

McDuffie continued to lead easily as Monopoli forged here was by Darvalics into second on lap 29 only to see that pass negated when Martin spun around in turn two.  Jason Lester pitted to try and fix damage and returned minus his hood and fenders but the right front of the truck had gone askew and he went to the pits a final time and was later DQ’d to the rear of the field for an undetermined issue.

McDuffie continued to overwhelm the field as the drivers managed to get all the way to lap 36 before Jeff White spun in turn two.  Three laps later the red flag was out as Huber climbed over the left side of Anderson’s truck in turn four, nearly getting on his side.  Anderson was out of the event while Huber returned briefly only to drop out soon after.  Quite a bit of fluid and debris littered the turn four area and it took close to 15 minutes to clean up, adding to the long night.

Once the green flag came back out, the final 11 laps ran off without a hitch other than a late front stretch spin by Billy Carlbert that starter Julian Mullis was not about to throw another caution flag for.  McDuffie took the checker well ahead of Darvalics who had to hold off a hard-charging Monopoli over the final laps.  Pletcher held on for fourth while Brey Holmes had the best race of his career, staying out of trouble all the way to score a fifth place finish for a team that has been plagued with mostly mechanical issues during the past year.

Pugh held on to finish sixth with Leroy Moore, Griffis, Briggs and Shea Montgomery rounding out the top ten.  Completing the finishers were Dodge Carlbert, Martin, Cecil, Billy Carlbert, Jimmy Frazier III (who had a top ten run end late when he hit the wall), Anderson, Huber, Colt Hensley, Jeff White, Kohut, Clouser, Clements, Big Donnie Burkhalter and Lester.  Burkhalter had a tough weekend, blowing an engine in Friday practice then losing his brakes early in the race.

Immediately after the Truck race finished, Dodge Carlbert climbed in his Pure Stock car… then he went out and won the 20-lap feature after starting scratch on the field.

Wild Child Jammie Dunnahoe, Jr, won the Pure Stock heat and had the pole for the feature but broke a transmission coming off turn two on the opening lap, scattering the field.  Chuck Mathias held the top spot for ten laps but could not hold off Carlbert who scored his second victory in a row.  Aaron Holmes was back behind the wheel on this night and he made a late pass to claim second over Mathias, James Wright III, Kate Clouser (making her very first start here), Matt McCrary and Dunnahoe.

Jason Bartram got a huge monkey off his back as his new car performed flawlessly for once and he led start to finish to claim the 25-lap Sportsman feature.  Jamie Kennedy charged up to run on Bartram’s bumper over the final laps but had to settle for second over Charlie Brown, Tom Zimmerman, Alexa Anderson and Steven O’Steen.  O’Steen was driving a car that he’ll be taking to Bristol, TN in a few weeks and was doing a “shake down” run.

In other action, James Wright III led all the way to claim yet another V-8 Bomber victory trailed by Travis Todd, Bud Bronson, Ronnie Abney, Brian Harbin, Brandon Love, Jimmy McLeod and Jason Sopczak.  Wright also won the heat.

Wilson Martins, Sr. topped the Mini Cup action over heat winner Maria Martins, Leandro Martins, Bill Rychel and Russell Bush.

Chris Narramore, Jr. topped both the heat and feature in the Mini Stocks outgunning Chuck Frazier, David McCaig, Freddy Martin and Tav Gary.

Guy Kolmel won his first career feature in the Scramblers leading Donnie Mosman and Trenton Henick to the checker.  Kolmel also was the heat race winner.

Again it was “just one of those nights” Saturday evening at Auburndale Speedway that saw plenty of great racing, some wild action and some “hurt feelings” along the way as the show wrapped up just 20 minutes shy of finishing on Easter Sunday.

All in all it was a great night for the kids and they were out in force for a big Easter egg hunt that was sponsored by PB of Central Florida (a demolition contractor in Winter Haven) and Kitto Sheds & Equipment of Dundee.  Several of the eggs contained special gold tickets and those kids got new bikes, scooters and games courtesy of the sponsors.  After the egg hunt, the drawings were held for a large number of Easter baskets donated by race teams, track staff and fans.  Needless to say, the kids all left the track very happy.

The headliner for the night was the Easter Bunny Special for the Super Late Models.  Scheduled for 100 laps, the race was trimmed to 50 laps due to the lateness of the hour, among other things.

Just ten cars signed in but it was a stout field as Michael Atwell made the trip up from Naples and set quick time at 13.661 seconds with Chris Fontaine second fastest at 13.792 followed by Matt McCrary, George Gorham, Jr. and Jon Guy.  The top six in time trials were inverted for the start of the feature placing Ft. Pierce driver David Green on the pole and Guy on the outside pole.

Green jumped out front but the overall complexion of the race would change on lap three.  Gorham hit the back of Guy’s car going into turn two as Guy checked up briefly.  Gorham then spun collecting most of the field.  When all was said and done both Gorham and Kendall Anderson were done for the night while Guy and Charles Kopach pitted to make repairs but returned to action.

Other cars also had minor cosmetic damage but were able to stay on the speedway.  At this point, with just 8 cars left and the time closing in on 11 pm, track officials decided to cut the race to 50 laps.

Green continued to set the pace after the restart just ahead of Fontaine who lost second spot to McCrary on the tenth lap only to return the favor two laps later bringing Atwell with him into third spot.  Fontaine, who was driving very aggressively, forced his way by Green in turn one and grabbed the lead on lap 19.  Two laps later Atwell got by Green for second just as Guy fell out of the event as the earlier damage had hurt the performance of his racer.

McCrary also called it a night during the 29th lap.

Atwell began to really put the pressure on Fontaine who was doing all he could to hold on to the top spot.  With five laps to go, Atwell slammed his way by Fontaine coming off turn four and took the lead… a move that did not set well with Fontaine.  Fontaine stayed right with Atwell then turned him around in turn three during the final lap.

Although Fontaine crossed the stripe first, he got the black flag instead of the checker.  Green, running third when the white flag flew, was thus awarded the victory, his first ever at Auburndale Speedway.  Atwell got his car going and finished the race but was also placed at the rear of the finishing order for aggressive driving.  That allowed Roger Blevins to take home the runner up spot followed by Brian Dorer.  Charles Kopach was a lap down but took fourth as credited as being the last car running after the DQ’s.

“We don’t get to race as often as we would like to,” said Green in victory lane.  “I just want to thank the Drawdy brothers for giving me the opportunity to drive their car and it’s great to get them a win tonight.”

Although he fell out just past half way, McCrary was credited with fifth spot followed by Guy, Gorham, Anderson, Atwell and Fontaine.

The Legend Car brought 17 machines to the track and the twin heat races were won by Seth Adams and Sam Cornman.  Several drivers were making their Legend Car debut including former TBARA Sprint Car champion Bo Hartley who was “testing” a car that will eventually be driven by his son Stephen. Adams started on the outside pole for the feature and led every lap to score the win in a race that saw a few cautions but only for minor incidents.  It would be the last race here for Adams as he’ll be going into the ranks of the U. S. Army in just a few days.

Noah Cornman, winner of the last two Legend Car races here, was the driver putting on a show in this one as he methodically drove his way to the front and “Little Gator” was right behind Adams at the finish with Adams’ teammate Kyle Pitts holding on for third over Jarrett Wagman and Dennis Misuraca.

Completing the top ten were Jojo Viverito, Mike Verhaagh, Brad Perez, Derek Stansbury and Hartley.  Rounding out the finishers were Jason Carpenter, Dylan Brewer, Bob Wilson, Logan Misuraca and Sam Cornman.

Mike Rudder and Jeff Firestine topped the heat races for the Modified Mini Stocks but Rudder had problems during the pace laps for the feature and fell out before the green flag flew.  Kenny Uhl, Jr. grabbed the lead at the start and never looked back taking his first win here in some time.  Ken Nurse, Jr. held off Firestine for second with Chris Spring fourth and Clint Holmes fifth.  Mike Kerrivan, Richard Browm, Rachelle Rudolph, Mike Prevatt, Dalton Williamson and Rudder completed the finishing field.

The best race of the night was the V-8 Bomber feature.  Just six cars were in the field but they put on quite a show.  Heat winner James Wright III was getting plenty of pressure as he led the way after starting on the pole for the feature.  Ronnie Abney, Jr. had his new car handling well and he went to the outside of Wright with three laps to go as Wright was battling an engine that was beginning to “lock up.”  Despite bouncing off the wall at one point, Abney was able to make the outside pass stick and he took a very popular win, the first of his young career at Auburndale Speedway.

Brandon Love came through to claim second trailed by George Gorham, Jr. and Wright, who faded to fourth on the final lap.  Brian Harbin was fifth and Bud Bronson sixth.

A wild and wacky Mini Stock feature saw for drivers – Fred Martin, John Cummins, Jr., Matt Cummins and Steven O’Steen – all disqualified for rough driving and unsportsmanlike conduct.  Things got so out of hand that the race got the checker three laps early just to calm things down.  That did not matter to Chuck Frazier as he led every lap to claim his first win of the year after also winning the earlier heat race.  Chris Narramore, Jr. outlasted the rest of the field to claim second over David McCaig, Devin Brown and Guy Kolmel.

Heat winner Maria Martins dominated the Mini Cup feature taking the lead from Russell Bush on lap three then streaking away for a very easy win.  Bush took second ahead of Clay Samuels, Bill Rychel, Leandro Martins (Maria’s cousin who was making his first start here), Wilson Martins and Douglas Herrin, Jr.

There was a scary moment during the Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association (DAARA) Sprint Car feature when heat winner Robert Campbell slammed hard into the turn one wall.  His immaculate Sprinter was badly damaged but Campbell emerged unhurt.

Duane LeCornu went on to win the race taking the measure of Chris Hahn, Josh Rynd, Dave Cash and Campbell.  Merle Strickland did not start.

Cush Revette, Jr. drove his “Crown 7” 1957 Chevy convertible to the win in the DAARA V-8 Stock Car feature ahead of heat winner Dr. Carl Doughty.  Steve Slaughter was third ahead of Darren Nichols and Tommy Gamble.

The DAARA 6-Cylinder Stock Car feature was claimed by Richie Gomes who also won the heat race.  Dave Davis trailed in second ahead of Steve Parrish, Rocky Buckles and David Glenn.

It was a chilly night for race fans at Auburndale Speedway Saturday but some good, hot racing kept most of them from thinking just how cold it was in the grandstands.

The Super Late Models were the feature attraction and, although just eleven showed up to do battle, battle they did in a race that had several twists and turns.

Palmetto’s Nick Neri led a very close field in time trials with a lap of
13.629 seconds just ahead of the 13.656 lap of Jon Guy and Jesse Dutilly’s lap of 13.685. Neri drew a six for the inversion placing Becca Monopoli on the pole for the 100-lap chase flanked by local shoe Ron Lofquist.

The start would not be a good one, though. Going into turn one, Dutilly had to check up a bit and was hit by third starter Steven King sending Dutilly’s machine hard into the turn one wall. Dutilly was none the worse for wear himself but his car was badly damaged and he actually walked the full length of the track from turn one to turn four where King was parked under the red flag. Dutilly had some “choice words” for King then walked back to the pit area.

When the race finally got started, Monopoli zipped out front only to see the caution fly on lap three for a Paul White spin off turn four. King got the jump on Monopoli after the restart, took the top spot and began to pull away from the field. Lofquist began to fall back losing third to Guy on lap six and fourth a lap later to George Gorham, Jr. Neri was moving forward after a slow start taking fourth from Gorham on the 18th lap while Guy breezed by Monopoli for second on lap 22. By now King was racing in a different zip code and looked to have the field covered. King’s big lead was erased on lap 45 when the caution came out although there was no incident or debris on the track.

During the driver’s meeting the competitors had been told that if 40 green flag laps were run consecutively that a “competition caution” would be thrown.
This would prove to be King’s eventual undoing after his early dominant performance. Guy blasted to the front on the restart while Neri got by Monopoli for third. The lead trio then began to put on a great nose-to-tail show for the fans with no one willing to give an inch while Matt McCrary charged by Monopoli (who was out of brakes) for fourth on lap 74 just before the two leaders, Guy and King, got together coming off turn two with both being sent to the rear for the restart.

Neri was now the leader and he clearly had the fastest car on the speedway as he pulled away from now second place McCrary. The final yellow flag flew on lap 88 as White went into a spin courtesy of King while Guy also spun to keep from being involved. King dropped out at this point.

Neri easily led the final 12 circuits to score his first career Auburndale Speedway victory while McCrary’s steady driving netted him a nice runner-up finish. Despite running most of the race with no brakes, Monopoli took third spot followed by Guy and White. Lofquist was sixth and Charles Kopach seventh, the last two cars still running as all seven finishers were on the lead lap at the end. King was credited with eighth ahead of Gorham, David King and Dutilly.

Chris Spring began defense of his 2018 Modified Mini Stock title by winning a hard fought 25 lap feature. Spring won the first heat but it was second heat winner Mike Rudder who took the early lead before he and Spring bounced off each other and spun out on lap 16. Spring continued but Rudder was done for the night.

Bryton Prevatt took over the lead and the race would then become a great battle between Prevatt, Mike Kerrivan and Spring who made a late charge to put his “Black Duece” in victory lane. Kerrivan was a close second over Prevatt, Kenny Nurse, Jr. and Clint Holmes. Jimmy McLeod took sixth with Jimmy Wood seventh and the last car still running. Rachelle Rudolph was eighth, victim of two blow right rear tires. Rudder was credited with ninth and Kelly Hahn was tenth after dropping out early. Mike Prevatt and Donnie Ezell did not start.

2018 V-8 Bomber champion James Wright III won the heat race which earned him pole position for the 25 lap feature. That was pretty much all she wrote as Wright led all the way to take the win and start defense of his title. “We are going to try and take another championship although I will probably miss a couple of nights this year,” said Wright in victory lane. “I was in Alabama working all week and my dad worked on this car all week and it was really running great in the cold weather,” he said.

Jody Gill debuted his new “K-9” Camaro with a fine second place finish. Gill, who is a local K-9 police officer, had been credited earlier in the week as he and his dog captured a man suspected in a string of local bank robberies.
Danny Burchfield took home third spot ahead of Phil Ellis and Roy “Bubba”
Healey. Ronnie Abney, Jr, was sixth followed by Brandon Love, Jimmy McLeod, Kyle Case, Jesse Killinger and Travis Todd who was the only driver unable to finish.

The 25 lap Legend Car feature was a real barn-burner that saw several cautions and numerous lead changes before Noah “Little Gator” Cornman took over on lap
22 and raced to a popular victory. “That was an awesome race,” said Cornman in victory lane and his comments were echoed by second place Jarrett Wagman who also led many laps before having to settle for the runner-up spot.
Defending track champion Jim Smith claimed third spot while Brandon Taylor took fourth ahead of Ryan DiVagno and Brandon Hershey. Seth Adams was running third as the white flag came out but his car developed problems and he ended up seventh. Kyle Pitts took over Bob Wilson’s car for the night but he dropped out early and was credited with eighth. Wagman won the heat race.

Maria Martins took the lead on lap ten and went on to win the 20-lap Mini Cup feature race. The young lady driver also won on opening night last year then was shut out the rest of the season, mostly due to a series of mechanical failures. “I don’t want a repeat of last year,” she said after taking the victory. “We want to win more races this year and hopefully the championship too,” she said.

Veteran Russell Bush came home second followed by 2018 Mini Cup champion Douglas Herrin, Jr. who came back from a big heat race wall-banger to get a podium finish. Heat winner Bryton Horner was fourth followed by Clay Samuels and Wilson Martins, Jr.

Driving a “throw-back” Dale Earnhardt black #3 Mini Stock similar to the one his dad drove in the class a few years back, Chris Narramore, Jr. won the Q Mini Stock heat then easily captured the feature race that was combined with the Scrambler class. Freddie Martin kept things close but had to settle for second over David McCaig, Oscar Coulter, Colin Hardin, William Kerns and Guy Kolmel.

The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association was also in the house and the DAARA Sprint Cars put on their usual great show with Robert Campbell of Tarpon Springs leading most of the way to score the victory in his beautiful midnight blue creation. “My uncle Steve Campbell restored this car from the ground up and boy is it a pleasure to drive,” said Campbell. “My dad (long-time Sprint Car owner Harry Campbell) never let us kids drive his cars since he had some really good drivers in the seat (the likes of Dave Scarborough, Frank Riddle and Jan Opperman), so it’s really cool to get to be behind the wheel of one of these things now,” he continued.

Duane LeCornu made his Sprint Car debut in a “new” restored car and drove to an impressive second over veteran Sprint Car shoe Stan Butler. “Guess we are gonna have to get some new tires to keep up with these guys,” joked Butler after the race. Merle Strickland took fourth with Chris Hahn, Bob Wolpert, Louis Brashear and John Parrish rounding out the finishers.

The DAARA Stock Car feature fell to Cush Revette, Jr. of Tampa who was driving his Bobby Allison tribute car 1955 Chevy #312. Heat winner Steve Slaughter brought his coach-bodied Modified home a close second. Steve Parrish took third in a six-cylinder-powered Modified ahead of Darren Nichols, Richie Iversen, David Glenn, Ken Jeffres and Dan Hayes.

It’s once again that time of year as Auburndale Speedway switches from the regular stock car racing format to the craziness of the “Night of Destruction II” this Saturday night.

As always, the School Bus Figure-8 race will highlight the wide variety of events that will take place. Also highlighting the evening will be a first-ever RV-Camper Demolition Derby along with a Front Wheel Drive Demo Derby, Chain Race, Flag Pole Race, Skid Car Race, Motorcycle stunts and a whole lot more.

Grandstand gates will be opening at 3 pm at which time the band Aggie Road and Joey Foley will perform on the front stretch through 6 pm. Then it’s time for 45 minutes of school bus rides around the track for the fans. There will also be a bounce house/slide for the kids in operation from 3-6 pm. Regular concessions will be available along with other specialty vendors, so plenty of great food and drink will be available.
Adult admission is $20 with kids 5-12 $10. All kids 4 and under are free. Pit passes are $30. Parking will be $5 and a different parking pattern will be used this time, so make sure to watch for the signs and attendants that will help you get parked quickly and safely. Fans are asked to get to the speedway as early as possible to avoid the long lines close to time of the event.

STEVEN O’STEEN INHERITS STREET STOCK WIN AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY

For the first time in recent memory Auburndale Speedway began its racing program Saturday evening with not a cloud in the sky and once the sun set it was a beautiful night for racing.  The pits were jammed with the largest car count of the year and the race teams performed in front of the biggest crowd of the season next to the Night of Destruction.

All in all it would be a late night for everyone.  Hot laps were delayed for nearly a half-hour when one of the Legend Cars soaked the track in fluid and that meant all qualifying would be delayed until just after 7 pm.  Five and a half hours later, the remaining fans (and there were quite a few who stuck out all the way to the end) headed to their cars just before 12:30 am although no one was complaining after the great action they witnessed.

The “Fall Fling” 125 for the Super Late Models, rained out two weeks previous, was added to the Faith and Family night program and 17 race teams were on hand to do battle.  Qualifying saw Steven King as the big surprise as the fourth generation racer tripped the clocks at 13.680 seconds topping the 16.720 lap turned in by Josh Todd who was just three-one-thousandths of a second quicker than Auburndale Super-8 Late Model Series point leader Chris Fontaine.  Matt McCrary and Jett Noland were fourth and fifth quick.

King’s pill draw luck wasn’t very good as he drew a ten to invert over half the field for the start and it would be just part of a very “eventful” evening for him that eventually would turn out OK.  When all was said and done, Kevin Macy, driving a team car to Todd’s, would start on the pole with veteran driver Charles Kopach starting second in his brand-new machine.

Macy zipped out to an early lead as Kopach got trapped on the high side and fell back.  Macy held the point until Steven King was sent spinning in turn four off the bumper of Cody Martell to bring out the caution on lap five.

Both drivers restarted at the tail of the field as Jamie King dropped out with problems early.

Roger Blevins was behind the wheel of veteran owner Rick Newton’s #01 machine and he showed his strength by taking over the top spot from Macy just after the green reappeared.  Blevins was looking good as the faster qualifiers were diligently working their way toward the front of the pack.  Brandon “Bones”

Duschscherer was hugging the inside line and slipped by Blevins for the lead on lap 16 bringing a high-flying Todd with him.  Lap 19 saw the second yellow flag of the race as Macy went for a wild spin off turn four courtesy of Matt McCrary.  Both took a trip to the rear of the restart line-up.

On the restart Ft. Pierce driver Jeff Johnston, make his first career Super Late Model start, spun going into turn one to keep the caution out.

Johnston’s dad, Chet Johnston, was a regular Late Model competitor for many years all over Central Florida.  Johnston had veteran driver Henry Shepherd as his crew chief as they were working the bugs out of both their new car and new driver.

Duchscherer was holding strong up front as the battle for second was a great one only to be slowed again as Macy spun again in turn four on lap 27.

Several cars took evasive action to miss the spinning car and Steven King was forced to pit to have a loose fender pulled from his racer.

On the restart, Blevins snuck back by Todd for second and brought Fontaine along with him.  Lap 36 saw the yellow back out again for a three car melee in turn four involving Noland, Kopach and Brian Dorer.  All continued but Joe Boyd, running fifth at the time, suddenly headed pit side for a check of his machine while Alexa Anderson’s car stalled and she need a push to the pits.

Both Boyd and Anderson were able to return to the fray, though.

Todd used the restart to charge back into second place and he began stalking leader Duchscherer.  Action was slowed again for a Noland spin in turn two.

Fast qualifier Steven King, despite all his problems, had now worked his way up to sixth for the restart.

Again things got crazy behind the leader as Blevins raced back into second bringing McCrary with him relegating Todd to fourth.

Lap 48 saw Johnston spin in turn three and the following restart was negated when Kopach looped his mount in turn two as well.  The restart was not a good one for Blevins as he slipped high and quickly found himself all the way back in sixth.  Todd zoomed by Fontaine for third spot as Duchscherer and McCrary ran one-two.

At the half-way mark it was Duchscherer leading McCrary, Todd, Fontaine, Noland, Blevins, Steven King, Dorer, David King and Alexa Anderson.  Ten laps later Johnston spun again in turn one and backed into the wall ending his night.  Also now out of the race were Boyd, Kopach and Kendall Anderson.

With 50 laps to go only ten cars were left on the track although all ten would eventually make it to the finish.  Todd slipped by McCrary for second on lap

77 as the field settled into some green flag racing.  The next caution would come out on lap 94 for Dorer’s spin on the back stretch.

Todd got by Duchscherer for the lead just after the restart and was just a nose in front when the caution was out again for a spinning David King in turn two.  The restart saw Fontaine go for a spin off the bumper of Steven King with both going to the back of the field for the restart.

At this point Todd began to check out slowed only by Alexa Anderson’s slow spin in turn one on lap 113.  Todd again pulled away on the restart and took the checker several car lengths ahead of Duchscherer with McCrary third.

Blevins ended his strong night with a great fourth place finish while Steven King rebounded from his crazy race to get fifth spot.  Noland took the sixth just in front of Fontaine with Dorer, Alexa Anderson and David King rounding out the top ten as the only cars running at the end.  Taking eleventh through 17th, all DNF’s, were Johnston, Kopach, Kendall Anderson, Boyd, Macy, Martell and Jamie King.

“I can’t say enough about my team and all the hard work they’ve put in to get us here,” said Todd.  “And to be here with my buddies Bones (Duchscherer) and Matt (McCrary) all on the front stretch after this race is really cool,” Todd continued.  McCrary seconded Todd’s thoughts.  “All three of us meet for lunch a few times a week and it’s just really neat to be up here after running 1-2-3” he said.  All three are local home-grown Auburndale Speedway drivers who basically grew up at the track and have worked their way up through several lower classes to earn their Super Late Model rides.

The other big race of the night was a 50-lap contest for the “Outlaw” Street Stocks running under the rules used by the former Sunshine State Challenge Series.  A bit of a disappointing field of eleven cars signed in but they were all quality machines and put on quite a show.

Cody Stickler, driving the Richie Smith #42 hot rod, set quick time at 14.744 seconds, over a tenth of a second faster than second and third place qualifiers Richard Elkins, Jr. and track Street Stock point leader Steven O’Steen.  The top six in time trials were inverted for the start with pole sitter Ross Francisco taking the early lead.  Francisco was looking very strong until his machine suddenly quit during the ninth lap and he slowed to a stop on the back stretch to bring out the yellow flag.

Danny Caylor inherited the lead and was setting a good pace with O’Steen moving into second just before Elkins went into a spin after tangling with Bobby Mobley.  Mobley dropped out after the altercation.  Stickler, who had taken a $200 challenge to start the race from the rear of the grid, slipped into second on the restart and began to put the pressure on Caylor, finally taking the point on lap 20.

From there the race ran all the way to the checker under green with O’Steen taking over second on lap 24.  O’Steen did his best to close on the fleet Stickler even slapping the wall a couple of times during his pursuit.  In the end Stickler was just too strong and he took the apparent win by a large margin over O’Steen.  However both Stickler and apparent third place finisher Kenny Gibson were disqualified in tech for illegal shocks.

That handed the win to O’Steen with Caylor ending up with second and Devin McLeod third.  Rounding out the finishers were Elkins, John Smith, Gilbert Corbin, Todd Brown, Mobley and Francisco.

The Legend Cars were out in force with 17 cars needing a pair of heat races to set the field for their 25-lap feature.  After the heat race wins were taken by Jim Smith and Seth Adams it was Smith taking the feature lead from his pole starting position.

This race would see a number of caution flags, one for a wild front stretch altercation that eliminated both of the Little Gator Motorsports cars driven by Jade Hubert and Noah Cornman.

Smith held sway until lap 18 when Adams got under him for the point and he never looked back from there in scoring his fourth win in a row here after getting a late start on the season.  A late scramble saw 15-year-old Jarrett Wagman come home with the second spot in just his sixth start in a Legend Car and second race at Auburndale.  Point leader Smith held on for third ahead of Devin McLeod who gave Bob Wilson’s car a great run to the front.  Fifth went to Taylor Hosford trailed by Alan Heifnar, Kyle Pitts, Christian Baker, Mitch Verhaagh and Dylan Brewer who was making his first-ever start here.  Rounding out the finishers were Brandon Hershey, Rusty Mallett, Jeremy Condrey, Cale Nolen, Cornman, Hubert and Chris Hamm.

Danny Burchfield led the first 16 laps of the V-8 Bomber feature before giving way to David Purvis who led until lap 22 before heat winner James Wright III took over the point.  But shortly thereafter Wright and Purvis tangled up and had to go to the rear of the restart grid.  That put Burchfield back in the lead and he drove his way to his first win of the season.

Purvis and Wright rebounded to finish second and third ahead of Jody Gill, Brian Harbin, Ronnie Abney, Jimmy McCloud and Travis Todd.

Keith Cantrill led all the way to win the Scrambler feature race, his second win of the year, holding off Chuckie Harrison and Fred Wilson.  David Williams took fourth trailed by Danny Burchfield, Jr., Reggie Ware II, Zach Ware, Brian Conger and heat winner Dennis Dean who dropped out early with engine trouble.

When Chris Narramore, Sr. had late engine woes, his son Chris Narramore, Jr.

caught and passed him for the lead and the victory, his eighth of the season.

The elder Narramore held on for second over Bruce Cozad and Freddy Martin.

David McCaig and Jason Sopczak were unable to start the feature.  Narramore, Sr. won the heat race.

Russell Bush grabbed the lead from Douglas Herrin, Jr, on lap 14 and went on to win his first Mini Cup feature of the year.  A late charge by Maria Martins gave her the second spot over Herrin, heat winner Brey Holmes, Wilson Martins, Easton Bush and Bill Rychel.

L.J. GRIMM TOPS MODIFIEDS

It was quite a night of racing Saturday at Auburndale Speedway as eight classes ran features with the action producing two first-time winners.  A fine crowd was on hand under perfect weather conditions.

The night began with a bit of irony.  Earlier in the afternoon it was announced that former NASCAR/ARCA star James Hylton had lost his life in a highway crash while returning home from Friday’s ARCA event at Talladega Superspeedway.  For many veterans at the speedway it was a sad day for sure as many of us had followed Hylton’s long career.

Of all the cars in the pit area, there was only one carrying the number 48, Hylton’s number throughout most of his career.  That car was the Mini Cup machine driven on the night by young Brey Holmes who really had never heard of Hylton.  The Mini Cup feature was first up on the night and it was Holmes who zipped past Clay Samuels with two laps to go to put the #48 in victory lanes as the first winner of the evening.  Samtuels held on for second.  Bill Rychel, who spun out of the lead on the second lap, came back to finish in third spot ahead of Russell Bush, Easton Bush, Bryton Horner and Douglas Herrin, Jr.  Herrin was going for his fourth consecutive win but suffered mechanical issues during the caution flag for Rychel’s spin on lap two and was forced pit side.

The big race of the night would be for the Pro Trucks and they were out in force with 22 teams signing in to compete in the 50-lapper.  Qualifying was held under bright sunshine and warm temperatures and the drivers struggled getting a handle on the slick race track.  Jason Lester of Palmetto was easily the fastest as he clicked off a lap of 14.505 seconds, quite a bit quicker than the 14.565 lap turned in by Bartow’s Cody McDuffie who was seeking his third Pro Truck win in a row.  17-year-old Derek Pugh of West Palm Beach was third quick at 14.596 followed by Becca Monopoli, Leroy Moore and Big Donnie Burkhalter.  Those six would then be the inversion for the start of the half-century run.

Burkhalter sped to the lead at the drop of the green only to have the start called back for a William Kerns spin.  Burkhalter again took the measure of the field as the race got under way.  Fifth-starting McDuffie quickly worked his way to third spot right behind Monopoli.  Seventh-starter Danny Anderson charged up to fourth just before Jabob Nicoletti spun on the front stretch to bring out the first yellow flag on lap five.

Burkhalter continued to hold the top spot while McDuffie slipped by Monopoli for second two laps after the restart and set sail after the leader.

Nicoletti looed his truck again on lap 11 for another caution.  Leroy Moore, running fifth at the time, headed for the pits and did not return.

The restart saw the beginning of a great battle between Burkhalter and McDuffie that was quickly interrupted as Kerns spun in turn four for another yellow.  Sixth-running Mike Kohut pitted for adjustments and returned before the restart.  Again the two front runners rsumed their side-by-side battle before the caution came out a fourth time for a big scramble among trucks running at the back of the field that saw Billy Carlbert, Jr. get turned around.

McDuffie got the run he needed on the restart and he passed Burkhalter for the lead.  Meanwhile, fast qualifier Jason Lester, who had been biding his time, got by Anderson for fourth bringing Pugh with him.  Pugh had fallen back as far as eighth after starting fourth.  McDuffie began to pull away only to see yet another caution, this time for a back stretch tangle between Jeff Williams and Cody Krucker on lap 25.

Two laps after the restart, Pugh ducked under Lester to take fourth spot.  The field continued under green until lap 37 when Williams spun off turn four.

Burkhalter tried hard to pass McDuffie on the restart but had to settle back into second in front of Monopoli as the lead trio sped away until Colt Cecil spun in turn two during the 43rd lap and was hit by Carlbert’s truck.  Cecil was done for the night while Carlbert continued.

McDuffie’s truck seemed to stumble on the restart and Burkhalter took advantage grabbing the lead away although McDuffie was right back on his tail gate.  Pugh had just ake third from Monopoli when Mini Cup winner Brey Holmes spun in turn two.  Burkhalter held sawy on the restart and was looking good only to see a final yellow flag on lap 47as Kohut’s truck slowed suddenly with what appeared to be an overheating issue with Holmes spinning to miss him.

The final restart was a dandy.  Burkhalter slid up the track in turn two just enough to let McDuffie get beside his rear fender.  But Pugh saw an opening and dove under both of them, taking the lead.  Ever the opportunist, Lester followed Pugh right on by to take second.  Burkhalter managed to recover in third while McDuffie was hung out to dry.

Pugh crossed the stripe to score his first-ever Pro Truck victory while Lester and Burkhalter trailed closely.  Cody Blair came out of nowhere to claim fourth while a disappointed McDuffie held on for fifth.  Monopoli faded to sixth ahead of Anderson with eighth through tenth positions going to Carlbert, Krucker and Holmes.  Twelve of the 22 starters were still running at the finish with Tyler Davis and Kristen Clements the last two trucks still in competition.  Rounding out the finishers (all DNF’s) were Kohut, Cecil, Carter Brown, Williams, Mick Lizzano, Brennon Pletcher, Nicoletti, Kerns, Marc Kemick and Moore.

A somewhat bewildered Pugh was as happy as could be in victory lane and thanked his mom and dad along with crew chief Bobby Shelton and set-up man Mike Toemmes who unfortunately was not on hand due to ongoing medical issues.

Lester was very happy with his unexpected second place run but even happier that he set fast time for the first time in his career earlier in the evening.

Burkhalter said he “gave this one away” in the closing laps but was still happy with his truck.  “I really think we’ve got something for the the rest of the year,” he said.

The Open Wheel Modifieds were scheduled to run a big 75-lap contest but when only seven cars showed up, the drivers and track officials agreed to cut the race to 40 laps with only a small cut in the purse.

Herb Neumann grabbed the early lead but gave way to L. J. Grimm on lap four.

Only two minor cautions late in the race slowed the event as Grimm sped away to a comfortable victory.  Neumann looked like a sure second until falling out during the final caution flag period on lap 35.  At that point Matt McCrary picked up the second spot and held it to the checker ahead of a tight battle with Shawn Harper and Ricky Coffin who claimed third and fourth.  Norman Dismuke debuted his new machine in fifth ahead of Neumann and Marilyn McCrary.

The 30-lap Legend Car feature saw a number of caution periods and a familiar face back in victory lane.  Greg Welage of Cincinnati, OH, who also has a home in Punta Gorda, returned to action along with his son Jason and led the opening two laps before Seth Adams came storming by.  From that point it was Adams all the way despite having his pace slowed by the numerous yellow flags that were all for just minor incidents.  The fans were entertained by the constant position-swapping going on behind Adams, though.

Jim Smith eventually made his way to second and added to his current point lead in the class.  Las Vegas, NV visitor Michael Anderson had a good run for third in his first visit to Auburndale Speedway.  Young Brandon Taylor scored a nice fourth place finish in just his second race in the class while 13-year-old lady driver Jade Hubert was fifth.  Jason Welage was sixth followed by Bob Wilson, Cale Nolen, Blake Boyette, Gavin Sexton, Greg Welage, Mitch Verhaagh and Alan Hiefnar.

Another good field of Modified Mini Stocks were on hand and put on quite a show.  The initial start was called back for a three car tangle in turn one but all cars continued.  Tim Scalise snared the early lead but Fred Harrison was quickly on the move.  Harrison started deep in the pack but was already up to third place by the conclusion of lap three then took second two laps later with Chris Spring right behind him.

Harrison caught and passed Scalise for the top spot on lap 11 with Spring following suit four laps later.  The 30-lap run was halted on lap 17 as jimmy Frazier blew the engine in his car oiling down the track through the first and second turns.  Fortunately all cars made it through despite a little “slipping and sliding.”  Just after the restart the final caution appeared as Chris Falkner and Scott Bumgardner spun in unison in turn two.

Although Spring closed to his bumper several times, Harrison held on for the win, his first here in quite some time as he has just returned to racing at Auburndale after around a three year hiatus.  Spring was a close second while Scalise scored his first career podium finish.  It was this first time ever that Dodge-powered cars finished 1-2-3 in a Mod Mini feature here.  Fourth and fifth went to Clint Holmes and Matt Cummins who had a nice run in a new car after showing up late.  Rachelle Rudolph came home sixth trailed by Falkner, Dave Barnett, Bumgardner, Frazier, Mike Kerrivan, Dave Davis and T. J. Tanner.

Despite having to run his car in third gear after a late race restart, James Wright III held sway to score another V-8 Bomber win and add to his point lead.  Wright took the lead from David Purvis on lap five and sped to the win despite two cautions and his tranny problem.  Danny Burchfield was third followed by Ronnie Abney, Jammie “Wild Child” Dunnahoe, Jr., Jamie Castleberry and Purvis.

Put yet another win sticker on the windshield of Chris Narrmore’s Q Mini Stock as he claimed his fourth win of the year in the class.  Freddy Martin grabbed the early lead but saw Chris Narramore, Jr, move out front on lap 12.  The senior Narramore was not to be denied this week, though, as he passed his son on lap 20 and drove to a comfortable win as this was the only race all night to run green to checker.  Narramore, Jr, was second with Bruce Cozad in his “usual” third spot.  Martin came home fourth ahead of Duker Holley, T. J.

Tanner, David McCaig and Ashley Eldridge.

Travis Todd led all the way to claim his first-ever win at Auburndale in taking the Scrambler feature.  Although his teammate Danny Burchfield brought out the red flag blowing an engine mid-race, Todd streaked to a fairly comfortable win over Chuckie Harrison and his dad Chuck Harrison.  All three were driving Saturns.  Wayne Dunnavent, Jr. was fourth in his first race here trailed by Burchfield, Serena Young, Trevor Appling and Joe Mezenbach (all DNF’s)

It was just “one of those nights” at Auburndale Speedway Saturday night as anything that could go wrong…. well… it did.

The entire show got off to a late start as a pair of brief showers dampened the track during hot laps. Despite the delay, action still got going only 15 minutes late.

The big race of the night was the WPCV 97.5 Country Radio Earth Day 125 “Super 8” Series race for the Super Late Models. Due to the rain, qualifying was held during the middle of the heat races for the other classes.

Joe Boyd of Riverview, winner of the season-opening Super 8 Series event back in March, was fast once again as he set quick time of 13.568 seconds topping the 13.582 lap of Winter Haven’s George Gorham, Jr. with Josh Todd of Polk City third quick at 13.589.

As has been the case for big races here recently, the position re-draw did not go Boyd’s way as the top eight cars from time trials were inverted for the start placing Auburndale drivers Chris Fontaine and Ron Lofquist on the front row. Lofquist was making his first start at Auburndale in quite some time with a brand-new car to boot.

Overall this race would not be pretty as the 125 laps produced two red flag periods and another 15 caution flags before the marathon would end nearly an hour and a half after it started.

Fontaine jumped out to an early lead only to see Todd go for a spin in turn two to bring out the first of the many yellow flags on lap four. Gorham and Boyd, who started seventh and eighth, were already up to fourth and fifth after the restart.

Fontaine continued to set the pace but the caution re-appeared on lap nine for Todd who stopped up high in turn four. The earlier incident had torn a hole in the radiator of his car and he stopped it before any damage could be done to the engine. Not a good night for Todd who had a podium finish last time out.

At the same time Becca Monopoli pitted to have a tire rub fixed.

Things got really chippy on the restart as Lakeland’s Steve Dorer aggressively took the top spot on lap 13 with Gorham also slipping by Fontaine four laps later. The field finally got into some good green flag action as the top five of Dorer, Gorham, Fontaine, Boyd and Lofquist pulled away from the rest of the contenders.

Lap 32 saw Matt McCrary go for a spin off turn two while Boyd got spun off turn four just after the caution was displayed. Boyd got his spot back in the line-up while McCrary took his car pit side as did Blaise Hetznecker although both quickly returned to the fray.

Fontaine was still strong and re-captured second place from Gorham on the restart. Meanwhile Brandon Duchscherer was charging taking fifth spot on lap

40 after starting the race from tenth. Six laps later Fontaine forged his way by Dorer and back into the lead.

Dorer and Gorham then began a fender-wanging duel that saw them both nearly spin each other out on the 47th lap. In fact, Duchscherer dove inside to take third place but the pass was negated by a caution flag for debris on the track. Brian Dorer and Noah Cornman pitted during the yellow but returned.

Duchscherer slipped by Boyd for fourth on the restart just before Hetznecker fell off the pace and retired to the infield on lap 55. One lap later David King spun in turn 4 to bring out the yellow again.

Things got testy on the restart as both Dorer and Boyd spun with track officials seeing Gorham as the culprit for the rough action. Gorham was thus black-flagged and went to the pits for a consultation with officials before returning and restarting at the tail of the field. The cars of Duchscherer and Monopoli also received damage. Duchscherer made a brief pit stop while Monopoli stayed on track.

After all the wild action the new top five now found Fontaine leading Boyd, Jett Noland, Monopoli and Jamie King. Noland slipped into second on the restart as Boyd stayed high and tried to regain the spot but spun in turn one after Noland drifted up in turn one causing Boyd to lose it in the “marbles.”

Boyd pitted and returned but his car would never be as fast as it was earlier.

Dorer pitted during the yellow and did not return.

On the restart the caution was out yet again as Lofquist went for a spin courtesy of Monopoli. There were now 11 cars still in the running, all on the lead lap. Jamie king got by Noland on the restart as the yellow was again displayed when Noland was turned by Brian Dorer. Monopoli pitted to have the bowed-up hood on her machine removed while Boyd also headed for the pit area and called it a night.

Fontaine continued to hold off all challengers as Duchscherer was again on the move as he got around Cornman for third on lap 69. David King spun in turn two during the 75th lap collecting Lofquist but both were able to continue.

Again, both Duchscherer and Gorham were charging hard and moved into second and third by lap 79 and appeared to be a bit quicker than leader Fontaine.

Action was slowed again on lap 81 as Jamie King was sent for a spin by Noland.

Brian Dorer then spun on the restart to keep the yellow out then spun again on the next restart just after Gorham made a pass on Duchscherer for second.

The next restart saw Monopoli take fourth spot as her car now seemed to have “come in” while Duchscherer re-passed Gorham for the runner-up spot on lap 90.

Finally some more green flag racing ensued as Fontaine, Duchscherer and Gorham raced in tight formation up front.

Noah Cornman, driving a great race, had his evening come to a quick end as his car began smoking heavily while he was running fifth on lap 104. Cornman pulled to the infield where the caution came out on lap 107 to check a possible fire in his car. The smoke was actually steam as the car had run so hot it blew the radiator cap off.

It would take several tries to get past the 107th lap starting with Monopoli spinning on the restart and getting hit by Jamie King’s car. King stayed out while Monopoli pitted but did not make it out for the restart.

The next restart saw the worst incident of the night as Fontaine and Duchscherer bumped together in turn four with Duchscherer spinning. Lofquist had nowhere to go and drove over the front end of Duchscherer’s car while Noland also clobbered the Duchscherer machine with Brian Dorer also getting front end damage as well.

This required a long red flag period as both the Duchscherer and Noland cars were done for the night. Lofquist pitted but returned minus the body work on the right side of his new racer. Monopoli returned before the restart and was still on the lead lap while Dorer stayed on the race track.

track officials ruled that Fontaine was at fault for the incident and he went from the lead to the rear of the restart line-up while Gorham now assumed the top spot over Brian Dorer and David King. That pair apparently didn’t like running up front as they tangled on the restart heading into turn one.

Believe it or not the rest of the laps were run under green as Gorham led the remaining distance to score a hard-fought victory. Fontaine was still strong but could never mount a challenge after moving back up into second while Lofquist drove his battered car to third ahead of Brian Dorer and Jamie King.

Noland returned to the race and hung on for sixth while Monopoli fought an ill-handling car over the final laps to finish seventh, the last car of the 15-car field still running although everybody still out there was on the lead lap.

Gorham had a bit of a problem just getting out of his car as his legs were cramping up. “It was a long race, I guess.” said Gorham. “I’ve never had cramps after a race so I guess I probably need to get into the gym,” he joked.

“You know this is a home grown team that works their butts off. We stay up sometimes until two, four o’clock in the morning working on this thing then get right back up and go to work but being here right now makes it all worth it,” Gorham continued.

Fontaine did not come to victory lane obviously upset by the call that took him from the lead. Lofquist was probably as shocked as anybody that he got a top three finish. “You’re right, this is, or was, a new car but the damage is really not that bad and i think we can fix it fairly easy,” he said.

Undaunted, Gorham came back to score another victory, this time in the V-8 Bomber feature again driving the potent Camaro owned by Roy “Bubba” Healey.

This race would also see a rash of caution flags and four different leaders.

Heat winner Bobby Mobley led the first six circuits while Danny Burchfield would then lead a trio of laps before being passed by James Wright III who had pitted after a lap two incident to replace a flat tire.

Wright led through lap 16 but his car was not handling like he wanted and Gorham sped by to lead the rest of the way to take the win over Wright, Burchfield, Mobley, Jody Gill, Ronnie Abney, Jamie Castleberry, Buddy Smith and David Purvis who broke an axle on the ninth lap.

It was yet another “family affair” in the Q Mini Stocks as Chris Narramore, Jr. took the lead from Fred Martin on the second lap then raced to his third win of the year over his dad Chris Narramore, Sr. Bruce Cozad scored yet another third place finish in front of Martin, David McCaig, Duker Holley, T.

1. Tanner and Amber Eldridge. Donald Gatlin was unable to start the feature.

Narramore, Jr. also won the heat race.

Jim Smith defeated a short field of Legend Cars to claim his second win of the year after earlier winning the heat race. Joey Langis was a distant second ahead of Jade Hubert, new driver Brandon Taylor and Cale Nolen. Kyle Pitts did not start.

Douglas Herrin, Jr. again dominated the Mini Cup class to score his third win in a row. The 13-year-old driver was over a straightaway ahead of second place Clay Samuels. Heat winner Brey Holmes was third trailed by Maria Martins, Bill Rychel, Russell Bush and Kameren Wozunk. Bryton Horner had problems during the heat and did not start the feature.

.

OFFICIAL FINISH – SUPER LATE MODELS (125 Laps):

1) George Gorham, Jr. #03

2) Chris Fontaine #47

3) Ron Lofquist #49

4) Brian Dorer #97

5) Jamie King #33

6) Jett Noand #50

7) Becca Monopoli #59X

8) Brandon Duchscherer #23 – DNF

9) David King #22 – DNF

10) Noah Cornman #30 – DNF

11) Joe Boyd #5 – DNF

12) Steve Dorer #10 – DNF

13) Blaise Hetznecker #17 – DNF

14) Matt McCrary #54 – DNF

15) Josh Todd #0 – DNF