by Rick Anges

 Bradenton, Fl. February in Florida means a lot of different things to a lot of different people but for most of us it just means racing! From the shores of New Smyrna Beach to the depths of the Everglades there was the roar of engines.

For thirty years this has also been the weekend of the Icebreaker at Desoto Super Speedway. Some of the top names in all of stock car racing have run this big late model race.

The drivers that were competing for this years trophy included two governors cup winners, several series champions, current and former NASCAR drivers and more then a few track champs.

Nineteen of Florida’s Top Late Model Aces lined up for their two lap qualifying runs. When it was all said and done the 2009 Governors Cup Champ Tim Russell took the fast time with a 14:698 run around 3/8 mile.

Anthony Campi was second fast followed by Joe Boyd, Jeff Choquette and Justin Larson for the top five.

Three cars were inverted from qualifying putting Joe Boyd on the pole for the 100-lap feature. Three fans from the stand gave the drivers the command to start your engines and field came to life.

Joe Boyd jumped out to the early lead with Russell following in his tire tracks. Meanwhile Choquette and Campi were hard at it for the second spot.

The first of only three cautions was brought out Larry Bryant who backed his car into the turn one wall. On the restart Boyd once again took the top spot but as the race wore on Russell would get around Boyd for the lead.

Boyd would lose the handle on his ride and fade to a disappointing sixteenth place finish on the night. Also having his problems was Jeff Choquette. Choquette who won his first asphalt race at Desoto began to push up in turn four. Campi, the 2009 Hoosier Elite Series champion would soon get by and set his sites on the leader Russell. Choquette would finish the eighth.

The long green flag run was just thing that Russell needed as his car just got better and better as he would add the 30^th annual Icebreaker to his already impressive resume and collect over $5,000 for the win. Anthony Campi would come home with an impressive second place run, Justin Larson would run third in this start studded race, fourth would be none other then Darryl Shelnut and fifth went to Chris Fontaine.

Sarasota Ford Hoosier Elite Series Late Models

Finish Start Car Driver Hometown

1 6 36    Tim Russell *Fast Time    Apopka , Fl

2 5 81    Anthony Campi    Sarasota , Fl

3 2 88X    Justin Larson    Safety Harbor, Fl

4 8 7    Darryl Shelnut    Lake City, Fl

5 1 47    Chris Fontaine    Auburndale , Fl

6 7 51N    Stephen Nasse    Pinellas Park, Fl

7 13 55    Scot Walters    Naples , Fl

8 3 70    Jeff Choquette    Loxahatchee , Fl

9 17 9    Rob Partelo    Largo , Fl

10 14 70X    James Glover    Pinellas Park, Fl

11 10 31    Jeff Sloan    Beverly Hills, Fl

12 11 30    Jesse Dutilly    Bradenton , Fl

13 16 5X    Steve Gill    Sarasota , Fl

14 9 1X    John Jackson    Ellenton , Fl

15 15 00    Robert Yoho    Pinellas Park, Fl

16 4 5    Joe Boyd    Riverview , Fl

17 12 28    Billy Bigley, Jr    Naples , Fl 

18 18 28B    Dylan Bigley    Naples , Fl 

19 19 99    Larry Bryant

 Open Wheel Modifieds

 The “Rocketman” Wayne Jefferson took the in a caution filled thirty-five lap feature. Pat Nanney  would blaze from the back of the pack on old tires to finish second, Teddy Nelson also came from near the back to finish third, fourth was early race leader Ralph Bowman and fifth was Scott Kleiber.

 Finish Start Car Driver Hometown  

1 4 1    Wayne Jefferson    Pinellas Park, Fl

2 5 60    Pat Nanney    Bradenton , Fl

3 2 94    Teddy Nelson    Pinellas Park, Fl

4 6 2    Ralph Bowman    Largo , Fl 

5 1 5X    Scott Kleiber    Naples , Fl 

6 8 53    Doug Miller    Largo , Fl 

7 9 12    Eric Rudd    Naples , Fl 

8 11 2R    John Rogers    Naples , Fl 

9 13 5    James Glover    Pinellas Park, Fl

10 3 46    Doug Moff    Ft Myers, Fl 

11 12 89    Joshua Todd    Polk City, Fl

12 7 99    Sean Mclaughlin    Port Charlotte, Fl 

13 10 63    Phil Morrison    Punta Gorda, Fl

 Sturdy Built Trailers Flyin 4’s

 Finish Start Car Driver Hometown

1 11 73    Randy Johnson    Bradenton , Fl

3 3 81    Brittany Barr    St Petersburg, Fl

4 7 3    Duane Best    Myakka City, Fl

5 1 36    Todd Morey    Wachula , Fl

6 9 74    Paul Huffstutler    Bradenton , Fl

7 6 11    William Carlbert Jr    Bradenton , Fl

8 2 20X    Austin Cavey    Parrish , Fl 

9 10 11B    Joshua Piller    Wesley Chapel, Fl 

10 8 17    Brad Steger    Clearwater , Fl

11 4 38    Arthur Danielson    Pinellas , Fl

 Magic 4’s

 Finish Start Car Driver Hometown 

1 6 3     Kyle Best    Myakka City, Fl

2 4 30    Zac Campilonga    Bradenton , Fl 

3 2 38    Joann Danielson    Pinellas , Fl

4 3 11    Justine Carlbert    Palmetto , Fl

5 5 01    Dallas Troyer    Bradenton , Fl

6 1 44    Shanna Clark    St. Petersburg, Fl

 Mini-Stocks

 Finish Start Car Driver Hometown

1 3 88    Anthony La Point    Zephyrhills , Fl 

2 2 33X    Joshua Carbone    Bradenton , Fl

3 1 32    Jesse Dutilly    Bradenton , Fl

 Q Auto and Injury Pure Stocks

 Finish Start Car Driver Hometown

1 2 30    Robert Crisp    Largo , Fl 

2 4 47    William Carlbert Jr    Bradenton , Fl

3 6 71    Darrin Ellis    Myakka City, Fl 

4 11 89X    Joshua Todd    Polk City, Fl

5 1 00    Troy Meredith    Largo , Fl

6 8 13    Chelsea Lau    Bradenton , Fl

7 9 88    Jamie Wilson    Sarasota , Fl

8 5 67    Jimmie Best    Sarasota , Fl

9 7 70    Leonard Mccue    St Petersburg, Fl 

10 3 21X    George Bartimac    St Petersburg, Fl

11 10 3    Duane Best    Myakka City, Fl

 Jr.’s Trim Shop Bombers

 Finish Start Car Driver Hometown 

1 3 02    John Stewart    Pinellas Park, Fl

2 1 44    Todd Jacobs    Palmetto , Fl

3 2 70    Jeff Taylor    Seminole , Fl

4 4 96    Tom Blakeley    Bradenton , Fl

 Desoto Pro Trucks

 Finish Start Car Driver Hometown

1 3 8    Todd Bontrager    Sarasota , Fl 

2 1 64    Andrew Gipson    Bradenton , Fl

3 5 64    Brent Huber    Venice , Fl

4 7 12    Charlie Montgomery    Venice , Fl

5 4 41    Stephen Darvalics    Venice , Fl

6 2 37    Nick Hernandez    Palmetto , Fl 

7 8 50    Danny Anderson    Bradenton , Fl

8 6 48    Bill Manfull    Bradenton , Fl

BOMBERS – BOMB 20L
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   JOHN STEWART   02
2   TODD JACOBS   44
3   JEFF TAYLOR   70
4   TOM BLAKELEY   96

 BOMBERS – HEAT 
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   TOM BLAKELEY   96
2   JOHN STEWART   02
3   JEFF TAYLOR   70
4   TODD JACOBS   44

 DS TRUCKS – DS TRUCKS 50L
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   TODD BONTRAGER   8
2   ANDREW GIPSON   64
3   BRENT HUBER   64
4   CHARLIE MONTGOMERY   12
5   STEPHEN DARVALICS   41
6   NICK HERNANDEZ   37
7   DANNY ANDERSON   50
8   BILL MANFULL   48

 DS TRUCKS – HEAT 
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   BILL MANFULL   48
2   BRENT HUBER   64
3   STEPHEN DARVALICS   41
4   TODD BONTRAGER   8
5   NICK HERNANDEZ   37
6   ANDREW GIPSON   64
7   CHARLIE MONTGOMERY   12
8   DANNY ANDERSON   50

 FLYIN 4s – FEATURE
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   RANDY JOHNSON   73
2   ALEX PATTEN   13
3   BRITTANY BARR   81
4   DUANE BEST   3
5   TODD MOREY   36
6   PAUL HUFFSTUTLER   74
7   WILLIAM CARLBERT JR   11
8   AUSTIN CAVEY   20X
9   JOSHUA PILLER   11B
10   BRAD STEGER   17
11   ARTHUR DANIELSON   38

 FLYIN 4s – HEAT   1
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   RANDY JOHNSON   73
2   ARTHUR DANIELSON   38
3   AUSTIN CAVEY   20X
4   WILLIAM CARLBERT JR   11
5   BRAD STEGER   17

 FLYIN 4s – HEAT   2
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   ALEX PATTEN   13
2   BRITTANY BARR   81
3   TODD MOREY   36
4   DUANE BEST   3
5   PAUL HUFFSTUTLER   74
6   JOSHUA PILLER   11B

 HOOSIER ELITE – HOOSIER ELITE
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   TIM RUSSELL   36
2   ANTHONY CAMPI   81
3   JUSTIN LARSON   88X
4   DARRYL SHELNUT   7
5   CHRIS FONTAINE   47
6   STEPHEN NASSE   51N
7   SCOT WALTERS   55
8   JEFF CHOQUETTE   70
9   ROB PARTELO   9
10   JAMES GLOVER   70X
11   JEFF SLOAN   31
12   JESSE DUTILLY   30
13   STEVE GILL   5X
14   JOHN JACKSON   1X
15   ROBERT YOHO   00
16   JOE BOYD   5
17   BILLY BIGLEY, JR   28
18   DYLAN BIGLEY   28B
19   LARRY BRYANT LANDSCAPING   99

 HOOSIER ELITE – QUALIFYING
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   TIM RUSSELL   36
2   ANTHONY CAMPI   81
3   JOE BOYD   5
4   JEFF CHOQUETTE   70
5   JUSTIN LARSON   88X
6   CHRIS FONTAINE   47
7   STEPHEN NASSE   51N
8   DARRYL SHELNUT   7
9   JOHN JACKSON   1X
10   JEFF SLOAN   31
11   JESSE DUTILLY   30
12   BILLY BIGLEY, JR   28
13   SCOT WALTERS   55
14   JAMES GLOVER   70X
15   ROBERT YOHO   00
16   STEVE GILL   5X
17   ROB PARTELO   9
18   DYLAN BIGLEY   28B
19   LARRY BRYANT LANDSCAPING   99

 MAGIC 4S – HEAT 
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   DALLAS TROYER   01
2   ZAC CAMPILONGA   30
3   KYLE BEST   3
4   JUSTINE CARLBERT   11
5   JOANN DANIELSON   38
6   SHANNA CLARK   44

 MAGIC 4S – MAGIC FOURS
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   KYLE BEST   3
2   ZAC CAMPILONGA   30
3   JOANN DANIELSON   38
4   JUSTINE CARLBERT   11
5   DALLAS TROYER   01
6   SHANNA CLARK   44

 MINI STOCKS – FEATURE
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   ANTHONY LA POINT   88
2   JOSHUA CARBONE   33X
3   JESSE DUTILLY   32

 MINI STOCKS – HEAT 
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   ANTHONY LA POINT   88
2   JOSHUA CARBONE   33X
3   JESSE DUTILLY   32

 OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED – HEAT   1
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   RALPH BOWMAN   2
2   WAYNE JEFFERSON   1
3   TEDDY NELSON   94
4   SEAN MCLAUGHLIN   99
5   ERIC RUDD   12
6   JOHN ROGERS   2R
7   JAMES GLOVER   5

 OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED – HEAT   2
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   PAT NANNEY   60
2   DOUG MOFF   46
3   SCOTT KLEIBER   5X
4   DOUG MILLER   53
5   PHIL MORRISON   63
6   JOSHUA TODD   89

 OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED – OWM 35L 11 OR LESS
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   WAYNE JEFFERSON   1
2   PAT NANNEY   60
3   TEDDY NELSON   94
4   RALPH BOWMAN   2
5   SCOTT KLEIBER   5X
6   DOUG MILLER   53
7   ERIC RUDD   12
8   JOHN ROGERS   2R
9   JAMES GLOVER   5
10   DOUG MOFF   46
11   JOSHUA TODD   89
12   SEAN MCLAUGHLIN   99
13   PHIL MORRISON   63

 PURE STOCKS – HEAT   1
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   DARRIN ELLIS   71
2   WILLIAM CARLBERT JR   47
3   ROBERT CRISP   30
4   LEONARD McCUE   70
5   JAMIE WILSON   88
6   JOSHUA TODD   89X

 PURE STOCKS – HEAT   2
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   JIMMIE BEST   67
2   GEORGE BARTIMAC   21X
3   TROY MEREDITH   00
4   CHELSEA LAU   13
5   DUANE BEST   3

 PURE STOCKS – PS 20L 19 OR LESS
Pos   Driver    Car #
1   ROBERT CRISP   30
2   WILLIAM CARLBERT JR   47
3   DARRIN ELLIS   71
4   JOSHUA TODD   89X
5   TROY MEREDITH   00
6   CHELSEA LAU   13
7   JAMIE WILSON   88
8   JIMMIE BEST   67
9   LEONARD McCUE   70
10   GEORGE BARTIMAC   21X
11   DUANE BEST   3

by Marty Little/Tom Blakeley

 BRADENTON, Fla. – Bo Hartley notched his second 30 lap TBARA feature victory during the four race winter tour on a bitterly cold Saturday night at DeSoto Super Speedway.

Hartley started the main event fourth in the 23 car field while outside front row starter D.J.Hoelzle powered his self-built mount into the lead at the drop of the green with a snarling field on their heels. The action on the track was anything but cold as the winged speedsters worked the high banked oval with close action throughout.

As the laps wound down Hoelzle had Hartley hot on his tail with Joey Aguilar, up from seventh, a close third. With six laps to go Hartley made his move on Hoelzle to wrestle away the top spot. Hoelzle stayed on the hammer to maintain second in front of Aguilar and they crossed the strip in close formation ahead of Shane Butler and Dude Teate in the caution free run.

Heat race wins fell to Tommy Nichols, Bo Hartley and Aguilar. For winning his heat race and the main event Hartley collected the Steele Performance Parts Sweep award, the first time it’s been done this season.

Feature (30 laps) – 1. Bo Hartley, 2. D.J. Hoelzle, 3. Joey Aguilar, 4. Shane Butler, 5. Dude Teate, 6. Tommy Nichols, 7. Troy DeCaire, 8. Brian Gringas, 9. Ben Fritz, 10. Ryan Litt, 11. Sonny Hartley, 12. Dakotah Stephens, 13. Stephen Bradley, 14. Craig Skene, 15. Larry Brazil, 16. Frankie Hurst, 17. Todd Donaldson, 18. Skeeter Faulconer, 19. Johnny Gilbertson, 20. Bill Pettijohn, 21. Larry J. Brazil, 22. Billy Riddle, 23. Wendy Mathis.

As the cold winds continued the ASA Sanctioned Desoto Super Speedway classes warmed up the action with the following feature race results.

Magic 4’s The Magic 4’s kicked off the season opener with lots of action.  The newest driver in this class is Kimberly Clark whose sister is Shanna Clark.  Kimberly was sitting behind the wheel for the very first time and also trying to learn how to drive a stick shift at the same time.  She got lots of advice over the scanner from the flagman and did a great job.  The results of the feature Magic 4 race were:

1.         Kyle Best                    #3

2.         Amy Gamache            #85

3.         Zac Campilonga          #30

4.         Joann Danielson          #38

5.         Dallas Troyer               #01

6.         Kimberly Clark           #K44

7          Shanna Clark               #44

8          Justine Carlbert           #11

Pure Stocks it was a night for blown motors and lots of rubbing, but the action was jam packed as usual.  The feature results were:

1.         Duane Best                 #3

2.         David Davis                #6

3.         Joshua Todd                #89X

4.         Jimmie Best                 #67

5.         Billy Carlbert JR         #47

6.         Troy Meredith             #00

7.         Darrin Ellis                  #71

8.         Andrew Moon                        #31

9.         Chelsea Lau                #13

10.       Clint Roberts               #95

11.       Jon Prescott                 #49

12.       Robert Crisp                #30      DQed

Rockem-Sockem Bombers  And then it was Rockem-Sockem time.  The love just flowed from car to car and so did the paint.  The Bombers seem to be getting faster each year and more exciting too.  Look at these feature results!

1.         Codey Benoit              #B1

2.         Randy Spicer              #83

3.         John Stewart               #02

4.         Michael Crooks           #33X

5.         Steve Elder                 #42

6.         Todd Jacobs                #44

7.         Logan Leonard           #18

8.         Jeff Firestine               #93

9.         Dennis Wilson             #4

10.       Tom Blakeley              #96

11.       Richard Nelson           #80 DNS

Flyin 4’s   Well they were flyin tonight for sure.  The field was full and the action was awesome.  This class is a crowd favorite.  The feature results are as follows:

1.         Randy Johnson           #73

2.         Rick Germony             #8X

3.         Paul Richards              #61

4.         Brittany Barr               #81

5.         Todd Morey                #36

6.         Kyle Rice                    #7

7.         Michael Gamache       #85

8.         Joshua Piller                #11B

9.         Billy Carlbert Jr.          #11

10.       Troy Ditebrand           #222

11.       Brad Steger                 #17

12.       Arthur Danielson        #38

13.       Richie Acres                #8

14.       Craig Jackson              #53

15.       Bobby Blackrick         #2

School Bus Figure 8’s.  The craziest guys in town gather every so often and do this crazy little thing called figure 8 racing but they do it in School Buses which is really wild.  This class gets and deserves lots of respect.  Here are the results of the 25 lap feature race tonight.

1.         Michael Gamache       #0

2.         Earnest Helfrick          #4

3.         Billy Carlbert Jr.          #11X

4.         Mark Jackson              #25

5.         Jay Seykora                 #85

6.         Larry Saffold              #88

7.         Peter Bohn                  #11

8.         Christopher Dodson    #21

9.         Craig Jackson              #22

10.       Eugene Helfrick          #44

11.       Robert Latinka            #47

The entire staff of the ASA Sanctioned Desoto Super Speedway wants to thank the loyal fans that braved the weather and stayed for the entire show tonight.  Next week will be another house rocking event with the Super Late Model Icebreaker 100.   Check us out at www.desotosuperspeedway.com or give us a call at 941-748-3171.  We are located 9 short miles East from I-75 on SR 64.  Our gates open at 5 PM and racing starts at 7 PM sharp.