![\"Orlando](\"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/Orlando-Speedworld-Logo1.jpg\"){kind=logo}
The rain finally held off for once at Orlando SpeedWorld and fans were treated\nto some good NASCAR Whelan All-American Series racing on a warm, muggy night.
\nThe Modified class was top bill of the evening going for 50 laps in their
\nfeature. \u00a0Earl Beckner of Orlando was quickest in time trials turning a lap at
\n14.62 seconds just ahead of Lakeland’s Josh Todd who turned in a lap at
\n14.78.
\nPole sitter Roger Benton grabbed the early lead and was looking strong until
\nShain Held went for a spin on lap two off the bumper of Todd’s machine. \u00a0Todd
\nwas sent to the rear of the field for the restart while Held got his spot
\nback. \u00a0Benton continued to lead the way but began to get pressure from
\nBeckner. \u00a0On lap ten, Beckner dove low into turn three to try and make a pass
\nand just barely touched the left rear tire of Benton’s car sending Beckner
\ninto a wild slide. \u00a0Beckner restarted the event from the tail of the field.
\nOn the restart, Benton’s car began to slide backwards, victim of a cut tire
\nfrom the incident with Beckner. \u00a0Todd moved his car to the front and began to
\ncheck out. \u00a0Lap 22 saw Beckner, his teammate Jason Vail and Matt Wheeler lock
\nhorns in turn four. \u00a0There was no significant damage and all three continued.
\nJust as the field got the halfway signal on lap 25, Wheeler tangled with Matt
\nJarrett on the front stretch and hit the wall. \u00a0The crash eliminated both
\ndrivers from the race while Vail also took his car to the sidelines.
\nThe second half of the race was a runaway for Todd although Beckner eventually
\nmoved into second and looked to be a bit faster but was too far behind to make
\nup the necessary ground as Todd took the checker about a half straightaway
\nahead of him. \u00a0Todd’s win would be negated in tech when an illegal titanium
\naxle was found to be installed on his car and he was disqualified. \u00a0That
\nhanded the win to Beckner with Held getting second and Benton gamely hanging
\non to his “squirrely” machine for third. \u00a0Wheeler, Jarrett, Vail and Todd were
\ncredited with fourth through seventh places.
\nThe Super Stocks put on their usual good race with Jeff Cuddy leading the
\nopening four laps before Donny Funk zipped through the field to lead the
\nremaining distance and score his fourth consecutive victory. \u00a0Funk’s win
\nwasn’t an easy one as Chad Pierce gave him all he could handle in the waning
\nlaps before settling for second over Michael Held, Brandon Christian, Charles
\nKing, Cuddy and Art Hendren. \u00a0Funk also won the heat race.
\nThe Pro Late Models and Sportsman cars were combined for their action but two
\ncars never made it to the green flag of their heat race as Zach Harris and
\nDaniel Conlin, Jr. somehow collided hard enough while lining up for the race
\nto put both out for the evening. \u00a0That left just a pair of Pro Lates to duke
\nit out and it was Mooresville, NC visitor Eric Stokes winning both the heat
\nand feature over Ricky Moxley. \u00a0Stokes is originally from Miami. \u00a0Steve Barnes
\ntopped both the heat and feature races for the Sportsman over Justin Starr.
\nRichard Fiore was also unable to answer the feature call for the Sportsman
\nclass.
\nThe best race of the night was the Strictly Stock feature that saw ageless Ron
\nMcCreary dust off an old Ford Probe, driven several years ago by his son Todd,
\nand win the feature after a dandy battle with both Shane Sutorus and Wes
\nRailing, Jr. who collided late in the event trying to get their V-8 Chevies
\npast McCreary’s car. \u00a0Early race leader Richard Fiore came home second ahead
\nof Sutorus, Megan Matheny and Mike Trotter. \u00a0Rounding out the finishers were
\nJohn Walls, Railing, Rex Carr, Tyler Jewer, Scott Sweat and Donald Springer.
\nRailing was the heat race winner.
\nAfter heat winner David Owen dropped out, Ryan Pierce went on to claim victory
\nin the Bandolero feature topping Brett Suggs, Derek Pugh, Brandi Bibeau and
\nOwen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"