{"id":9516,"date":"2012-01-29T21:38:15","date_gmt":"2012-01-29T21:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/?p=9516"},"modified":"2012-01-29T22:04:59","modified_gmt":"2012-01-29T22:04:59","slug":"punta-gorda-speedway-puts-another-great-night-in-the-books","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/front-page-news\/punta-gorda-speedway-puts-another-great-night-in-the-books\/","title":{"rendered":"Punta Gorda Speedway Puts Another Great Night in the Books"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It was a great night for racing at the Punta Gorda Speedway as they start the 2012 race season off early this year. This was the second race of the year that normally would start after the big Daytona race but speedway owner Kevin Williams decided to mix things up this year and start the season early. With so many visitors from up north, why not give them something to do on Saturday night when the weather is beautiful and then shut down during the summer for two months when it rains and the heat is unbearable at times. Williams also looks over the race card for the night and doesn\u2019t mind changing things up to give the fans a great show and Saturday was one that had the fans on the edge of their seat the entire night. You cant beat the racing and excitement at a short track, but Williams has made it affordable for the entire family, with low tickets prices, great food and by the record crowds at Punta Gorda Speedway, is sure is the place to be on Saturday nights.<\/p>\n

The night started off with qualifying for the Dwarf cars that were having their Winter Nationals and Open Wheel Modifieds. After the heat races were in the books and the parade laps it was time to get to the main features of the night.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Perfect Pest control Pro 4 class took to the track first and ran there twenty five lap feature caution free with young James Dellea III leading the pack. It took Ryan Collver from Ft Myers to take over where he left off from last year, leading and winning the race. Paul Richards Jr. from Naples put a lot of pressure on Collver as he was in the running second and Dan Collver came in third.<\/p>\n

The Cowboy Cadillacs were up next, it was Stuart Vandevender that dominated the class bringing it home in first. Jeff Deeble of Port Charlotte had a strong run but not enough and settled for second while John Pummell Jr from Arcadia battled for the third place finish.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>It was time for Open Wheel Modifieds, with some cars still not ready, along with drivers that had other commitments, speedway owner Kevin Williams decided to mix it up and do a dash for the cash and trophy race. Cars were lined straight up from their Qualifying times which put Steve Arnold from Cape Coral on the pole from a fast time of 15.840 and the green flagged dropped. Arnold jumped to the lead as Eric Rudd from Naples did everything he could to loosen him up and take away the lead. The dash was exciting as Arnold held off Rudd to take home the win, the money and the trophy.<\/p>\n

Dwarf cars had a good field for their kick off race of the new season with a winter National as they called it, with qualifying first which fast time went to the 14 of Bo Bass, clocked at 15.633, then two heat races to set the field for their twenty five lap feature. Bo Bass sat on the pole as Andy Pryor of Bonita Springs was outside and the green flag dropped and it was Pryor who jumped to the lead and with Darren Bass following him to run in the second spot. Pryor had it easy till the cautions started then at the half way mark, Andys father Tom Pryor blew the motor after running in the fourth spot. When the checkers flew it was all Andy Pryor who was awarded the big Gold Cup trophy in the winners circle with Chris McClellan from Clarcona second, Larry Hubbard Jr. of\u00a0\u00a0Cape Coral third and last years announcer Rob Kohler of Naples fourth, Sammy Mancuso \u00a0of\u00a0 Naples fifth.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The first night of the season for the new Street Stock class had some new paint schemes, cars and drivers. The field was set by inverting the field after their heat race which put new driver to the class but not to the speedway, James Dellea of Port Charlotte starting in rear as he was the heat race winner.
\nBobby Fischer started on the pole and Randy Sober of Punta Gorda outside and the green dropped , Fischer went high to keep Sober from passing on the outside which open the door for Jimmy Meiser to go inside and three wide in turn two doesn\u2019t work and the caution came out before one lap. The field relined and it was Sober that made the pass on the inside as Fischer washed up the track, Sober took the lead in his new number 85 \u201cBeef O Bradys\u201d car with a big lead. Eight laps in, the fast car of Dellea was spraying water and overheating which brought out the first caution and sent Dellea to the pits. Sober on the pole and \u201cback in black\u201d with another new car was Jimmy Meiser on the outside and it was Meiser who took the lead from Sober and sailed into the winners circle while Sober had a mirror full of Bobby Fischer beating on his bumper. Meiser went on to win his first victory after twenty two years of racing and had a big family celebration in the winners circle only to have it taken away in tech for not making the weight requirements. Randy Sober would be pronounced the winner as Bobby Fischer second and Jamie Castleberry third.
\nThe next twist was another payout for the open wheels as they ran a shorted feature that had the fans on their feet right up to the exciting finish. The field was inverted from the dash for cash race, so it was Zack Rudd of North Fort Myers on the pole while Bobby Mobley of Winter Haven outside started the race. It was the first lap and the front two cars that bumped, it was the 29 of Rudd that was called on causing the caution and sent to the rear. Mobley on the pole with fan favorite L.B. Skaggs outside and what a race it was while Mobley had his hands full of \u201cwatch this\u201d Skaggs outside and fast running Arnold behind him that had the fans roaring. Bumping, rubbing, racing, cheering, yelling, sparks flying and the white flag comes out, man what a great race. Down the back stretch into the turn when cars went flying, Skaggs pulls up to the winners circle, Mobley along side him, they get out, and face to face must have been saying, \u201cno I won that race\u201d, but the race wasn\u2019t over, their was still one lap to finish. Speedway owner went down and quickly told every driver, who were all still on the track, there is still one lap to go, buckle up boys. One lap to go with Mobley again on the pole as they were scored in lap fourteen and Skaggs again on the outside, Arnold behind Mobley, the crowd on their feet, here we go again. Mobley, Skaggs side by side, Skaggs tries to come down, Mobley wont have it, Skaggs gets pushed high and Arnold comes through on the inside to finish behind Mobley who came in first and an upset Skaggs had to settle for third.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The excitement wasn\u2019t over yet as the last class of the night took to the track, the Thunder Heard Road Warriors and the fans stay till the end as the show moved along quickly. Jarrett Cornell of N. Ft Myers sat on the pole for the start of the race after getting caught up last week in a wreck, had the 51 back out to compete. Cornell held off Derrick Horton also from N. Ft Myers who was in the same wreck last week for five laps till Horton took over the lead and checked out on the field. While Horton was out front the cars behind him were battlingfor position and Codey Benoit of Buckingham was on a mission to the front. With several cautions coming out, which meant tightening up the field on restarts, the two car of Brian Harbin out of Bartow came from dead last and was running beside the ninety seven of Chris Scott from Nokomis, in the fourth spot. Five to go, Harbin made it by Scott for third, three laps to go, Horton, the leaders car shuts down and has to pull into the pits, Harbin and Scott are having a side by side race of their own. Harbin takes Scott high Scotts not having it, they bump and bump again down the front stretch and Harbin ends up coming to a stop on the front stretch wall. Both cars were black flagged and sent to the pits but got their finishing order and payout and it was Codey Benoit that went on to win the feature with Jason Miller who finished second and returning driver Jessie Gargus of Naples third.<\/p>\n

Next week Feb 5th<\/sup> will be the new class out for their first race of the season, the Limited Sportsman for 50 laps and T. Q. Midgets along with Road Warriors, Perfect Pest Control Pro 4 and the Mini Stock.<\/p>\n

Make plans now because you do not want to miss the excitement that Punta Gorda Speedway has to offer on Saturday night that is affordable for the entire family. You can stay up to date by visiting the web site at www.putnagordaspeedway.com<\/a> . The Speedway will be closed Feb. 11th<\/sup> to hold its 2011 Championship awards banquet along with February 18th<\/sup> & 25 for speed weeks but will return March 3rd<\/sup> with Super Late Models for 100 laps.<\/p>\n

Punta Gorda Speedway
\nResults from \u00a0 1-28-2012\u00a0<\/p>\n

Open Wheel Modified\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. 29x Bobby Mobley \u00a0\u00a0 Winter Haven
\n2. 19 Steve Arnold \u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral\u00a0\u00a0 (FAST TIME)
\n3. 71 L. B. Skaggs \u00a0\u00a0 N. Ft. Myers
\n4. 29 Zack Rudd \u00a0\u00a0 N. Fort Myers
\n5. 2R John Rogers \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n6. 12 Eric Rudd \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n7. 67 James Dubose \u00a0\u00a0 Arcadia \u00a0<\/p>\n

Open Wheel Modified\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dash for Cash\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. 19 Steve Arnold \u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral
\n2. 12 Eric Rudd \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n3. 71 L. B. Skaggs \u00a0\u00a0 N. Fort Myers
\n4. 29x Bobby Mobley \u00a0\u00a0 Winter Haven
\n5. 29 Zack Rudd \u00a0\u00a0 N. Fort Myers
\n6. 2 \u00a0 John Rogers \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n7. 67 James Dubose \u00a0\u00a0 Arcadia \u00a0<\/p>\n

Street Stocks<\/p>\n

1. 85 Randy Sober \u00a0\u00a0 Punta Gorda
\n2. \u00a0 2 \u00a0 Bobby Fischer \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n3. 86 Jamie Castleberry
\n4. 77 James Dellea \u00a0\u00a0 Port Charlotte
\n5. 57 Logan Leonard \u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral
\n6. 88 Jim Meiser \u00a0\u00a0 LeHigh \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 D. Q.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\nRoad Warrior
\n1. B1 Cody Benoit \u00a0\u00a0 Buckingham
\n2. 10 Jason Miller \u00a0\u00a0 LeHigh Acres
\n3. A1 Jessee Gargus
\n4. 1 \u00a0\u00a0 Rick Reed \u00a0\u00a0 Punta Gorda
\n5. 8 \u00a0\u00a0 Shane Leonard \u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral
\n6. 80 Richard Nelson \u00a0\u00a0 Bradenton
\n7. 5 \u00a0 Jeremy Daring \u00a0\u00a0 LeHigh Acres
\n8. 22 Jeremy Perkins \u00a0\u00a0 N. Ft. Myers
\n9. 2 \u00a0\u00a0 Brian Harbin \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 Bartow
\n10. 97 Chris Scott \u00a0\u00a0 Nokomis
\n11. 27 Derrick Horton \u00a0\u00a0 N. Ft. Myers
\n12. 51 Jarrett Cornell \u00a0\u00a0 N. Ft. Myers \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

Cowboy Cadillac
\n1. 36 Stuart Vandevender \u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral
\n2. 8 \u00a0 Jeff Deeble \u00a0\u00a0 Port Charlotte
\n3. 86 John Pummel Jr. \u00a0\u00a0 Arcadia
\n4. 88 Brad Wegert \u00a0\u00a0 Port Charlotte \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Pro 4
\n1. 04 \u00a0 Ryan Collver \u00a0\u00a0 Ft. Myers
\n2. 61 Paul Richards Jr. \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n3. 00 Dan Collver \u00a0\u00a0 N. Ft. Myers
\n4. 77 James Dellea 3rd. \u00a0\u00a0 Port Charlotte
\n5. 91 Jessica Ostrovskis \u00a0\u00a0 St. Pete
\n6. 30 Phil Ellis \u00a0\u00a0 North Port
\n7. 87 Skyler Null \u00a0\u00a0 Fort Myers
\n8. 98 Mike Clock \u00a0\u00a0 Winter Haven
\n9. 13. Justin Teston \u00a0\u00a0 LeHigh
\n10. 05 David Doty \u00a0\u00a0
\n11. 44 Roy Hensley \u00a0\u00a0 Auburndale
\n12. 67 T. J. Tanner \u00a0\u00a0 Auburndale
\n13. 38 Duane Vandevender \u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral \u00a0<\/p>\n

Dwarf \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
\n1. 4 \u00a0\u00a0 Andy Pryor \u00a0\u00a0 Bonita Springs
\n2. 98 Chris McClellan \u00a0\u00a0 Clarcona
\n3. 56 Larry Hubbard Jr. \u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral
\n4. 08 Rob Kohler \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n5. 21 Sammy Mancuso \u00a0\u00a0 Naples
\n6. 33 Roger Richmond \u00a0\u00a0 Port Charlotte
\n7. 17 John Bailey \u00a0\u00a0 Sarasota
\n8. 77 Larry Hubbard Sr.\u00a0\u00a0 Cape Coral<\/p>\n

9.82 Mike Belusar \u00a0\u00a0 Punta Gorda
\n10. 25 Darren Bass \u00a0\u00a0 Claracona11. 69 Tom Pryor \u00a0\u00a0 Bonita Springs
\n12. 14 Bo Bass \u00a0\u00a0 Eustis (FAST TIME)
\n13. 2 \u00a0\u00a0 James Wright \u00a0\u00a0 LeHigh Acres<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was a great night for racing at the Punta Gorda Speedway as they start the 2012 race season off early this year. This was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"publish_to_discourse":"","publish_post_category":"","wpdc_auto_publish_overridden":"","wpdc_topic_tags":"","wpdc_pin_topic":"","wpdc_pin_until":"","discourse_post_id":"","discourse_permalink":"","wpdc_publishing_response":"","wpdc_publishing_error":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,3,8,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9516","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-featured","category-front-page-news","category-punta-gorda-speedway-charlotte-county-motorsports-park","category-race-results"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9516","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9516"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9516\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9522,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9516\/revisions\/9522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9516"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9516"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/karnac.com\/flanews\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9516"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}