by Rick Anges

Due to bad weather the prior week Charlotte County Speedway had to cancel its first 50-lap Open-Wheel Modified six-pack race of the year.

But to the delight of fans they rescheduled the race for this weeks action to be run with the 100-lap Limited Late Model six-pack. 150-laps and a 12-pack of racing brought the fans to their feet all night long.

Open Wheel Modifieds
Bill Davis #15 lead the eighteen-car field of Open Wheel Modifieds in qualifying for the first six-pack race of the evening, but it was the Rocket man #34 Wayne Jefferson who drew the number one pill for the pole position, with Davis starting on the outside of the second row. On the drop of the green Jefferson immediately jumped out to the early lead with the rest of the field bunched behind him racing hard.

A tense moment came early in the race when the #69 Nick Bogart got loose coming out of turn four spinning in front of the field, everyone was able to get by but Dan Partelo #9 who had lost a drive shaft during hot laps earlier in the day, got on the binders hard trying to avoid Bogart causing him to spin and smack the inside front stretch wall hard ending his night with suspension damage.

When the green flew again Jefferson again was out to a commanding lead at one point gaining almost a straightaway lead over the rest of the field. Top qualifier Davis held fourth most of the evening but had troubles late in the race and faded to the rear of the field. Kevin Williams who was running in the #12 of Eric Rudd due to motor problems in his own #6 went up in an oily cloud of smoke as the motor expired in Rudds car.

Jefferson maintained the lead and took the checkers ahead of #5 James Wilkens Jr. James DuBose #72 came across the stripe in third, fourth place was taken by a consistent run by #93 Steve Duerr, #25 Scott Kleiker who sent to the rear earlier in the race for an incident with Davis battled his way back up to finish in the top five.

Listen to post race interview with Wayne Jefferson.

Late Models
Richie Anderson in the #51 led the pack of eighteen high-powered Limited Late Models to the green flag for 100 laps hard-core bumper banging action. The 0 Tolerance car of Charlie Bible got the action going early sliding sideways, heading towards the tire barrier on the inside wall he over corrected and spun collecting the #7 of Rusty Hillman and taking the left side off the Randy Fox #4 machine. Fox and Bible though missing many body parts were able to continue but Hillman was done for the evening.

Anderson, who had the best restarts all night took the lead and had what looked like the fastest car on the track. Fox whose car was damaged in the wreck with Bible was making moves with the whole side of his car flapping in the breeze. Meanwhile #28 Bob Root who was second slid high and faded back to the fifth spot while #34 Jeff Dufresne and Fox slid by into the second and third spots.

The leaders had several scary moments as several times cars spun in front of them making them get on the brakes hard but all were able to get by the wrecks. Mike Hovis #34 who had started fourth but faded back in the field made his way back to the top five and had a heated side by side battle with the #43 of Glenn Morris for several laps with Hovis finally taking the spot.

After a yellow for a spin by the #59 of John Garrett the lead car of Anderson broke giving handing the lead to Dufresne. This set up a battle for the lead with Fox, Fox used every move he could to try and get by the #34.

On lap 95 Fox got up beside Dufresne on the backstretch but going into turn three the #34 checked up for a lap car causing he and the #4 of Fox to spin, both drivers got their spots back and had a four lap dash for the cash. On the last Lap Hovis made his way into the frey making it a three car battle but it Dufresne taking the win with Fox coming across in a near photo finish with Hovis for second, fourth place went to Glenn Morris and rounding out the top five was the #28 of Bob Root.

Listen to post race interview with Jeff Dufresne.

Listen to post race interview with Randy Fox.

-Rick Anges

Note: Charlotte County Speedway drivers and staff are featured on the April 11 KARNAC.com Racin' Talk Radio Show!!

Finishing order Modifieds:
34 Wayne Jefferson
5 James Wilkins, Jr.
72D James DuBose
93 Steve Duerr
25 Scott Kleiber
99 Jeff Underwood
80 Chris Dean
55 Dan Atwell
3 Harold Cannon
15 Bill Davis
31 Kurt Riley
76 Hank Peters
185 Tony Barreca
12 Kevin Williams
9 Dan Partelo
69 Nick Bogaert

Finishing order Late Models:
34 Jeff Dufresne
4 Randy Fox
29 Mike Hovis
43 Glenn Morris
28 Bob Root
67 James DuBose
65 Jeremy Meier
81 Chuck Sweet
62 Buzz Martin
36 Al Fradette
59 John Garrett
11 Bill Bryant
51 Richie Anderson
0 Charlie Bible
1 John Jackson
64 Chris Libak
7 Rusty Hillman

Click Here for links to all 2002 News Articles

Copyright© Future Enterprises 1997-2002 KARNAC.com is electronically published by Future Enterprises. The KARNAC© name, logo and trademarks are owned by and used with the permission of Future Enterprises of Florida. Reproduction or republishing in whole or part for inclusion in any work is strictly prohibited without prior written permission of the electronic publisher. Information may, however, be printed for the sole purpose of contacting our advertisers.