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September 2001
| Saturday, September 29, 2001 | |
| Sonny Hartley Holds On For Sunshine TBARA Win | By Rick Anges
St.Petersburg,Fl. (KNS) Twenty-one cars lined up for the feature race of the Winged Out-Law T.B.A.R.A. Sprint cars on a chilly night at Sunshine Speedway. Jimmy Alvis #21 jumped out to the early lead with Robert Yoho #00y following close in second.
But on the backstretch Yoho tangled with #87 of Kevin Cahill sending Yoho slamming into the wall and bending up the "Showtime" ride, ending both drivers night. On the restart Alvis again jumped out quick and pulled out to a several car length lead. Dave Pletcher #75 past Late Model champ and very familiar with the quick quarter mile track was working hard on the second place car #32 veteran Sonny Hartley. Pletcher was diving the 700 hp Sprint on the inside groove but was unable to get by.
Meanwhile behind them the racing was hot and heavy, #18 Shane Butler, #00 Wayne Reutimen jr., #0 Dude Teate, and #19 Kieth Butler all were battling hard for the fourth place spot.
As the race wore on the track became a little slicker allowing Butler to slide by both Pletcher and Hartley to move into the second spot. Butler then moved in on the leader. On lap thirteen in turn one the #18 took a stab at the lead but ended up on the back tire of Alvis going airborne and spinning both cars out, Pletcher had to get on the binders hard to avoid the melee and stalled the car. Under T.B.A.R.A. rules any car that has to be pushed off has to start on the rear of field sending the top three cars to the back.
Hartley assumed the lead and never looked back leading the final twelve laps to take the win. The son and father duo of #00 Wayne Reutimann jr and #22 Wayne Ruetimann finished second and third respectively, Keith Butler #19 took fourth and fifth driving for Shawn Farr in the #68 was Stan Butler. After the race an excited Hartley who had won the "83 Championship at this very track was a happy man exclaiming, "Sunshine was his favorite track!"
It took four heats and a Consi-race to make the twenty-four-car field Street Stock Feature event. Jeff Haven #7 jumped from his pole position to an early lead but got loose coming out of turn two and fell back in the pack. #44 Rob Perry assumed the lead and pulled away while the rest of the pack ran two and three wide looking for the second place. #22 Mike Hill and #56 Jim Kelly ran door to door for several laps before Hill was able to take the second position away. Meanwhile Kelly was stuck on the outside allowing a lot of the field to get by on the inside. #75 Craig Robinson smacked the front stretch wall hard showering sparks high into the chilly night but was able to keep it going. The #25 of Kirby Kitzman made his way up to the rear bumper of Perry trying high and low lines but Perry was not to be denied taking his first feature win. Jimmy Kruse held off a fast Jay Coleman #12 for third and #77 Bryan Rogers came across in fifth.
A full field of twenty three ground pounding Open Wheel Modifieds roared to the green flag with the #33 of Chico Alberto sliding into the lead on the green. Chris Robinson in the #88 cracked the wall coming out of turn four and eventually was part of a wreck on back stretch that took out several cars including #1 Wayne Jefferson and #81 Howard Skaggs. All drivers escaped unscathed. After several cautions it was Alberto crossing the stripe first, Allyn Summers #56 drove hard to take second, Ron Campbell #5 placed third, fourth went to #8 Randy Rhodes and the fifth spot was the # 80 James Houle who finished ahead of a ball of flames #7D.
Door to door bumper to bumper action was the name of the game for the first several laps of the 12 car Out-Law Late Model feature. The #1 of Scott Holley and the #77 of Rick Haugh traded paint all the way around the track until #69 Tim Henault blew past them both and was able to hold off a hard charging Robert Crisp#2 to take the win. #112 Corky Craver held on for third, fourth went to #6 Ed Kidd and rounding out the top five was Robbie Mcauliffe #56.
Mini-Stock action saw Macky Mongold in the #6 car of Michelle Mongold hold off #15 Doug Hopper to take the checkered flag. Tom Zimmerman #55 came across the stripe ahead of a tough running Mike Birk Jr. #10 and #72 Shane Woods.
Bobby "Zeebo" Moctezuma #17 led flag to flag in the figure eight feature with the #15 of Joey Catarelli right on his bumper, third place went to Mark Thomas #40, fourth was #7 Wayne Calkens and fifth across the stripe was #21 J.R.Meyer.
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| Saturday, September 29, 2001 | |
| Pete Orr Benefits at Orlando SpeedWorld and Bronson Speedway | by Jane Smith
 In my son's bedroom hangs an old racecar poster. On that poster is David Russell and Pete Orr, the "Horsen Around" mighty duo. When they brought out their respective number 30 and 36 Late Models, guys and Granny better watch out, because they were the best. Pete Orr was a well known name and still is in the world of stockcar racing. At one time, Pete spent a year in the Busch Grand National series but eventually he came back home to Florida and to us.
Pete Orr has done a lot for many racers; helping, guiding, crewing and teaching them how to set up their cars. Pete has been the crew chief for B.J. McLeod, Justin Drawdy and Travis Kittleson. But he has also been there for a number of racers helping in any way he could.
Now Pete needs our help. Not long ago, Pete learned that he had cancer and is now going thru treatments for that. But it is very hard to run a racing school and take the treatments that are needed to help Pete back to recovery. Since Pete has given so much to so many racers and friends, on Friday night, October 5, Orlando SpeedWorld will have a Super Late Model race that will benefit Pete and his family to help them fight this illness and still have grocery money tomorrow. All proceeds will go directly to Pete Orr.
Then on Saturday night, October 6, Bronson Speedway and the South 40 Classic Cars will also hold a benefit for Pete and his family at Bronson Speedway. This shows how well respected and loved Pete Orr is to the Florida stockcar racing family community. All fans, racers, and friends are welcome to come and help Orlando SpeedWorld and Bronson Speedway give back just a little of what Pete Orr has given all of us.
-Jane Smith
MAKING DREAMS COME TRUE
From June 2001 article:
Last night and a few weeks ago, I had the priviledge of watching two young men open the door to their futures. One is 21 years old, the other is 17. One has a extensive background in racing, the other had none really. But both are determined and both have shared one heck of a teacher in Pete Orr.
If you were around New Smyrna Speedway back in the early 90's, you will recall a race team called "Horsen Around". This was the #30 of Pete Orr and the #36 of David Russell. What a team they made and still to this day, people remember their achievements. Pete went on to drive for Busch Grand National for a year and I was also priviledged to see some of those races.
Back then, B.J. McLeod would have been about my Alex's age which is 8 and Travis Kittleson would have been between 12 and 13. B.J. was running in go-karts and Travis was just dreaming.
Some kids only dream their dreams and others get to live their dreams. Travis got his dream for his high school graduation present and B.J. was born ready to race. Both of these very fine young men have families that back them 100% and you will never see them at a track without that support.
Although Travis Kittleson was not in the ASA race from Nashville, he had his car there and was proudly displaying another Missing Child on it's hood. If you have ever met Travis, you would know that he really loves kids and they love him. He goes out of his way for his smaller fans by attending their birthday parties and taking them out for rides in a Gator when it is pouring down rain for their birthday.
 B.J. is also a kid pleaser even when he was a kid himself. B.J. has a smile that beams and a giving heart to go along with that smile. He may get alittle upset when things aren't just right but that seems to pass quickly. And he definitely has had to be able to handle being around his peers since he seems to always be the youngest driver in the group.
But Travis and B.J. both have a dream, a dream to reach the top and be a Winston Cup driver. Last night, B.J. took his first step towards that goal in driving the #22 Hertzog Motorsports ASA car. Starting 21st, he did well until spinning around and being sent to the end of the lead lap where he worked his way back to a 15th place finish. Two weeks before, Travis Kittleson had the lead at Concord, going to second, running out of gas and still finishing 8th. Not bad for a rookie.
 Travis Kittleson started his first ASA race with Pete Orr on the head set as his Crew Chief at St. Augustine Speedway in Febuary. Last night, B.J. McLeod made his second ASA race, he was 13 for the first, with Pete Orr on the headset as his Crew Chief. Strange but true, Pete Orr guided both young men. Pete Orr helped each of them take one more step forward to their dreams.
There is an old song called "Dream Weaver". Now whenever I hear that song, I will think of Pete Orr and the magic in his experience to weave the dreams together of some very fine young men. Watching dreams become reality is something we rarely see, Pete Orr has seen it twice.
Jane Smith
[ Listen to Pete Orr Interview from KARNAC.com Racin' Talk Radio.]
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| Sunday, September 23, 2001 | |
| BEAUCHEMIN DOMINATES SARA 100 AT DESOTO | by Terry Clem
BRADENTON, FL: Rain washed out qualifying for the SARA series at Desoto Saturday night. The starting line-up was based on the point’s standings with Bobby Beauchemin getting to start on the pole position and led wire-to-wire for the win. Starting in the front is always nice, on this night it was downright necessary as incidents took out or damaged at least eight cars before the first lap was completed. Two complete restarts were needed to get the first lap in the books.
In the first incident, the Brent O’Neill went into turn one and his throttle stuck and he couldn’t let off the gas and went hard into turn one. While everyone else was backing off the gas, O’Neill went flying on the low side through turns one and two and couldn’t avoid running into Ronnie Skipper and causing a pileup, which collected six others. O’Neill, Skipper and Keith Lilley got hooked up and on top of each other when Lilley’s car burst into flames. Lilley’s car was engulfed in flames while the fire and rescue were there quickly to assist. While the rescue squad worked to put out the fire and thought they had it extinguished, it ignited again shortly. Skipper’s and O’Neill’s car also sustained major damage. All drivers were able to emerge and no injuries occurred. The red flag was brought out as the cleanup lasted over 30 minutes and cars were unhooked, towed away, worked on and the tracked cleaned.
After the cars got lined up for a restart, the green flag flew again. Once again before one lap could be completed, David Logan went into turn three, spun and slammed into the wall hard. Luckily no other cars were collected and the delay wasn’t as long as the previous yellow flag. Finally the green flew again and the race was on. Beauchemin wasted no time as he took the lead on the first lap, with Wayne Morris, Jason Boyd, and Joe Sumansky quickly settling into line behind him.
On a lap 19 restart, Jason Boyd went high into turn three to try a pass for the lead but couldn’t make it work. He stayed on Beauchemin’s rear bumper until he spun on the front stretch. This did not bring out a caution but he did lose many positions and was out of contention for the night. While running on the third spot, the 77x spun on the backstretch to bring out a caution.
On the restart at the halfway point, Beauchemin was still out in front. The top four of Beauchemin, Morris, Sumansky and George Murphy were pulling away from the pack and were nose-to-tail until a yellow brought out by a Dave Snodgrass spin in turn three on lap 75. On the restart, Beauchemin was able to pull away slightly until Morris steppe don the gas. In the turns, Morris would catch Beauchemin, but on the straight-aways, Morris would lose ground. By the end Beauchemin was able to pull away to a four-car length as just dominated the whole night and padded his points lead.
In the Sportsman division, Gus Coorssen (41) was able to take the lead on lap 19 of the 25-lap feature and went on to take the checkers. Courssen started in the seventh position and slowly moved towards the front. On Lap 17 he was able to move into the top three and moved up to the lead after the two leaders, Wallace Ramsey (38) and Lonnie Miller (98), tangled on the backstretch and both were sent to the rear. Following Coorssen at the checkers were Dale Reigle (5) and Hal Vickery (31).
Jason Williamson (70) dominated for his first win in the Open Wheel Modified feature as he led wire-to-wire for the win. Pat Nanny (60) was able to take over second place on lap two but went sideways on lap four and slipped back several spots. After that, it was Williamson, Jr. Wade (2x) and David Hartin (2) who took the checkers as the race was called after 18 laps because of the many yellow flags.
In the Pure Stocks, Jason Esposito (23) started on the pole and took the early lead. He was able to keep the lead until lap 12 when Stewart Bradshaw (68) went low in turn four to take the lead. On lap 15 Bradshaw gave up the lead to Joe Wengerd (30) who took the lead in the same spot in turn four. Wengard went on to take the checkers with Bobby Jansen (20) and John Clouser (52) rounding out the top three.
In the mini stock division, the #30 was able to take the lead shortly after halfway and hang on for the win. On lap 12, #30 went to the outside groove to take the lead from #05. After that it was all #34 as he was able to open up leads of up to four car lengths. Rounding out the top three were the #34 and #05.
In the fan favorite, School bus Figure 8, Bill McCleod was able to make a late race pass for the lead hold on for the win. This race had it all, a few hard meetings at the “X”, a rollover by the black #3 bus of Kenny King and numerous “near misses” at the “X”. The #88 bus started last in the field, as he had won the previous race, and was in fourth place by lap two. By lap five he was in the lead and was able to hold it until lap 21 when he and the #28 had an untimely and very hard meeting at the “X”. McCleod then took over the lead and avoided a few more near misses to take the checkers.
In a very patriotic sense, every driver interviewed all night long wanted to thank the fans for coming out, to think about what happened on September 11, 2001 and to thank God that we live in the USA, where we can do the things we enjoy.
(KARNAC.com welcomes its newest staff member Terry Clem)
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| Saturday, September 22, 2001 | |
| 2001 - Whose Name Will Be on the Cup? | By Jane Smith
 Florida has two prestigious races each year, the first is the Governor's Cup held at New Smyrna Speedway, the second is the Snowball Derby held at Five Flags in Pensacola, Florida. On October 13, drivers from all over the state and possibly out-of-state will come and unite at New Smyrna Speedway with one goal in mind, to have their name engraved on the Cup trophy for all to see. But this year will be very special for not only the drivers but the fans as the Governor himself will be the Grand Marshall and race starter.
Governor Haydon Burns in l965 commissoned the Governor's Cup race in honor of Al Keller, a longtime promoter of Florida stock car racing. In 1965 at Golden Gate Speedway it was Wayne Reutimann's name engraved on the gold plate that adorns the Cup trophy. In the thirty one years since the race was commissioned it has been run at several different tracks but in l988 Clyde Hart brought the Cup back to what it was at New Smyrna Speedway and that is where it has been run for the last thirteen years.
Some of the bigger names who have come to Florida to run this 200 lap event have been Bobby Allison in 1965, Dick Trickle in 1978, 1979 1981, and 1982; Mike Eddy in 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1983; Mike Miller in 1979; and Joe Nemechek in 1988. Dick Anderson first appeared in a Cup race in 1971 taking 4th place that year In 1976, Leroy Porter took 3rd place with David Rogers in sixth place and the list of names goes on and on.
Since the Governor's Cup has been held at New Smynra Speedway, it has seen Dick Anderson win in 1988 and 1989; Bobby Gill in 1990, 1991 and 1992; Pete Orr in 1993 and 1994; David Russell in 1995; Jack Cook in 1996; David Rogers in 1997; Billy Bigley in 1998; Wayne Anderson in 1999 and Jimmy Cope in 2000. The question now is, "Who will be the next name engraved on the Cup for 2001?"
In years past, the Governor's Cup was not an easy race to get into. Tickets had to be bought a month in advance if you wanted to see this prestigious race and all the stars. The Governor at that time was always invited to come but as it goes, Governors have alot of commitments. But in 1998, when the race was sponsored by Race Rock and shown on the Fox and Sunshine Networks, it was Eddie Cheaver that threw the green flag and served as the Grand Marshall for the race.
As Bill Posey, State Representative for the 18th District, told me, "this is the only race that his wife has ever really liked and actually wanted to attend." This is the premiere race, the one, the big kahuna. And this year it will have the Governor throwing the green flag on some of the best racers that Florida has to offer.
Jane Smith
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| Wednesday, September 12, 2001 | |
| If it's got Wheels....... | by Sharon Fancher
 I had the opportunity to talk to a very talented Modified driver by the name of Robbie Hagar, along with his wife Cindy at Putnam County Speedway in Satsuma, Florida. Robbie was born Dec. 28, 1964 in Uniontown, Pa., and has a very outstanding and unique racing history. Robbie's family history in racing dates all the way back to the 1920s with his Grandfather's racing. So he explained to me that he had been around dirt racing all his life and that it is was obviously in his blood to become a racer himself.
Robbie said his Grandfather started racing back in the 1920s through the 30's, running the chopped up Model T's. Then his Dad Bounce (Yes that is his real name I was told ), and Mother both raced road racing and drag racing in the early 60's, with his Mother driving the drag car. His Dad raced for many years and did become a very successful Dirt Late Model Owner, with a multitude of drivers all over the North. His Dad in 1972 and 73, also had a brief stint as a Grand National (Now Winston Cup) car owner Larry Dickson, who is currently the Open Wheel Commentator on ESPN. He said his Dad also did a lot of work for other competitor's in the area.
Robbie's own racing history dates back some 30 years ago, with his career starting in go-carts at the age of 6, which lasted 10 years. At which time he managed to compile 2 WKA National 4 Cycle Titles And 3 Pennsylvania State Championships in 1978, 1979, 1980.
Then in 1980 he couldn't decide if he wanted to drive or build a car yet, and so deciding to crew on the cars. So from 1980 to 83 he was the Crew Chief for Kolp-Furr Racing and also Moore Racing in the Goody's Dash Series for driver Jeff Kolp. Also on his off weekends in the Dash Series, he crewed for various Late Model Teams with drivers such as Bob Wearing (In the Dave Shaffer Owned G4), David Spears (In the CJ Rayburn House car), Steve Baker (Now 1/2 Owner of The Rocket Chassis), and anyone else who would be willing to him along to the races.
He finally decided in 1984 to start his own driving career again, and began driving in the Street Stock/Limited Late Model class at Motordrome 70 Speedway in Smithton, Pa. He managed to compile 5 wins in his Rookie season and finished 4th in the points. He also accomplished 3rd place in the Cavalcade Racing News Rookie of the year in balloting.
In 1985 to the Present he has expanded his racing career to driving both asphalt and dirt race cars such as, Late Models, Modified's, and Limited Late Model's at different tracks around the state of Florida. He also has driven Sprints, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and just about everything else you can think of. He raced the asphalt Late Model at New Smyrna Speedway, Volusia County Speedway, Orlando and other tracks in the South. He raced such races as the Hav-A-Tampa, STARS and UMP with the dirt Late Model.
From 1998 to 99 Robbie decided once again to take a little time off, due to just getting married to his wonderful wife Cindy and take the time to get his family life settled in. At this time he started building and repairing race cars for various customer's and started working toward establishing his own business, Fun Seeker Racing in Port Orange, Florida. Which he currently runs and manages today.
Robbie began his 2001 racing season driving his own 35 Fun Seeker Racing Super Late Model, during Speedweeks at Volusia County Speedway. He also ran several races at Thundercross Speedway and other tracks in the immediate south. His regular racing season started at Putnam County Speedway in Satsuma, Florida with this car and managed 4 consecutive 2nd place finishes in Late Models until the Late Model Class was dropped by the track Owner Bob Potter.
Robbie currently drives for Mike and Crystal Haseleu in their #5 Modified at Putnam County Speedway. Upon driving this car for the first time on Aug. 18, he managed to win his heat and finished 6th in the feature after being sent to the rear 3 times due to what he say's was poor sportsmanship on his part. He also stated he learned from this incident and poor sportsmanship will get you no where. He also ran Bill Kopka's Limited Late Model that night, starting last and making it to 6th place before the radiator hose broke finishing his night of racing.
The following week at Putnam he came back in the #5 Modified and won his feature running against the well known Marion Sizemore after starting 6th. Also at the drivers meeting that night, Mr. Bob Potter owner of Putnam County Speedway announced he had chosen Robbie to be one of his 360 Sprint car drivers for the 2002 Sprint class that he will be adding to the tracks agenda next year. Robbie said he had raced at the track before Mr. Potter took it over and swore to never return. But after taking his chances and coming back to see all the new changes Mr. Potter had made, he smiled and said now he can't wait to go back on Saturday.
Robbie wanted to give special thanks to all of his owners and sponsors which include, the #5 Modified owned by Mike and Crystal Haseleu, sponsored by, Haseleu's Transmission Service in Palatka, Fl., Shamrock Auto Exchange also in Palatka, X1R Oil Additive And Friction Eliminator, Hassy Chassis in WV which is owned by Mike's brother Jerry who built the chassis And Mike Haseleu who also builds his own motor's. Also Robbie's Late Model is owned by his business, "Fun Seeker Racing." Robbie's sponsor's on this car are, Rocket Chassis-with a special thanks to Steve Baker CO-owner, X1R Oil Additive And Friction Eliminator with a special thanks to his brother in law Chris Fornili, Andrex Car Cleaning Supplies, Fun Seeker Racing Chassis Parts And Supplies. Last but not least by no means, the 360 Sprint Car Robbie will be driving at Putnam next year is Owned by Bob Potter and is currently going to be sponsored by, Putnam County Speedway, Got Milk? , Shaw Race Cars, and Don Ott Engines. He is also currently seeking more sponsors for the 360 Sprint car.
He ended in saying that his wife Cindy and son Randy are always going to be his #1 priority, because they will always be his #1 fans! Robbie stated his plans for next year will include racing the # 5 Modified owned by Mike and Crystal Haseleu, and the 360 Sprint owned by the Putnam County Speedway owner Bob Potter. Robbie stated that if it wasn't for the continued support of his family, sponsors, and friends all this would have been almost impossible for him to accomplish.
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| Tuesday, September 11, 2001 | |
 David Pletcher won the USAR Hooters Procup 250 lap event at Chemung Speeedrome in New York. Pletcher, who is sponsored by Akita Copiers and Buckeye Office Furniture, led the last 80 laps enroute to his first ProCup victory. Earlier this year the Pinellas Park, Florida racer moved to North Carolina. David brought his Mulbire Motorsports number 51 from the 14th starting position to win the race.
The USAR Hooters ProCup will return to Florida for the final race of the year November 24, 2001 at USA International Speedway. Florida stars Mario Gosselin and Derrick Kelley, both of who crashed badly in the September ProCup race will be back to battle Bobby Gill and the other great teams fielded by the growing short track series. But if you can't wait until November to see action Florida biggest and fastest short track be there on Oct. 20 for the NASCAR Goody's Dash Series.
Another Florida racer meeting the challenge on the big short track circuits recently was D.J.Hoelzle, Open Wheel Modified driver from Dunedin, making his debut in the NASCAR Craftsman truck series. Hoelzle started his Ford truck sponsored by Engineous Oil Treatment in the 30th spot and wound up 25th in his first effort at Richmond International Speedway.
 Travis Kittleson and Mike Cope both had good runs in the ASA race at Memphis Motorsports Park on Sunday. Kittleson has spent much of the year with his Missing Child Program as he travels the countryside in the ASA series. He finished eighth at Memphis. Cope, the newest Florida track owner with his recent purchase of Bronson Motor Speedway, finished fifth at Memphis and is ninth in the overall ASA standings. Bronson Motor Speedway has renovation under way under the new ownership of Cope. If you missed the interview on Wednesday's Racin' Talk Radio show with , General Manager Tommy Dunford it's available in our archives. We expect to see the Bullring grab a lot off headlines as the veteran racer gets the speedway in gear.
Southern Thunder (Charlotte County Speedway) will be featuring the fourth race in the Open Wheel Modified Six-Pack Series on September 22, 2001. The Speedway is located just off I-75 in Punta Gorda and is operating under new ownership. General Manager Jonathan Hall said "As a avid race fan, now we can unleash the potential of Southern Thunder at Charlotte County Speedway, there is nothing holding us back. We have a team now and all pulling in the same direction". The track also a the Limited Late Model Six-Pack race this coming weekend and a Halloween Special October 27th with the TBARA sprint cars and Outlaw Modifieds with special Trick or Treat night for the kids.
The New Smyrna Speedway School Bus race was rained out this Saturday and has been rescheduled for Saturday September 15. KARNAC.com's Rick Anges will be on the pole in the 17 bus event with track owner Robert Hart starting on the outside pole. Several local officials and media from the Daytona area will also be in the field. New Smyrna Speedway is undergoing a major facelift with new grandstands and towers in preparation for the 2001 Governor's Cup 200. The new VIP and Press Boxes will be ready to welcome Governor Jeb Bush for Florida's most prestigious event. KARNAC.com has been in touch with the granddaughter of Al Keller, the man in whose honor the race was created, and she is expected to fly in from San Diego for the event on October 13, 2001.
East Bay Raceway settled it's Pony Tail Bob contest on September first when Danny Cates of Riverview located Bob Brown, the track's Director of Sales and Marketing, in the pits prior to the night's racing. Owner Stan Kolan had placed a bounty on the Bob's lock four weeks earlier. Cates won $500.00 and picked the East Bay Limited Late Models as the beneficiary of additional $1500 in purse money for his efforts. East Bay Raceway, besides running their regular Sprints, Late Models and other classes each week, is busy gearing up for the Fall Nationals. The Nationals take center stage on November 1, 2001 when the biggest names in the world of Sprint Car racing hit the clay at the Bay. If you haven't done so yet register to win tickets and cash from KARNAC.com for either the sprint show or Late Model shows. The Late Models begin on November 8th. Hoosier Tires, KARNAC.com and Hoseheads.com will also sponsor a Young Guns National event at East Bay to highlight the top under 21 talent in the country.
Old time racing returns to East Bay Raceway Sunday October 28th. A reunion, Swap meet and BBQ are all in the plans for a Sunday full of excitement. With Sprints, Champ Dirt Cars, Midgets 80 and older style cars. Also on hand will be the Daytona Classics Club Restored racers of Doug Wolfgang, Will Cagle and Buzzy Ruietiman among others. Come on out to East Bay Raceway and watch the cars and stars of yesteryear. For more details call the track at: 877-457-5611
We seem to be hearing a little too much lately about drivers losing their cool on the track, leading to some dangerous situations. Volusia Speedway Park owner Dick Murphy slammed the door on one unruly racer recently. Johnny Wayne Westfall was barred permanently for the dirt speedway after a ramming incident under caution on Saturday, September 1st. Westfall was arrested on criminal mischief charges by the Volusia County Sheriff's Department according to department spokesperson Gary Davidson. Murphy, long time owner of the 1/2 mile dirt facility, said "this is a family place and we won't tolerate that kind of behavior". Volusia Speedway Park wraps up it's regular season in September and will gear up for the Annual OctoberFest and a special $10,000 to win enduro in November. St. Augustine owner VJ Usina has also come down hard on unruly racers with at least one arrest recently. KARNAC writers Luann Nieborg, Sharon Fancher and Jane Smith have all spoke out in the subject recently with articles:
WHAT IS & IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR WHEN ANGRY by Luann Nieborg
RUNAWAY PROBLEM by Sharon Fancher
CONFUSION IS NOT THE WORD by Jane Smith
On a sad note, Pete Orr has been diagnosed with cancer and is receiving treatment for the disease. Orr is one the most respected and popular figures on the Florida stock car racing scene and we join all the his friends in the racing community in wishing him a full and speedy recovery. Several benefits to assist the Orr family are in the works.
If you would like to be a contributor to KARNAC.com's Florida Stock Car Racing please e-mail rickanges@karnac.com.
--KARNAC Staff Report
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| Tuesday, September 11, 2001 | |
By Sharon Fancher
 The term "aggressive driving" isn't new to the racing world and bespeaks an explosive, behind-the-wheel ugliness that sometimes can end in tragedy. It stems from a combination of ignorance, bad manners and at the time not realizing the potential risk or outcome of such actions. When racers get behind the wheel of a car, sometimes a demon takes over in certain situations and causes that person to become irate, rude, offensive or out of control and can lead to a lot of problems.
Aggressive driving is starting to show itself at an alarming rate in the local racing industry. Racers are reared in a racing culture were irate expressions are sometimes considered a part of the normal wear and tear of racing. Once a driver enters a race car, they sometimes think that suddenly the rules change. Thinking that it is justifiable and OK, for them to be mad, or get very upset, out of control, and use bad language that's ordinarily not allowed, just because someone did something they didn't like while racing.
Just because aggressive driving is a learned cultural habit and knowing that you can retaliate if you want too, doesn't mean you have to retaliate and respond in a destructive manner. When we do get frustrated while racing we do have the choice of deciding how we're going to respond. There are types of responses available to us like: venting without retaliating, not venting, staying cool and objective, or back off until we can act responsibly. It's up to us how we respond and it's up to us how we train ourselves to respond.
Aggressive driving doesn't occur for no reason. It happens in a response to someone doing something silly or even dangerous. For example, a racer dangerously cuts down on another racer and causes them to spin. The victim is angry and not clearly thinking and abuses the perpetrator. While racing, drivers are closer to each other, so they can see each other better, and notice more things about each other, including mistakes, some of which are merely annoying, others that could cause life threatening injuries.
Sometimes racing can get so intense that drivers become emotionally insane on a temporary basis and snap. They then become primitive savages engaged in hurting or killing each other. Or, if not killing each other, at least behaving in an aggressive and hostile manner, enough to loose control of themselves and acting dangerously. Feeling stress behind the wheel may be a familiar sensation for hundreds of racers, but it can be more than just a temporary irritant. It can also cause us to react in a destructive and sometimes deadly manner. How our choices could affect other drivers, fans, etc., is what we should be thinking about, before entering a race car.
Aggressive driving has become a runaway problem. It is only now with so many injuries and lives that have been taken in such a short time period of time in local racing, that people are starting to realize the potential dangers of aggressive driving. So lets make the right decision and drive responsibly.
Sharon Fancher
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| Monday, September 3, 2001 | |
By Robin Smith Meiser
 I started out in this sport as a racing widow. It grew on me as it has thousands of other women throughout the country. It became a way of life; it actually becomes your life. One of my daughters carried on the tradition and married into a racing family, what was that song in the Lion King, 'The Circle of Life'?
What is strange is that sometimes when the circle of life is at that down turn and racecar goes away after being part of your life for so many years, and then a marriage can fall apart. Kind of like empty nest syndrome, I guess. The really funny thing is that after my marriage ended to a stock car driver, he was no longer involved in the sport but it was then that I totally immersed myself in it. For the past seven years, I have lived and breathed racing day in and day out.
In those years, I have met many of the new breed of racy ladies, as I call them. The ones like Luann Nieborg discusses in her Racing Widow story. I have met some tremendous women in the past few years, many of them drivers, racing with the full support of their spouses, children, parents, grandchildren, other family members and friends. I even tried my hand at racing a couple of Powder Puffs in the late 1970s. The first was at the old Suncoast Speedway, which now lies in the underbrush off of US 41 in southern Charlotte County. The first race I ran in, I was leading the first lap going into Turn Two when I felt a huge jolt and my car went flying.
Luckily, it was a jalopy division car and it came back down on all four wheels. I had been sent flying by a young lady by the name of Susan Meier, the wife of Peter and mother of Jeremy, who race at CCS intermittently. She won the race but I did manage to finish fourth out of four cars! I got out of racing as a participant shortly, thereafter. I always tell people though that Susan should have gone on racing because she would have been one of the best!
The first lady driver in a regular racing division I really knew was a woman by the name of Karen Fowler, who used to race at Charlotte County Speedway in the early 1990s. Karen is a gutsy lady, whose other half Bob is now the crew chief for limited late model/sportsman driver, Buzz The Bomb Martin. Bob used to do all of the work on Karen’s car and Karen would drive the wheels off of it. She could have driven in the ladies division as CCS had a Lady Road Warrior class back then but for some reason she didn’t.
I am getting older now, a grandmother you see, so sometimes I forget things like my story last week when I said CCS opened in 1991, it was actually in the late 1980s, I believe. Anyway, one hot summer night Karen was racing in the last race of the evening and was coming down the backstretch when she wrecked with another car just before the entrance to the pits. All at once, the ground shook from a horrific explosion, as Karen’s car became a fireball, totally engulfed in flames. Some brave fellow driver reached in to get Karen out and got burned himself. I can't remember who it was but I am sure someone will be happy to post it on the message board for me. The track workers whisked Karen off in an ambulance to the hospital and we all knew she had to be seriously injured, it was the worst fire I had ever seen at CCS, second only to Leroy Porter's wreck many years ago at DeSoto.
Most people who go to CCS know that the Speedway gas station on Jones Loop Road is a very happening place for local racers after the lights go down at the racetrack. On that particular night, we all sat in the parking lot and worried about Karen Fowler. Imagine our surprise, when scarcely an hour after the accident, Karen and Bob pulled into the lot. Karen got out of the truck, bandages covering both her arms. She had burns underneath but that was the extent of the damage, she was a lucky lady. At any rate, the first story I ever wrote about a woman driver was Karen after that incident. She doesn’t race anymore but left a lasting impression on me.
 Right now there are at least three gutsy women drivers at Charlotte County Speedway who race in regular division racing and their husbands do all the work on their cars and then pace nervously in the pits while the little woman is out racing with the men. The one with the longest racing history is the current points champion in the Cowboy Cadillac (although it should be Cowgirl or Cowperson Cadillacs since she is the current champion, HA HA) division, Cheryl The Pearl Weaver who prides herself on being a racing grandmother. A very active member of Racers for Christ, she races her purple and white Chevy truck with a stuffed Elmo hanging out her passenger window.
Elmo is there because her granddaughters love him so much. Last Halloween weekend for the annual Trick or Treat the Drivers, Cheryl ensured a special appearance by the red monster and at the 2000 points banquet; Sesame Street balloons marked her table. All the other champions were decked with black and white balloons but then Cheryl is just a really special lady and is loved by everyone at the Speedway. Cheryl's husband, Dave, is her biggest fan and they have been married for over 30 years after being high school sweet hearts.
Probably the scariest moment of his life though was the time when she climbed out unhurt after she rolled her car on the front stretch of the track. As soon as the car was towed into the pits, Dave started working on it, changing the springs and Cheryl climbed back in, rejoined the race four laps down but took home a ninth place finish. That's Cheryl, she has that never say die attitude.
Fellow racing lady, road warrior driver Donna Connolly, has put her husband John through the scare of seeing her flip on two separate occasions. John is a real excitable kind of guy and both times I was afraid he was going to stroke out on us until the tough gal climbed out both times relatively unscathed. She is like a Timex watch; she takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Every time she wrecks her car, John takes it home and fixes it. That is what racing is about in the new Millennium.
Christine Gibson, who drove her first open wheel modified race at CCS on August 25 after spending several years in the pure stock division, gave her husband Tom, and sons Justin and Josh, a horrendous moment during hot laps that evening.
As Christine spun, another car flew on top of her car with a portion of their front wheel poking through her window. Quick pit work by Tom and crew got her back on the track for her heat race. Tom stands on top of their trailer playing the role of spotter while Christine races. You can see the pride in his eyes every time he looks at her; they are still relative newlyweds you see, having been married less than two years.
Several months ago, the Gibson’s and myself made a visit to a middle school truancy program funded by the Department of Juvenile Justice with Christine's racecar. I had made the mistake of telling the school that driver Chris Gibson would be there and immediately the teacher and principal went up to Tom, thinking he was the driver. It was hilarious! They showed the kids around the trailer and explained how everything worked on a racecar and Christine started her car and made several laps around the school track (as in track and field). I cannot tell you the impact she made on at least five middle school at-risk adolescent girls, she is their heroine!
 Speaking of adolescent girls, I have a new little racing sister who is just emerging on the race scene this year. Her name is Christy Boyett and she is in the rookie division in the Outlaw Modified series, currently running sixth in points and has had a Top Ten finish in every race except her first this year. This young lady has the full support of her parents, Bill and Nancy, and is going to try to move up into the Fastrucks next season. Of course, late models are her short-range goal.
Recently, I had a discussion with Cheryl Weaver about Christy Boyette. Cheryl and I both think Christy will go far because she has the drive, talent, and personality to make it in the big league. More importantly, she is an excellent role model for other teen-age girls. She is the kind of young woman who can show other teen-age girls, who may not have the same self-esteem that she has, that they can do ANYTHING they want to do. Like the Nike commercial, JUST DO IT!
I have two other lady racing role models who I have to discuss briefly. The first is probably the bravest lady I have had the pleasure to meet, NASCAR Goodys DASH Series driver, Kelly Sutton, who is sponsored by Copaxone. What is Copaxone you might ask? It is a drug that people who have multiple sclerosis take to control their muscle tremors. Kelly or The Girl as her admiring fellow drivers call her, takes the drug and it is what allows her to race, as she has multiple sclerosis. I cannot tell you the respect and admiration that I have for this woman who I met only twice. I hope to be writing about her for years. I can't tell you that much about her now because I don't know her that well but what an inspiration she is to the racing world.
I cannot close this commentary without discussing my personal role model and friend, Kim Scheffler. She has been written about by many Florida writers in recent years and has a litany of accomplishments both on and off the racetrack.  Everyone who visits this Website knows of her work with children and children's charities. If you want to learn more about her, visit her personal Website at www.kimschefflerhays.comor read past stories written about her on this Website. I do have to sing her praises though about one thing I really haven’t discussed with the KARNAC readers yet. Several months ago, I lost a young man who was like a son to me. I wrote a story about Daniel Miller and I am sure it is in the archives if you haven't read it. He died after being thrown out of a Jeep because he wasn’t wearing his seat belt. My dear friend, Kim Scheffler, heard the sad story and with the support of her Fastruck owners, Firestine Motorsports, she decided to race in his memory for this season. Decals saying Racing in Memory of Daniel Miller were placed on the hood of her truck and she spoke of the importance of young people wearing their seatbelts. Daniel's parents, Dan and Sara Miller, were totally devastated after the death of their only son. The silver lining in their black cloud though was the evening they saw Kim’s truck with that tribute to their son on it. That was the night the healing began for the Miller family and I will be eternally grateful to Kim for her thoughtfulness. She did for the Millers what none of us could do. And as I always say, when you do good, you get good back and boy, does she have some good coming her way!
Another breed of racy ladies are women like my friends, Linda Jericka and Karen Woodruff, the head scorers at our two Southwest Florida stock car tracks. If you want to see the toughest job at any racetrack, go up into the score tower and watch what they do. You have no idea how hard that job is but if they weren’t there, you couldn't run a race. My other two girlfriends at CCS, Krista Holmes and Michelle Jackson, do the same tough job. Hats off to you, my girls, I am proud of you.
Two other racy ladies I am proud to call my dear friends are volunteers. The first is Sara Carmean, who runs the Junior Fan Club and actually introduced me to KARNAC. She is a phenomenal woman who has poured hundreds of hours or work and love into the kids at Charlotte County Speedway. The other is one we all have come to know and love in the past few months, Carol Wicks! I wont even get started on her because I am sure you will all fill up the message board on that one!
Also, what has happened to my other message board girlfriend, Missy? Are you out there still? I miss you. Finally, to my fellow Lady Karnacians, Luann Nieborg and Jane Smith, I am proud to be on the same Website with you. I want to be just like you both when I grow up (like I ever will, grow up that is!).
-Robin Smith Meiser
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| Sunday, September 2, 2001 | |
| Hooters and SARA at Lakeland | Bobby Gill Dominates Jackaroo 200
by Thom Watson
 LAKELAND, FL: Bobby Gill came into the Jackaroo Sauces 200 with the points lead in the South Division of the Hooters ProCup Series. The only way to guarantee the regular season points championship was to win the final race of the regular season. Gill did just that as he built a seven car length lead for the win over Jason Sarvis.
Sarvis started on the pole and quickly grabbed the lead on a complete restart after a multi-car accident in turn two. The only car out was Mario Gosselin, although he later came back. By lap 20, Gill had worked his way to second and followed Sarvis until making a pass for the lead on lap 54. Gill was able to lead until the leaders pitted on lap 120. Sarvis got out first with Gill following in second. On the restart Gill slowed temporarily coming out of turn two and fell back out of the top five.
This was a short-lived setback in Gill's quest for the win. On lap 130 Gill was back in second place but Sarvis had started to check out on the field, building a three second lead. Gill was on the move and by lap 147 had overtaken Sarvis for the lead. Once in the lead, Gill took off and except for being in lapped traffic, was never threatened again. Sarvis remained in second, with Steve Christian, Jay Fogleman and Kertus Davis rounding out the top five.
Next up for the Hooters ProCup series is the Four Champions Championship Series. This is a unique play-off type system with a series of four races for the top 25 points leaders in the North and South divisions competing for the chance to win it all back here at USA International Speedway on November 24. The first race in the Four Champions Championship Series is September 14 at Chicago Motor Speedway.
Bobby Gill on KARNAC.com's Real Racin'Talk Radio.
SARA:
BARKIS WINS SARA LATE MODEL 100 AT LAKELAND
LAKLEAND, FL: Brad Barkis bided his time in second place until points leader Jason Boyd suddenly slowed on the backstraight with a blown motor. Boyd took the lead on the first lap and was able to hold off Barkis. The biggest lead Boyd was able to build was four car lengths on lap 35. That was wiped out by a caution caused by Marty Pierce who spun by himself in turn four.
Just laps after the restart on lap 41, Boyd's car started smoking and losing water. Boyd was able to lead at the halfway point. Finally, on lap 52, Boyd's engine let go coming out of turn two. Barkis was ready and able to take advantage as he took over the lead, with Bobby Beauchemin right behind him.
After a restart on lap 54, Barkis and Beauchemin stayed nose-to-tail for the next 10 laps. By lap 87, Wayne Morris had caught the leaders to briefly make the top three leaders a three-car train. Barkis and Beauchemin gradually pulled away as Beauchemin continually tried to pass for the lead. A lap 98 caution flag set up one last chance for Beauchemin to pass Barkis. This set up a green-white-checker finish. Beauchemin tried the outside groove for the lead but could not pull off the pass as he finished one-half car length behind Barkis. Wayne Morris remained in third place, with Ed Howell and Joe Boyd rounding out the top five.
As always, these results are pending tech inspections.
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