MATHIS, CARRIGAN AND SMITH COMPLETE SPEEDWORLD WINTERNATIONALS SWEEPS
Dave Westerman
Three drivers concluded the first week of the 2005 Winternationals at Orlando Speedworld by finishing up sweeps of their respective divisions Saturday night.
Terry Mathis took the lead from Mark Dyer on lap 14 and led the rest of the way to claim victory in the 35 lap Aaron's Pro Challenge feature. The Cumming, GA driver took all three events during the week as well as setting fast time on opening night.
Unlike the first two night, only one caution flag slowed the action on Saturday as Brett Butler hit the wall on lap 11. Shortly after the green reappeared, Mathis zipped by Dyer with Josh Adams moving up to second.
Meanwhile, Wayne White was on the charge after starting deep in the field and took second from Adams Late in the going but couldn't catch the fleet Mathis. Adams crossed the line third followed by Alan Mitchell, and Ken Butler. Rounding out the top ten were Kyle Kennedy, Dyer, Ben Stancill, Mike Grissom and Raymond Williams with Frankie Roberts, John Chandler, Fred Hardwick, Jason Treschl, Brett Butler, J.L. Snowden, Bobby Keys, Trent Mayo, Bob Harsbarger, Mike Lago, and Larry Druwbarn completing the field. Rusty McLain, Brett McLain, and Michael Foy were unable to start.
Doug Carrigan again dominated the Mod Lite field to complete a sweep of that division's races. The Murphreesboro, TN driver took the measure of K.J. Pickett, Mike Belusar, Phil Krauthoff and Harvey Johnson.
Doug Smith ended up with back to back wins in the Florida Mini Cup All Pro division but had to contend with second and third place finishers Wendy Kash and Frank Pfister nearly the entire distance as the tree raced side by side for over 25 of the 50 laps which were run without a single caution flag. Rick Auriemma took fourth with Ed MacKenzie fifth.
The Florida Mini Cup Junior All Stars race was won by Jacob France of Mt. Juliet, TN as he led the entire 30 lap distance to take the checker ahead of Dylan Presnell, Mason Mingus, Stephen Hershey and Seth Greco.
Brian Gingras took the Open Wheel Lite feature win for his second victory in three nights. Friday night winner Ron Towles was second followed by Tom Schnable, Rick Lundeen and George Landis.
Wayne White backed up his second place finish in the Aaron's Pro Challenge race with a win in the Florida Pro Challenge feature. Following White to the checker were Howard Brennan, John Tyler David, Mark David and J.L. Snowden. Will Ragsdale took the BM Modified win over Allen Mitchell, David Northcutt, Chuck Mitchell, Jeff McMahan, and Tom Brown.
2005 Winternationals action resumes on Tuesday, February 15th as the RE/MAX Legends Cars, Bandeleros, Thunder Roadsters, Baby Grands and MMRA Mini Cups are in action through Saturday.
