Former Orlando Raceway and Eau Gallie Speedway Champion Ray Snodgrass drove a race car for the last time Saturday night hanging up his helmet at the age of 68.
Maybe the clouds should have hung around a bit longer Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld so the full moon could never shine, but the clouds and drizzle of the afternoon gave way to clearing skies and a rather crazy night of racing which saw a first time winner in the RE/MAX Legends and two spectacular crashes.
Action got under way in a hurry in heat one when Kevin Howard ran over the wheel of another car, hit the back stretch wall, then barrel rolled all the way into turn three. Howard's car was badly damaged but the safety equipment worked to perfection and he climbed out unscathed.
Kory Abbott went on to claim the win in heat one again making him the favorite to take his fifth feature win in a row. Paddy Rodenbeck claimed the second heat win while Wesley McLeod topped heat three. Mt Dora driver Matt Bowers, who has had his share of bad luck in recent months, had the pole for the 25 lap main event with Rodenbeck on the outside of row one. Abbott would have his work cut out for him as he drew an eight for his inversion.
Bowers grabbed the lead at the drop of the green with the action behind him furious. Brian Silas calmed things down a bit by bringing out the yellow with a spin on lap three. Bowers continued to lead the tight pack until action was slowed once again when Jimmy Norman spun and hit the back stretch wall on the sixth lap. Norman wasn't hurt, but his car was done for the night.
Following the restart, Abbott worked his way up to fourth only to bring out the caution as one of his bumpers was loose and he was black-flagged.
Abbott pitted and managed to get the bumper secured just before the field took the green although he was now at the back of the pack. Bowers continued to set the pace but the green flag period was short lived as the engine let go in Doc Richardson's car going into turn three to bring out the yellow once again.
As the green came out again, Bowers was feeling intense pressure from several drivers but maintained the lead while Brandon Thomson, Jordan Richardson, Wesley McLeod, Paddy Rodenbeck, Jeremy Colangelo, and the brother act of Mike and Mitch Verhaagh swapped spots on every lap. Abbott was back on the charge and had just took over the eighth spot on lap 16 when Colangelo and Rodenbeck got tangled up on the back stretch. Rodenbeck's car tagged the wall and slid into the infield while Colangelo's mount spun backwards into the pit entrance striking the water barrel and bouncing back on the track. Fortunately both drivers were OK but both cars were out and it took several minutes to clean up the water from the safety barrel but the time was well spent as the barrel served its intended purpose.
Matt Bowers
Once the race went back to green, Bowers held off repeated challenges from Thomson to taste victory for the first time in RE/MAX Legends competition at Speedworld. Thomson was second followed by McLeod, Jordan Richardson and Mitch Verhaagh who was the top finisher among the Masters drivers. Darin Coker started dead last after damaging his car during the Howard wreck in heat one and drove impressively up to sixth at the finish just ahead of Mike Verhaagh and Abbott, who drove back up to eighth after being sent to the rear a second time for getting out of his car during the red flag period. Jarrad Cawley and Bobby Byars rounded out the top ten.
Gerald White, Jr. topped the Bandelero Bandits for the fourth time in six starts this year leading all the way to take the win over Donovan Ponder, Kristina Baluch, Blake Eden and Zach Harris.
Ryan Rust also picked up his fourth win of the year in the Bandelero Young Guns in his Florida Green Racing special sponsored in part by the St. Lucie Mets baseball club. Rust's win ended Dalton Bergman's two race win streak as Bergman would settle for second on this night over Jeff Black and Michael Brantley.
William Hindman and his Honda topped the Hurricane class for the third week in a row as he out-gunned Doug Webb, Zach Colangelo, The Viagra Kid, and Jeff Woodrough.
The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association made their first visit of the year with veteran Modified driver Don Stives winning the Stock Car portion over Jake Jacobs, Eddie Grant, Rhoda Blackie and Bud Johnson. Roy Campbell drove his Sprint Car to the Open Wheel win over Jack Sapp, Dick Greene, Bill Wendt and Dale Miller.
RE/MAX LEGENDS CAR FINISH - 4/23/05:
1) Matt Bowers #84 2) Brandon Thomson #54 3) Wesley McLeod #22 4) Jordan Richardson #1 5) Mitch Verhaagh #9 6) Darin Coker #00 7) Mike Verhaagh #7 8) Kory Abbott #X 9) Jarrad Cawley #33J 10) Bobby Byars #12 11) Derrick Wood #33 12) Evan Russell #37 13) Bob Wilson #27W 14) Brian Silas #57 15) Mark Beebo #7X 16) Dion Hinskey #4 17) James Rodriguez #19 18) Jeremy Colangelo #05 19) Doc Richardson #00FL 20) Jimmy Norman #2 DNS Kevin Howard #29 DNS Kyle Dombeck #20 DQ Paddy Rodenbeck #29X
