QUALIFYING EQUAL FOR KIDS AND PROS AT OCALA TRIPLE CROWN DERBY
by Bill Green
Ocala, FL (June 4th, 2005)- Fast Truck Media INC, brought 32 trucks to Ocala Speedway for the first leg of the Ocala Triple Crown Derby. The racers did not disappoint the loyal fans of Ocala racing.
When the qualifying was done for the Fast Kids/Fast Truck Pros there would be a tie at the top of both groups with identical times. Showing that the Fast Kids really are using the exact same trucks that the Pros do. That was proven further as two damaged Pro Trucks were replaced by normally campaigned Kids Trucks for the Pro feature.
Qualifying was a real eye opener as the Fast Kid quick time went to young David Wilson in the Wilson Excavator Inc #83 at 16.14. Second fast would be one of the youngest racers in the series 12 year old Drew Brannon in the Brannon Specialties INC #08 at 16.23. Third quick was a tie between Copy Pitts's #8 St. Petersburg Jeep Chrysler and Patrick Staropoli's #97 Star Racing Supplies ride at 16.39. Leaving the final top-5 lap for Brian Blum's #31 Coulter Motorsports Chevy at 16.45.
Fast Truck Pros lined up next and saw James Wright III go quick time in the #56 machine based out of Polk county at the same speed as David Wilson's Fast Kid time of 16.14. Second fast would go to George Morales in his 11th Avenue Auto & Truck Recyclers #96 at 16.23. Third fast was Mike Powers in the Silver Bullet #05 sponsored by Cario Lane Auto Parts at 16.29, with fourth quick Gary "The Tiger" Foxworth's Today's Graphics #25 at 16.45 and fifth on the list would be Auburndale victor Todd Blevins #3 at 16.53.
Note the average of the Fast Kids top-5 qualifiers was 16.320 VS the Fast Truck Pros top-5 at 16.328. Way to go young guns.
Practice even became a story within the Triple Crown Story. Several trucks found the Ocala asphalt to be a little tricky as both Ricky Moxley and new comer Jerry Maxson tagged the wall in their rides. But the BIG story was 18 year old Sean Bass and his practice session. Seems the current points leader got to high exiting turn 2 and clipped the outside retaining wall. Sending the #20 over on it's roof and sliding to a stop in turn 3.
Sean exited his first visit to his roof unaided as crews arrived on the scene. The truck was a mess and the young man set about the task of helping prepare the truck for qualifying and racing. With a monumental effort from fellow racers and truck promoter Bobby Deihl, the truck made qualifying without the front skin and was fully skinned by feature time. Amazing job by the team and our racing family.
Fast Kids feature saw the #5 pill invert, putting the Plum colored #31 of Brian Blum on the pole with Patrick Staroploi outside. At the drop of the green it was Blum out front with Brannon pulling into second from his third starting spot. Fast qualifier David Wilson was working to get to the front, along with Cody Pitts. Spencer Taylor made some big moves forward early, but a freight train of young guns going into turn 3, came out of turn 4 with the young Brannon getting the short end of the deal as he was sent spinning infront of the field.
After the field passed, Brannon dropped the clutch and joined into the back of the pack avoiding the yellow, but the result was the same, last place after running second. Brannon would come back to a well deserved 7th place finish. Blum was not to be denied as he took the 25-lap Triple Crown Derby kickoff in style with Cody Pits challenged in the closing laps, but settled for second instead of wrecking his fellow racer. Third would go to fast qualifier Wilson, with Spencer Taylor fourth and Andy Megronigle fifth.
Fast Truck Pros would begin their 50-lap feature under threatening skies as the dusk turned to darkness. Pulling the 0 pill, James Wright III would set the field straight up for the start. Outside Wright would be Morales in the #96. The start would see wright pull away and lead this one wire to shower.
Just passing the half way point, officials would call for the yellow and checkered to end it at 26-laps. The rain shortened race would leave Morales in second, Micheal Powers third, Gary Foxworth fourth and Tommy King in fifth. Sean Bass would come back from the lid-burner for a respectable 7th place finish.
Ocala officials were pleased with the Fast Truck Media event that included promotional spots on local MRN and ESPN affiliates. This build up for the Tuesday night Powell Memorial was a nice opportunity for the track officials to work on timing and public address system problems. Fast Trucks get next weekend off and will be seen at Hialeah Speedway in Miami, FL in two weeks. For more information on Fast Trucks/Fast Kids Racing Series contact Fast Truck Media INC at 813-817-RACE (7223) or visit www.fastruckracingseries.com online.
Following are the official finishes for the Ocala Triple Crown Derby:
Official Finish of FastKids at Ocala Speedway 06/04/2005 11 kids signed in, 0 damaged in practice, 11 trucks took the green
1.31 Brian Blum, 2.8 Cody Pitts, 3.83 David Wilson , 4.46 Spencer Taylor, 5.94 Andy Megronigle, 6.9 Levi Hobbs, 7.08 Drew Brannon , 8.7 John Kidwell, 9.97 Patrick Staropoli, 10.92 Michael Cenzi, 11.6 Jason Vail
Official Finish of Fast Truck Pros at Ocala Speedway 06/04/2005 21 trucks signed in, 4 damaged in practice, 20 trucks start the race***
1.56 James Wright III, 2.96 George Morales, 3.05 Michael Powers, 4.16 Tommy King, 5.25 Gary Foxworth, 6. 10 George Gorham, 7. 20 Sean Bass, 8. 41 Brandon Johnson, 9. 63 Michael Famigiletti, 10. 50 Danny Anderson, 11. 99 Jason Deaton, 12. 84 Pat Mahoney, 13. 01 Billy Barstow, 14. 11 Graham McCorvey, 15. 13 Rich Pellerito, 16. 4 Al Neumann, 17. *92 Jet Daniels, 18. 43 Steve Colon, 19. **83 Ricky Moxley, 20. 3 Todd Blevins (DNS) Notes: * Jet Daniels lost transmission in 0 truck, moved to 92 for feature, ** Rickey Moxley damaged 38 truck in practice, moved to 83 truck for feature, *** Jerry Maxson damaged 15 truck in practice, did not qualify and did not start feature.
