| Strehles Dominate Volusia Saturday Night | by Jane Smith
Barberville, FL (August 29, 2009) It was definitely a hot August afternoon and evening at Volusia Speedway Park as 79 cars filled the pits. Shaved Ice was the hit of the day and everyone was headed to their trailer at one time or another during the evening.
As race time got closer, the sun went down slowly giving the overheated fans and drivers a little cooler air.
John Rankin and Joe Kump took the heat wins for the Late Model division with P.J. Wiggins and Jamie Carter taking the Modified heat wins. Sportsman saw Steve Shead and Ronnie Ponce take their heat wins with Scott Mooers and Randy Strehle taking the Thunder Stock heat wins. The 4 Cylinder Challengers did not run heats as they ran their rainout feature from August 1st and also their Saturday night feature.
In the rainout feature for the 4 Cylinder Challengers, it was Dalton Strehle on the pole. Strehle quickly jumped to the point on the green followed by Danny Lunn, RJ Glaser, Gilbert Epsy, and Mike Lane. Lunn has problems right off the bat and is forced to retire his ride to the pits ending his race very early. Lane takes over third as Glaser slips to fourth and Davey Wolf takes over fifth. Wolf quickly passes Glaser and takes over fourth as Glaser goes to fifth. Hank Goodrich has an overheating problem and retires his ride to the pits.
Strehle has a five car lead over the field as he leads the way over Epsy, Lane, Glaser and Wolf. Lap 6 sees Alan Scott tap the outside frontside wall but it does not stop him as he continues on racing without bringing out a yellow. At he halfway point, it is Strehle, Epsy, Lane, Glaser and Wolf leading the pack.
Lap 15 Strehle hits lap traffic but nothing is stopping this young man on his way to a win. Epsy tries to challenge Strehle but Strehle quickly shuts the door. Epsy tries again but Strehle shuts the door. On the last lap, Strehle and Epsy are now side-by-side going for the checkered. Strehle has the crowd on their feet as he takes the win over Epsy by 1/4 of an inch. RJ Glaser failed to go thru tech after the race and was dq'd making the finishing order Dalton Strehle, Gilbert Epsy, Mike Lane, Dave Wolf, and David Ladrie.
Seventeen Late Models took the green flag with Bobby Richardson on the pole and Lawton Minchew on the outside pole. Minchew quickly takes the point on the green over Richardson, Richard Ferry, Stanton Mills and Donnie Chappell. By lap 3, Richardson and Ferry are going side-by-side as Ferry takes over second and Richardson goes to third.
Lap 4 see Darell Padgett high in turn 4 with a right rear tire down. Padgett takes his hurt ride into the pits but does not return for the restart. With Ferry on the inside and Minchew on the outside, the race goes back green as Minchew takes the lead over Ferry, Mills, Richardson, and Joe Kump.
By lap 5, Ferry and Minchew are side-by-side for the lead but Minchew holds strong and maintains the point. It is now Minchew, Ferry, Mills, Chappell, Kump, Richardson, Jack Nosbisch, Jr., John Rankin, Andy Schell and Jeff Phipps leading the way. Nosbisch puts the heat on and takes over fifth.
With no cautions by lap 19 it is Minchew, Ferry, Mills, Chappell, Nosbisch, Richardson, Schell, Rankin, Kump, Phipps, Sweet and Freeman leading the way. By now Minchew has a ten car lead over Ferry.
Lap 24 sees the yellow come out for Andy Schell who has spun at the bottom of turn 2. Phipps has a right rear flat and takes his ride into the pits. It is a white/green flag as Minchew leads the way over Ferry, Mills, Chappell, and Nosbisch. As they are coming to the checkered, Chappell spins in turn 2 after being in fourth. Minchew takes the checkered followed by Richard Ferry, Stanton Mills, Bobby Richardson, and John Rankin.
Kent Corbin had the pole for the Modified feature with Dale Murray on the outside pole. Murray takes the point on the green only to spin before a lap is down calling for a complete restart. PJ Wiggins gets caught up in the mess and takes his ride in for the night. On the second restart, Corbin takes the point over Jamie Carter, Charlie Macnichol, Dale Murray and Jason Davis. Carter quickly takes the point from Corbin with Charlie Macnichol in second, Corbin in third, Davis fourth and Murray and Rob Underwood fighting for fifth.
Lap 3 sees the RED come out for Larry Mott and Rick Scott on the backstretch. As the fans stand up to make sure both drivers are okay, the word comes out on the P.A. that both are fine just not their cars. Mott is doubled hooked - front and back to get his car into the pits as Scott is pushed in. A very scary moment for everyone as they hit hard.
On the restart, it is Carter on the inside, Corbin on the outside. Carter takes the point followed by Davis, Corbin, Underwood, and Murray. Underwood passes Corbin and takes over third. Davis is now on the hunt as he checks out Carter but Carter quickly shuts the door. But by lap 10, Davis makes his move and takes over the point followed by Carter, Murray, Larry Burkins, Corbin, Barry Sheffield, Underwood, Macnichol, James Smith, Darron Smith, and Chris Williams.
Davis quickly does what he does best, builds up a 10 car lead over second place. Lap 12 sees the caution come out for Sheffield who has spun at the pit entrance. With the halfway point gone, it is a single file restart as Davis leads the way over Carter, Murray, Burkins, and Corbin. Corbin slides backwards allowing Underwood to take over fifth.
The caution comes out again on lap 13 for Macnichol, Williams, Sheffield and Darron Smith as they all get together on the frontstretch with Sheffield and Smith in the frontstretch wall. Both drivers are fine but done for the night.
Davis once again takes the point on the restart. Davis once again builds up his lead and takes the checkered over Jamie Carter, Larry Burkins, Rob Underwood and Dale Murray.
Marc Kinley had the pole for the Sportsman feature with Paul Shead on the outside. Shead quickly jumps to the point over Kinley, Danny Vogel, Jr., Dan Lane and Ronnie Ponce. Vogel takes over second as Kinley slides to third. Alan Peacock passes Ponce for fifth then passes Kinley for third as Kinley settles into fourth and Lane fifth.
The caution comes out on lap 2 for Ponce, Drew Smith, and Timothy Miller as they get together in turn 4. Miller is towed in, done for the night as Ponce does a quick in and out. On the restart it is Shead on the inside, Vogel on the outside. Shead once again takes the point followed by Vogel, Peacock, Daugharty, and Kinley.
Vogel shows his muscle as he takes over the point followed by Shead, Peacock, Daugharty, and Kinley. Aaron Barsness shows his muscle as he passes Kinley and takes over fifth. Suddenly Paul Shead begins to smoke. Shead slows and on lap 6, goes into the pits.
Vogel continues to lead the way over Peacock, Daugharty, Barsness, and Steve Shead. Lap 9 sees the yellow come out for Garrett Stewart who has spun at the bottom of turn 2. With Vogel inside, Peacock outside, the green is shown but comes out before another lap is down for Kinley who has spun at the bottom of turn 2. Another try for the green but it is a bad start. With Peacock inside and Vogel outside, the green finally waves as Vogel leads the way over Peacock, Daugharty, Barsness, and Shead who has a hard charging Ronnie Ponce right beside him.
Ponce proves he is the stronger of the two and takes over fifth then fourth. But the yellow comes out again for Kyle Chappell who has spun. Since it is the halfway point, a single file restart is now in order. Vogel quickly takes the point over Peacock, Daugharty, Barsness, and Ponce. Lap 11 sees Peacock challenge Vogel for the point but Vogel quickly shuts the door.
Lap 14 sees the yellow for Levi Cribbs as he has spun. The green comes back out quickly as Vogel leads the way over Peacock, Barsness, Daugharty, and Ponce. Barsness shows his muscle on Peacock but Peacock quickly shuts the door. Just as it is getting really hot, the caution comes out on lap 16 for a car at the bottom of turn 4.
Vogel quickly takes the point over Barsness, Peacock, Ponce and Daugharty. Peacock comes back adn retakes second putting Barsness back to third. Lap 18 sees Cribbs go in with sheet metal everywhere. Vogel takes the checkered followed by Alan Peacock, Aaron Barsness, Ronnie Ponce and Steve Shead.
Thunder Stocks saw Robert Schrunk on the pole and Steve Mooers on the outside pole for their feature event. Mooers took the point on the green followed by Schrunk, Matthew Schell, Randy Strehle, and Skip Land. Land finds his hands full of a hard charging Scott Mooers who takes over fifth as Land goes to sixth.
The caution comes out on lap 2 for Mooers who has spun all by himself in turn 2. It takes two restarts before they get it right as Steve Mooers takes the point over Schell, Strehle, Schrunk, and Tim Hughes. By lap 4, Schell goes for the point and takes it as Mooers goes to second followed by Strehle, Mooers, and Hughes. Strehle puts the heat on Steve Mooers and takes over second. Strehle then sets his eyes on Schell and by lap 6, has the point.
The caution comes out on lap 6 for Skip Land who has spun in turn 2. Land rejoins the field in the rear as Strehle is on the inside and Schell on the outside for the restart. But once again it is a bad start and a second restart is in order. On the second restart, Strehle quickly takes the point over Scott Mooers, Schell, Hughes, and Steve Mooers. Suddenly Steve Mooers begins to slow and begins to fall backwards in the field as Schrunk takes over fifth.
By lap 11, Strehle and Schell are side-by-side for first but Strehle holds his position. It is now Strehle, Schell, Scott Mooers, Hughes, and Eddie Tovet. Strehle holds on to the point and takes the checkered for his first win over Matthew Schell, Scott Mooers, Tim Hughes, and Eddie Tovet.
For the second feature for the 4 Cyl Challengers it is Davey Wolf on the pole with Dalton Strehle on the outside pole. Strehle quickly jumps to the point on the green over Gilbert Epsy, Mike Lane, Wolf, and RJ Glaser. Wolf and Glaser touch slightly as Wolf hits alittle air but is able to control the car and go on. Glaser comes back and challenges Wolf again for fourth and takes it this time as Wolf slides back to fifth.
Lap 6 sees the caution for Brian Smith who has shreaded his right rear tire on the frontstretch. Strehle outside, Epsy inside for the restart. Strehle takes the point but it is a short green as the caution comes out on lap 7 for Wolf who has spun sideways in turn 4.
Strehle once again leads the way on the restart followed by Epsy, Glaser, Casey Feaster, and Kevin Dugan. Gilbert Williams brings out the caution on lap 10 as he has spun in turn 2. Strehle takes the point on the restart followed by Epsy, Glaser, Feaster, and Dugan. Williams spins again in turn 4 but this time does not bring out the caution and continues on.
Lap 11 sees Epsy challenge Strehle for the point but Strehle quickly shuts the door. Strehle takes the checkered for his second feature win of the night followed by Gilbert Epsy, RJ Glaser, Casey Feaster, and Kevin Dugan.
Next week, September 5th, it is the Labor Day Late Model Shootout with the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series with $3,000 to win plus Sportsman, Street Stocks and double Mini Stock features for $500 to win. Mini Stocks will run their regular feature plus the rainout feature from August 1st. General admission is $15.00.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
VOLUSIA SPEEDWAY PARK
AUGUST 29, 2009
RAINOUT FEATURE AUGUST 1, 2009
4 CYLINDER CHALLENGERS
1. #75 Dalton Strehle
2. #39 Gilbert Epsy
3. #911 Mike Lane
4. #01 Davey Wolf
5. #11 David Ladrie
6. #5S Kevin Dugan
7. #29L Daniel Laird
8. #B12 Brian Smith
9. #75 Gilbert Williams
10. #27S Alan Scott
11. #1X Jordan Myers
12. #7E Hank Goodrich
13. #39.5 Danny Lunn
14. #004 RJ Glaser DQ'D
15. #20 Casey Feaster DNS
16. #1.5 Butch Jett DNS
17. #15V Raymond Vann DNS
18. #17X CJ Johnston DNS
19. #31 Art Souther DNS
20. #37M Michael Morgan DNS
21. #49 Larry Langston DNS
22. #71 Ed Richards DNS
23. #88 Steve Cox DNS
24. #88X Harold Lewis DNS
25. #96 Vinnie Richards DNS
26. #H17 John Shelnut DNS
LATE MODEL
1. #23 Lawton Minchew, Deleon Springs
2. #17 Richard Ferry, MacClenny
3. #16M Stanton Mills, St. Augustine
4. #45 Bobby Richardson, Eustis
5. #53 John Rankin, Ocala
6. #NOC Andy Schell, Pierson
7. #12 Jack Nosbisch, Jr., Riverview
8. #J17 Joe Kump, Lake Helen
9. #71 Scott Sweet, Jacksonville
10. #21Q Chris Freeman, Enterprise
11. #25 Donnie Chappell, Jacksonville
12. #32P Jeff Phipps, Longwood
13. #31 Tracey Butler, Marathon
14. #46P Darell Padgett, Jacksonville
15. #10X David Ponton, Lake City
16. #57X Michael McMillan DNS
17. #w5 Mark Whitener, Middleburg DNS
MODIFIED
1. #145 Jason Davis
2. #15X Jamie Carter
3. #54B Larry Burkins
4. #09 Rob Underwood
5. #66 Dale Murray
6. #OK Kent Corbin
7. #40 James Smith
8. #77X Chris Williams
9. #11M Charlie Macnichol
10. #41B Barry Sheffield
11. #41D Darron Smith
12. #Z06 Larry Mott
13. #8 Rick Scott
14. #410 PJ Wiggins
15. #94X Jeff Bagent DNS
SPORTSMAN
1. #99 Danny Vogel, Jr.
2. #5 Alan Peacock
3. #11 Aaron Barsness
4. #57P Ronnie Ponce
5. #10 Steve Shead
6. #67 Garrett Stewart
7. #00 Shaun Daugharty
8. #17K Marc Kinley
9. #05 Dan Lane, Sr.
10. #29 Drew Smith
11. #3C Levi Cribbs
12. #57 Karl Haas
13. #66C Kyle Chappell
14. #46 Richard Wells, Jr.
15. #80 Paul Shead
16. #42M Timothy Miller
17. #65 Shane Nichols DNS
THUNDER STOCKS
1. #24 Randy Strehle
2. #57 Matthew Schell
3. #10 Scott Mooers
4. #33 Tim Hughes
5. #00 Eddie Tovet
6. #03 Robert Schrunk
7. #0 Skip Land
8. #17 D.J. Nobles
9. #9 Steve Mooers
10. #18 Justin Merry
11. #1 Jamie Anderson
12. #07 Richard Calmes
13. #D10 Michael Rood DNS
4 CYL CHALLENGERS
1. #75 Dalton Strehle
2. #37E Gilbert Epsy
3. #004 RJ Glaser
4. #20 Casey Feaster
5. #5S Kevin Dugan
6. #48W Davey Wolf
7. #11 David Ladrie
8. #66 Leonard Underwood, Jr.
9. #39K Gilford Williams
10. #27S Alan Scott
11. #1X Jordan Myers
12. #911 Mike Lane
13. #B12 Brian Smith
14. #29L Daniel Laird
15. #39.5 Danny Lunn
16. #7E Hank Goodrich DNS
17. #75 Karen Hartzell DNS
KIDS BIKE RACES
4 AND UNDER
1. Bryce Wolf age 4
GIRL 5-6 YEARS OLD
1. Arianna Iorio age 5
BOYS 5 - 5 YEARS OLD
1. Jeremy Iorio age 6
2. Andrew age 6
BOY 7 YEARS OLD
1. Drew Defew age 7
GIRLS AGE 9 - 10
1. Leigha Iorio age 9
2. Mia age 8
BOYS AGE 9 - 10
1. Taylor Motes age 9
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