February 9-13 Nationals at Charlotte County Speedway

The Florida Speedweeks 2000 and the Team-USA 2000 Asphalt Winternationals at Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, Florida, was a huge success, with 65 Modified Lites (Dwarf Cars) from 11 states participating in three days of racing. The Tennessee contingent seemed to be the ones to beat while the local boys from Florida were mixing it up quite well with them. A strong group from Michigan was also well represented as were the groups from Georgia, Pennsylvania, Alabama, New York, West Virginia, New Hampshire, Wyoming and a "large" one from New Jersey.

The track was fast and slick, which most dealt with very well. Generally races are held at night under the lights, but these races were run in the daylight, with time trials and qualifying beginning at 2:00PM, and all races completed by 5:30PM. The setting sun made for some interesting races as it dropped low directly in the eyes of the drivers going into turn one.

I will not report any incidents, of which there were few, and no serious injuries were reported. While I did not see it, I heard of one crash going into turn two where two cars got together, resulting in one car doing about three end-overs and four or five barrel rolls and landing on its top against a tire barrier. The track workers put it back on its wheels and the driver started it up and finished the race, not too much the worse for wear. Unfortunately, I didn't get his name, but in talking with him later in the event, the only thing hurting was his neck, and that was because it had got sunburned!

The finishes for the Modified Lites Features (Dwarf Cars) are as follows and in no way captures the excitement of all of the heat races and ensuing battles in order to place in the "A" Main and compete for the win:
February 10th, 2000
1 Shannon Buckingham #44 TN
2 Rob Roney #911 MI
3 Billy McDowell #7 TN
4 Doug Carrigan #8 TN
5 Andy Taylor #47 MI
6 Jamie Crutchfield #18 GA
7 Josh Adams #12 TN
8 Michel Fortin #11 FL
9 Johnny Overcast #0 TN
10 Wade Atteberry #ZX11 MI
11 Wally Dobson #3 TN
12 Gerald Smith #12 TN
13 Mark Otting #M00 MI
14 Dennis Diehl #15 FL
15 Lynn Knepper #10 PA
16 Eric Hay #69 PA
17 Eric Hoffman #97 MI
18 Richard Lawson #70x7 PA
19 George Landis #5FL FL
20 Tom Buckingham #22 TN
21 Bill Vargo #5 WV
22 Rick Hollum #17 MI
23 Steve Harrison #9 TN
24 Kenny Pickett #77 AL
February 11th, 2000
1 Jamie Crutchfield #18 GA
2 Jerry Olson #007 MI
3 Jay Beebe #98 TN
4 Eric Hoffman #97 MI
5 Steve Harrison #9 TN
6 Michel Fortin #11 FL
7 Johnny Overcast #0 TN
8 Troy Van Allen #24 NY
9 Dennis Diehl #15 FL
10 Wally Dobson #3 TN
11 Randall English #02 TN
12 Josh Adams #12 TN
13 Gerald Smith #12 TN
14 Kelly Glass #01 TN
15 Richard Lawson #70x7 PA
16 Eric Hay #69 PA
17 Bobby Robinson #96 TN
18 Rick Hollum #17 MI
19 Daniel Rene #1 FL
20 Tom Buckingham #22 TN
21 Jeff See #77 MI
22 Kenny Pickett #77 AL
23 Bill Vargo #5 (DQ) WV
February 12th, 2000
Modified Lite Dash Feature (determined starting position for "a"
main Feature)
1 Shannon Buckingham #44 TN
2 Jamie Crutchfield #18 GA
3 Billy McDowell #7 TN
4 Jerry Olson #007 MI
5 Andy Taylor #47 MI
6 Jay Beebe #98 TN
7 Steve Harrison #9 TN
8 Doug Carrigan #8 TN
9 Eric Hoffman #97 MI
10 Rob Roney #911 MI
February 12th, 2000
1 Shannon Buckingham #44 TN
2 Jamie Crutchfield #18 GA
3 Billy McDowell #7 TN
4 Andy Taylor #47 MI
5 Jay Beebe #98 TN
6 Steve Harrison #9 TN
7 Alain Paradis #40 FL
8 Michel Fortin #11 FL
9 Tom Buckingham #22 TN
10 Bobby Robinson #96 TN
11 Dennis Diehl #15 FL
12 Johnny Overcast #0 TN
13 Rick Hollum #17 MI
14 Gerald Smith #12 TN
15 Kelly Glass #01 TN
16 Mario Giard #1 FL
17 Robert Quick #06 FL
18 Wade Atteberry #ZX11 MI
19 Jerry Olson #007 MI
20 Rob Roney #911 MI
21 Doug Carrigan #8 TN
22 Eric Hoffman #97 WV
23 Bill Goddard #101 NH
24 Lynn Knepper #10 (DQ) PA

Many thanks to all who participated and to TEAM USA for providing the final finishes.

The "Tommy Bowles Memorial" race, in honor of Tommy Bowles, the two year UDRA National Asphalt Champion who died at Charlotte County Speedway during competition at the 1999 Speedweek final feature, was held after the final "A" Main Feature event February 12, 2000, at Charlotte County Speedway in Punta Gorda, Florida. All non winning driver's names (those not in the "A" Main) were placed in a box and 13 names were drawn at random to participate in the 12 lap dash for a guaranteed $500.00 purse and trophy, all provided by racer's donations at last year's event. The purse was increased to $800.00
thanks to three generous racers at this event; Jerry Olson and Rick Hollum of Small Moves Race Team of Wayne, Michigan, for a $100.00 donation, Wylie Softwater of Howell, Michigan, for $100.00, and Jeff See of Plainwell, Michigan, for a $100.00 donation. These racer's generosity truly epitomize our fraternity as a caring and very generous community.

The race started in good shape with Bobby Brown, #21, of New Jersey taking the lead with Bill Vargo, #5, of West Virginia and Mark Otting in his #M00 "cow car" close behind. Racing was close all around with attempts at passing going on everywhere. Big Bobby Brown was doing his best to keep everyone behind him and succeeded for most of the race, but adrenaline got the best of him around lap 8 and he drove a little too deep going into turn one and succeeded in looping the car, resulting in the only caution of the race.

After lining up for the restart, Bill Vargo assumed the lead and the M00 car was pushing him on the inside one minute and trying the outside the next, doing everything possible to get around him, to no avail. They were neck and neck crossing the finish line with Bill Vargo in first and Mark Otting back just a little for second place. Jeff See, #77 came in a close third with Troy Van Allen, #24 finishing fourth. Christopher Reynolds, #45, was fifth, Kenny
Pickett, #77, sixth, and Lenny Pevna, #2, came in seventh, followed by Bill Hostetler, #9H, for eighth, Eric Hay, #69, in ninth, Bobby Brown, #21, in tenth, and Frank Dunkle, #98PA, in eleventh. Rounding out the field was Phil Krauthoff, #2FL for twelfth place, in only his second event ever, and bringing up the rear was Richard Lawson in his #707 car.

Bill Vargo took home the top money and a replica of the "Memorial" trophy, which will remain with Florida Dwarf Car Federation, Inc. and have each winners name engraved on it. It will be made available at each Memorial race for all to see and appreciate. Every winning driver will take home a replica of the Memorial trophy, of which enough have been purchased to take us through the year 2004.

Florida Dwarf Car Federation, Inc. thanks all that came and raced with us and for making the "Tommy Bowles Memorial Race" a success. Plans are already under way for next year's race, which should be bigger and better to help remember a dear friend and competitor. Look for updates in racing publications and on the Internet.

Bill Moody, President
Florida Dwarf Car Federation, Inc.
Moody97@aol.com


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