Punta Gorda, Florida ­ The Southern Pro Truck Series returned to Charlotte County Speedway on March 11. Scott Bramlett was the fast qualifier for their 75-lap event. Bramlett started in the pole position and by the tenth lap had a straight-away lead on the rest of the field and was lapping trucks by the 25th lap. The race ran caution free until the 54th lap that allowed the rest of the field to catch up to Bramlett. However, there was no stopping Bramlett as he took the checkered flag first, followed by Richie Powers and Bruce Gaskins.
It took three restarts to get the Cat Country Limited Late Models feature race going but once it did Stuart Vandevender (Fort Myers) took an early lead. Mike Holmes (Punta Gorda) blew a motor on the second lap forcing the caution flag to fall yet again. Vandevender again resumed his domination of the field and was lapping cars by lap 7. Vandevender stayed in front, taking his first win of the season. John “Taz” Garrett (North Fort Myers) finished a distant second, with Chris Libak (Fort Myers) finishing third. Vandevender also took a heat win, as did Libak.
The Q105 Pure Stock feature started out with a huge bang as a car got loose coming out of Turn 4, causing a four car collision. The red flag was thrown while the mess was cleaned up and the race got underway again. However, on the fourth lap, Race Leader Kevin Utter (Fort Myers) spun to avoid a lapped car. With Utter unable to continue, Gentleman Jim Keating took the lead and never let it go, taking his first win of the season, while Mike Wiseman (Cape Coral) and Cliff Simer (Cape Coral) finished second and third. Heat winners were Utter (Fort Myers) and Joe Reese (Bonita Springs).
Twenty-nine cars took the green flag in the Road Warrior division, making it resemble an Enduro instead of a stock car race. Before the first lap was over, Chuck Stevens (Fort Myers) spun in front of practically the whole field and four other cars ran into him, causing another lengthy caution in the evening’s racing program. Scott Shelton, competing in his first race at CCS, took his car to the front, taking the win under a caution flag. Conrad Molter (Naples) and Joe Bossey (Englewood) rounded out the Top Three. Heat winners were Del Beckner (Naples) and John Plakiotis (Port Charlotte).
Cheryl Weaver (Port Charlotte) snuck around Justin Bryant (Arcadia) on the start of the Cowboy Cadillac feature race. She took the win, followed by Buck Wilson (Arcadia) and Justin Bryant (Arcadia), who was also the heat winner.
The Pro Late Models return to CCS on March 18 for the first time in two racing seasons. The 911 racing division will also visit the track. These former Top Cops division drivers are law enforcement officers from all over the state of Florida. Also on the racing program will be open wheel modifieds, sportsman and mini stock divisions.
It will be a special night at the Speedway as the Second Annual MDA Firefighters Chili Cook Off takes place. Fire fighters from all over Southwest Florida will be competing for the hottest and best overall Chili trophies. It will also be Do the Right Thing Night when the Speedway honors all youth who have been Do the Right Thing winners. All youths wearing a Do the Right Thing T-shirt will be admitted free.
Charlotte County Speedway is located at 8655 Piper Road, I-75 exit 28, and follow the Charlotte County Airport signs. For more information, please call 941/575-2422 or visit our Website at www.charlottectyspeedway.com.
#
CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS MARCH 11, 2000

Southern Pro Trucks
1. Scott Bramlett #12
2. Richie Powers #9X
3. Bruce Gaskins #37
4. David Froelich #40
5. Scott Griffin #3

Q105 Pure Stocks
1. Jim Keating #105
2. Mike Wiseman #56
3. Cliff Simer #25
4. John Dienst #32
5. Christine Davis #49

Road Warriors
1. Scott Shelton #52S
2. Conrad Molter #55
3. Joe Bossey #28
4. Terry Price #42P
5. Joe Lippincott #47

Cat Country Limited Late Models
1. Stuart Vandevender #36
2. John Garrett #59
3. Chris Libak #64
4. Jeff Dufresne #3
5. Richie Anderson #51

Cowboy Cadillacs
1. Cheryl Weaver #37
2. Buck Wilson #4
3. Justin Bryant #24
4. Raymond Tucker #44
5. Hooie Alexander #91

Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor!