Punta Gorda FL 3-25-00: The FMRA midgets ran their second show of the year at the fast little 1/4 mile in Punta Gorda Florida Saturday night. It was a great night of racing with the midgets sharing the limelight with the TBARA Sprinters, the Outlaw Modifieds, the Florida Modifieds, the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels at an an air show next to the track, plus two regular CCS weekly racing divisions. The place was packed with cars and fans and the excitement was in the air!

Heat races saw hard charger Mike Elder win the first heat over Jack Duffy who shows up just in time to run the heat and feature in typical Duffy style. Who needs practice when you've been dancing for 50 years! The second heat was won by smooth driving 21 year old lady midget driver Wendy Mathis. Wendy never flinched as four time champ Mark Gimmler was broad sliding a loose car high and low behind her trying to find a way around, after he was late because of air show traffic. Wendy held Mark off no problem and won her second heat race in as many years.

The feature lined up and Mike Elder walked the dog on Mark Gimmler for 18 laps before a caution flew for Steve Wheeler's old championship ride, now sporting the #33, which mildly tagged the wall in turn four. With the veterans' Gimmler and Duffy on his bumper now, and two to go, Elder was wanting this race to be over and him to own the winners' trophy. When the green flew on the restart
Gimmler tried Elder high and didn't find the grip. He slipped a little high and Duffy was just waiting for the opportunity! Jack made short work of Gimmler and pulled low on Elder showing him the nose of his car down the back stretch on the last lap. Elder went into the last turn just a little high and Jack Duffy socked it in there like he knew he could win this race! Jack pulled ahead off of turn 4 and beat Elder to the line for the win.

It was a little emotional for this writer because I was right behind him at the last race of last year when he piled cage first into the wall and I really thought he was gone...but Jack Duffy is one of the toughest, no maybe THE toughest, race driver I have ever seen in any type of car anywhere and I've been going to race somewhere every weekend for 21 years of my 31 years! Mike Elder finished
2nd, Mark Gimmler 3rd, Ben Fritz 4th, and Wendy Mathis 5th.

Jack, I'm glad your head's OK! I'm very glad your back in full form 'cause when I pass Jack Duffy I know I passed one of the the best, from the "ol" school, and the FMRA would NOT be the same without ya! Congratulations Ace! (That's what he calls me, and I like that!)

Next month the Midgets return to Desoto Speedway on April 15th!

By Ralph Wheeler





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