Punta Gorda -The rain delayed Pro Late Model 125 took place at Charlotte County Speedway on April 8. Fast time qualifier was Daryl Sheltnut (Ft. Lauderdale) but Rich Pratt (San Antonio) pulled the Pole Position pill.

Although Randy "Hondo" Fox (Lehigh Acres) helped Pratt with a friendly turn around on Lap 2, Pratt held the lead. On Lap 18, Mike Franklin (Homestead) and Steve Lamb (Miami) were involved in a racing altercation that resulted in Lamb slamming the front wall hard and Franklin going to the rear of the field. By the 35th lap both Fox and Franklin were battling side-by-side for fifth place, resulting in Fox taking a spin and going to the rear.

On the restart, Fox jumped five positions and Sheltnut moved into second position on the 40th lap. Shelnut took the lead on Lap 46 and he led the way to the next caution on Lap 60. Fox was penalized five positions, moving him back to eighth and Franklin was up to third, behind Rick Carlton (Homasassa) who had been running a steady second place the entire race. Lapped traffic played a role in Carlton catching up to Shelnut to battle for the lead and on Lap 108, Scott Grossenbacker took a wild ride after Shelnut tagged him for failing to yield to the move over flag. Shelnut maintained the lead and took the win, followed by Carlton and Fox who yet again had come through the field.

The Outlaw Modifieds returned to the Speedway for their monthly visit. Neil Honerkamp (Miami) led the first few laps until the car of Steve Quick (Hialeah) overtook him. Meanwhile, Points Leader and current Champion Randy Sands (Tavernier) in his "Pink Bathtub" was sneaking up through the field and took the lead on the 15th lap. Despite two more caution flags, Sands held on for his second consecutive win of the season at CCS, with Quick and Ted Hoversen (Key West) rounding out the Top Three. Hoversen and Don Peacock (Tavernier) were heat winners.

The Florida Dwarf Car Federation also made an appearance at CCS. Mark Landis (Delray Beach) took the feature win as well as a heat win. Dennis Diehl (West Palm Beach) and Alain Paradis followed him. David Renee (Hollywood) won the second heat race.

Richie Anderson (North Fort Myers) led the first seven laps of the Cat Country Limited Late Models until Glenn Morris (Bokeelia) took the lead from him, moving him to second in front of John "Taz" Garrett (North Fort Myers). Garrett hit the wall hard on the 11th lap, causing the caution flag to fall and then raindrops began to fall on the Speedway, bringing the red flag out. The limiteds returned to the surface after the pure stocks but Anderson had made a trip to the pits just before the red flag and he had to go to the rear of the field on the restart. Stuart Vandevender (Fort Myers) stayed hot on the tail of Morris but wasn't able to pass him. Morris took the win, followed by Vandevender, and Jeff Dufresne (Fort Myers). Morris and Garrett also took home heat wins.

When the raindrops quit falling, the Q Country Pure Stocks came onto the racing surface for their 25-lap race. Marc Sweetman (Pine Island) led the first six laps until "Outta My Way" Kay Jackson (Port Charlotte) took the lead after running side-by-side for several laps. Jackson continued his straightaway lead on the rest of the field, while second place "Gentleman" Jim Keating (Bonita Springs) ran his best race thus far, holding off the advances of Joe Reese (Bonita Springs) and Chuck Sweet (Port Charlotte) to finish second. Unfortunately, both Jackson and Keating were found to be too light and were both disqualified in post technical inspection. This gave Sweet the win, followed by Reese and Mark Ludvigsen (Fort Myers Beach). Keating and Greg "Spiderman" Anderson (Port Charlotte) took the checkers first in the heat races.

The Pro Late Models will return to the Speedway on April 15 for their usual monthly visit, as they take part in March of Dimes night. They will be joined by the open wheel modifieds, sportsman, mini stock and Cowboy Cadillacs. April 22 will be the first leg of the Limited Late Model 6-Pack Series and the 50-lap Keels and Wheels Limited Late Model race takes place on April 29.


PRO LATE MODELS 1. Daryl Shelnut #72. Rick Carlton #343. Randy Fox #24. Mike Franklin #725. Scott Grossenbacher #09


OUTLAW MODIFIEDS 1. Randy Sands #82. Steve Quick #13. Ted Hoversen #54. Neal Honercamp #355. Don Peacock #24


LIMITED LATE MODELS 1. Glenn Morris #1072. Stuart Vandevender #363. Jeff Dufresne #34. Rusty Hillman #75. Chris Libak #64


FLORIDA DWARF CAR FEDERATION 1. Mark Landis #222. Dennis Diehl #203. Alain Paradis #404. Michel Fortin #115. Brian Paradis #68


PURE STOCKS 1. Chuck Sweet #812. Joe Reese #383. Mark Ludvigsen #7114. Bill Vandevender #845. Kevin Brinkley #22

by:Robin Meiser RSMeiser@aol.com

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