For race fans at Charlotte County Speedway, it is sometimes either feast or famine. For two years, the late model division wasn’t on their racing program but fans were treated to the Pro Late Models for two weeks in a row.

For the second week in a row, last week’s race winner Daryl Shelnut (Fort Lauderdale) was the fastest car in qualifying but pulled the pill to start in fourth position, while Rick Carlton (Homasassa) pulled the pill for the pole position and took an early wide lead. On Lap 16, Billy Bigley, Jr. (Naples) took a spin on his own and went to the rear. Carlton retained his wide lead, with Randy “Hondo” Fox (Lehigh Acres) following in second, until Shelnut overtook him on Lap 29, taking Scot Walters (Naples) with him, moving Fox to fourth. By the 70th lap, Mike Franklin (Homestead) moved to third and was soon on Shelnut’s bumper. A racing altercation between Wendell Overstreet (Clearwater) and Kenny Vaughn (Naples) caused both cars to be disqualified for unsportsmanlike conduct. Shelnut was never able be in contention to pass Carlton.

Carlton went on to take his first win after only three starts at Charlotte County Speedway and the winning trophy from March of Dimes Poster Child, Joy Barley. Shelnut, Franklin, Fox and Joe Sumasky (Lehigh Acres) rounded out the Top Five.

Jeremy Goddard (Naples) led the first laps of the Sportsman division feature until James Dubose (Arcadia) took the lead. Immediately thereafter, Jerry Bryant (Punta Gorda) spun coming out of Turn 4 and was t-boned by Cliff Bifaro (Naples) but Bryant emerged uninjured. Halfway through the race with Dubose well in the lead three cars came three wide through the backstretch and Young Flyin’ Bryan Beckner (Naples) emerged in second but a spectacular set of wrecks caused the field to revert back to the last completed lap, which moved Points Leader Raymond “Super Frog” Jones (Arcadia) into second position.

As the lead cars continued their battle, yet another altercation occurred involving Beckner and Mark Chapman (Fort Myers) resulting in both cars early retirement from the race. Dubose easily took the win, followed by Jones and Hope Summey (Punta Gorda) in her best showing for the year. Points Champion Dan Atwell (Naples) and Chapman (Fort Myers) were the heat winners.

It was Don Vanacker’s (Punta Gorda) night in his Ford Cowboy Cadillac as he took both the feature and heat win. Hugh Alexander (Punta Gorda) and Cheryl Weaver (Port Charlotte) finished second and third.

Doug Wilson (Cape Coral) was the first driver to pass his helmet at intermission for the March of Dimes and in the old case of “when you do good things, good things happen”, he took the win in the Big Wheel Mini Stocks. Brian Richardson (North Fort Myers) led the first half of the race until Wilson over took him. Meanwhile, Points Leader Frank Welch (North Fort Myers) made his way up through the field to cause a three-car photo finish. Wilson emerged the winner, Welch was second and Steve Arnold (Cape Coral) third. Travis Kuykendall (Punta Gorda) and Billy Ray, Jr. (Port Charlotte) took home heat trophies.

A wreck involving five cars happened on the first lap of the Oldies 95 Open Wheel Modified feature. Tommy Schnader (Largo) led the first half of the race in his Tony Stewart lookalike car but Scott Adema (Fort Myers) was hot on his tail until a caution flag flew. Schnader took the win, followed by Adema and Steve Duerr (Cape Coral). Schnader also took home a heat win, as did Jeff Dalva (Punta Gorda).

The first leg of the Limited Late Models 6-Pack series takes place on April 22. Joining them will be the Dwarfs, Pure Stocks, Road Warriors and Cowboy Cadillacs. The limited late models return again on April 29 for the Keels and Wheels Limited Late Model Challenge.
Charlotte County Speedway is located at 8655 Piper Road , I-75 exit 28, and follow the Charlotte County Airport signs. Gates open at 4 p.m. and qualifying begins at 6 p.m. For more information, call 941/575-2442.

CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS APRIL 15, 2000

Sportsman
1. James Dubose #67
2. Raymond Jones #8
3. Hope Summey #7
4. Cliff Bifaro #12
5. Gene Connell #96

Pro Late Models
1. Rick Carlton #34
2. Daryl Shelnut #7
3. Mike Franklin #72
4. Randy Fox #2
5. Joe Sumasky #12

Cowboy Cadillacs
1. Don Vanacker #80
2. Hugh Alexander #91
3. Cheryl Weaver #37
4. Justin Bryant #24
5. Lori Smith #2

Mini Stocks
1. Doug Wilson #22
2. Frank Welch #96
3. Steve Arnold #19
4. Keith Risinger #94
5. Johnny Allen #68

Open Wheel Modifieds
1. Tommy Schnader #20
2. Scott Adema #22
3. Steve Duerr #93
4. Chris Dean #80
5. Ronnie Barnett #72
by: Robin Meiser

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