Ocala, FL, April 15th, 2000 - Ocala Speedway held a full night of exciting racing under a clear sky and with very little wind. Fans packed the stands, and the Valvoline Simulator car had would be drivers lined up all night to try their hand at the wheel.

The Coca Cola Four Cylinder Bombers were first up. Carl Thomas (19) sat on the pole and Mike Hillary (9t) sat on the outside. Thomas held the point for three laps, but Todd Roberts (7) was moving strong and he took over on the fourth. Roberts ran far ahead until a yellow caution flag regrouped the pack. On the restart, Rick Fort (2) had a good look at Roberts' bumper and Chauna Johnston (43) sat close behind in third. Todd Roberts ran for the wire with no serious challengers. Rick Fort finished second by holding off several furious assaults from Chauna Johnston who finished third. Jeff Oglesby and Kara White finished fourth and fifth.

The Classic Race Cars came to town tonight and after battling his way through the pack, Rodney Eary (6) finished first to maintain his undefeated status here at Ocala Speedway for this season.

The WTRS Pure Stocks packed a full field. John Betts (81) had the pole position and Jason Gamble (201) sat on the outside. Betts started hard and took a commanding lead. Edward England (00) quickly made his way into the second position. Gamble, Tom Roberts (44) and Moose Alderman (7) were in a fierce competition, each trying to take the third slot. There were no yellow flags for this feature but just as the last lap was starting, Gamble spun going into turn two. John Betts took the checkered flag for the win. Edward England took second and Moose Alderman took third. Mark Mitchell and Tom Roberts filled out the top five.

The Dave's Towing Street Stocks packed the track with cars. Ken Asbell (89) sat on the inside pole and Rick Benschoter (57) sat on the outside. Benschoter jumped well to take the lead and one lap was completed when the first yellow flag flew. Dave Baxley (64) and Chris Fadling (33) tangled in turn one. On the restart, Tom Posavec (01) jumped very well to take the lead. Two laps later, another yellow flag appeared. Shane Nichols (65) landed in the front stretch wall just out of turn four and almost immediately, Asbell and Fadling tangled a bit further onto the front stretch. Asbell pitted under his own power, but Fadling had to be towed. Posavec maintained his lead although Mike Wilson (79) pressured him for the rest of the feature. As the wire was approaching for the last lap, Wilson put on an extra bit of power only to lose his traction in turn four. As he slipped, Baxley also came unglued. Tom Posavec took a hard-earned win and Glenn Baum finished a surprise second. Mike Wilson regained control for third and Eddie Kilbury finished fourth. Dave Baxley finished fifth.

The Budweiser Modifieds came out ready to rumble. Johnny Newsome (31) sat on the pole and Brent Jordan (04) sat beside him. Newsome took the lead and Scott Millar (14) quickly slipped into second. Millar slipped by Newsome to take the lead on the third lap. Red Vann (32) was running hard too and moved into second. A yellow caution was called after lap eleven when Newsome spun between turns three and four. On the restart, Vann jumped very hard and took the lead. Millar drove in second, and Raymond Vann (99) sat in third. Another caution flag flew several laps later when Millar spun on the backstretch. Red Vann sat up front again but on the restart, something broke and he was unable to get moving. After this yellow, Jordan found himself in the lead. Newsome had been making good ground through the pack and with three laps to go, he passed Jordan to take the lead. Johnny Newsome finished first to take the checkered flag. Brent Jordan held on to keep second. Raymond Vann finished third and Rob Lefevre finished fourth. Scott Millar came in fifth.

The Steven A. Bagen Late Models came to race. David Christopher (0) sat on the pole and Butch Dees (20) sat on the outside. Christopher was running hot and hard. Augie Burtram (58) moved up past Dees. Roger Damron (76) started further back in the pack and had to work his way up. There were no cautions for this feature. Damron was finally in position to challenge Christopher. Christopher was determined and lap after lap, Damron was unable to get by. With two laps to go, Roger Damron found the hole he needed and took over the lead and won the checkered flag. David Christopher turned in his best race to date, finishing second. Butch Dees held on for third and Augie Burtram finished fourth. Wolf Bowers finished fifth.

The much-anticipated Powder Puff feature was the last event on this evening's ticket. Twenty cars showed up to participate. Meredith Jackson (18) sat on the pole and Nancy Buchanan (207) sat on the outside. Christina Roberts (44) drove very well and within one lap, she was in the lead and gaining ground. Lapped traffic was a factor very early on and made all the drivers stay on their toes. A yellow flag slowed the racing when Jackson spun on the backstretch. Dusty McCafferty (32) jumped very well and took the lead out of turn four from several positions back. A spot of bad luck caught Roberts though in turn one and she spun, bringing out another caution. The restart allowed Tammi Jo Roberts (9) another shot at the lead and she used it to good advantage. The little four cylinder number 9 just couldn't hold off the mid-race challenge of Holley Abney (3x) in her purestock car. Holley Abney took the checkered flag and trophy for the win. Tammi Jo Roberts finished second and Nancy Lefevre came in third. Christina Shirley and Barbara Gossett filled out the top five.

By Diana Brake



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