Archer, Florida's own Kevin Durdin took home the $1,000 first place cash and Winner's Trophy in the 50 lap Bronson Speedway Dash for Cash last Saturday night for the high dollar, thunder and lightning division's LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN cars. Durdin , driving a 1999 Chevrole tMonte Carlo, held off a race long charge by Mike Faulk and Patrick Williams in their Chevrolets.

Several times, throughout the feature, Faulk peeked under Durdin's left bumper, but could'nt find the racing room to get by. " I thought about going on the outside a couple of times, but I knew Patrick was there," said Mike Faulk after the race. " I was just following Mike", said Patrick WIlliams, " there was a litttle room up top, but the car was loose up there and I did'nt want to wipe it out."

Several cautions slowed the event. Lap one was barely underway when when Doc Batson got together with Dan Crowe's Aircoastal Helicopters entry on the main strech. Batson did a beautiful job of getting the car out of the way of the main pack of cars that were scrambling to avoid the mellee. A wild ride through the infield ruined the underside of the car and it's steering and Doc was done for the night. Crowe's Chevrolet was also extensively damaged and had to retire for the nite after only four laps of competiton. Roy Staines, lit up the nite, literally, when his Chevrolet exploded an engine in a fireball on the back stretch and slid to a hard stop in the turn three sandwall onlap 40. Staines was closing fast on the leaders when the incident happened. " I was there. The car was so good tonight. We were just begining to make the move when the engine let go. Thank goodness for nomex firesuites and the onboard Halon fire extinquishing system ", said Roy as he escaped unhurt.

The fans were on their feet throughout the race and were treated to some of the best racing this track has seen for some time.


PURE STOCK
Jerome Brown notched his second feature win in this, his first full year of competion in the PURE STOCK division. Driving theCheifland Flea Market # 25 Camaro, he had to pass the # 69 entry of Tommy Ausborn who had the early lead, not once, but twice! After a bumper to bumper dogfight, Jerome slid by Tommy the first time in turnfour on lap 12, only to have the caution fly . Timing and scoring reverted to the previous lap run, giving Ausborn position one back on the re-start. In a brilliant effort, Jerome made the same pass, in the same turn , on lap # 14 and never looked back. "He's learning!", said aproud dad, Rodney Brown after the race. Rodney has extensive experience on this and other tracks throughout the state and now enjoys his son's efforts, a thrill for any father and son in any sport, but very specialto watch. Bronson's " bullring" is home to several father/son combinations, one of the many things that make this special track a family one. Steve Seymour had his # 88 Autozone Camaro "hooked up" and had to come from deep in the feild to finish second. He was closing faston Jerome , when the checkered flew. John Hughes and Matt Meadowsalso had a good battle going for third place. Ausborn prevailed for fourth and Meadows finsihed fifth as his car got " way loose" at the endof the race. It was fun to watch, though as he slid, nearly sideways a couple of times coming out of turn four.

MINI-STOCK
It was nearly a flag to flag green race for these powerful fourcylinders until Josh Hars, driving the # 04 Dr. Jay's entry out ofWilliston, Florida got together with Joe Lawson in # 20 machine on lap #18. Hars was able to contiue after the crash on the front straightaway and salvaged a fifth place finish. Lawson's #20 suffered heavy front end damage and was done for the nite Up front, it was Steve Griffen and David Westrich that battled it out for the lead for 18 laps of the 20lap feature. Griffen, driving the beautifully prepared # 1x machine,passed Westrich on lap # 13 and prevailed for the win. Westrich's # 4car is for sale as he is making room in his budget for the super stock entry # 38. He debuted that car tonite as he did " double duty" in themini-stocks and the super stocks.

SUPER STOCKS
Wesley Keller, driving the Environtemp # 34 Camaro said last week," It's good to be home!" He proved it Saturday nite as he won " going away" in the ferocious SUPER STOCK feature. This talented group of drivers is amazing to watch as they turn an asphalt track into a " dirttrack" performance as they power slide through the corners in their thundering machines. Arthur Conquest was second in the # 70 RockousticSound/ Ace Hardware Nova. " The car is still loose, said Wesley. Ithasn't been "right" since the crash earlier this year. " If it's not "right", Wesley is going to keep a lot of his competition guessing as they try to keep up in future features ! David Westrich was third in his new # 38 Monte Carlo and Brody Giddens notched a nice fourth placewin. Brody is actively seeking sponsorship for this very competitivecar. " I don't know if I can run the entire season without it", he told this writer after the race.Be sure to make plans to come out and watch these cars run. They are apart of the Bronson Race Series every Saturday nite.

4-CYLINDER CRUISERS
John Naber was back to his winning form in his Papa J's mini-truckout of Dunnellon, Florida on Saturday nite as he won the feature for this talented group of young " lions". Mitch Clenny had his GatorHaircutters # 25 Mustang going good on just the second outing for this car, and finsihed second. Several cautions slowed the event as Jamie Coffman tangled with Lil'J', Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. " He tried to run overthe top of me a couple of times!", said an angry Jeff after the race. "I hope he learns quick, that stuff does'nt go around here!" Film at eleven, folks!

by Gil Peck

Be sure to be with us this Saturday nite, when the Classic Auto Racing Series will run their powerful coupes along with the rest of the Bronson Racing Series. Gates open at 5:30 with racing at 7:30.

RESULTS
LATE MODEL SPORTSMAN
1) # 56 Kevin Durdin, Archer, Fla.
2) # 36 Mike Faulk, High Springs, Fla.
3) # 18 Patrick Williams, Archer, Fla.
4) # 1 (red) Jimmy Wear, Ocala, Fla.
5) # 1 (black) Gene Owens, Gainesville, Fla.
SUPER STOCK
1) # 34 Wesley Keller, Lake City, Fla.
2) # 70 Arthur Conquest, bronson, Fla.
3) # 38 David Westrich, Old Town, Fla.
4) # 46 Brody Giddens, Bronson, Fla.
5) # 4 Doc Batson, Inverness, Fla.

PURE STOCK
1) # 25 Jerome Brown, Newberry, Fla.
2) # 88 Steve Seymour, Dunnellon, Fla.
3) # 77 John Hughes, Hernando, Fla.
4) # 69 Tommy Ausborn, Bronson, Fla.
5) # 22 Matt Meadows, High Springs, Fla.

MINI-STOCK
1) # 1x Steve Griffen, Ocala, Fla.
2) # 6 David Westrich, Old Town, Fla.
3) # 7 Clint Foley, Dunnellon, Fla.
4) # 10 Jeff Stalnaker, Sr., Ocala, Fla.
5) # 04 Josh Hars, Williston, Fla.


4 CYLINDER-CRUISERS
1) # 3 John Naber, Dunnellon, Fla.
2) # 25 Mitch Clenny, Williston, Fla.
3) # 03 Jamie Coffman, Gainesville, Fla.
4) # 10 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr., Ocala, Fla.
5) # 6 Jason Reynolds, Inverness, Fla.


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