By Gil Peck
John Naber brought the # 3 Mini-Truck home for the win again as hebeat Lil"J" , Jeff Stalnaker and Chad Dixon to the checkered Saturdaynite. These four cylinder cars run like " the big boys" and , on anygiven nite, each is capable of a win. John Naber is working on anotherstring of victories with two. The list was broken two weeks ago, whenhe finished third; not bad, for a mini-truck!



Bronson Speedway hosted the Classic Auto Race Series lastSaturday nite as they joined the rest of the Bronson Race Series to puton a " classic" show. These cars are fiberglass replicas of the 1932and 34 Ford and Chevrolet Coupes and sedans and are powered by modernday Chevrolet motors. They REALLY race! They are not justimmaculatelatly prepared show cars , but they storm through the cornerswith the power of today's modifieds and late models. Orlando native EdYates won the 25 lap feature event in his 1934 Chevy coupe aftersnatching the lead from Dan Hammerbeck, who lost power in his # 2Chevrolet after leading for 19 consecutive laps. Rodney Yeary wasdefending his two previous nites' outings that resulted in wins, butdid'nt have quite enough to stay with the leaders. He finished fourthin the event. Yates and Bud Spencer in the # 7 machine had been battlingall race long for second, when caution flew for a spin by rookie SimeonSpagnulo in turn four. The re-start, with just two laps to go saw Yatesand Spencer go at with Rod Eary closing fast. Yates prevailed for the "photo finish " win with Spencer and Eary fishing second and thirdrespectively . These cars will be back at Bronson in August and thedate, August 26th is well worth circling.


SUPER STOCK


Arthur Conquest brought the Bronson Lube/Rockoustic drywall #70 Nova into Victory Lane again after a great race with Wesley Keller,last year's track champion in his # 34 Carrier Air Camaro. Keller chasedConquest through heavy traffic and nearly lost the car in thebackstretch on lap # 9 . These two cars were no match in the early goingfor Brody Giddens # 46 who built up a substantial lead and held it untillap # 9 , when the car just plain stopped right on the mainstraightaway. Heavy traffic stormed past as cars scrambled for positionbefore the caution flew. " That was some ride down the backstretch!"exclaimed Wes Keller after the race. "The car got off the pavement andI thought it was going to climb the sandwall!" He gave Arthur all hecould handle, but the Nova held on for the win. Be sure to be with usthis week as this ferocious class of cars again takes to the track fortheir feature.


PURE STOCK


A happy Jerome Brown backed up last week's win with another onein his Cheifland Flea Market # 25 Camaro. He made it look easy, as therest of the field played " catch -up " . This one feels even betterthan last week!", he told me after the race. " The car was PERFECT!";and his smile was a little bigger , too.. Mom, Patti who works with thisannouncer in " the booth" and Dad were justifiably proud, as well.There was plenty of good racing for positions 2 thru 4 as John Hughes,Gerry Hodge, and Tommy Ausborn raced. The race started off with JohnHughes ( # 77 ) and Ausborn ( # 69) scrambling for the lead. Jerome (Brown) was closing fast when the # 77 and # 69 spun right in front ofhim. Jerome jumped through the only hole there was and grabbed thelead as the caution flew. Lap # 14 saw more contact between JohnHughes and Tommy Ausorn. Both cars went to the rear again, but on there-start , Hughes made some beautiful passes in his # 77 Camaro to clawhis way back up to a second place finish. David Kidd had a new sponsoron board ( CCC Air conditioning of Ocala) and held on to finish fifth.Gerry Hodge survived a heat race crash with repaired damage to hispretty # 37 Buick Regal and finished third while Tommy Ausborn wasfourth.


MINI-STOCK


"July, 1998, was the last time I held the checkered flag", said avery proud Larry Goolsby after his win in the MINI-STOCKS last Saturdaynite. After three attempts and two crashes BEFORE the feature eventcompleted a lap, these tightly bunched screamers were finally underway.Goolsby's # 27 Cheifland Machine shop entry was strong all nite and hewasted no time in grabbing the lead , once the race got going. Josh "Thumper" Hars runs with a rabbit painted on the nose of his pretty DrJay's # 04 and he badly wanted to grab the win for the " EasterBunny". It was not to be, though, as he lost control of the car in turnfour after a charge that had him contending with Goolsby for the win.The car spun all the way around, allowing Jeff Stalnaker to get by inhis # 10 Pinto out of Ocala. Kenny drow and David Westrich had hardcontact on the first attempted start. Westrich's car slammed the walland was done for the nite, while Kenny Drow was able to continue andfinished fifth in the event. " That was some hit", said Westrich afterthe race. " I've got the harness bruises to prove it. I guess I'll besore in the morning!'' He may be, but don't count this great competitorout. He has late model experience, super stock experience, and will getmost any car he drives to the front. He 's one to watch in 2000.


RESULTS


CLASSIC RACE SERIES COUPES


1) # 74 Ed Yates, Orlando, Fla.
2) # 7 Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor, Fla.
3) # 6 Rodney Eary, Orlando, Fla.
4) # 2 Dan Hammerbeck, Clermont, Fla.
5) # 4 Eddie Thornton, Orlando,Fla.


PURE STOCKS


1 ) # 25 Jerome Brown, Newberry, Fla.
2) # 77 John Hughes, Hernando, Fla.
3) # 37 Gerry Hodge, Cross City, Fla.
4) # 69 Tommy Ausborn, Bronson, Fla.
5) # 03 David Kidd, Morriston, Fla.


SUPER STOCKS


1) # 70 Arthur Conquest, Bronson, Fla.
2) # 34 Wesley Keller, Lake City, Fla.
3) # 38 David Westrich, Old Town, Fla.
4) # 57 Fred Tuski, Crystal River, Fla.
5) # 3 Tim Roberson, Cheifland, Fla.


MINI-STOCKS


1) # 27 Larry Goolsby, Williston, Fla.
2) # 10 Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. , Ocala, Fla.
3) # 04 Josh Hars, Williston, Fla.
4) # 00 Mitch Clenny, Archer, Fla.
5) # 05 Kenny Drow, Williston, Fla.


4-Cylinder Cruisers


1) # 3 John Naber, Dunnellon, Fla.
2) # 10 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr., Ocala, Fla.
3) # 27 Chad Dixon, Ocala, Fla.
4) # 6 Jason Reynolds, Inverness, Fla.
5) # 25 Mitch Clenny, Archer, Fla.


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