June 17, 2000
Kevin Durden was the big winner in the Late Model Sportsman "Dash for Cash" at Bronson's famed "Bullring" Saturday night. Durden had his Monte Carlo "hooked up" and led every lap from start to finish to bag his $1,000 first prize. What made the victory even sweeter was that it was Kevin's birthday.

Gainesville's, Chris Tedder, gave Durden plenty of company as he placed himself in the leader's tire tracks and tried several times to make the pass in the feature. On several occasions, Tedder thrilled the crowd (and probably Durden) as he pulled alongside. He was just not able to make the pass stick as the high banks were particularly slick Saturday.

"Somebody was putting down oil or the few raindrops made the place real greasy", fourth place fiinisher, Gene Owen told me after the race. "It was still a great show. I hope the fans had as much fun as we did," he said. Gene was celebrating Father's Day as his son, Kyle also competed in the event.

The outcome was in doubt until the very end, as Randy King, #54, spun coming out of turn four on lap 44 in his King's Oil and Tire. The restart left a 6-lap shootout for the leader Mike Faulk had to deal with heavy traffic to get to the leaders and closed on Durden and Tedder to finish third.

Pure Stocks

Points leader, Jerome Brown, broke a motor last week and had some work to do to protect his lead this week. He was "on a mission" as he put his # 25 Cheifland Flea Market Camaro in Victory Lane once again Saturday night. Gerry Hodge had his machine going and ran with Jerome for the entire feature. He finished second, ahead of John Hughes.

The John and Jerome show, didn't develop Saturday as it usally does. "The car was loose and we just didn't have enough for Jerome. Wait til next week!" said the likeable and enthusiastic Hodge.

"We were off a little, tonite," said John Hughes. "We'll go back and make a few adjustments and continue the John and Jerome show next week", he said after the race was over. That's if some of the other "hot dogs" in this very competitive series don't have something to say about it!

At one point, the fans were treater to three abreast racing as the front four cars battled for position. That's tough to do in turns 1 and 2. Tonight they were making it work in turn 4 with the concrete wall staring right at them as they did. John Hedberg finished fourth and Jason Holbrook was fifth.

Mini-Stocks

Talk about WILD! This fiesty group of "four bangers" were all over one another Saturday night as Larry Goolsby outran Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. and finished first. These two were at it last week when they crashed coming out of turn 4 and were done for the evening.

This Saturday saw the same scenario unfolding as the #10 entry of Stalnaker and Goolsby's #27 Cheifland Machine Shop entry ran nose to tail for the entire feature. Jeff Stalnaker tried several times to get under Larry, but Goolsby's car was strong enough to hold off the challenge.

"That's as good as it gets," Jeff told me after the race. "The track was real slick and it was hard to make the car stick on the bottom, but we sure had fun!" So did the fans!

Several cautions slowed the feature with the biggest one coming as the field exited turn 4 on lap 12. Kenny Drow got sideways in the Dr. Jay's entry and collected his teamate, Josh Hars (#04), Steve Cockrell (#18), and Charlie Stalnaker (#11).

Cockrell and Charlie Stalnaker scooted into the pits for some fast repairs. Cockrell's car emerged looking like a mini-modified with no fenders and no hood.

Charlie Stalnaker had extensive damage on the right side of his car, including damage to the exhaust pipe. "Where did it go?" asked Charlie after the race, referring to the now missing piece of exhaust pipe. "The last I saw of it, it bounced out of the race track and over the wall in turn 3!" I told him, which is just an indication of the close quarters racing these guys deliver every week.

One thing is for sure. They will all be back "after it" next week. William Stalnaker had a nice run in his # 59 BMW out of Ocala, FL. He finished third. William is "bringing along" a very talented driver in Chad Dixon. Chad ran the car in the heat races to get some "seat time" and William drove the feature.

Super Stock

Donnie Roberts brought the Mayo Cabinets #24 Buick home in first place Saturday after being out due to illness the pass couple of weeks. "I feel much better, now!" he told me after the race.

The car had a good run and bested the machines of Michael Wright (#82) and Fred Tuski (#57) in the feature. These three ran nose to tail and side by side and provided a good show.

4-Cylinder Cruiser

John Naber got back in the #3 Papa "J's" mini-truck after loaning the ride to a couple of drivers including Dusty Bouchard the past couple of weeks. He continued his winning ways and brought the truck home first, after being chased most of the night by Lil"J", Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. in his Pinto.

Jeff tried several times to make the pass, but couldn't as he was being pursued by Ryan Nagele (#9) and Mitch Clenny(#25) in the Gator Family Haircutters car.

This is a great class to begin racing at the "Bullring." If you are wanting to go racing, this is the class to start.

Be sure to be with us next week, when this great racing action continues and the Classic Cars join the Bronson Race Series to "Get It On At The Bullring!" Racing starts at 7:30 PM.

-Gil Peck-

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