(Bronson; 7/8/2000) Kevin Durden won his second in a row 50-lap "Dash for Cash" as the Late Model Sportsman cars came a callin' at Bronson's high-banked bullring Saturday night. Kevin outlasted the field in a ferocious battle that saw Mike Faulk chase him, clinging to his bumper for the last twenty laps.

"We were lucky to stay with him the way we did," said Faulk after the race. "The car was 'way loose' and was a handful. What a great run!"

Kevin was one happy fella in the victory lane celebration. "He was there, and I knew it; but I thought he would race me clean. After all, I work on his car for all the SARA races, and if he had spun me, I might get a wrench stuck in his motor next week!" said a joking Kevin Durden. Kevin, Mike Faulk, and his dad, Lee Faulk, are very close and comprise a very strong SARA team. Mike is currently leading in "Rookie of the Year" points in that touring division.

Doc Batson completed the third of a three-car lead draft that broke away from the rest of the field in a race of their own. Herb Neuman had a strong car and was in contention for the win until his car spun on lap 38 coming out of turn four. The field scattered quickly to avoid any contact, and Nueman had a brilliant run from the back of the pack to finish fourth in the event.

PURE STOCK
Jerome Brown is making it a habit to finish in Victory Lane, and Saturday night was no exception as he bested Gerry Hodge for the win. Gerry's #37 Buick Regal from Cross City, FL ran side-by-side and swapped the lead a couple of times with Jerome in the feature, keeping the crowd on their feet until the checkered flag flew.

Mickey Burns, Jr. of Hernando was third. "What a lot of fun we had tonight," said Jerome, as his Cheifland Flea Market machine was rolled onto the trailer after the race. "Gerry is a great competitor, he races hard every week. He gave me a lot to think about tonight!"

Gerry felt the same. "Jerome is a lot of fun to race with", he said after the race. "We really had fun tonight!" The drivers in this division, along with the rest of the Bronson series are really professional and put on a whale of show every Saturday night. The racing this week was exceptionallly clean and close in this, and all the divisions.

MINI-STOCK
Boy, were these guys goin' at it Saturday night! The action started in the heat races, as several cautions flew when close racing collected several cars. Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. received the worst of things in the heat race when his spinning #10 was nailed broadside in the side by Ryan Nagele when he had no place to go to avoid the wreck. Both cars suffered severe damage, but Jeff's was able to continue and make the feature.

Ryan was running his 4-CYLINDER CRUISER machine with Chad Dixon and Dusty Bouchard as this division combined with the "Big Boys" (Mini- Stocks) to run their feature. It made for a great show and gave the younger guys some valuable experience.

"How did you like running with your Dad and the others?" I asked Lil' "J" after the race.

"It was wild!" he told me. "I wouldn't want to do it every week. Those guys are FAST and we (the 4-CYLINDER CRUISERS) had to run 'up top' to give them the racing room to get by."

Tater Stalnaker won the feature event in his beautiful new #14 Video Central machine, only to be protested by second place finisher, Larry Goolsby (#27 Cheifland Machine Shop), and torn down after the race. The car was legal and the win stood firm for Tater.

Jeff Stalnaker finished third in his damaged #10 Pinto. "I'm a little sore and banged up and I think the car suffered some suspension damage. It was a bear to make it turn left in the feature," stated Stalnaker after the race.

SUPER STOCKS
Wesley Burton visited his old home track Saturday night and borrowed the #38 ride normally driven by David Westrich. He thrilled the crowd and himself as he brought the car home first for the win. Wesley is working the Winston Cup circuit as a mechanic and a driver. He lives in Charlotte, NC (home of the Big Boys) and is making a name for himself there. He is attending UNC, and perhaps just as important, recently won the National Legends Cars Championship.

"He's had a lot of track time here at Bronson. He was champ of the go carts when they ran here," Randy Dean told me after the race. Randy is a top notch mechanic himself and prepares several of the cars at the bullring.

Brody Giddens finished second in Benny Hodge's #18 machine and continued his strong runs for the front and a possible points championship. The race began with Donny Roberts grabbing the lead; he was pulling away on lap 11, when his engine let go on the main stretch. The restart left Burton and Giddens battling for the lead with Doc Batson in third in his #4 entry. Doc was doing double-duty in the Late Model Sporstman 50-lapper, and must have been pretty tired because this feature came immediately following the Late Models. The final 10 laps were caution free and both contestants and fans were pleased with the outcome.

Racing continues at the bullring this Saturday night, when the DWARF CARS come to town. There is nothing "dwarf" about them, as they get around the track almost as quick as the Late Model Sportsman. They are replicas of Fords and Chevy's of the 1930's--with open wheels, and plenty of action. Gates open at 5:30 with racing starting at 7:30. See ya'll there.

-Gil Peck-

==RESULTS==

LATE MODEL SPORSTMAN
1. #56, Kevin Durden (Archer, FL)
2. #36, Mike Faulk (High Springs, FL)
3. #4, Doc Batson (Inverness, FL)
4. #98, Herb Nueman (Inverness, FL)
5. #06, Brian Hutcheson (Ocala, FL)

SUPER STOCK
1. #38, Wesley Burton (Charlotte, NC)
2. #18, Brody Giddens (Bronson, FL)
3. #4, Doc Batson (Inverness, FL)
4. #6, Larry Davis (Perry, FL)
5. #83, Curtis Youmans (Floral City, FL)

PURE STOCK
1. #25, Jerome Brown (Newberry, FL)
2. #37, Gerry Hodge (Cross City, FL)
3. #22, Mickey Burns, Jr. (Hernando, FL)
4. #17, Jason Holbrook (Morriston, FL)
5. #97, Joey Rolling (Bell, FL)

MINI-STOCK
1. #14, Tater Stalnaker (Williston, FL)
2. #27, Larry Goolsby (Williston, FL)
3. #10, Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. (Ocala, FL)
4. #59, William Stalnaker (Ocala, FL)
5. #6, David Westrich (Old Town, FL)

4-CYLINDER CRUISER
1. #10, Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. (Ocala, FL)
2. #3, Dusty Bouchard (Williston, FL)

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