Starting the second half of the racing season Jeff Wogoman of Ft Myers took the win in the Southern Comfort Pools Limited Late Models 50 lap feature event at DeSoto Speedway Saturday night. "We got a couple of dings but we made it through," Wogoman said. "Sonny (Hughes) was faster than us but his handling began going away." Hughes, from Bradenton set fast time for the event with a 14.98 lap time (90 mph.) Hughes grabbed the lead on lap three and led the race until lap 43 when Wogoman went low between turns one and two and took the lead, with Richard Kelley of Gulfport hard on his bumper. "My brakes went out on me," said a disappointed Hughes. "That's the way it goes." Wogoman held the lead through the rest of the race and claimed the checkered flag. "I saw that orange 61 on my bumper behind me," he said, "It wasn't an easy race but we made it through. We're happy to win one." Kelley finished second Hughes took third place in the event.


High Flying Todd Bontrager of Sarasota claimed his sixth win of the season as he took the checkered flag in the DeSoto Speedway Pro Trucks feature event. "At least I got to start up front this time," Bontrager said. "It made it a lot easier. I didn't bang up the truck getting there. I knew Gill would be tough when he got up there but we were running just a little bit better." Ron Gill of Sarasota placed second. Dennis Rockenhaus of North Ft Myers took third place.


Steve Gainey of Bradenton grabbed the win in the Selective HR Solutions Sportsman feature event. "It was tough coming up through the field," Gainey said. "The holes would open then close. That's racing. This class is really growing, It's going to be a good class. Lonny Miller of Bradenton placed second in the 25 lap event and Bo Tillman of Lake Placid took third place.


Dennis Wilson Jr of Bradenton used the mid-season break to watch the big boys in the Brickyard then returned to DeSoto Speedway to claim the win in the Express Personnel Service Street Stock feature event. "I went to Indianapolis," Wilson said. "And you always learn something around those boys. We kind of got bunched up this race but it worked out." Scott Faulkner of Sarasota placed second and Joey Barnes of Bradenton took third place.


Howard Higgins of Arcadia took the win in Contemporary Cabinetry & Closet Concepts Pure Stock feature event. "We had a car blow a motor and the track got a little slick," Higgins said. "Up until then it wasn't too bad. Still, it was a good race." Troy Davis of Bradenton placed second. Ed Kratzert of Bradenton took third place.


Kenny Hankins of Lakeland took his second straight win in the Manatee Lumber Modified Minis feature event. And the Lakeland High School student has a right to be proud. "We must of found something good on the car," he said. "This is four straight wins for us, two here and two at Orlando. It's the same set up we've had for a long time and the only thing we do is change the air pressure a little." Shawn Williams of Kathleen took second in the event and Matt Watts of Dade City took third.


Syndee Brown of Bradenton grabbed the checkered flag in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis feature event. "Everyone was running good," Brown said. "It was good, tough racing. All you can do is hang in there. It worked for me tonight. It was fun." Robert Haygood of Bradenton placed second and Arlin Pope of Bradenton took third place.


Mark Gimmler of Palm Beach Gardens won the DeSoto Speedway TQ Midgets feature event. Mike Elder of Bradenton placed second and Wendy Mathis of Ocala took third place. "The car is set up good, but what it takes is driving" Gimmler said. "On this track you have to drive it down into the corners and get back on the gas. If you don't do that you're not going to win. You got to set the car up right, know what you want and after that just drive. This track is fast and you start at a fast pace."


In the last event of the evening Bill Arrowsmith and Danny Manchester teamed up again to win the Chain race.


For the second time this season Bayflite was called to DeSoto Speedway due to an accident. Ted Riper, an official with the DSP Truck series, was injured in a fall. Due to a cut on the back of his head, and because Riper is undergoing chemotherapy, the decision was made to transport the injured man to Bayfront Medical center for evaluation. We all wish him a speedy recovery.
by:Ken Willis


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