(Tampa, FL; 10/14/2000) Skip Pannel of Albany, GA took home the $5000 check to win the 100-lap National Late Model Sportsman race on the clay oval along a dry slick track. This was far from an easy win for Pannel, who may have not been the best car in the field. But the breaks went his way, as he took the lead on the 45th lap from Shane Hilton of Quitman, GA in the black and yellow #7. Hilton seemed to be the class of the field, leading all but one lap from the start, but a broken shock mount put him on the sideline.

With nine cautions in the 100 circuits it was a stop-and-go affair, with most of the yellows occurring from spins. There was only one major pile-up, which occurred on lap 48, involving John Rankin, Cicel Euntis and Paul George in the green #88. As the laps wound down, Pannel went into turn one and lost control and spun, bringing out the yellow. As it were, there were only four cars on the lead lap with the P1 of Pannel as the fourth car in line since lapped cars go behind the lead lap cars. As the green flew, the top three cars were beating and banging on each other causing all three to go high in turn one; Pannel went low and as they say, "you know the rest of the story." This was his first win of the year in this series. Ivedent Lloyd finished in the runner-up spot, and James Powell rounded out the top three.

It was the night for a first time winner in the Late Models as Phillip Cobb picked his first win in style, as he outlasted the veterans of the class in beating Bobby Alexander, Sr. and Jack Nosbisch, Jr. Cobb grabbed the lead from Greg Meredith on the third lap, and it was his from there. Pressure was applied every lap as David Schmauss, Alexander and Nosbisch pressed the rookie, but he wasn't shaken as he kept his high-line in turns one and two while putting the right rear on the cushion, getting a bite, and hugging the bottom in turns three and four. As the young Cobb climbed out with his fist raised and a dance on the roof, he thanked his family and sponsors. This is the first of many more to follow.

The Sprints had a full field again as some missing faces of Brian Maddox and Bob Winegardner made a return. With the season coming to an end, the aggressiveness of the drivers picked up as many guys found themselves on their top. In the heat, Brady Alvis, who is in a points battle with Casey Johnson, saw his night go away early in his #22. But, the same crash collected Casey Johnson, Tommy Martin and Jesse Foredyce.

The main event had some tough breaks and some not so "sportsman" like conduct. On the start, there was a no start which caused a bang up of a few cars and taking one of the top guys out in Sport Allen as he sat on the inside front wall after he was dropped kicked in the rear end. Danny Curry in the Beef O'Brady's jumped out front and seemed to be very strong, but Roland Johnson in the orange and white 72 had them all covered as he was to never be headed again.

In a midrace crash as a pack of cars were headed down the back stretch the black 41 of Gene Lasker got in the back of Bob Winegardner and never backed off pushing the 11 of Bob Winegardner into the wall, roof first and tearing down the wall. Track officials sent Lasker home early for ruff driving. As for Winegardner, he went to Texas and bought some top cars from John Bankston; he has scrapped two cars in two trips to the track. In a last lap crash, the third best rated 360 Sprinter in the country, Kenny Adams, found himself on his lid up against the fourth turn wall and Danny Curry adding a little push. Finishing in second was Robbie Smith and Brady Alvis finishing in the show position in a borrowed car of Mike Partin.

The Limited Late Models had a full field with Danny Bowman and Roger Crouse in the winner's circle. The feature had to be timed out due to the early morning hours and the 30-minute time limit. Don Gasner rounded out the top three.

The Mini-Stocks filled there time slot and made it a full race of side by side racing, along with an eight car crash that blocked the track. Jamie Burrows lead the Mini's feature until his motor went south handing the lead to Thomas Hampton. Hampton led for a time before Scotty Williams found his way to the lead and never looked back. The second and third place cars were Thomas Hampton and Tony Pineiro.

The Limited Sprints found Gene Lasker with the black and white flag as he ran the high side and was untouchable. Starting in the rear of the field found the moisture on the high side, and he made it work for him. Travis Bleimeister finished second and Clyde Poole rounded out the top three.

The Street Stocks were rescheduled with double feature due to the curfew.

-Jay Parrish-

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