(Ocala, FL, 10/21/2000) The weather was mild, and the features were exciting. The fans were treated to a variety of entertainment.

The Classic Cars were up first thing to run a make-up race that had been rained out previously. Jim Rahman (5) sat on the pole, and David Nunes (54) sat on the outside. Nunes was quick to start and took the early lead. Nunes held off the challenges of Rahman and Eddie Thornton (4) until the seventh lap when a yellow flag flew. Dan Hammerbeck (2) and Danny Shearer (77) got together coming into turn four, and Hammerbeck's car climbed up Shearer's left front tire, onto the hood. Hammerbeck's car then continued to roll until it came to rest on the driver's side door. The flag instantly turned to red, and the track crew raced to Hammerbeck's aid. He was fine and the crew righted the car, pushing it to the pits. Shearer went to the pits under his own power and returned minus the hood.

Racing resumed with Nunes still leading, but shortly, Rahman and Thornton had to give way to Rodney Eary (6). Nunes held Eary back for a further eight laps. Eary took the lead on the seventeenth lap but a lap later, a yellow flag flew for two cars that had spun. Racing resumed and Ed Yates (74) jumped very well, taking second position behind Eary. Rodney Eary was not to be overcome tonight, and he took the checkered flag. Ed Yates finished second followed by David Nunes, Jim Rahman and Eddie Thornton.

The Junior Cup Cars came out tonight. Mariah Berry (24) sat on the pole, and Conner Baxley (64) sat on the outside. Berry took off hard and held the lead. Baxley was putting in a valiant effort, but Mariah Berry held him off to take the checkered flag. Conner Baxley came in a close second.

The crowed was excited to see the Roll-over Derby get underway. Three cars came to compete and every one of them rolled at least once. The winner would be the one who rolled his car the most and it came down to the last car to be able to move in a straight line.

The Coca Cola Four Cylinder Bombers put on a great show tonight. Ray Mattieu (49) sat on the pole, and John Hagen (23) sat on the outside. The first start failed in turn four as the green flag was still flying. Mattieu got lose and sideways in front of Darren Dukes (4) who spun into the infield. Chauna Johnston (43) also spun infield as did Carl Thomas (19). The restart was doubled up again. This time, everything went as planned and the drivers got serious. Dukes and Thomas battled for first position, but behind them, Tom Roberts (7) was gaining ground. By lap four, Roberts had taken the lead, and three laps later, Neal Durbin (33) had made it into second. These cars were all racing bumper to bumper and after lap eight, Marlon Durbin (72) got loose coming out of turn four. He spun across all lanes of traffic and came to rest in the infield. Miraculously, no one hit him although Johnston again found herself in the middle of the confusion. When the green flag flew again, Roberts had the point, and very quickly, Kris Richardson (11) claimed second and began to pressure Roberts. On the last lap, Richardson tapped Roberts on the bumper and both cars got loose. Both drivers showed extraordinary skill by keeping their cars on the pavement and no one else in the tightly packed field was able to take advantage. Tom Roberts held on to take the checkered flag. Kris Richardson finished second followed by Neal Durbin, Chauna Johnston and Marlon Durbin.

The WTRS Pure Stocks filled the track. Paul Gladin (9) sat on the pole, and Michael Fiddia (41) sat on the outside. Gladin jumped very hard and took a strong lead. Richard McGlashen (113) quickly moved up to second position but Gladin was still way out front. Dave Dinehart (79) was the man to watch though as he moved up through the pack. A yellow flag flew after lap three when Rick Hart (13) took a punch at the turn one wall. When the green flag flew, Dinehart was quick to take the lead, doing it from third position, and again, McGlashen followed him into second. One more yellow flag flew for this feature, but it didn't cause a change among the leaders. McGlashen was being challenged by Doug Levesque. Levesque finally got by to take second position. Dinehart pressed on to take the checkered flag with a good solid lead. Doug Levesque finished second followed by Richard McGlashen, Mike Davis and Mark Mitchell.

The Steven A. Bagen Street Stocks filled the track. Jason Gamble (16) sat on the pole, and Mike Wilson (79) sat on the outside. Wilson took the lead early and started a strong run. Glenn Baum (23) moved up into second position with Gamble holding third. After lap seven, Gamble and Charles Kopach (53) got tangled in turn four, bringing out the first of two yellow flags. Both drivers went to the rear, allowing Bob Brennan (11) to sit in third. Wilson continued on, looking untouchable. After lap thirteen, two cars spun in turn one, bringing out the final yellow. On the restart, Wilson started well, but then he seemed to slip through turn four, scraping the wall. No real damage resulted, but the hit caused him to slow enough to allow Baum, Brennan and Kopach, who had been making impressive gains, to get by. With two laps to go, Wilson didn't have the time he needed to make a full recovery. Glenn Baum took the checkered flag for the first time this year. A very happy Baum was followed by Charles Kopach, Mike Wilson, Bob Brennan and Chris Fadling.

The Classic Cars returned for their regular feature. Simeion Spagnuolo (21) sat on the pole, and David Nunes (54) sat on the outside. Spagnuolo took the lead and raced away. Danny Shearer (77) moved up to take second. A yellow flag flew after the second lap when a three-car pile up in turn one had to be cleared. Spagnuolo resumed racing at the point. A few laps later, Rodney Eary (6) began to make his presence known. Shearer seemed to lose power, and he slipped back out of the top five. Dan Hammerbeck (2) had recovered well from the thrilling ride he took in the previous Classic feature, and he was moving up strongly. Two more yellow flag slowed the action, but the leaders were unaffected. Eary and Nunes were in a furious battle for second position, each holding that place for several laps at a time. Simeion Spagnuolo had the magic tonight though, holding on to take the checkered flag for the first time in his career. Rodney Eary came in second followed by David Nunes, Dan Hammerbeck and Jim Rahman.

The Budweiser Modifieds filled the track tonight. Johnny Newsome (31) sat on the pole, and Raymond Vann (99) sat on the outside. Newsome jumped hard for the lead but before the first lap could be completed, a yellow flag flew when a car spun through turn two. A double up restart was called. Newsome didn't jump as well this time and Raymond Vann took the lead. But, again the yellow flag stopped the racers when several cars spun coming down the front stretch. On the single file restart, Newsome had the point free and clear. One lap later, the final yellow for the feature appeared when Brent Jordan (04) smacked the front stretch wall very hard. From this point on, Newsome had a clean shot and he put it to good use. Each driver had his line and there were six cars that were able to run bumper to bumper. The lines were such that no one could pass the man in front and Johnny Newsome led them all to the wire. Raymond Vann came in second, holding Red Vann to third. Scott Millar finished fourth followed by Alan McCafferty.

The $1000 to win Demolition Derby was the last event of the evening. Twelve cars were on hand to compete and that they did. Each driver gave it all he had. The parts flew high, the smoke was thick and the banging was ear splitting. When the smoke had cleared, every car had taken considerable damage. It didn't seem as if anyone had just lost an engine and quit, all cars were able to wreak great havoc and each showed the battle scars. The final few minutes were given over to Jim Bertotto in his crowd pleasing, number 54 police cruiser, and Charles Brower driving the 686 car. Bertotto was finally overcome by Brower's still very strong wagon. Charles Brower took the checkered flag and the official win.

The Ocala Speedway 2000 season continues with weekly racing. Next week, will feature all the regular divisions plus the Pro Figure-8's, a Powder Puff race and the hilarious Bag Race. Come out every Saturday night during the regular season for the many exciting features. This is high-action racing fun for the whole family.

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