(Punta Gorda, FL; 10/28/2000) Rusty Hillman (North Fort Myers) set fast time qualifying in the final leg of the Circle One Limited Late Model 6-Pack Series at Charlotte County Speedway. It was Johnny "Action" Jackson (Ellenton) and Greg Kaouk (Pembroke Pines) who sat on the front row after the Top 10 qualifiers pulled pills for position. As Jackson led the way, Randy "Hondo" Fox (Lehigh Acres) and Smokin' Joe Sumasky began dicing back and forth for second with Sumasky finally getting around Fox, while Jackson pulled away in front of them.

Jackson maintained the lead as Sumasky, Fox, Richie Anderson (North Fort Myers) and Points Leader Brad Barkis (Fort Myers) followed close behind, as lapped traffic began to be a factor in the race. The crowd was on its feet as Sumasky and Fox began battling for second again, with Fox passing Sumasky just before the halfway point. As Fox began to gain ground on Jackson, a lapped car almost took them out as he spun on lap 52.

On the restart, Jackson and Fox again pulled away from the multi-car freight train, and soon they were racing side-by-side until Doug Moff (Fort Myers) spun, bringing out the yellow flag yet again. Hillman's luck wore out as he experienced mechanical difficulties, causing his early retirement and ending any hope of catching Barkis in the championship chase.

Time and time again, Fox raced beside Action Jackson, doing his utmost to take the lead but was unable to do so. Jackson took the win, in his best race to date at CCS, while Fox had to settle for second. Sumasky, Anderson and newly crowned champion Barkis rounded out the Top Five. Glenn Morris (Bokeelia) took the Hard Charger Award.

Darrell Suggs (Arcadia) sat on the pole in the Marlow-Werner Sportsman leading a three-car freight train that included Cliff Bifaro (Naples) and Ralph Goddard (Naples). Bifaro got around Suggs on lap 6 to take the lead, leaving Suggs and Goddard in his wake. On lap 17, Ralph Goddard took a spin, causing a fright as Roger Smith's car ended up on top of Ralph's son, Jeremy. Fortunately, neither driver was hurt and Bifaro again checked out on his competitors, taking the win. Suggs and Jerry Bryant (Punta Gorda) followed him to round out the Top Three. Suggs (Arcadia) did take a heat win earlier in the evening, as did Jeremy Goddard.

You could tell Halloween was in the air as another scare occurred as the Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors came around to complete the first lap. A multi-car wreck on the front stretch caused Donna Connolly (Lehigh Acres) to flip her car for the second time of her racing career, but she emerged unscathed. When the track was cleared and the race restarted, Chuck Stevens (Fort Myers) led the way. Stevens, Rookie Chris Oncken (Ft. Myers), "Tipover" Terry Price (Punta Gorda) and Bob Williams (Naples) raced side-by-side until they finally had a melee late in the race and Oncken went spinning down the front stretch, bringing out the yellow flag.

Stevens held on to take the win, as Williams and Price finished second and third. Stevens had his best night of racing as he also took home a heat win trophy, as did Del Beckner (Naples).

Johnny Allen (Lehigh Acres) dominated the Big Wheels Mini-Stocks feature, but all eyes were on Points Leader Frank Welch (North Fort Myers) and Mid-season Champion Steve Arnold (Cape Coral) who battled for position behind the leaders, with Welch retaining his narrow lead going into the last month of the racing season. Allen took an impressive win and was followed by Danny Yates (Cape Coral) and Brian Richardson (North Fort Myers). Allen also took home a first place heat trophy, as did Jason Kuykendall (Punta Gorda).

Cheryl "The Pearl" Weaver (Port Charlotte) spun on the start of the Hendry's Mango Maniacs Cowboy Cadillacs feature but catapulted to the front within two laps. Running in second was Don Vanacker (Punta Gorda) who is still hoping to gain enough points on Weaver to be crowned champion on November 18. Weaver took the win with a straightaway lead on Vanacker, but the championship is still up for grabs between the two. Justin Bryant (Arcadia) finished third and took the win in the heat race.

Halloween will be celebrated late this year at the Speedway as the "Annual Trick or Treat the Drivers" takes place on November 5. There will also be a costume contest and games for the kids. Perennial track favorites, the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association Winged Sprints, are on the schedule for the evening.

The Limited Late Models, Pure Stocks, Mini-Stocks, Road Warriors and Cowboy Cadillacs will join them for a spooktacular evening of racing action.

Charlotte County Speedway is located at 8655 Piper Road, I-75 exit 28, and follow the Charlotte County. Airport signs. Gates open at 4 p.m. and qualifying begins at 6 p.m. For more information, call 575-2422.

-Robin Meiser-


CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS OCTOBER 28, 2000

Marlow-Werner Sportsman 1. Cliff Bifaro #12 Naples 2. Darrell Suggs #98 Arcadia 3. Jerry Bryant #9 Punta Gorda 4. Ralph Goddard #39 Naples 5. Raymond Jones #8 Arcadia Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors 1. Chuck Stevens #74 Fort Myers 2. Bob Williams #MOO Naples 3. Terry Price #47 Punta Gorda 4. Joe Bossey #28 Englewood 5. Mike LeBeau #42 Port Charlotte

Circle One Limited Late Model 6-Pack Series 1. Johnny Jackson #1 Ellenton 2. Randy Fox #4 Lehigh Acres 3. Joe Sumasky #12 Lehigh Acres 4. Richie Anderson #51 North Fort Myers 5. Brad Barkis #90 Fort Myers (2000 Series Champion)

Big Wheels Mini Stocks 1. Johnny Allen #68 Lehigh Acres 2. Danny Yates #3 Cape Coral 3. Brian Richardson #56 North Fort Myers 4. Keith Risinger #94 Fort Myers 5. Ronnie Allen #68A Lehigh Acres

Hendry's Mango Maniacs Cowboy Cadillacs 1. Cheryl Weaver #7 Port Charlotte 2. Don Vanacker #80X Punta Gorda 3. Justin Bryant #24 Arcadia 4. Hugh Alexander #91 Punta Gorda 5. Raymond Tucker #44 North Fort Myers

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