(Ocala, FL; 11/4/2000) Ocala Speedway ran hot tonight with full fields in every division. Fans watched some great competitions and cheered for their favorites.

The Junior Cup Cars came out first tonight. Mariah Berry (24) sat on the pole to start the feature, and Conner Baxley (64) sat on the outside. There was a bit of bumping and rubbing to start, but with the completion of one lap, Baxley had gained the lead. Baxley ran strong for the whole feature. Conner Baxley took the checkered flag. He also won the heat feature. Mariah Berry came in second.

The Coca Cola Four Cylinder Bombers put on a great show tonight. Robert Oxendine (24) sat on the pole, and Kris Richardson (11) sat on the outside. Richardson took the lead after a short battle with Oxendine. Bobby Valeo (8) rode along in third position for the first eight laps, but then he found an opening and got by Oxendine. Pete Close was driving the 43x car tonight, and he began an intensive effort that gained him the third position behind Valeo. Two yellow flags slowed the race momentarily, but neither affected the front runners. Kris Richardson raced way ahead and claimed the checkered flag. Bobby Valeo finished second followed by Pete Close, Robert Oxendine and Marlon Durbin.

The WTRS Pure Stocks filled the track. Paul Gladin (9) sat on the pole, and Larry Welter (58) sat on the outside. There was bumping and tapping as the green flag flew. A car got loose in turn four, hanging on enough to get through only to lose traction completely in turn one. A complete double-up restart was called. Gladin got out front early, getting several lengths of lead as the others fought for position behind him. Jamie Dunn (24) held second position for two laps then he gave way to Cliff White (81). A yellow flag slowed the action when Dunn and Tim Ellis (72) tangled and spun between turns one and two. On the restart Gladin still led with White in second, but Doug Levesque (68) was charging hard and gaining ground.

The battle was joined by Mike Davis (00) though and everything changed. Davis flew by everyone to take the lead. Levesque moved up to take second but he was unable to get close enough to seriously challenge Davis. One more yellow flag flew so that track crew could pick up some debris, but after that, it was a hard race to the wire. Mike Davis took the checkered flag followed by Doug Levesque, Dave Dinehart, Richard McGlashen and Paul Gladin.

The Steven A. Bagen Street Stocks filled the track. Patrick Mennenga (16) sat on the pole, and Mike Wilson (79) sat on the outside. Wilson took the lead with Mennenga following in second. Glenn Baum (23) was riding third, looking very hungry. Mennenga slipped back into position. Charles Kopach (53) looked very strong in fourth, but by the fourth lap, he had given way to Eddie Kilbury (71). Once Kilbury got on the move, he gained positions quickly, moving up to sit in third close behind Baum and Wilson. A yellow flag flew when a car spun in turn four after the sixth lap. Another car had apparently lost a motor coming into turn three so a quick cleanup was called.

When racing resumed, Wilson took off hard. Kilbury was trying to go outside around Baum and got loose in turn four, hitting the wall. He was able to move under his own power, and the racing resumed. Kilbury was in the rear now, but never count him out until the end. Sure enough, Kilbury gained five spots within one lap of the restart. Glenn Baum put out some tremendous effort to overcome Wilson, but Wilson was racing hot tonight. Kilbury managed to pass Kopach one more time to regain third position. Mike Wilson was the winner tonight, taking the checkered flag once again. Glenn Baum came in second followed closely by Eddie Kilbury and Charles Kopach. Bob Masciarelli filled out the top five.

The Allison Legacy Cars were in town tonight. Dwayne Dentmon (14) sat on the pole, and Jeff Conyers (00) sat on the outside. The green flag flew and the two leaders got tangled in turn four. A complete restart was called, and Dentmon started in the rear. Neil McClelland (57) moved up to take the pole position, and he took good advantage by jumping well into the lead. Two more yellow flags slowed the action, but McClelland maintained his lead and let the others fight it out behind him. The going was tight for Billy Dentmon (60), Conyers, Brian Varner (30) and Dwayne Dentmon. Neil McClelland took the checkered flag followed by Jeff Conyers, Brian Varner, Dwayne Dentmon and Billy Dentmon.

The Budweiser Modifieds filled the track tonight, and many drivers are coming to prepare for the $5000-to-win Budweiser 200-lap race next week. Good thing too because it sure looked like they need a lot of practice. Jack Icard (39) sat on the pole, and Wayne Wells (23) sat on the outside. The green flag fell and chaos broke out. Michael Jenkins (2) spun in turn four but no damage was done. A full restart was called. This time the pack made it to turn one before Jenkins and John Clair tangled and spun. The single file restart should have helped, but again a car spun in turn four.

Racing finally started for real with Icard leading the way. The battle for second position was so furious, Icard was able to open up a lead of several car lengths. He held this lead for five laps. A yellow flag slowed the pack when Jenkins spun again in turn two. This closed up Icard's good lead and on the restart, E.J. Wise (7) powered by to take the lead. Yellow flags popped out every third lap or so. Wise spun after lap six, and Raymond Vann (99) moved up to take the point. Icard was still holding on to second position, but Scott Millar (14) and Alan McCafferty (32g) were right there to keep the pressure up. Then McCafferty spun in turn three, and Rick Hall (15) moved up to fourth.

All this while, Red Vann (32) was moving up through the pack, staying out of trouble and eventually he pulled into second. Raymond Vann held Red at bay to take the checkered flag. Red Vann came in second followed by Scott Millar, Gary Southard and Shane Nichols. Make plans to be at Ocala Speedway on November 11th, 2000 for the special Budweiser 200 for Modifieds. It should be one of the best races of the season.

The Ocala Speedway 2000 season continues with weekly racing. Next week will feature all the regular divisions running 25-lap features and the big $5,000-to-win Budweiser 200 for Modifieds. Come out every Saturday night during the regular season for the many exciting features. This is high-action racing fun for the whole family.

Be sure to follow all the action complete with the season schedule, updated results, points and photos on the Ocala Speedway web site at http://www.ocalaspeedway.com.

-Daina Brake-

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