by Robin Meiser
The end of the season points championship took place at Charlotte County Speedway on November 18. As is always the case, there was a lot of bumping and banging but by the end of the evening all seven regular racing divisions points champions were crowned.

James Dubose (Arcadia) had already been declared the Marlow-Werner Sportman division champion on November 11. While Calvin Fillingame (Alva) led the field after starting on the pole, Jerry Bryant (Punta Gorda) who was second in points going into the race was involved in a wreck on the back stretch but he was able to continue after making a trip to pits. Meanwhile, Raymond "Super Frog" Jones (Arcadia) sat in second position, hoping to take runner-up in the points away from Bryant. On Lap 8, Super Frog leaped to the lead while Champion Dubose went to second, taking Bryant with him. When the checkered flag fell Jones took the win, "King" James Dubose was second and Bryant third. This left Jones and Bryant in a tie for runner up in the points.

Chris Dean (North Fort Myers) has been leading the points for most of the season in the Oldies 95 Open Wheel Modifieds but Ronnie Barnett still had his eye on the championship as well. Kevin Williams (Port Charlotte) led the race from the start, while Dean sat in second and Barnett third as the laps wound down. As Dean and Barnett raced side by side for position, the caution flag flew, leaving Dean in second and Barnett still sat in third. Williams took the win, Dean the championship and second position in the race, while Barnett finished third in the race and second in points. Big Wheels Mini Stocks Points Leader Frank Welch (North Fort Myers) took the lead on Lap 6 of their 25 lap race. For three straight years, he has been in contention to win the points championship only to suffer heartbreak in the past two years as his cars had mechanical problems the last race of the season. Three times was the charm though as Welch took both the win and the 2000 points championship, as Danny Yates (Cape Coral) and Brian Richardson (North Fort Myers) rounded out the Top Three.

Chuck Sweet (Port Charlotte) was declared the 2000 Clear Channel Pure Stocks points champion several weeks back so his competitors raced for the next spots down. Greg "Spiderman" Anderson (Port Charlotte) dominated the race though leading 23 of 25 laps and taking the win in his best race of the season. Elbert Butts (Arcadia) and Danny Caylor (Lehigh Acres) finished second and third.

Jesse Gargus (North Fort Myers) led the Thundering Herd AKA Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors in the opening laps of their season-ending feature race. Meanwhile, Points Leader Denny Ray (Naples) was stuck midway in the pack with runner-up and Midseason Champion Mike LeBeau (Port Charlotte) several spots behind him. Andy Wood (Fort Myers) took the lead, as Ray moved up a few spots while LeBeau fell back a few. Ray had a scary moment when a car spun directly in front of him but he got around safely. Wood took the win, followed by Wayne Wilson (Fort Myers) and "Tip Over" Terry Price (Punta Gorda). Ray was awarded the 2000 championship.

Hard charging GlennMorris' (Bokeelia) consistent finishes despite much adversity this race season earned him the Cat Country Limited Late Model division championship several weeks ago but he still gave his all in this week's 50-lap race. Chris Libak (Fort Myers) led the first laps with John "Taz" Garrett (North Fort Myers) right on his back bumper until the caution flag flew early in the race. Earlier in the race, Circle One Limited Late Model 6-Pack Champion Brad Barkis (Fort Myers) was disqualified for having a crew member on the racing surface. On the restart, Garrett got around Libak to take the lead as the caution flag flew again after one more lap was completed. However, a shuffle took place as Rusty Hillman (North Fort Myers) and Smokin' Joe Sumasky (Lehigh Acres) got around Garrett several laps later, and the two soon pulled away from the rest of the field. As Smokin' Joe began knocking on Hillman's back door, Richie Anderson (North Fort Myers) moved to third and gained ground on the leaders with Johnny "Action" Jackson (Ellenton) following close behind. Hillman, Sumasky and Anderson formed a three-car freight train and when the checkered flag flew Hillman was locomotive, Sumasky was the middle car and Anderson the caboose.

All season long Points Leader Cheryl "The Pearl" Weaver (Port Charlotte) and Don Vanacker (Punta Gorda) have been battling for the points lead in the Hendry Mango Maniacs Cowboy Cadillacs . The last night of racing proved no exception as Vanacker flew to the lead of the race but Weaver stayed right on his bumper until the end of the 15 lap race. It ended with Vanacker winning the battle by taking the win and Weaver winning the war by taking the second championship in her racing career. Weaver also finished the race second and Wally Smith (Naples) was third but was disqualified in post-race technical inspection which moved Hugh Alexander (Port Charlotte) into that position..

While the regular racing season at the Speedway has ended, a special evening of non-points events will take place on December 2 with special events for the kids including a bounce house, face painting and a drawing for two bicycles. The News Years Eve of Destruction and Hangover Enduro will take place on December 31 and January 1.



CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS NOVEMBER 18, 2000 Marlow-Werner Sportsman 1. Raymond Jones #8 Arcadia 2. James Dubose #67 Arcadia (Champion) 3. Jerry Bryant #9 Punta Gorda 4. Cliff Bifaro #12 Naples 5. Jeremy Goddard #40 Naples

Oldies 95 Open Wheel Modifieds 1. Kevin Williams #6 Port Charlotte 2. Chris Dean #80 North Fort Myers (Champion) 3. Ronnie Barnett #72 Port Charlotte 4. Scott Adema #22 Fort Myers 5. Kent McLean #29

Big Wheels Mini Stocks 1. Frank Welch #96 North Fort Myers (Champion) 2. Danny Yates #3 Cape Coral 3. Brian Richardson #56 North Fort Myers 4. Keith Risinger #94 Fort Myers 5. Chase Goodson #16 West Palm Beach

Clear Channel Pure Stocks 1. Greg Anderson #19 Port Charlotte 2. Elbert Butts #31 Arcadia 3. Danny Caylor #7 Lehigh Acres 4. Kay Jackson #91 Punta Gorda 5. Jeff Padilla #21 Lehigh Acres Chuck Sweet #81 Port Charlotte (Champion)

Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors 1. Andy Wood #87 Fort Myers 2. Wayne Wilson #88 Fort Myers 3. Terry Price #27 Punta Gorda 4. Donna Connolly #52 Lehigh Acres 5. Duane Campbell #82 Sarasota Denny Ray #72 Naples (Champion)

Cat Country Limited Late Models 1. Rusty Hillman #7 North Fort Myers 2. Joe Sumasky #12 Lehigh Acres 3. Richie Anderson #51 North Fort Myers 4. Johnny Jackson #1 Ellenton 5. Glenn Morris #107 Bokeelia (Champion)

Hendry's Mango Maniacs Cowboy Cadillacs 1. Don Vanacker #80X Punta Gorda 2. Cheryl Weaver #37 Port Charlotte (Champion) 3. Hugh Alexander #91 Port Charlotte 4. Raymond Tucker #44

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