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| SOUTHARD TOPS BRONSON LATE MODELS.. HOLBROOK DOMINATES PURE STOCKS | by Dave Westerman
The luck of the draw was about the only thing that didn't go Gary Southard's way Saturday night at Bronson Motor Speedway as he topped the monthly 50-lap Late Model Sportsman feature and nearly won the super Stock headliner.
Southard set fast time of 13.870 on the quarter-mile "Bullring" but drew the five pill for the inversion putting veteran Bruce Gaskins on the pole. Two complete restarts were needed to get the field under way, but when the green finally flew, Southard needed only four laps to wrest the lead away from Gaskins.
On lap eight, Roger Damron got into Gaskins sending him into a wild spin. Damron went to the back of the field while Gaskins retained his spot. Doc Batson was the driver on the charge as he powered his way to second and set sail after Southard just as the caution flew on lap 14 for a tangle involving Jerome Brown and newcomer Josh Byrd.
Batson began to put the pressure on Southard once the green came out again, but Southard seemed to have a good handle on the track. The next, and final caution came out on lap 22 when Brock Oglesby got into Gaskins in turn four with Gaskins taking yet another wild spin. Under caution, Gaskins returned the favor in turn one, ripping the rear bodywork off Oglesby's Monte Carlo. Gaskins was disqualified for the evening and sent to the pits while the 13-year-old Oglesby tried to return but found the damage to great to continue.
From that point it was a crowd-pleasing two car battle the rest of the way between Southard and Batson who finished in that order. Roger Damron came back for third followed by Josh Byrd and Wayne Feagle.
Southard already knew how Batson felt as it was "close, but no cigar" for him in the Super Stock 20-lapper as Rob Cooper led every lap of the race despite incredible pressure from Southard, who had to settle for second capping a good night for the driver who has his shop just down the road from the speedway. Al Bouchard took the checker third in the Super Stock feature trailed by Joey Long and Robbie Pedrick.
Jason Holbrook led by as much as a straightaway in dominating the Pure Stock feature, leading all 20 laps. Donnie Roberts lost an engine in the car he originally brought to the track, so he went home and got another one that appeared to be faster...at least it was good enough for second place. Doug Webster took third spot followed by Mickey Burns and Frank Osteen.
Tater Stalnaker again dominated the Mini Stocks in his Minimonte Carlo. Jeff Stalnaker, Jr. was second ahead of Larry Goolsby, Chet Marlowe, and Jim Ervin.
COMPLETE RESULTS - BRONSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY - 9/29/01
LATE MODELS (50 laps):
1. Gary Southard, Bronson #29
2. Doc Batson, Inverness #4
3. Roger Damron, Chiefland #76
4. Josh Byrd, San Mateo #42
5. Wayne Feagle, Alachua #67
6. Marty Butcher, Oklawaha #24
7. Brock Oglesby, Ocala #88
8. Jerome Brown, Newberry #25
9. Bruce Gaskins, Inverness #37 (DQ)
SUPER STOCKS (20 laps):
1. Rob Cooper, Bronson #98
2. Gary Southard, Bronson #39
3. Al Bouchard, Williston #74
4. Joey Long, Bronson #27
5. Robbie Pedrick, Newberry #89
6. Wesley Keller, Dunellon #71
7. Doc Batson, Inverness #B4
8. Dwight Pinner, High Springs #22
9. Bubba Hodge, Chiefland #18
PURE STOCKS (20 laps):
1. Jason Holbrook, Morriston #17
2. Donnie Roberts, Bronson #62
3. Doug Webster, Ocala #72
4. Micky Burns, Hernando #22
5. Frank Osteen, Otter Creek #15
6. Larry Welters, Williston #58
7. Gerry Hodge, Cross City #37
8. Patrick Lewis, Inverness #46
9. Mark Sanders, Hernando #9X
10. Greg Dick, Crystal River #10
11. Krystal Batson, Inverness #4
12. John Moore, Otter Creek #44
13. Buddy Moore, Trenton #13
14. Mike Sarrells, Jacksonville #66 (DNS)
MINI STOCKS (20 laps):
1. Tater Stalnaker, Williston #14
2. Jeff Stalnaker, Jr., Ocala #10
3. Larry Goolsby, Williston #27
4. Chet Marlowe, Williston #72
5. Jim Ervin, Dunellon #0
6. Charles Francis, Bronson #81
7. Jeff Stalnaker, Sr., Ocala #11
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