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| THORNTON TOPS SOUTH 40 CLASSICS AT OCALA FOR FIFTH STRAIGHT WIN | by Dave Westerman
Orlando's Eddie Thornton was again the dominant force as he won his fifth consecutive South 40 Motorsports Classic Auto Racing Series feature event Saturday night at Ocala Speedway.
Simeon Spagnuolo won the second heat race by a bumper over Russ Antonucci and earned the pole for the feature on the track where he scored his first and only South 40 Classics win late last year.
Spagnuolo quickly assumed the early lead while first heat winner Dan Hammerbeck moved swiftly into second. Thornton started seventh but was right on Hammerbeck's rear bumper when the first caution flag flew on lap six for a turn four tangle involving E.T. McGhee at Bud Spencer.
Spagnuolo continued to set the pace as Hammerbeck slid high in turn two allowing Thornton to slip into second only to give it right back to Hammerbeck by driving too hard into turn four. Hammerbeck and Thornton charged past Spagnuolo only to see the yellow flag come out for Russ Antonucci's spin in turn one. That put Spagnuolo back at the head of the pack, but not for long as the high-flying duo charged by him on the restart bringing a very fast Danny Shearer right with them.
Hammerbeck's chance to end Thornton's win streak came to an end when he drove a bit too deep into turn three on lap eleven. That opened the door for Thornton as he made the pass for the top spot. The third caution of the race flew a lap later as McGhee and George Hall, Jr. got together in turn four. Spagnuolo dropped out at this point with a flat tire. One more lap was completed under green before Antonucci spun in turn four for the race's final caution.
Thornton raced the final two laps of the 15-lapper unchallenged to his seventh win in his past nine races driving the Mike List AMSOIL Special. Hammerbeck held on for second while Shearer came from ninth on the starting grid to third, earning the Action Performance Hard Charger Award. Jim Rahman had another solid performance coming home fourth while Ed Yates rounded out the top five but lost more ground to Thornton in the season point race. E.T. McGhee came back from two incidents to place ninth and earn the FASTWAX Rookie of the Race Award.
The evening's feature event was sponsored by Lakeshore Tree Farm of Orlando. The South 40 Motorsports Classic Auto Racing Series will be in action for the fourth consecutive week as the drivers head south for a Saturday night shoot-out at Charlotte County Speedway.
OFFICIAL RESULTS - OCALA SPEEDWAY - 10/13/01:
1. Eddie Thornton, Orlando, AMSOIL #4
2. Dan Hammerbeck, Clermont, Don's Paint & Body/ABC Bus Co. #2
3. Danny Shearer, Melbourne, Economy Auto/S.E. Staffing/Don Bell Inc #77
4. Jim Rahman, Clermont, Romac Lumber/Magic Electric/Westmonte Homes #5
5. Ed Yates, Orlando, Lakeshore Tree Farm #74
6. George Hall III, St. Petersburg, Cold Fire Thermal Cycling #9
7. George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg, Cold Fire Thermal Cycling #32
8. Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor, Cold Fire Thermal Cycling #7
9. E.T. McGhee, Deland, Grief Racing #1
10. Russ Antonucci, Jacksonville, Speedway Graphics #46
11. Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach, ABCO Garage Doors/Mark's Mobil #21
12. Al Hagan, Merritt Island, Bryant Heating & Cooling #6
13. Harvey Ewing, Brooksville, Ewing Motorsports #17
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