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| DeSoto Late Model Win Goes to Anderson | Dick Anderson of Wildwood, known as the King of the Short Track, returned for the second Late Model event of the season at DeSoto Speedway last Saturday night. And in just eight laps he began to rule. Although taking a 14.47 fast time into the 125-lap event, Anderson pulled a fifth place start. The starting place was of little concern to the man who for 38 years has established himself as the best short track racer in the business.
Using the inside lane Anderson, methodically worked his way into first place. "I took the easy way on the inside, the hard way is the outside," Anderson said. "My car was just awesome and no one was running really good tonight."
Once Anderson took the lead, he drove solid and clean, letting the six caution flags work themselves out behind him. By lap 80, Anderson was using the outside lane to pass lapped cars. He held an easy three-car lead as he took the checkered flag. "I've had a fantastic year so far," Anderson said. "And it just keeps on rolling on. I'm tickled to death."
Scott Grossenbacher of San Antonio placed second. "Dick's really got that thing going good," Grossenbacher said. "My car was working pretty good. I really can't complain. It was a really long run and there at the end it was running a little loose. I think this was the first race I've finished here on eight cylinders."
Jeff Emery of Longwood took third place. "I had a good time," said Emery, a well-known racer at DeSoto Speedway. "I've always liked coming down here. It's a lot different than some of the other tracks, with a decent show."
Anderson won the $3000 top purse in front of more than 2000 fans who also saw Matt Watts of Dade City collect his second Manatee Lumber Modified Mini shootout championship in as many years. Watts took the lead early in the race and held off a hard challenge by Frank Welch of N. Ft. Myers.
"I had a little trouble on the restarts but I got it figured out," Watts said. "I want to thanks everyone that stuck with me. This thing wouldn't turn and they never gave up on it. That's why we're here. And especially thanks to all the fans; they're what makes it possible."
"I think we've got it figured out now," said Welch, who won last week but suffered a technical DQ. "We're running a stock motor now. And it's still running good."
Sarasota's Steve Gill took third place in the shootout. "We're happy to finish in the top three," Gill said. "We got the car working and the bugs out of it. It'll take a little more time, but we'll get it. I found the groove the car was working best in, but we ran out of time."
In other races: Teddy Nelson of Pinellas Park celebrated his eighth wedding anniversary with his second win in a row in the Callaghan Tire Open-Wheel Modifieds. "I especially want to thank my wife," Nelson said. "I stay away from home a lot to work on this car, and she puts up with it. This was a really good race." D.J. Hoelzle of Dunedin placed second, and Rocco Rannallo of Bradenton took third.
Dennis Wilson, Jr. of Bradenton took his first win of the season in the Comcast Street Stock in style and announced his possible retirement from the division. "It was a tough race, and I finished on seven cylinders," Wilson said. "And in a couple of weeks, I'm coming out in a new Open-Wheel Modified." Sue Purington of Nokomis placed second, and Dan Hall of Sarasota took third place in the event.
David Yahraus of Sarasota took the win in the Contemporary Cabinetry & Closet Concepts Pure Stock. "It was real fun," said Yahraus after his first feature win. "I had a bad push, but it worked out. I've had a pretty good year so far; two seconds and a first." Mark Gill of Bradenton placed second, and Jeff Firestine of Nokomis took third.
Todd Freed of Bradenton collected the win in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis. "The car's been running great and this is a great way to start the season," Freed said. "I saw a couple of cars spin out and thought someone would catch me, but the car's been running great. We're going after the championship, and we have a heckuva start." Jesse Dutilly of Bradenton placed second, and Greg Krom of Sarasota took third place.
Murray Hall of Bradenton roared to the win in the DeSoto Speedway TQ Midgets. "This is actually my first win," Hall said. "I've been out of racing for more than 20 years. I've had three runs in a midgets and to win against someone of Mike Elder's caliber, I feel pretty good." Mike Elder of Bradenton placed second, and Jack Duffy of Sarasota took third place.
-by Ken Willis
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