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| Pierce 2 out of 3 in DeSoto LLM | by Ken Willis
Marty "Bud" Pierce of Sanford went flag to flag to take the win in the Turner Tree & Landscape Limited Late Models 50 lap feature event at DeSoto Speedway Saturday night. Starting from the pole position Pierce held off a late charge by Rich Rogero of Davie to claim the checkered flag. "We've won twice out of the three times we come here," Pierce said. "Tonight was even better because it was just me, my dad and one helper. We did all the work, brought the car to the track and taking it home in one piece." Pierce was pressured through 45 laps by Joe Boyd of Riverview and Jeff Dufresne but the two bumped between turns one and two, bringing out the caution flag. "I got lucky the 5 and 34 weren't there at the end," Pierce said. "they would've given me trouble." Boyd, driving the number 5, and Dufresne in the 34, were sent to the rear of the field. Rogero took over second place with Rick Wilson of Bartow in third place. "On the start we just weren't as quick as the other guys," Rogero said. "We had a fourth place finish until the two guys tangled at the end. In the middle of the race the long green flag helped me. We've got the car running pretty good." Winston Cup driver Rick Wilson brought his Limited out to challenge the 18 car field and found the standard at DeSoto Speedway. "These guys run good!" Wilson said. "This is the first time I've run with these guys and they've got some good hotrods. They can get her done. I want to thank everyone for coming out, and I want to thank all my sponsors. If not for them I couldn't be here. I'll be back."
The eighth time was a charm for D.J. Hoelzle of Dunedin who blazed to the winners circle in the Callaghan Tire Open Wheel Modifieds. Hoelzle had recorded seven second place finishes and holds first place in the points standings. It was his first checkered flag in the Open Wheels this season. "It was fun, we've been trying to beat Teddy and it feel good," Hoelzle said. "We had a little trouble during practice earlier but the crew did a great job getting the car back together and we came out here and finally got the win we've been looking ofr all season." Teddy Nelson of Pinellas Park took second in the event with Caleb Reschar of Palmetto in third and Barry Carlson of Largo taking fourth.
Casey Hall of Tampa raced to the winners circle in the Comcast Street Stock to show off his new sponsor, Bobby Allison Wireless of Tampa. "It the company I work for, and he's the man," Hall said, referring to Babby Allison. "I want to thank my Uncle, Grandmother and Grandfather for all the hard work they've done on the car. They helped put me here. Rich Clouser of Grant, Fl placed second and Todd Wozniak third.
Mark Gill of Bradenton took his fifth feature win of the season in the Contemporary Cabinetry & Closet Concepts Pure Stock. David Yahraus of Sarasota placed second and Randy Radley of Bradenton took third place. Jeff Guilbault of Sarasota took an early lead and held off all comers to collected the win in the Manatee Lumber Modified Minis. "We've had a real good car all year long," Guilbault said. "But we've also had a lot of bad luck here. Tonight everything fell my way and we got a win. Racer's luck is 90 percent of it sometimes. I'd like to thank my wife for standing by me. She's been right there with me, nine months pregnant and all. She can have the baby now, we won." Tony Elrod Jr of Lakeland placed second and Ronnie Allen of Lehigh Acres took third.
Todd Freed of Bradenton collected the win in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis. 
"We got lucky tonight," Freed said. "There was a wreck behind me. I thought I was out of it before it started. But we were in it. I have to thank everyone that helped me. I really have to thank Doug Carroll, he worked hard all week." Tony Elrod Jr of Lakeland placed second. Jeanne Whitted of Sarasota took third place.
TOP TEN:
TURNER TREE & LANDSCAPE LIMITED LATE MODEL:
1. #76 Marty Pierce, Sanford;
2. #71 Richard Rogero, Davie;
3. #62 Rick Wilson, Barto;
4. #45 Sonny Hughes, Bradenton;
5. #36 Tommy Younkman, Sarasota;
6. #99 Paul Schier;
7. #21 Kendrick Gomez, Plantation;
8. #7 George Couse, Sarasota;
9. #34 Jeff Dufresne;
10. #88 Tommy Kelly, Myakka.
CALLAGHAN TIRE OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED:
1. #8 D.J. Hoelzle, Dunedin;
2. #34 Teddy Nelson, Pinellas Park;
3. #22 Caleb Reschar, Palmetto;
4. #3 Barry Carlson, Largo.
COMCAST STREET STOCK:
1. #12 Casey Hall, Tampa;
2. #8 Rich Clouser, Grant, Fl;
3. #10 Todd Wozniak;
4. #67 Shawn Best, Sarasota;
5. #05 Bruce Sherwood, Bradenton;
6. #8 Sue Purington, Nokomis;
7. #12 Dan Hall, Sarasota;
8. #31 Ricky Beasley, Venice;
9. #47 Bruce Ahlers, Bradenton;
10. #45 Robert Ruggier.
CONTEMPORARY CABINETRY & CLOSET CONCEPTS PURE STOCK:
1. #54 Mark Gill, Bradenton;
2. #67 David Yahraus, Sarasota;
3. #31 Randy Radley, Bradenton;
4. #3 John Bayer;
5. #6 Danny Anderson, Bradenton;
6. #52t Keith Thorbin;
7. #68 Stewart Bradshaw, Tampa;
8. #52 John Clouser;
9. #4 Bob Petrilli, Sarasota;
10. #74 Paul Huffstutler, Bradenton.
MANATEE LUMBER MODIFIED MINI:
1. #44 Jeff Guilbault, Sarasota;
2. #70 Tony Elrod Jr, Lakeland;
3. #68 Ronnie Allen, Lehigh Acres;
4. #7 Steve Martin, Pinellas Park;
5. #95 Clay Joseph, Bradenton;
6. #3 Matt Watts, Dade City;
7. #47 Mark Gonzalez, Wesley Chapel;
8. #72 Chip Gaines, Sarasota;
9. #5 Steve Gill, Sarasota;
10. #7 Phil Cruse.
Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS MINI STOCK:
1. #97 Todd Freed, Bradenton;
2. #70 Tony Elrod Jr, Lakeland;
3. #9 Jeanne Whitted, Sarasota;
4. #14 Jon Bailey, St. Petersburg;
5. #17x Syndee Brown, Bradenton;
6. #68 Danny Poling, Sarasota;
7. #23 Mike Gayle, Sarasota;
8. #81 Neil Martin, Palmetto;
9. #8 Steve Glover, Bradenton;
10. #35 Greg Krom, Sarasota.
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