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| WILD NIGHT OF RACING AT CHARLOTTE COUNTY SPEEDWAY | BY: SARA CARMEAN
Florida Dwarf Car Federation along with Little Vic's Concessions Modified Mini's, Cat Country Limited Late Models, Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors, Big Wheels Mini Stocks, and Kix Country Sportsman put on a show that kept the race fans of Charlotte County Speedway at the edge of their seats. The Little Vic's Concessions Modified Mini's started out the night with #96 Frank Welch off to an early lead followed closely behind by #82 of Jimmy Warram and the #3 of Danny Yates. Into the third lap #3 Danny Yates out of Cape Coral moved up into second place and the challenge for the lead was on. On Lap 18 the #57 of Travis Kuykendall took a hard spin which brought out the caution. It was a wild shootout between the #96, #3 and the #82. When the checkered flew it were #96 of Frank Welch followed by a close second of #3 Danny Yates and a third place finish for the #82 Jimmy Warram.
The Florida Federation Dwarf Cars too the track for 25 laps of hard racing. Pole Sitters were #40 Alian Paradis and #56 of Claude Guay. At the drop of the green flag it was a mad dash down the front straightway. A three-car pile up on the front straightway gave fans young and old the thrills they had paid for to see. The #85 of Roger Wolfe of Sarasota almost went into the pits by going over the front straightway wall. This brought out a complete restart. Lap number two saw the #40 of Alan Paradis and the 24x of Josh Adams followed in a close third by #11 Michael Fortin leading the pack. As lap 14 started the crowd watched as sixteen-year-old Josh Adams took the lead driving the 24x. It was a fight to the finish between #24x, #11 and the #22. A caution on lap 24 gave way for a quick dash to the front. The #11 of Michael Fortin out of Hollywood took the checkered followed by the 24x of Josh Adams of Tenn. and in a close third the #22 of Mike Landis of Delray Beach.
The third feature of the night brought out the Kix's Country Sportsman thirty-five laps of good ole fashion hard racing. Newcomer to the Sportsman class #107 Jim Keating took an early lead followed by #19 of Kenny Eaton and the #40 of Jeremy Goddard. Caution was brought out in lap 7 by a spin in turn two by #39 Phil Johnson. After a single file restart lap 13 showed Kenny Eaton of Lehigh Acres driving car #19 leading the way followed by the #107 of Jim Keating and the #8 of Raymond "Superfrog Jones" leading the pack to a checkered flag finish. The back half of the Super stock Race showed the driving skills of #27 Bryan Beckner, #23 of Butch Murray and the #22 of Danny Yates their battle for position keeps the fans on the edge of their seats. In lap 23 #67 James DuBose of Arcadia got the chance he had been waiting for he moved into third when #107 slowed. This brought out a fight to the finish which gave #19 Kenny Eaton of Lehigh Acres a first place finish, followed by #8 of Super Frog Jones and rounding out the top three #67 "King" James DuBose of Arcadia.
The Cat Country Limited Late Models car #81 Chuck Sweet out to an early lead. Lap 6 saw the #55 of Charlie Lee take a hard spin. This brought out the caution and a single file restart for the Cat Country Limited Late Models. Randy "Hondo" Fox grabbed the lead and fought to hold of the #59 of John Garret, #81 Chuck Sweet, #2 Rodney Calico, and the #1 of Johnny "Action Jackson" a hard run to the front. As the crowd looked on the fans were thrilled to see the #4 of Randy Fox lapping the cars at the back of the pack. Rodney Calico #2 from North Port called it an early night when on 38 he had to take her to the pits, due to mechanical problems. Car #43 driven by Glenn Morris received minor body damage and used the wall to dismantle hanging metal. He had lost his hood and front-end piece but was able to continue. Lap 50 gave the checkered to #4 Randy Fox out of Lehigh Acres, a second place finish to #59 John Garret of Ft. Myers and a third place finish for #43 Glenn Morris out of Bokeelia.
The crowd pleasing Lee's Auto Repair Road Warriors started out the race with #52 Donna Connolly taking a hard spin and being towed in with a broken axle. This gave way for a mad dash to the checkered by everyone on the track. The #21 of Andy Wood took the lead but not before he was challenged by the #Moo of Bob Williams and the #61 of Chris Oncken. Lap 8 sent the #Moo car to the pits and allowed for the #73 car of Del Beckner to challenge for the lead. Side by side racing and three across the racetrack gives excitement to the racers and the fans were on their feet. The checkered flag gave #21 Andy Wood a first place finish followed in second was #73 Del Beckner and #61 Chris Oncken. This may be a beginning class but it really gives the fans a thrill watching the Road Warrior Class.
The final class of racing for the night was the Big Wheels Mini Stocks. The race began with the #31 Harlan Wilson and the #6 of Marshall Parr Sr. sitting the pace. Lap 3 saw the #2 car of Roger Garrett sent to the pits for a fuel leak onto the track. Car #56 Brian Richardson brought out the caution in lap 4 with a hard spin in turn one. As the race continued it was three across with #31 Harlan Wilson, #51 Rick Nastan and the #94 of Keith Risinger battled it out for the checkered flag. On lap 13 the # 69 driven by Dennis Scarborough lost a tire that rolled down pit road before coming to a stop. This gave way to a quick dash to the checkered with #94 Keith Risinger of Ft. Myers taking a victory lap with #56 Brian Richardson out of N. Ft. Myers, following in second and the third place finisher was #51 Rick Nastan out of Sarasota.
On April 28, the Budweiser Open Wheel Modified Six Pack #2 along with the Kix's Country Sportsman, Lee's Auto Detail and Transmisson Pure Stocks, Suncoast Pools and Little Vic's Concession Modified Minis Special 75 laps and Hendry's Mango Maniac Cowboy Cadillacs. See you at the races!
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