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| Reschar Takes OWM Trophy at DeSoto | Tim Chitwood drove the Chevy S-10 pickup around the track as easily as riding a bicycle... and on the same number of wheels. In the Joie Chitwood "Fire, Thunder and Lightning Show" at DeSoto Speedway Saturday night, Tampa's Tim Chitwood took three tries to keep the pickup balanced on its two left wheels but in the end he circled the three-eight mile track as easily as driving a sedan on a Sunday afternoon. In fact Chitwood learned the two wheel stunt the same way as most people learn to ride a bicycle, with practice. And it's paid off for the 30-year veteran stunt man. "We've done about 50 feature films over the year," Chitwood said. "Probably the most famous one is the James Bond 'Live and Let Die.' We also did 'Assassins' with Sly Stallone and Tony Banderas. We usually do one or two a year. It's all we have time for with us on the road." Chitwood also drove a Pontiac Firebird forward and backwards then went into the spins made famous in the movies and brought a standing ovation from the crowd. "We'd like to come down to Bradenton once a year," Chitwood said. "We've been here three or four time and we're always well received." Sarasota's Chuck Fortson, a 25 year veteran of the stunt business, piloted the Chitwood $150,000 Hollywood Thunder Jet Truck in a blazing display of Jet power on the oval track. Powered by a F7U Cutlass Navy Jet Fighter the engine produces more than 6000 horsepower and consume more than 75 gallons of fuel. After a refueling stop Fortson backed up to a pair of cars and aimed the 1300 degree output at the vehicles, leaving a flaming mass of metal in his wake. "This is the only street legal Jet truck in the world," Fortson said. "I can drive it to a show, do the show, then drive back home in it." Although powered by a 350 V8 up front, with the after burners kicked in the Hollywood Thunder was clocked at 181.9 M.P.H. at the airport in Zephyrhills. The Joie Chitwood "Fire, Thunder and Lightning Show" kept the fans enthralled at half time but the action before and after intermission kept them on the edge of their seats.
Caleb Reschar of Palmetto, just two years behind the wheel of a stock car blazed to the winners circle in the Callaghan Tire Open Wheel Modifieds. "I finally did it," said Reschar, 20, who outgunned three of the top drivers in the division. "This is first win in about two years and my last one was in go-karts. This is my first win in a race car. It's great." Pat Nanney of Bradenton placed second. Teddy Nelson of Pinellas Park took third place and D.J. Hoelzle of Dunedin was fourth.
Todd Bontrager of Sarasota took the checkered flag in the DeSoto Trucks feature race for his second win in a row. "It's a little easier when you start up front," Bontrager said. "I drew ninth but pulled second in the pits when they drew again. I got lucky, and this 305 runs like a 350." James Glover of Pinellas Park placed second and Ted Kempgens of Tampa took third place.
Ben Kelly of North Port took the win in the Comcast Street Stock. "It's been a long time coming," Kelly said. "I haven't won since I was in the Novice class. I spent two weeks fixing it after putting it in the wall two weeks ago. I guess I bent something right." Ricky Beasley of Venice placed second and Sue Purington of Nokomis took third place.
Mark Gill of Bradenton took the win in the Pure Stock. David Yahraus of Sarasota placed second. Gary Flinn of Palmetto took third place.
Jimmy Warram of Punta Gorda collected his first win after a seven year layoff in the Manatee Lumber Modified Minis. Steve Gill of Sarasota placed second. Ronnie Allen of Lehigh Acres took third place. Robert Haygood of Bradenton won in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis. Todd Freed of Bradenton placed second. Tony Elrod Jr of Lakeland took third place.
Murray Hall of Bradenton roared to the win in the DeSoto Speedway TQ Midgets. "I was kind of contemplating the long run with no traffic," Hall said. "We went for the highway gear. After this we're going up north to run against the best of the best. and the guys here in Florida carry a lot of weight." John Rosploch of Sarasota placed second and Ted Durfee of Bradenton took third place.
by Ken Willis
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