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| Ocala "Eve of Destruction" | by Diana Brake
Ocala, FL, May 12, 2001 - Ocala Speedway hosted the Eve of Destruction tonight. Smash 'em, bash 'em, race 'em, crash 'em: Standard fare at Florida's fastest short track.
The Junior Cup Cars raced first tonight. Conner Baxley (64) sat on the pole. Baxley took a strong lead and held it to the wire. Eddie Kilbury Jr. raced hard but he could had to settle for second. Elizabeth Gentry, Victoria Gentry and Hunter Overton followed in that order.
The Coca-Cola Four Cylinder Bombers turned out in force. Terry Dunbar (32) sat on the pole, and Joey Durbin (33) sat on the outside. The first start went bad when four cars tangled in turn two. Two cars went pitside, but on the restart, Joey quickly took the lead and Darren Dukes (4) moved up to take second. Another yellow flag flew when car spun through turn four. Within a lap after the restart, Dukes saw a hole under Joey, and he slipped through to take the lead. Justin Durbin (72x) had worked his way up to third, and now the Durbin boys began to battle hard. Rubbing got intense and Joey spun through turn four. On the restart, Joey and Justin went to the rear. Dukes continued to lead, but now Ric Fort (2) and Wayne Wallace (7) were in the top three. A final caution flew near the end so the restart was green/white. Darren Dukes raced ahead to take the checkered flag. Ric Fort came in second followed by Wayne Wallace, Joey Durbin, and A.J. Schriner.
The WTRS Pure Stocks were hot tonight. Frank Buchanan (07) sat on the pole, and Jamie Dunn (24) sat on the outside. Buchanan jumped to the lead as Mark Mitchell (71) moved up to take second. Buchanan, Mitchell, Pete Close (86), Roger Brass (81) and Moose Alderman (7) formed a train, they were all so close together. The one yellow flag was thrown when a car spewed heavy smoke going into turn one and another car spun. The heat was turned up on the restart. Close slipped past Mitchell to start pressuring Buchanan. With two laps to go, Close finally got by Buchanan to take the lead. Pete Close took the wire and the checkered flag. Frank Buchanan finished second followed by Mark Mitchell, Moose Alderman and Roger Brass.
The Steven A. Bagen Sportsmen were rearing to go. Kyle Habig (6) sat on the pole, and Tommy Brakeman (20) sat on the outside. The first lap was completed, but coming into turn four Habig slipped sidways and spun. Habig was given back the lead spot, but Tommy Roberts (44) was sent to the rear. On the restart, Brakeman grabbed the lead, and Chris Fadling (33) moved up to sit in second. This was to be William Edwards' (08) night though. He was quickly working his way up through the pack. Edwards took the lead and Mike Wilson (79) and Bob Masciarelli (72) followed him through the gap he made. William Edwards ran a great race to take the win. Mike Wilson finished second followed by Bob Masciarelli, Tom Posavec and Doug Levesque.
The Florida Mini-cup cars were in town tonight. The track was filled with the little late model look-a-likes. Calvin Lewis (21) sat on the pole, and Doug Smith (17) sat on the outside. Smith quickly took the lead but Brett Johnson (70) was not to be left behind. The pressure was intense and on the eighth lap, Johnson made good an his bid to take the point. Shortly after this, the yellow flew and the pack was regrouped. Johnson retained the point for the restart, but Smith was slick and grabbed it back on that first lap. Smith was able to outmaneuver Johnson until there were two laps to go. Johnson found a hole coming into turn four and squeaked through to take the lead a second time. Brett Johnson raced hard and took the checkered flag. Doug Smith finished a close second. Steve Smith finished third followed by Terry Tullis and Tom Clark. Wendy Kash took the checkered flag for the Future Stars division that raced concurrently.
The Budweiser Modifieds roared onto the track. Mark Ryder (16) started on the pole, and Monty Morgan (46) sat on the outside. Before the first lap could be completed, Morgan spun on the backstretch and a double-up restart was called. On the restart Morgan grabbed the lead, but he found he was battling Eddie Kilbury (71) to keep that spot. Within two laps, Kilbury had wiggled by Morgan to take the point. Troy Robinson (0) also moved up to take second. A yellow flag that flew halfway through the feature didn't affect the leaders, but the second yellow flag that flew because everything changed. Kilbury had a secure lead but coming into turn four he lost traction and spun. This put Robinson in the lead. John Clair (44) was running well, and he now sat in second. Troy Robinson finished strong to take the checkered flag. John Clair finished second followed by Monty Morgan, Rick Brewer and Mark Ryder.
Unlimited Figure 8 drivers were racing tonight. Gordon Brown (19) started on the pole, and J.T. Sharone (1) sat on the outside. Battles were being hard-fought all over the track, but the most intense one was between "Rockin" Rodney Davis (89) and Kenny Thornton (88). Thornton managed to keep the lead for the majority of the race, but near the end, Davis turned up the heat and blew everyone away. "Rockin" Rodney Davis took the checkered flag. Kenny Thornton finished second followed by John Kahl, Gordon Brown and J.T. Sharone.
The School Bus Figure 8 race was on tap tonight. Eight buses started the feature in single-file. Very quickly the cross-roads became congested as the long string of buses fought for position. Ted in the #8 grabbed the lead and John Mamph (18) sat in second. About five buses met at the crossroad and several impacts were heard. Nothing major was damaged, but the #8 bus had stalled. A red flag was thrown because the road was blocked. The drivers were restarted where they sat so the leader was hard to determine. The race finished with no further incidents and Ted was declared the winner. The feature was a special just-for-fun race so there were no hard feelings although Justin Durbin, who drove the #10 bus was probably the rightful winner. Joey Durbin (5), Frank Buchanan (9) and Moose Alderman (70) and others all put on a great show.
There was a Demolition Derby to close out the Eve of Destruction. Fifteen cars entered, but only thirteen started. Thirteen cars trying to smash each other to bits is a very exciting thing to watch. The carnage was immediate and very quickly, the field was narrowed down to an intrepid few. One red flag was thrown when a car caught fire. The fire crew quickly extinguished the blaze and destruction continued. The #54 car was declared the winner. Tim Mathieu in the 331 car took second and Roy Bare (42) finished third.
The Ocala Speedway 2001 season will continue with weekly racing. Next week, May 18th and 19th, is a special weekend. Qualifying for all divisions will be held on Friday. Saturday will feature all the division races PLUS this year's first $10,000 to win ENDURO. Come out every Saturday night during the regular season for the many exciting features. This is high-action racing fun for the whole family.
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