|
| Ocala Sportsmen Checkers Fall to Roberts | by Diana Brake
Ocala, FL, June 30, 2001 - The Ocala Speedway was under threat of rain, but the showers never came. Racing was hot and the stands were packed for the regular Saturday night features and the special SARA Modifieds 50-lap race.
The Ford of Ocala Jr. Cups opened the evening's event. Eddie Kilbury Jr. (82) sat on the pole, and Conner Baxley (64) sat outside. Baxley got off to a great start and took the lead. Kilbury Jr. kept the pressure turned up on Baxley though for every lap. Conner Baxley held on to take the win. Eddie Kilbury Jr., finished second.
The Coca-Cola Four Cylinder Bombers filled the track. Neal Durbin (21) sat on the pole, and Bill Brezner (19) sat outside. A yellow flag flew before the first lap could be completed so a double-up restart was called. When the green came out again, Robert Oxendine (24) worked his way to the front and took the point by the second lap. John Nabor (3) was right behind Oxendine. A yellow flag interrupted the action momentarily, but racing resumed quickly. Oxendine and Nabor began a heated battle and after several laps, the bumping took them both out for a spin. Both drivers were restarted from the rear. Marlon Durbin (72) took over the point and began to run away. Another yellow flag flew before the race finished, but the leaders were unaffected. Marlon Durbin took the checkered flag for the win. Kyle Helt finished second followed by Richard Kuhn, Ric Fort and John Nabor.
The WTRS Pure Stocks were rearing to go. Roger Brass (81) sat on the pole, and Pete Close (86) sat on the outside. Brass jumped well and took the lead. Close was right behind him. A few laps into the feature, Close bumped Brass from behind, sending Brass spinning down the front stretch. Close restarted in the rear and Brass regained the point. The feature was running fast and at the halfway point, Brass had a considerable lead. Moose Alderman (7) was running second from a ways back. With one lap to go, something happened to Brass in turn four and his car slid straight into the wall. Brass slid down the front stretch wall with the #99 car pushing his bumper. Brass had to be towed. With one lap to go, Moose Alderman was suddenly the leader, and he held tight to take the checkered flag. Jamie Dunn finished second followed by Jerry Avery, Michael Perry and David Danielson.
The Steven A. Bagen Sportsmen stormed from the pits. Charles Kopach (53) sat on the pole, and Tommy Roberts (44) sat on the outside. Roberts jumped hard and took the point with Kopach close behind. Within three laps though, Mike Wilson (79) had overtaken Kopach to sit in second position. Just before the halfway point, Kopach spun in turn two and hooked up with a barrier tire. Not knowing it was under his front bumper, Kopach continued down the backstretch until it became apparent that something wasn't right. There were several more yellow flags, but none that affected the leaders. Roberts and Wilson battled hard for the entire race. Tommy Roberts held off all challenges to take the checkered flag for the win. Mike Wilson finished second followed by William Edwards, Rob McCalip and Patrick Mennenga.
The SARA Modifieds brought in a large field of cars. Gary Southard was the fastest qualifier, followed by Raymond Vann and then Red Vann. After the pill was drawn the invert had the top two qualifiers starting from the fifth row. Larry Martin (07) sat on the pole, and Troy Robinson (0) sat on the outside. Yellow flag began to appear. After the first lap, a car spun in turn four. Martin continued to lead the pack, but another yellow appeared a couple of laps later when two cars tangled in the backstretch wall. One lap later a car slipped in turn three and landed in the wall. The restart was called, but three cars slipped in turn two to bring out yet another flag. Through this haze, Red Vann (15), Gary Southard (39) and Raymond Vann (99) had worked their way into fourth, fifth and sixth positions respectively. Several laps ticked off, but then the third position car (Jamie Burrows, 11b) tapped the second position car (Aric Almirola, 14), causing him to spin in turn four. Red Vann and Southard narrowly missed taking damage in the mishap. Almirola regained second position, and Burrows restarted in the rear. Finally laps were connecting and drivers were settled in to race. Martin continued to hold the point, but Southard was hot on his tail. More yellows flew for various minor incidents, but leaders were unaffected. Finally, Southard was able to break free. Martin appeared to lose power as he slipped back to fourth. A yellow flag flew soon after for a car that hit the wall in turn four, so Gary Southard had a clear track and the freedom to fly with thirty-seven laps completed. Raymond Vann now sat in second. The rest of the race was caution free and Gary Southard drove hard to take the checkered flag. Raymond Vann finished second followed by Larry Martin, Scott Millar and Jamie Burrows.
The Ocala Speedway 2001 season will continue with weekly racing. Next week, June 7th, there will be a short, one week break for the 4th of July Holiday. The next week, July 14th, all classes will race, plus the Mini Cup cars and a Mechanic's Race. Another bonus is that July 14th is Ladies Night with FREE admission for Ladies Only. Come out every Saturday night during the regular season for the many exciting features. This is high-action racing fun for the whole family.
Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board!
or send a letter to the editor!
|
