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| Bathrick Sportsman Shootout Winner at DeSoto | by Ken Willis
Bill Bathrick of Englewood took the checkered flag and claimed bragging rights in the Selective HR Solutions Sportsman championship shootout at DeSoto Speedway last Saturday night. "We had a good car until the last few laps then it started going away," Bathrick said. "We got a little nervous." Bathrick ran a solid, steady pace behind Johnny Casady and Gus Coorssen of Sarasota until the lap 41 when Casady touched a car in lap traffic and slammed into the retaining wall. Gus Coorssen took over second place and blew his motor half a lap later. With the two leaders out of action, Bathrick claimed the top spot and didn't look back. "It was a good clean race all the way," Bathrick said. "We took a sabbatical a couple of years ago and the car's been in the garage. But we're glad to be back. It was a good race." Hal Vickery of Bradenton placed second in the action-packed race with Cliff Bifaro of Naples taking third place.
More than 100 stock cars filled the pits for an evening of uninterrupted racing, the first in three week due to inclimate weather and a night off for Winston Cup racing. Although lightning had created problems with the scoreboard, not knowing how many laps were covered was of little concern to Jeff Dufresne of Naples who roared to the Pepsi winners circle in the Turner Tree & Landscape Limited Late Models. "I grabbed the crew and told them to keep track of the laps," said Dufresne, who ran a steady patient race. "We've been in this situation before. I said the last time we were here this place owed us one. This is my first win here. I had a couple at Punta Gorda but it means a lot more here." Tommy Kelly of Myakka placed second in the 50 lap feature and Wayne Morris of Mulberry took third place.
D.J. Hoelzle of Dunedin blazed to the winners circle in the Callaghan Tire Open Wheel Modifieds. Pat Nanney of Bradenton placed second. Steve Perez of took third place. "This Trico Chevy was really running good," Hoelzle said. I tried every line I could and finally got a good run. It feels good to be up front."
Jesse Dutilly of Bradenton collected the win in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis. "We had a couple of bad finishes for a coupke of week," Dutilly said. "And we had to start fromt the rear in this race but ended up getting around a couple of guys at the end. something broke about three laps to go and we only had about six, maybe seven cylinders but we held it together." Eric Anderson of Bradenton took second in the feature with Robert Haygood of Bradenton taking third place.
In other races:
More than 30 trucks took the green flag for 25 laps of action and 30-year racing veteran Larry Moyer of Tampa took the win in the DeSoto Truck feature event. "It was a good, tough race," Moyer said. "I want to thank my sponsors and all the fans for coming out. Hope you enjoyed the races." Gary Foxworth placed second and Brian Donahue took third place.
Rich Clouser of Grant claimed the win in the Comcast Street Stock. Todd Wozniak of placed second. Chet Roberts of took third place.
David Yahraus of Sarasota took the win in the Pure Stock. Mark Gill of Bradenton placed second. Joe Wengerd of Sarasota took third place.
TOP TEN:
TURNER TREE & LANDSCAPE LIMITED LATE MODEL:
1. #34 Jeff Dufresne, Naples;
2.#88 Tommy Kelly, Myakka;
3. #56 Wayne Morris, Mulberry;
4. #5 Joe Boyd,Riverview;
5. #21 Kendrick Gomez, Plantation;
6. #31 Brian Hollifield,Bradenton;
7. #45 Sonny Hughes, Bradenton;
8. #35 Tommy Younkman, Sarasota;
9. #37 John Shields, Bradenton;
10. #42 Jeremy Geiger, Bradenton.
CALLAGHAN TIRE OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED:
1. #8 D.j. Hoelzle, Dunedin;
2. #60 PatNanney, Bradenton;
3. #92 Steve Perez;
4. #20 James Glover, Pinellas Park;
5.2 J.r. Wade;
6. #7 Troy Davis;
7. #34 Teddy Nelson, Pinellas Park;
8. #67 Rocco Rannallo, Bradenton;
9. #3 Barry Carlson, Largo.
SELECTIVE HR SOLUTIONS SPORTSMAN:
1. #9 Bill Bathrick, Englewood;
2. #31 Hal Vickery, Bradenton;
3. #12 Cliff Bifaro, Naples;
4. #7 Patrick Mcginnis,Bradenton;
5. #98 Lonny Miller, Bradenton;
6. #62 Buddy Brown;
7. #72 James Casady;
8. #97 Brian Teeters, Palmetto;
9. #3 Johnny Cassidy;
10. #41 Gus Coorssen, Sarasota.
COMCAST STREET STOCK:
1. #8 Rich Clouser, Grant, Fl;
2. #10 Todd Wozniak;
3.#69 Chet Roberts;
4. #15 Lucky Brown, Sarasota;
5. #1 Casey Hall, Tampa;
6.#9 Ben Kelly, North Port;
7. #44 Jamie Cassidy, Sarasota;
8. #05 Bruce Sherwood, Bradenton;
9. #8 Sue Purington, Nokomis.
PURE STOCK:
1. #67 David Yahraus, Sarasota;
2. #54 Mark Gill, Bradenton;
3.#30 Joe Wengerd, Sarasota;
4. #17 Brian Ambrose, Bradenton;
5. #52 John Clouser;
6. #16 John Sarppraicone Jr, Bradenton;
7. #20 Bobby Jason;
8. #00 Jody Collins;
9. #74 Paul Huffstutler, Bradenton;
10. #23 Jason Esposito.
Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS MINI STOCK:
1. #30 Jesse Dutilly, Bradenton;
2. #34 Eric Anderson, Bradenton;
3. #84 Robert Haygood, Bradenton;
4. #35 Greg Krom, Sarasota;
5. #8 Steve Glover, Bradenton;
6. #23 Mike Gayle, Sarasota;
7. #22 Shane Whitbeck, Sarasota;
8. #74 Bobby Huffstutler, Bradenton;
9. #9 Jeanne Whitted, Sarasota;
10. #4 Bryan Wagner, Sarasota.
TRUCKS:
1. #01 Larry Moyer, Tampa;
2. #25 Gary Foxworth;
3. #21x Brian Donahue;
4. #03 Charlie Worth, Loxahatchee;
5. #48 Steve Anderson;
6. #50 Andy Breedlove, Sarasota;
7. #7 Bill Davis, Wauchula;
8. #10 Kim Scheffler-Hays, Auburndale;
9. #70 James Glover, Pinellas Park;
10.#18 Jimmy Gill, Sarasota.
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