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| Anderson Magic Keeps Working at DeSoto Speedway. | By Ken Willis
Last Saturday night Dick Anderson of Wildwood overcame a rough start to the 125 lap feature and led from flag to flag to win the DeSoto Late Model event. "We've had this car awful good the last two or three races," Anderson said. "It's really been a rocket. Still when you get out front it seem these races are never going to get over. I feel like I've run 250 laps."
The one hour, 15 minute race was longer than anticipated, with more than 10 caution flags slowing the event. The third restart of the race also saw nine cars pile into each other between turns one and two, and thinning the 26 car lineup to 23. "I can't tell you how lucky and fortunate I feel to be standing here," said Anderson who stayed ahead of the wrecks. "I've had an unbelievable year and I'd like to thank everyone involved. Hopefully it'll continue to be good." On lap 100 with Anderson leading and Jeff Scofield in second, James Powell III of Astor and Darryl Shelnut of Ft. Lauderdale split high and low to pass Scofield who had engine trouble. Powell claimed second place.
"I think Dick got out there and set a pace," Powell said. "We just had to try to catch him. He's had a phenominal year. You put that man on the pole in that kind of equipment and he's going to be hard to beat. We've had a good year too and we'll keep pecking away at it till we get us one." Of the 15 cars that finished the race Shelnut took third place. "I thought we had James and the 07 at one time," Shelnut said. "We finished with all the fenders and considering the way the race started I thought it was pretty good."
Bryan Mansfield of Sarasota didn't fare as well, although the popular local driver put on a show for the fans. Mansfield, who set fast time for the event, was involved in the nine car pile-up at the start of the race, lost his hood and fenders, had to go to the pits and on his return started at the rear of the field. Running his unceremonious open wheel, Mansfield worked his way into a fourth place finish. "I can repair the car," he said. "I blew a radiator with a few laps to go but it'll be ready for next week's race." In other races:
After last week's brutal wreck that totaled his car D.J. Hoelzle of Dunedin returned this Saturday night to the winners circle in the Callaghan Tire Open Wheel Modifieds. "We picked this car up Wednesday night and put it together the last couple of days," said Hoelzle, who collided with the retaining wall head-on last week. "The team work to get this car together was awesome. And I want to thank everyoen that helps us get the car ready." Pat Nanney of Bradenton took second place and J.R. Wade placed third. Mark Gill of Bradenton took his 14th win of the season in the Pure Stock. Gill who has been near unbeatable this season edged out John Clouser of Grant for the hard earned win. "For a second there I didn't think we were going to get them," Gill said. "I just waited for the tires to work in and they did. I think their tires wore out and I got them." David Yahraus of Sarasota took third place.
Chip Gaines of Sarasota collected the win in the Manatee Lumber Modified Minis. "Last week we had a brand new motor that blew up," Gaines said. "We wrenched on it all week to get a new motor in. And we're back." Clay Joseph of Bradenton placed second and Steve Martin of Pinellas Park took third place. David Logan of West Palm Beach took the checkered flag in the Legends feature event. "That David Tart's hard to get by," Logan said. "We race clean and he was fast. We're lucky to be here. Scott's picked the pace up too. They're great competitors. We enjoy running with them because everyone runs clean." David Tart placed second and Scott Seither took third place. James Knight of Bradenton took the checkered flag in the Selective HR Solutions Sportsman. Gus Coorssen of Sarasota placed second. Jeff Anderson of Bradenton took third place.
Jesse Dutilly of Bradenton collected the win in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Stock Minis. Greg Krom of Sarasota placed second. Shane Whitbeck of Sarasota took third place.
Wallace Ramsey of Bradenton won the six lap Sportsman shootout.
TOP TEN: LATE MODELS: 1. #00 Dick Anderson, Wildwood; 2. #37 James Powell, Astor; 3. #00 Darryl Shelnut, Ft. Lauderdale; 4. #18 Bryan Mansfield, Sarasota; 5. #61 Jimmy Cope, Pinellas Park; 6. #22 Sammy Coghill, Largo; 7. #53 Richard Till, Bartow; 8. #48 Jonny Kay, Plantation; 9. #09 Scott Grossenbacher, San Antonio; 10. #3 Mike Bresnahan, Lecanto. CALLAGHAN TIRE OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED: 1. #8 D.J. Hoelzle, Dunedin; 2. #60 Pat Nanney, Bradenton; 3. #2 J.r. Wade; 4. #34 Teddy Nelson, Pinellas Park; 5. #92 Steve Perez; 6. #15 Bill Davis, Wauchula; 7. #22 Caleb Reschar, Palmetto; 8. #67 Rocco Rannallo, Bradenton; 9. #35 Bob Parker; 10. #90 Mark Mcknight. SELECTIVE HR SOLUTIONS SPORTSMAN: 1. #23 James Knight, Bradenton; 2. #41 Gus Coorssen, Sarasota; 3. #86 Jeff Anderson, Bradenton; 4. #38 Wallace Ramsey, Bradenton; 5. #98 Lonny Miller, Bradenton; 6. #12 Cliff Bifaro, Naples; 7. #97 Brian Teeters, Palmetto; 8. #67 Duane Best, Sarasota; 9. #62 Buddy Brown; 10. #72 Shaun Theem. PURE STOCK: 1. #54 Mark Gill, Bradenton; 2. #52 John Clouser; 3. #67 David Yahraus, Sarasota; 4. #20 Greg Banach, Bradenton; 5. #52t Keith Thorbin; 6. #4 Bob Petrilli, Sarasota; 7. #7 Howard Higgins, Arcadia; 8. #3 Peggy Hurst, Sarasota; 9. #17 Brian Ambrose, Bradenton; 10. #29 Russell Reynolds. MANATEE LUMBER MODIFIED MINI: 1. #72 Chip Gaines, Sarasota; 2. #44 Clay Joseph, Bradenton; 3. #7 Steve Martin, Pinellas Park; 4. #86 Fred Paravicini, Bradenton; 5. #70 Tony Elrod Jr, Lakeland; 6. #0 Bob King. Q AUTO & INJURY ATTORNEYS MINI STOCK: 1. #30 Jesse Dutilly, Bradenton; 2. #35 Greg Krom, Sarasota; 3. #22 Shane Whitbeck, Sarasota; 4. #5 Steve Booth, Sarasota; 5. #14 Jon Bailey, St. Petersburg; 6. #34 Eric Anderson, Bradenton; 7. #17x Syndee Brown, Bradenton; 8. #23 Mike Gayle, Sarasota; 9. #9 Jeanne Whitted, Sarasota; 10. #6 Mark Picklesimer, Palmetto. LEGENDS: 1. #1 David Logan, West Palm Beach; 2. #3 David Tart; 3. #00 Scott Seither; 4. #25 Jason Reisman, Leesburg, Fl; 5. #68 Richard Morlan, Largo, Fl; 6. #31 Kenny Curley, Homasassa; 7. #99 Jeff Johnson, Royal Palm Beach; 8. #19 James Rodriguez, West Palm Beach; 9. #8 Ray Sasser, Lotahatchee, Fl; 10. #38 Not Listed.
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