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| Rick Sirmans Captured The Mini Stock 100 Lap Win At Bronson Motor Speedway | by Sharon Fancher
(Bronson, FL 4/27/02) Twenty-seven contenders turned out at Bronson Motor Speedway for Saturday nights special event. The Mini Stock 100 lap race saw many new faces as Driver's from everywhere wanted to bring home the $1000 reward. As qualifying begun it was clearly seen that many of these Driver's had done their homework. Fastest time was turned several different times before #3 Steve Griffin finally topped the field by turning a 14.791 followed by the second fastest for the evening #65 Joey Catarelli who turned a 14.804 and #77 Jeff Stalnaker Sr., qualified third fastest with 14.829.
The main event got underway and was very exciting as the caution flag rarely reared it's ugly head through the whole event. Larry Goolsby in the #27 quickly jumped out front as the green dropped followed by the #2 of Corbin Gibbs for second, Jimmy Wilson in the #39 holding third. Moving quickly through the field was the #77 of Jeff Stalnaker, Sr., was now sitting in the number four spot The heat starting to get intense but without positions changing early in the race with Goolsby keeping the lead followed by Corbin in the #2, Jimmy Wilson in the #39, #77 of Jeff Stalnaker, Sr., Richie Smith in the #1X, Rick Sirmans in the #05, #3 of Matt Watts and the #7 of Clint Foley sitting patiently in eighth.
Contact made on the front straightway drew out the caution on lap twelve. The top eight contenders still holding their positions. Back to green flag racing with laps counting up to 75, all the Driver's were trying to keep there pace as they waited patiently for any mistakes to be made. The yellow waived again when the #1 of Brent Yoder spun on lap 30. Larry Goolsby had lead every lap followed by Corbin Gibbs in the Dodge #2 for second. But that would soon change with Gibbs running high and low trying to take the lead as he kept the pressure on Goolsby. Larry spun coming out of turn two when contact was made between Goolsby and Gibbs sending both to the rear.
The third place car left the track just before the halfway point in the #77 of Jeff Stalnaker, Sr.,to apparent mechanical failure.Changing your top three to the #39 of Jimmy Wilson, Rick Sirmans in the #05,Joey Catarelli in the #65 as they went back to green. Stopping after fifty laps were completeo for refueling, the top 10 contenders at the halfway point, #39 Jimmy Wilson with the lead, followed by # 65 Joey Catarelli, #05 Rick Sirmans,#3 Matt Watts (scored for the night as #31), #3 Steve Griffin, #7 Clint Foley, #10 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr., #24 Chris Thornton, #15 Doug Hopper, and holding tenth #14 Tate Stalnaker.
Back to green seen many changes, when contact was made after the #3 of Matt Watts spun and several cars were involved when they tried missing the incident as the caution waived sending Watts to the rear. The leader was still intact #39 Jimmy Wilson, followed by #65 Joey Catarelli, #05 Rick Sirmans, #3 Steve Griffin, #7 Clint Foley, #10 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr., as they went back to green. Short lived when the caution was brought out on lap sixty-three when the #1X of Richie Smith apparently stalled due to mechanical failure ending his night. Back to green, with Sirmans working the leader hard after crossing Wilson up got around him to take the lead. Caution was brought out again involving the #04 of Josh Hars and several other cars when contact was made. Which changed the top ten contenders with the lead held by #05 Rick Sirmans, followed by #65 Joey Catarelli, #3 Steve Griffin, #7 Clint Foley, #10 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr.,. #15 Doug Hopper, #14 Tate Stalnaker making it to seventh after he started in the rear due to mechanical problems during qualifying, #39 Jimmy Wilson, #2 Corbin Gibbs, #03 Dave Westrich in tenth position.
As the green dropped it was short lived when # 81 Morris Richardson and the #1X of Brent Yoder tangled coming out of turn four which sent both to the rear. Leaving your top ten in place going back to green. Joey Catarelli holding second was not about to give up as he tapped Sirmans letting him know not to count him out just yet, #7 Clint Foley after a good run for fourth exits the track with apparent mechanical problems. Nearing the end the battle begun with the top three Sirmans, Catarelli and Griffin when Catarelli tries to get under Sirmans but doesn't quite have enough as they came out of turn three side by side Sirmans and when Griffin in third decides he wanted some of the action but couldn't pull it off. The white waived as Joey Catarelli tried diving under Sirmans but couldn't pull it off as Sirmans took the checkered. Top five teched for carburetors and intakes, all were found legal.
Mini Stock Top Ten Finishes
1) # 05 Rick Sirmans
2) # 65 Joey Catarelli
3) # 3 Steve Griffin *Fastest Qualifier*
4) # 15 Doug Hopper
5) # 10 Jeff Stalnaker, Jr.
6) # 14 Tate Stalnaker
7) # 39 Jimmy Wilson
8) # 2 Corbin Gibbs
9) # 03 Dave Westrich
10) # 2X Don Founce
Modified division hit the track with fire and fury when the green dropped in this class. Gary Southard quickly shot out front as they went into turn one with the (bad boy of Bronson as I had been informed me in an earlier discussion) Shawn Taylor in the # 83 sitting in second, followed by #28 Philip Kessler, #07 Larry Martin, #33 Brent Jordan, #44 John Clair. The eagerness was shown when the caution flew as the #33 Brent Jordan spun and was sent to the rear.
Gary Southard still the leader as the green dropped. The top three battled hard for position when the caution waived after contact was made between the # 07 Larry Martin and Philip Kessler in the #28 sending Martin to the rear with Kessler retaining his position. Back to green, Southard hung onto the lead after he started in the rear due to mechanical problems and not being able to complete the heat race had #83 Shawn Taylor at his back door.
Larry Martin #07 eagerly wanted to get to the front again drew out the caution when he made contact with the #59 of William Stalnaker which sent Martin into the wall and ended his evening. Back to green a heated battle between the top two contenders ensued when Southard tried and succeeded to hold off Taylor. Southard started to move out front when a battle for second ensued between Taylor and Kessler, which allowed Southard to take advantage of the field with a half track lead as he took the checkered followed by (Bad Boy Of Bronson) Shawn Taylor #83 for second.
Modified Top Five Finishes
1) # 39 Gary Southard
2) # 83 Shawn Taylor
3) # 28 Philip Kessler
4) # 44 John Clair
5) # 9 Clay Lott
TQ Late Models hit the track giving everyone a great show with Leroy Smith #25 sitting on the pole. Green dropped and Smith quickly jumped out in front followed by the #6 David Raider in second. The top two batted it out as Raider tries to get under Smith to no avail. Caution thrown when the fourth place car #07 Thomas Smith spun coming out of turn four sending Thomas to the rear. Back to green with the #22 Mike Carrigg sitting in fifth challenges the of #5 David Carrigg and quickly takes fourth, when he decides to make a move on the #4 Tony Carrigg sitting in third. Making the move in turn three, shooting to the outside he gets around Tony coming out of turn four.
Top three contenders #25 Leroy Smith leading followed by # 6 David Raider, and #22 Mike Carrigg are working each other over nose to tail for the leading position. Smith and Raider battling for the lead when the cautioned dropped as the #07 Thomas Smith spun coming out of turn four sending him once again to the rear. Back to green with two laps to go David Raider still not content while he continued to work Smith for the lead. Crossing the finish line would be #25 Leroy Smith, followed by #6 David Raider who didn't give up without a fight, #22 Mike Carrigg for third.
TQ Late Model Top Five Finishes
1) # 25 Leroy Smith
2) # 6 David Raider
3) # 22 Mike Carrigg
4) # 5 David Carrigg
5) # 99 Joey Hughes
Sportsman division were the next ones out on the track with some pretty wild racing. Roger Damron #76 took the lead early while some pretty intense battles for second, third, and fourth had broken out behind him. Caution was thrown after #71 Brody Giddens spun as he came out of turn two and was sent to the rear. The field tightened back up as they went back to green with Damron holding on to the lead followed by Bubba Hodge in the #18, Robbie Cooper #98 third, and Dusty Bouchard fourth as they came out of turn four. Short lived when the #98 of Robbie Cooper drew out the third caution of the evening when he spun coming out of turn three sending him to the rear.
Damron still holding the lead followed by Bubba Hodge #18 in second, were now being pursued by the #47 Dusty Bouchard, #70 Arthur Conquest, #4 Doc Batson, and #98 Robbie Cooper who had moved back up from the rear. Back to green with the third, fourth and fifth position cars working other over when the caution was drawn after contact was made in turn two between the #71 of Brody Giddens and #90 Troy Fowler which sent both to the rear but Giddens decided to exit the track. Back to green Damron took the lead as Arthur Conquest jumped out to third, followed by Bouchard. Conquest worked on Hodge now for second as he tried to get under Hodge as they came out of turn three but wasn't able to succeed.
Damron taking advantage as Conquest bumped Hodge repeatedly which caused him to get loose which allowed Conquest to get under Hodge who fell to seventh and two laps later left the track. Bouchard took advantage of the situation followed behind Conquest and took third. Batson moved in on Bouchard and took third now with Conquest in his reach the battle begun. Lap after lap Conquest and Batson battled until #98 Robbie Cooper was black flagged when he drew out his third caution for the night.
Back to green Damron quickly took the lead followed by Conquest for second, Batson, Bouchard. Conquest challenged Damron with three laps to go Damron refused to give up the lead. Batson challenged Conquest for second, as he tried to move to the outside Conquest as they entered turn one and two the caution was drawn when Conquest spun and collected Batson and Bouchard. The three were able to continue the race with Conquest sent to the rear. The white dropped with Damron in the lead followed by Doc Batson, Dusty Bouchard and Arthur Conquest for fourth. #76 Roger Damron took the checkered, as Batson. Bouchard, and Conquest came out of turn four to take the checked Batson's tire blew causing a wild finish when Batson shot toward the wall instead made Batson contact with Conquest which sent Conquest into the wall as Batson limped across the finish line.
Sportsman Top Five Finishes
1) # 76 Roger Damron * First Feature Win Of The Year*
2) # 47 Dusty Bouchard
3) # 4 Doc Batson
4) # 70 Arthur Conquest
5) # 98 Robbie Cooper
Last in line for the night were the ferocious Pure Stock division which kept the fans on the edge of their seat. Green dropped with #71 John "Hammerhead" Hughes who quickly took the lead and looked to be the winner of the evening, but Wesley Keller in the #78 had different plans in store as he worked the second place car #69 Tommy Osbourne until finally getting under Osbourne as they went into turn two. Keller started to work on Hughes for several laps until the caution was thrown when the #71X Roy Avery got high going in turn three making contact with the #02 of Mike Baker which sent Avery into the wall ending the night for both. The race resumed with Keller shoving and sliding across Hughes bumper lap after lap. After Keller made contact with Hughes several times did he get under Hughes to take the checkered. followed by #71 John "Hammerhead" Hughes, #4 Krystal Batson, #29X Steve Thomas, and fifth #95 Jeff Tillman.
Pure Stock Top Five Final Finishes
1) # 78 Wesley Keller
2) # 71 John "Hammerhead" Hughes
3) # 4 Krystal Batson
4) # 29X Steve Thomas
5) # 95 Jeff Tillman
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