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| First Annual Florida State Sportman Championship Goes To Gene Ross | by Steve A. Howell
LAKE CITY, Fla. (Sept. 21, 2002) - Gene Ross of Lake Park (GA) dominated the First Annual Florida State Championship Sportsman Challenge Series with the National Late Model Series in front of what was to be the largest crowd ever to attend a race at the Lake City Speedway. Fans started arriving early in the afternoon, as the 100 lap $10,000 to win 35 car starting field would roll to the grid later in the evening.
Racing started off on Thursday night with open practice and Jameson Inn Qualifying set for Friday night. Ross would claim the Jameson Inn's A Perfect Stay-A Perfect Lap Award and win the first of five Holley Performance Heat Races to gain the front row starting spot for Saturdays 100 lap feature. Randy Ellenburg of Valdosta (GA) would win the second heat race to start along side Ross. Lonnie Roberts of Sparks (GA), Shane Hylton of Quitman (GA) and Skip Pannell of Albany (GA) would win the final three heats to grab the top five starting spots.
With one of the largest fields to start on the oil-based oval, a concern about going in to turn one was highly discussed through the pit area on Saturday afternoon. With the green waiving to start the 100 lap feature, the veteran-row of Ross and Ellenburg would bring the field to the start-finish line.
Ross would take his MRE-Ford powered to the point and Ellenburg would jump to the inside to claim the #2 position. With nine laps in, the first caution would wave for Aaron McQuaig of Ocala (FL) who would have mechanical trouble stopping in turn three. With Ross on the point and Ellenburg in second, Lonnie Roberts would run in the # three position with Shane Hylton in fourth and Skip Pannell in the fifth position.
As the race would restart and Ross quickly out front, and Ellenburg and Roberts in the second and third positions, the battle for the fourth position was intense as Pannell, Shane Hylton, Jason Hylton, Johnny Collins, Bobby Olgesby, Cecil Eunice, Gene Maine and David Clegg would race nose-to-tail. With thirty-eight laps in Cecil Eunice would slow suddenly with engine problems ending his evening.
"We thought we were in good shape," said Euncie. "We were setting in a good position and trying to get past halfway and all sudden the motor quit."
One of the quickest cars of the evening was that of Bobby Olgesby of Bloomingdale (GA). Olgesby who started in the eight position would began to rumble as the cars got to the halfway signal. Olgesby, who moved around Shane Hylton to claim the fifth position would move up on Jason Hylton when Hylton's mount would slow coming off turn two with rear-end trouble.
"We were doing good, I had my brother behind me, we were gaining a few points on Henry when I felt something break in the rear-end," said a disappointed Hylton.
Lap 62 Shane Hylton slowed coming of turn 2 with engine trouble ending his top five finish. With Ross still at the point, Roberts into second and Olgesby around Ellenburg for third, that would open the door for Pannell to move around Ellenburg into fourth. Gene Maine who had run steady in the top ten all night moved into sixth. David Clegg and Michael Lloyd who had one of the most intense battles all night would race in the seventh and eighth positions.
Bert Transmission Rookie-of-the-Year leader Bobby Padgett would move into ninth, and points leader Henry Carter who started deep on the field had moved into the 10th position. At lap seventy-two and moving to the front, Olgesby came off turn four with what appeared to have a right/rear shock break, ending his chance of catching leader Ross, as Olgesby would collect the Spherion "One-of-those-Racin-Deals" Award.
Ross would hold off Lonnie Roberts, as Roberts was not quite able to stay with the strong-running Ross. 'It was a sweet victory' said Ross in victory lane. 'We were good when we unloaded off the truck, my biggest concern of the evening was going to be lapped traffic and I want to commend those guys they watched the flag and was never really a factor' said and excited Ross.
The next race for the series will be October 4-6 at Volusia Speedway Park in Deland (FL) for the Miller Lite $10,000-to-win 100-lap feature. From there the series will makes its seventh Annual "Showdown On The Coast" appearance at Oglethorpe Speedway Park located in Savannah (GA) on October 17-19. The "Showdown" which has become one of the prestigious dirt rack events for the Southern Dirt Tour is always full of excitement and is the race that a sportsman driver wants to be a part of.
RESULTS
Finish Order:
1. Gene Ross
2. Lonnie Roberts
3. Skip Pannell
4. Gene Maine
5. Henry Carter
6. Eric Platt
7. David Clegg
8. Johnny Collins
9. Michale Lloyd
10. Bobby Padgett
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