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| Bigley, Sorenson, Southard, Foley and Wilson Fall Festival Winners | By Dave Westerman
It was billed as the Fall Festival 400 and the weather was more like Winter, yet fans were treated to some incredibly hot racing Sunday afternoon and evening at Ocala Speedway.Rain, in advance of a strong cold front, wiped out a full day of practice slated for Saturday and the drizzle continued until around 9AM Sunday morning as drivers, crews, officials and early-arriving race fans sipped hot coffee and waited for the skies to clear as predicted.As the rain ended, a new schedule was bumped up from 11:45AM to l:45PM and by the time the first car went out to qualify, the sun was shining brightly.
Mini Stocks were first on the clock with track champion Tater Stalnaker of Williston the first car out. His lap of 16.722 seconds could not be topped by the remaining 28 cars in attendance.
Then it became the Dwayne Dempsey show. The St. Petersburg driver, who won the SARA Modified finale at Bronson Speedway last Sunday, clicked off a lap in his open-wheeler at 15.161 seconds to head the field of 26 Modifieds.
Thirty-three of the 35 Super Late Models in the pits would be up next for time trials minus the cars of Fireball McGuire and David Reutimann who suffered engine failure in warm-ups. It was a horrible week- end for Reutimann who drove up from Miami-Homestead after only running 15 laps in the Busch Grand National race Saturday before the engine went sour in that car.
Dwayne Dempsey, taking to the Ocala track like a duck to water, set fast time in the Super Lates as well, turning a quick lap of 15.143 seconds. Fourteen-year old Brock Oglesby stunned the crowd by turning a 15.272 seconds for second fast time, but suprisingly had his time disallowed when his car came up showing too much left side weight on the scales. Oglesby weighs barely 100 pounds soaking wet, so his team took the setback in stride while everyone was kidding the youngster that he'd eaten too many doughnuts in the morning and packed on a few pounds too many. Oglesby would then use his season point standing to earn a provisional for the first 100-lap race.
Street Stocks were the final class out for tine trials with Dade City's Mike Wilson outgunning the 38 entries with a lap of 17.591 seconds.
First up was the Goodyear 100 for Super Late Models with the field starting straight-up from time trials. Dempsey assumed the point from his pole starting spot as the green flew with Herb Neumann, Jr., Kevin Durden, Reed Sorenson, Wayne Anderson and Billy Bigley, Jr. behind him. Dempsey had opened up a 12 car length lead when caution flew for the first time as the hood flew up on Robbie Smith's car and he slowed unable to see the track. Smith pitted and would return only to drop out later in the event.
Dempsey took off again on the restart as Neumann continued to try and hold off Durden. However, on lap 12, Neumann's car suddenly slowed going into turn one. Durden tapped Neumann's car but was able to continue in second spot with minor front end damage as Wayne Anderson got around Sorenson for third spot. Anderson caught and passed Durden for second on lap 30 as green flag racing allowed Dempsey and Anderson to pull well ahead of the field. Lee Faulk spun on lap 39 for the second yellow flag of the race allowing Anderson to pull up on the bumper of Dempsey. From this point the race between the two was intense as Anderson had the faster car but Dempsey had the preferred line.
At halfway, Dempsey led Anderson, Durden, Bigley, Sorenson, Joe Boyd, Ivedent Lloyd, Jonny Kay, Travis Kittleson, and Mike Bresnahan with old pro Dick Anderson lurking in 11th spot. Dick Anderson began to make his moe after lap 50, working his way to eighth spot on lap 58 and taking seventh place two laps later. On lap 65, caution three was out as Brock Oglesby and Brian Finney got together in turn four. Dick Anderson was again on the move as the green flag flew moving by Boyd aned Sorenson into the top five as Bigley took third from Durden on lap 70.
Meanwhile, Wayne Anderson was using everything but the kitchen sink to try and get by Dempsey with no luck until lap 79 when he finally made a low side pass off turn two only to see the caution come out for debris on the track. With the restart line-up reverting back to the last completed lap, Dempsey was back on the point trailed by Wayne Anderson, Billy Bigley, Durden, Dick Anderson, Travis Kittleson, and Albany GA driver Jeff Gordon for a 20-lap shootout to the checker.
Dempsey and Wayne Anderson continued to go at it tooth and nail, with Dempsey thwarting every effort by Anderson to get by. On lap 89, Kittleson tried to dive under Dick Anderson going into turn three and rode up on the side of Anderson's car. Gordon also got involved and his car had a flash fire under the hood which was quickly extinguished. The red flag was thrown to clean up spilled fluid from Gordon's car as his machine was pushed to the pits. Anderson was able to continue despite heavy left-side damage while Kittleson tried to keep going but would be forced to the sidelines. Dempsey was still on the point for the final 10-lap run to the checker, but just after the restart his car drifted high in turn three giving Wayne Anderson the chance he'd been looking for.
The two raced side-by-side into turn one and bumped together. Bigley, riding a close third, took advantage and dove underneath both cars and assumed the lead. Anderson gathered his car back in and was still second while Dempsey was back to fifth before he got his momentum back. From that point it was all Billy Bigley, Jr. as he drove his "For Sale" Port City house car to the win. Anderson was closing in second but ran out of laps while Durden manhandled his ill-handling machine to third spot just in front of Mike Bresnahan and a disappointed Dempsey.
Reed, Sorenson, Joe Boyd, Ivedent Lloyd, Mac Johnson, and Jonny Kay rounded out the top ten.
In victory lane, Track Manager Tim Christman offered Bigley a chance at a $5,000 bonus if he would opt to start the second 100-lap race scratch and win that one from the rear. Instead, Bigley decided to go with a pill draw inversion and drew an "eight" to invert the top eight finishers from the first race for the start of the second 100-lapper.
As the Super Lates headed pitside for their second run, the Mini Stocks hit the track for the Suncoast Insulators 50. The top four from qualifying were inverted for the start placing Larry Goolsby on the pole and he wasted little time taking the point at the drop of the green with Clint Foley, David Castello, and Tater Stalnaker in tow.
The first caution came out on lap five for a spinning Sam Rogers, Sr., then on the restart, Wayne Wells spun in turn two. Goolsby maintained the point with Foley shadowing his every move as caution number three was out for debris on the track. Following the restart, Goolsby's engine began to sour allowing Foley to make a pass for the lead on lap 16. Goolsby continued to drop back through the field until he finally took his car to the pits on lap 26.
It was now a wild battle among lapped traffic between Foley, Stalnaker, and Castello, whose car was obviously overheating. Stalnaker grabbed the point among lapped cars on lap 20 only to lose it back to Foley four laps later. Only another debris caution on lap 33 would slow Foley as all eyes were on Florida Mini Stock Challenge point leader Robbie Storer who had come from 22nd on the grid to fifth. However, Storer's car lost power on lap 42 and he coasted to the pits.
Castello spun out of third spot on lap 45 going down the backstretch to bring out the yellow once again and he was placed at the tail of the lead lap cars. On the restart, Castello and Jimmy Wear tangled up with Wear having to retire pitside. Foley coasted the remaining five laps taking the win in front of Tater Stalnaker and a delighted Tony Elrod, Jr. who was extremely happy to get third spot. Lakeland's Lee Davis did the passing job of the race coming from 26th starting spot to finish fourth just ahead of Tom Jones. David Castello recovered for sixth spot with Missileman Tim McPhail, Corbin Gibbs, Jesse Dutilly and Sam Rogers, Jr. rounding out the top ten.
As the sun began to set and the temperatures began to fall even further, it was time for the Open Wheel Modifed Rinker Materials 100. The top three from qualifying were inverted for this one placing track champion Troy Robinson on the pole for the start.
This would be a wild one from the get go. As the field took the green, fast qualifier Dempsey rode over the wheel of outside polesitter Patrick Williams. Dempsey took a wild ride, but got the machine back on all fours and no caution was thrown. The damage to Dempsey's car would force him out a few laps later however. The field wouldn't get a change to really get going though as Alan McCafferty spun at the completion of the first lap to bring out the caution.
Green flew again and Robinson again held the point. On lap eight, Robinson tapped the slower car of Steve MacQueston as he tried to lap him with MacQueston spinning into the infield for caution number two. On the restart, a major altercation took place in turn three involving Shane Nichols, Chuck Burkalter, and Chris Turner. The red flag was out to check on Nichols but thankfully he was fine although his car went to the pits on the Tiny & Sons rollback. Burkhalter was also out while Turner continued with minor damage.
On the restart, Robinson slipped badly in turn two, dropping back to fourth spot as Patrick Williams put his new machine at the point. Williams held the top position until his car slowed with mechanical problems on lap 32 handing the lead to Gary Southard. Two laps later, Kevyn Terry spun in turn one while the leader got turned around on the frontstretch. It was determined at that point the the track had been coated with oil after a drain plug had popped off Alan McCafferty's car. McCafferty was ordered to the pits as the red flag was displayed to clean up the racing surface.
Southard was not penalized for his spin and was placed back in the lead while McCafferty fixed his problem and returned to the track. Green reappeared with Southard in the lead with John Gerstner on his tail, but caution would be out once more on lap 40 for Tommy Schnader's spin, then again at halfway for a spin by Ray Etheridge. Southard contined to hold off John Gerstner and Robinson as yet another yellow was thrown on lap 57 as Red Vann and David Baxley got together with Vann going to the pits with suspension damage and Baxley going to the rear of the cars on the lead lap.
On the restart, Jeremy Gerstner got around Robinson for third and Southard now had to deal with both of the Gerstner brothers behind him. Jared Allison hit the turn four wall on lap 64 for the next caution. When green flag racing resumed, Robinson and a resurgent McCafferty zipped by Jeremy Gerstner into third and fourth spots on lap 70. Five laps later, McCafferty passed Robinson and set his sights on the leaders. However, Southard had his car working perfectly and he was easily pulling away after each caution period.
Robinson looped his car with three laps to go to bring out the yellow again, but Southard was not to be denied as he held off John Gerstner and McCafferty to the flag. The Bronson driver earned $2500 for his efforts on the day. Baxley came back from his earlier incident to pick up fourth spot while Jeremy Gerstner held on for fifth. Chris Fadling, Joe Federico, Johnny Newsome, Robinson, and Rick hall completed the top ten.
Once again the Super Late Models hit the track for their second race, the Bailey Industries 100.
Ivedent Lloyd jumped from his pole starting position to the lead as 16-year-old Georgia sensation Reed Sorenson moved by Joe Boyd on lap five to take second spot. There was quite a bit of bumping and banging going on in the middle of the pack with the caution coming out for the first time in this race as Dwayne Dempsey slowed with a flat tire. He would lose a lap in the pits making a change.
Lloyd continued to set the pace, and with the race one- quarter done, led Sorenson, Boyd, Wayne Anderson, Jonny Kay, Mike Bresnahan, Kevin Durden, Mike Frankling, Jr. and Dick Anderson. Wayne Anderson moved by Boyd on lap 38 bringing Kay and Bresnahan with him. Two laps later, Brock Oglesby spun to bring out the second yellow flag. Lloyd continued to lead Sorenson, Wayne Anderson, Kay, Durden, Dick Anderson, Bresnahan and Franklin at halfway as Boyd's car developed problems and he dropped from the running on lap 52.
On lap 62, Sorenson drove under Lloyd going into turn one for the lead. Lloyd slipped into the high groove and found himself running in eighth spot before he could get his machine gathered in. Sorenson was looking strong but had Wayne Anderson challenging behind him. On lap 77, the cars running third through seventh, Durden, Dick Anderson, Kay, Franklin, and Bresnahan all got tangled up coming out of turn two. Durden and Franklin were out while Kay and Bresnahan would continue only to fall out later. Dick Anderson was placed third in the running order and now the Georgia youngster had the whole Anderson family behind him.
He would be up to the challenge however. Two more cautions would bunch the field, but Sorenson had a good handle on his Ford Taurus and he took the win in front of Wayne and Dick Anderson. It was a good night for Wayne Anderson as he earned a total of $5,000 for two second-place finishes to go along with the $30,000 he'd won the week before in Texas.
Sorenson claimed the $7500 winners share for his first big win in Florida to go along with his two Southern All Star victories in 2002. Ivedent Lloyd gathered his composure and raced back to a fourth place finish while first race winner Billy Bigley, Jr. just stayed out of trouble that was going on around him and netted fifth spot.
Rounding out the top ten were Rusty Dixon, North Carolinian Eddie Messengill, Rich Pratt, Scott Lagasse, jr. and Scott Grossenbacher.
With the sun down and the moon high in the sky and temps dropping into the low 40's, a good group of fans were left to enjoy the final race of the day, the Manning Building Supply 50 for the Street Stocks. This race would be all Mike Wilson. The veteran Ocala campaigner backed up his quick time with a dominating ride in this race winning by a comfortable margin after starting from eighth spot.
Paul Gladin started from the pole and led the first three laps only to be passed by Mark Mitchell. Mitchell led until lap 19 when Wilson took over. From that point, the only thing to be settled was who would finish second.
Only three cautions were tossed in this one, all for minor incidents. A good part of the action took place in tech after the race as apparent second-place finish er Pete Close, Jr. was disqualified for an engine infraction moving Tommy Roberts to second in the final rundown behind Wilson while Street Stock champion Doug Webster was elevated to third on the pay sheet. Mitchell wound up fourth with Frank Buchanan fifth. Completing the top ten were Moose Alderman, Kyle Maynard, Paul Gladin, David Chastain (who started 22nd) and Jamie Dunn.
All in all, fans braved the weather and saw some fantastic racing. The next event for Ocala Speedway is the Steven A. Bagen Ocala 150 Enduro race on Sunday, December First. A School Bus Figure Eight race is also on tap that day.
OFFICIAL RESULTS FALL FESTIVAL 400, OCALA SPEEDWAY 11/17/02
SUPER LATE MODEL #1 - GOODYEAR 100
1. Billy Bigley, Jr. #28
2. Wayne Anderson #84
3. Kevin Durden #50
4. Mike Bresnahan #3
5. Dwayne Dempsey #24
6. Reed Sorenson #29
7. Joe Boyd #5
8. Ivedent Lloyd #57
9. Mac Johnson #6
10. Jonny Kay #77
11. Mike Franklin, Jr. #115
12. Rich Pratt #0
13. Rusty Dixon #97
14. Lee Faulk, H20
15. Dick Anderson #14
16. Scott Grossenbacher #09
17. Scott Lagasse, Jr. #22
18. Eddie Massengill #1
19. Brock Oglesby #88
20. Brian Finney #80
21. Jeff Gordon #100
22. Travis Kittleson #30
23. Robbie Smith #01
24. Herb Hoefler #2
25. Herb Neumann, Jr. #98
SUPER LATE MODEL #2 - BAILEY INDUSTRIES 100
1. Reed Sorenson #29
2. Wayne Anderson #84
3. Dick Anderson #14
4. Ivedent Lloyd #57
5. Billy Bigley, Jr. #28
6. Rusty Dixon #97
7. Eddie Massengill #1
8. Rich Pratt #0
9. Scott Lagasse, Jr. #22
10. Scott Grossenbacher #09
11. Travis Kittleson #30
12. Brock Oglesby #88
13. Robbie Smith #01
14. Jeff Gordon #100
15. Lee Faulk #H20
16. Jonny Kay #77
17. Mike Bresnahan #3
18. Mike Franklin, Jr. #115
19. Kevin Durden #50
20. Bob Hughes #13
21. Joe Boyd #5
22. Mac Johnson #6
23. Herb Hoefler #2
24. Dwayne Dempsey #24
25. Phillip Rook #8
26. Brian Finney #80
Also at the track: David Reutimann #00, Fireball McGuire #19, Alan Gordon #114, Terry Cater #11, John Buzinec #08, E.J. Wise #7, James Cook #21, Bill Howard #62
MODIFIEDS - RINKER MATERIALS 100
1. Gary Southard #39
2. John Gerstner #77
3. Alan McCaffety #32
4. David Baxley #64
5. Jeremy Gerstner #70
6. Chris Fadling #29
7. Joe Federico #26
8. Johnny Newsome #31
9. Troy Robinson #0
10. Rick Hall #15
11. Ray Etheridge #25
12. Kevyn Terry #13
13. John Kahl #23
14. Jared Allison #75
15. Red Vann #32V
16. Chris Turner #94
17. Russ Miscally #2
18. Tommy Schnader #96
19. Patrick Williams #57
20. Doug Levesque #50
21. Shane Nichols #65
22. Chuck Burkhalter #1
23. Steve MacQueston #69
24. Dwayne Dempsey #6
25. Raymond Vann #99
26. Jamie Burrows #11B (DQ)
27. Greg Slone #98 (DNS)
MINI STOCKS - SUNCOAST INSULATORS 50
1. Clint Foley #7
2. Tater Stalnaker #14
3. Tony Elrod, Jr. #70
4. Lee Davis #77
5. Tom Jones #60
6. David Castello #1
7. Tim McPhail #7
8. Corbin Gibbs #12
9. Jesse Dutilly #8
10. Sam Rogers, Jr. #25
11. Wayne Wells #23
12. John Hopke #H1
13. Joey Durbin #38
14. Rex Christensen #v3
15. Tim Grubaugh #1G
16. John Cook #06
17. Robert Cook #160
18. Jimmy Wear #13
19. Sam Rogers, Sr. #2
20. Robbie Storer #30
21. Glen Ervin #30
22. Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. #11
23. Larry Goolsby #27
24. Chuck Frazier #21
25. Mike Foley #72
26. Mike Dunham #58
27. Harold Barup #9 (DNS)
28. Neal Durbin #33 (DNS)
29. Charlie Stalnaker #77 (DNS)
STREET STOCKS - MANNING BUILDING SUPPLY 50
1. Mike Wilson #79
2. Tommy Roberts #44
3. Doug Webster #72
4. Mark Mitchell #71
5. Frank Buchanan #07B
6. Moose Alderman #7
7. Kyle Maynard #07
8. Paul Gladin #9
9. David Chastain #17
10. Jamie Dunn #24
11. Michael Rosa #76
12. Len Owens #89
13. Marlon Durbin #72B
14. Rick Hart #13
15. Travis Nichols #39
16. Richie Smith #42
17. Bobby Valeo #8B
18. Jay Morgan #7x
19. Kenny Absey #6X
20. Jason Stifle #38
21. Gordon Cade #21X
22. Gary Hotalen #02
23. Mike Wilson #68
24. Roger Brass #81
25. Sid Mosbrucker #62
26. Pete Close, Jr. #08 (DQ)
Also at the track: Nevin Gainey #0, Wiley Horsley #74, Chris Cater #12, Rex Mullis #13, Lyman Miller #17X, Butch Patz #23, Charles Kopach #53, Jack Pate #69, Klaus Sweat #77, Rick Hurley #82, Bobby Carter #99
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