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| Buddy Geiger Takes Checkers at Lake City Speedway | By Shirley Lynch
Plummeting temperatures didn't deter the fans and drivers from turning out for the 75 Lap Super Late Model Feature. With a $3,000 to win purse on the line, a solid field of 18 Super Lates visited Lake City Speedway, all intent of taking home the prize. Fans and crews alike bundled warmly as the thermometer dipped into the 30's by night's end.
The weather was a major factor in Late Model qualifying, as the first 10 drivers found themselves on a cold track and lap times reflected why, in this case, last is best. The eleventh qualifier, Jason Fitzgerald was the first car to break the 19 second barrier, but could qualify no better than fifth. Fast qualifiers were #66 Chuck Chitty, #55 Johnny Collins, #99 Michael Murrer, #X Skip Pannell, #61 Jason Fitgerald.
Chuck Chitty got a good jump on Johnny Collins to take the lead in the Super Late Model Feature, as the #99 of Michael Murrer tucked in behind Chitty to take second. A lap two caution shuffled Collins back to 7th on the restart with Skip Pannell and Jason Fitzgerald waiting in third and fourth positions for the right time to make their move and Buddy Geiger biding his time in fifth. As Pannell and Murrer traded positions a couple of times, the #11 of Buddy Geiger worked his way into third and brought the #41 of John Kellum with him. A lap 68 pileup in turn two shuffled the entire field as seven cars went to the tail for being involved in the melee and Buddy Geiger avoided the action to take over the lead with Jason Fitzgerald also surviving to take second and the J1 of Jay Johnson escaping with third. Final finish for the Super Late Model Feature was #11 Buddy Geiger taking home the top prize money, #61 Jason Fitzgerald clinching second, #66 Chuck Chitty taking fourth, #J1 Jay Johnson having a great race and crossing fourth, #21 Frank Williams finishing fifth.
With seasons closed at some tracks and others announcing they will no longer run the ministock class next season, a good field of 15 ministocks made their presence known in some of the best competition this season. The first heat race was won by the #7 of Clint Foley with #12 Ricky Reidel, #31 of Barry Knight , #41 of Todd Blevins, and #59 driven by Greg Young crossing in that order. The #11, driven by Jeff Stalnaker, Sr. took the win on heat race two with the #33 Justin Durbin, #27 Chris Vogel, #71 Trace Kickrider and #29 of Drew Smith rounding out the top five.
Clint Foley took the lead as the green flag waved on the Ministock Feature with Trace Kickrider and John Hopke following close behind. Lap 5 saw Foley retire to the pits and give Kickrider the point as the H1 of John Hopke and the #33 of Justin Durbin valiantly tried to get to the front. Ricky Reidel made his move with 5 laps to go as he put Durbin behind him. Finishing order for the Ministock Feature was #71 Trace Kickrider holding on for the win, #41 Todd Blevins making a good charge to second, #H1 John Hopke finishing third, #12 Ricky Reidel crossing fourth and #29 Drew Smith with a respectable fifth place finish.
With twenty-seven Street Stocks braving the elements, the largest field of the night ran three heat races to determine their starting positions. Finish for heat race one was #33B Adam Bedenbaugh, #11 T.C. Broadway, #44 Dean Sands, #18 Pete Parkes, #79 Duane Teckenbrock. Heat race two finish was #27 Jason Garver, #M44 Mitch McCoy, #72 Jeff Hunter, #41 Randy Smith and #69D Ricky DeLoach. Third heat race finish was #27 Jeff Terrell, #14 Joey Haslauer, #23 Charles Smith, #94 Floyd Martin, Jr. and #00 Billy Costello.
After two tries, the 27 car field got the Street Stock Feature started with Jason Garver making an early move on Adam Bedenbaugh to take the lead. A fourth lap caution send Bedenbaugh into the pits and moved Broadway and McCoy into second and third. Haslauer made a pass on lap four to move himself into third position followed by Broadway and Dean Sands. As frost formed on anything that wasn't moving and the hour got late, the race was shortened and the checkered flag flew after three separate cautions on lap eleven. Final finish was #27 Jason Garver holding out to take the win, #M44 Mitch McCoy challenging Garver, but running out of laps to take second, #11 T.C. Broadway finishing a respectable third, #44 Dean Sands, the LCS Street Stock season Champion taking fourth and #23 Charles Smith having a solid fifth place run.
Several new faces showed up to challenge the Pure Stock Division, as twenty-one cars lined up for their heat races. The #18 driven by Al Robinson proved Palatka is not the only place he can win as he took the checkers on heat race one, followed by #78 Dean Woodward, #1 Jerry Fortner, #0 Nevin Gainey, and #31 Trisha Taylor. Arthur Conquest once again put his 7C car in the lead to win heat race two, followed by #65 Coleman Jandle III, #55 Heath Walker, #61 Mike Tripp and #4 Billy Brock.
With the Pure Stock Feature also shortened due to time and temperature, only the diehard racing fans braved the elements to see that once in a lifetime event of the entire twenty-one car field of pure stocks make it around the first two turns without an incident. Arthur conquest took the lead with Robinson tucking in behind him and Woodward riding in third. Everyone held their breath as lap traffic became a factor on lap five, but the leaders got by clean and Nevin Gainey took advantage to move into the fourth position. As the checkers fell the 7C of Arthur Conquest held on to take the win, the #18 of Al Robinson found Lake City to his liking to take second, the #78 of Dean Woodward had a great run for third, the #0 of Nevin Gainey crossed in fourth and the #1 of Jerry Fortner had a solid fifth place finish.
Due to time considerations, the Powder Puff Feature was postponed until our next race on Saturday, December 7th. We hope to have all thirteen entrants back at that time to show us some exciting powder puff driving. Please join us for another enjoyable racing evening at Lake City Speedway.
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