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| Hovis Wins Brain Davidson Memorial | By CLAUDE LEWIS
Mike Hovis started on the pole and never let up on the gas, leading all 150 laps in Sunday's Brian Davidson Memorial at Charlotte County Speedway.
Hovis, a former track champion at the Punta Gorda paved oval, picked up $5,000 for his victory in the No. 29 Budweiser/Denco Construction Monte Carlo.
He was chased for most of the race by Glenn Morris, who wound up second by five car lengths. Earlier in the race, it appeared Morris might have something for Hovis in his No. 107 Cat Country Chevy. But in the latter stages of the race, Hovis pulled away from the Pine Island hotshoe.
"On lap 77 I lost a cylinder," Morris said. "I'm just happy to finish second."
Third place in the 26-car field went to Joe Sumasky of Lehigh Acres. Fourth was Steve Dorer of Lakeland. Chris Turner of Naples was fifth and Wayne Morris of Mulberry took sixth.
For Hovis, who is affectionately known as "Hobo" in racing circles, it was his first big victory in a frustrating season.
"A lot of seconds and thirds, but I couldn't get a win," the Fort Myers resident said. "It gets discouraging."
Competitor and friend Randy Fox helped Hovis with his set-up, another key.
"He gave me some shocks," Hovis said. "It definitely helped. The car was good on long greens. The thing was, there weren't a lot of them."
Both Turner and Morris fought from the back of the pack after early wrecks.
Turner was running third when he got together with Randy Fox on lap 43. Both had to go to the back. Fox, the Charlotte County Speedway points champ who came into the Davidson Memorial as one of the favorites, bowed out on lap 66.
"It was a cracked head or something," Fox said. "I'm glad to help out Mike with the shocks, but we made a little trade. I'll be getting dirt a long time after this race."
Morris had to go to the back on lap 12 when he tangled with Tim Russell. There were 11 cautions in the race and one red flag when the cars of Bob Beauchemin, Jim Keating and Doug Moff got together on lap 91.
The cars stopped at the halfway mark for refueling.
The rest of the top 10 had Billy Bigley Jr. of Naples in seventh, followed by Chris Libak of Fort Myers, Larry Osteen and Russell.
The Brian Davidson Memorial is named for the late son of Charlotte County Speedway owner/promoter LeRoy Davidson, who did the driver introductions. Brian's daughter, teenager Tabitha Davidson of Port Charlotte, acted as grand marshal and instructed drivers to start their engines.
The race started more than an hour late because of intermittent showers in the Punta Gorda area.
On Saturday night, six regular divisions held their final points races for 2002.
The winner in the 30-lap sportsman feature was Danny Yates of Cape Coral. Phil Johnson took second and George Ellsworth was third.
The street stock 25-lapper was captured by Elbert "Tadpole" Butts of Arcadia. Joe Butler finished second. Danny Caylor placed third.
Chris Oncken won the 25-lap road warrior feature. He was chased by Trey Almand and Clete Trimmer.
In thunder trucks, John Garrett was able to hold off Cheryl Weaver in the 25-lapper. Bob Charette was third.
Dale Dean III took the final mini stock feature at CCS.
1. 29 Mike Hovis
2. 107 Glenn Morris
3. 12 Joe Sumaskey
4. 10 Steve Dorer
5. 94 Chris Turner
6. 56 Wayne Morris
7. 17 Billy Bigley Jr.
8. 64 Chris Turner
9. 22 Larry Osteen
10. 30 Tim Russell
11. 34 Jeff Dufrense
12. 58 Phil Morrison
13. 36 Al Fradette
14. 77 Tony Amico
15. 62 Buzz Martin
16. 54 Steve Black
17. 67 Chad Allman
18. 21 Kendrick Gomez
19. 58 Ed Evans
20. 26 Dan Crowe
21. 100 Jim Keating
22. 46 Doug Moff
23. 29x Bobby Beauchemin
24. 96 Frank Welch
25. 88 Randy Fox
26. 95 Richie Anderson
27. 01 Travis McCCoy
28. 2r George Richardson
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