Opening Night at Orlando SpeedWorld Rained out after First Feature
by Jane Smith Bithlo, Fla - It looked as though racing might be able to beat the storm quickly approaching Central Florida but during the first feature race, large drops of water began to fall and did not quit.
The only feature event to make it part way thru, enough to call it a race, was the FASTRUCKS. With twenty five trucks in the 50 lap feature, there was plenty of hot, heavy, banging racing action.
Jeff Firestine sat on the pole and lead the first lap. Paul Grynewicz III, who was running second, did a great save as he got squirrelly coming off turn two but was able to correct the truck and keep on trucking. But as Grynewicz III and Jeff Firestine were going nose to tail for the second place they touch sending Firestine into a spin that obviously broke something on the truck as he was pushed onto pit road and then into the pits.;
When the race restarted, it was Chris Gannon to the point followed by Paul Grynewicz, James Wright III, Jimmy Gill and Wendell Bristol. Marty Wolf spun on the backstretch but was able to get his truck moving without bringing a caution out.
Grynewicz and Gannon get hot and heavy as Grynewicz hits the rear end of Gannon buckling his hood up and having a few pieces of his truck flying around the track. Grynewicz continues to race but eventually has to pit to have the hood removed for better viewing out of the windshield. This gives the second place spot to James Wright III who was running in third.
Jimmy Gill takes over second as Gannon still holds the lead. Grynewicz spun on the bottom of turns 3 and 4 bringing out the yellow. On the restart, Gill is able to outpower Gannon and takes the lead which he holds until the rains come in.
The race was red flagged due to rain and the win went to Jimmy Gill followed by Chris Gannon, Jeff Guibault, Paul Grynewicz III, and Shane Russ.
The Pro Mod 50 lapper will run next Friday night, March 21, with Frank Polly on the pole. Any modifieds that enter next Friday will go to the back of the field as qualifying is set. Running double features will be the Sportsman, Super Stock and Strictly Stock from the line-up on March 14.
Along with the Pro Mod race, the double features for Sportsman, Super Stock and Strictly Stock, the Super Late Models will return along with the Mini Stocks. Legends will also be on the program for March 21.
Orlando SpeedWorld racing begins at 8 p.m. on Friday nights.
