Veteran Wayne Anderson of Wildwood led almost the entire way and went on to take the checkered flag and $2,500 in the 100-lapper for Florida Pro Late Models Saturday night at Charlotte County Speedway.
Anderson passed Billy Bigley Jr. for the lead on lap four and led the rest of the race. Bigley had taken the lead from polesitter Shane Sawyer on lap two.
Bigley, the Naples hotshoe who was driving the No. 33 car formerly driven by John Yurewitch, slipped all the way back to sixth in the early going, but regained his composure and finished third.
Jay Middleton of Lake City finished second in the 74 car. Steve Lamb of South Miami was fourth and Chris Turner of Naples fifth. There were seven caution flags in the race, which was the 2003 season opener for the Florida Pro Series. A total of 16 cars took the green flag.
There were two other big races Saturday night at Charlotte County Speedway 50 lappers for both the open wheel modified and sportsman divisions.
A total of 14 cars started the modified feature.
On March 15, Wayne Jefferson finished second to Steve Gainey in the first race of the season for modifieds at CCS. On Saturday night, Jefferson climbed to the top.
The driver out of Pinelllas Park passed John Anderson on lap 24 and ran away from the field. The closest any car could get to Jefferson was the No. 63 driven by Punta Gordas Phil Morrison. Phil The Thrill was still in second with two laps to go. However, a caution came out because of a spin and Morrisons transmission locked up under the yellow. It was more bad luck for a guy who could use a break.
Moving up to finish second was Bart Corlieto of Cape Coral. Anderson of Largo took third. Kurt Riley of Cape Coral was fourth. Johnny Allen of Alva was fifth.
The sportsman feature saw 19 cars take to the 3/8-mile semi-banked oval. It was all Jeremy Goddard, as the No. 40 car was able to hold off runnerup Dale Dean III. Jeremys father, Ralph, got third despite being senselessly held up by the lapped car of George Ellsworth, who was black flagged. Arcadias King James DuBose was fourth and Punta Gordas Jerry Bryant was fifth.
The March 29 racing schedule at Charlotte County Speedway will feature Cops and Robbers 911 cars, sportsman, super stock, thunder truck, road warrior and a train race.
