Putnam Modified Checkers Bestowed upon James Blackner
by Jon Harny
Satsuma, FL (4/12) - James Blackmer served notice that he is also a power in the Modified division by taking the checkers in the 30-lap main at Putnam County Speedway.
A massive wreck on the open lap claimed several top contenders including points leader Marion Sizemore. Blackmer overhauled early leader Matt Hartley on lap 8, outran several very good cars that survived the opening melee, and withstood a late-race challenge from Hartley as he lost and then regained the lead.
Blackmer and Hartley were trailed by Billy Costello, Richard Tipton, and Chris Hammond.
Limited Late Models also saw their numbers decimated by an early yellow flag. Eric Platt looked to have the fastest car on the track and gave Travis Rhoden 30 laps of unrelenting pressure. Rhoden, a past winner at Putnam, was unfazed and repeatedly denied Platt his bid for glory. A last-ditch effort from Platt caused him to drift high and lose the second spot to Jeff
Terrell. The final finishing order was Rhoden, Terrell, Platt, and Shane Nichols.
Super Late Model was the premier division this evening and it proved to be all Peyton Nesmith – for the first 28 laps. Something in his car gave out with two laps remaining which allowed Jason Fitzgerald to repeat his win from two weeks past. Other beneficiaries of Nesmith’s heartbreaking demise were second place Homer Leonard, third place Marty Kelly, fourth place Jack Nosbisch Jr., and fifth finishing Marshall Austin.
The Street Stock feature was a mismatch as Kenny Hall returned to winning ways. Once he overcame a spirited fight with Dave Dowling Jr., he made short work of the field and won by a wide margin. The real show was for second as a half dozen different drivers contested for runner-up honors. At the finish line Richard Adams proved to be the best of the rest as he narrowly beat Tim Dowling, Mitch Wise, and Dave Dowling Jr. to the stripe in that order.
Mike Tripp is the year’s first triple winner as he’s gone three for three in the Pure Stocks. Tripp charged from the middle of the pack to take the point in the middle stages and never came close to relinquishing his lead. As was the case with the Street Stocks, all eyes were cast on the five cars slugging it out for second. Lapped traffic proved to be the difference at the line as Dean Woodward slipped past his rivals to finish second. Steven Key also used a break in traffic to gain a spot and wind up third. Hardy Jarvis and Peggy Cone were fourth and fifth.
Winged Sprint Cars return to the 3/8-mile high-banked dirt oval next Saturday with additional races for the Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, and Modifieds. The first green flag drops at 7 PM.
