Robbie Yoakam Wins FMSC at Bronson, Darrin Jackson Takes OWM Win
By Rick Warren
The Weather was perfect, the pits were full, and the Easter Bunny was in attendance as the Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series rolled into Bronson Motor Speedway Saturday night. The FMSC racers are a very popular series, known for large fields of cars and competitive racing. The stands were full in anticipation of the nights’ events. Robbie Yoakam was the fastest qualifier, with a time of 14.615 sec. When the number was drawn for starting position, the first four rows were inverted, starting Yoakam in eighth position.
Local racers Don Faunce and Billy Smith were on the front row for the start of the feature, followed by Robbie Storer, Richard Kelly Jr., Kevin Macy, Lee Davis, Charlie Brown, Robbie Yaokam, Clint Foley, and Rick Sirmans completing the first ten starting positions.
Twenty Nine cars lined up for the start of the Main Event. When the Green Flag dropped for the start of the 50 lap feature, Don Faunce took the early lead, showing the way around the Bronson oval. His lead was, however, small and short lived as several cars worked their way by as Faunce got hung out to dry in the outside lane, with the car of Robbie Storer gaining the lead after the cars got settled in for the 50 laps. Lap 12 saw the caution flag fly as the #70 of Marty Neikens spun off the second turn. The caution was again displayed on lap 15 as two cars tested the wall in turn 3, and again on lap 20 for a multi car spin in turn three. While the track was being cleared during the caution, the 05 car of Rick Sirmans, running fifth, developed engine problems and was forced to retire from the race. The Running order when the race resumed was Robbie Storer, Robbie Yoakam, Richard Kelly Jr.,Don Faunce, Lee Davis, and Clint Foley. The race resumed, and on lap 23, with 3 cars trying to fit in a space big enough for one, the #61 spun in turn 4 bringing out the caution again. On the Restart, the #70 of Marty Neikens and the #60 of Tom Jones got together, causing a great deal of body damage to both cars. The #70 car was forced to pit, while the #60 was able to continue. Caution once again flew when the #41 of Mark Moniz spun in the first turn. The race restarted, and Yoakam started to apply more pressure to the car of Storer, who was still in the lead. Yoakam tried high for a couple of laps, and tried low for several laps before he finally worked his way under Storer on lap 31 to take the lead. Yoakam and Storer opened a good lead on the rest of the field as the race stayed green, but the race behind them was far from settled. The cars of Faunce, Davis, Foley, and Kelly Jr. were really mixing it up, a little rubbing, a little nudge here and there, and some great, competitive racing. The race wound up with Yoakam as the winner, followed by Storer, Davis, Foley, and Faunce. This was a very good show, and the fans and staff at Bronson look forward to the FMSC returning
Next up were the Bronson Modifieds. As the green flag fell, and the field took off in pursuit of the checkered flag, Gene Owen, on the front row, lost a motor going into turn 3, bringing out the caution. After the track was cleaned, the race restarted, and the 26 car of Devin Hughes broke a transmission, causing the driveshaft to break and severely puncture the fuel cell, resulting in a spectacular fire. Fortunately, Hughes was able to escape the car with no injuries. The race restarted with John Kahl and Glen Ervin battling for the lead with Ervin finally settling in with the lead. Darrin Jackson was on the move from his third row starting position, and got past Kahl and started working on Ervin. As the two cars were fighting for the lead, they made contact with both cars spinning. The 0 car went to the pit, and the 7d of Jackson was sent to the rear. On the restart, the cars of Kahl and Monty Morgan got together on the front straight, with Morgan going into the first turn wall head on. Morgan’s car was severely damaged, but Monty was okay. While the track was being cleared, Ervin returned to the race, still on the lead lap. The race restarted with Buddy Hughes on the point, followed closely by Kahl, and a hard charging Jackson.
With pressure from two cars, Hughes slipped in the first turn, allowing Kahl and Jackson to drive by. With only 3 laps remaining, Jackson went to work on Kahl, and managed to drive by him for the win.
In the Bronson Sportsman Class, the car of Rob Cooper was once again in the winners circle, but without Rob Cooper. Rob was not able to be at the races as his wife was undergoing surgery. In his place, Cooper had Arthur Conquest in the Drivers seat. When the race started Roger Damron took the early lead, followed by Bart Meagley and Dusty Bouchard. Conquest made a big dash through the field, and took the lead from Damron on the 7th lap. Arthur stayed out front, with Damron holding on to second. Dusty Bouchard was third followed by Meagley and Anderson.
The Pure Stocks again put on a great show. One scary incident occurred in the race when Jason Holbrook got into the wall on the backstraight, and ended up on his roof, sliding the length of the track before coming to rest in the third turn. All were relieved when Jason emerged from the car uninjured. When the race restarted, Larry Welters Jr. took the lead, and stayed there. Tommy Ausburn, Tommy Smith and Arthur Conquest tried their best to take the lead from Welters, but he was up to the task, and came home the winner, followed by Conquest, Smith, and Ausburn.
The V-8 Bombers saw another Welters in the winners circle. This time it was Katie Welters, wife of Pure Stock winner Larry Welters. The race was run without any cautions, and Katie held off several challenges for the top spot. Charlie Kennedy almost pulled it off, but got loose off turn 4, Kevin Hodge tried the high line but couldn’t make it stick. Welters held on for the win followed by Hodge and Michael Holbrook.
The 4 Cyl Bombers Were won by Rick Kuhn, followed by Chris Noce.
