Palm Harbor's Bud Spencer and his "Lavender Love Machine" 1934 Ford sedan topped the Classic Auto Racing Series field Friday night at Ocala Speedway for his second win of the year, but Spencer was probably happy the race was 15 laps instead of 20 as five cars finished under a blanket as the checkered flag fell.
Polesitter Harvey Ewing got the jump on outside pole man Spencer at the drop of the initial green, but Joey Strehle and Bill Posey got tangled up in turn one forcing a complete restart with both drivers being sent to the rear of the field for the restart.
This time, Spencer was able to slide in front of Ewing going into turn one and the two ran nose to tail for several laps joined by Daryl Grief and Ed Yates.
Just when it looked like this race would run green to checker, Hot Rod Al Hagan and Patrick "Bam Bam" Sanders tangled in turn four to bring out the caution on lap eleven. Meanwhile, Jim Rahman had moved from his 11th starting spot into the top five.
Only one lap could be completed before fifth-running Ben Booth spun on his own in turn four. Greg Helton spun in turn four to bring out the race's final caution a lap later setting up a two lap dash to the checker.
Following the restart, Ewing got high in turn four allowing Grief and Rahman to get by and force the issue on Spencer. As the field came to the checker, Grief dove low and Rahman went high but Spencer managed to hold them off at the line with Grief just barely edging Rahman for second. Joey Strehle came back through the field to pass Ed Yates at the line for fourth on the bumpers of the leaders while Ewing recovered for sixth. George Hall, Jr., Posey, Booth, and George Hall III rounded out the top ten.
Rahman's run to the front proved popular as a large group of very vocal fans were in attendance from his sponsor Ro Mac Lumber of Leesburg in support of the Classic Cars.
Strehle's fourth place finish earned him the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Race Award. Tim Ousley of Windermere made his first start in the Series finishing a respectable 12th.
The Classic Auto Racing Series heads back to the dirt next week for the first appearance of the year at JAX Racways Saturday night.
RESULTS - OCALA SPEEDWAY - 5/16/03:
1) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 2) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 3) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5 4) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42 5) Ed Yates, Orlando #74 6) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 7) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 8) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00 9) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12 10) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 11) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3 12) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88 13) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 14) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6 15) Randy Grief, Orlando #90 16) Sharen Ewing, Brooksville #16
