Bradenton, Fl. - From the NASCAR style driver introductions on the front stretch to the huge fireworks show at the send off and the end of the race the Seafest 250 at DeSoto Super Speedway was one of the most spectacular Late Model events run in a long time.
The Drivers, 30 strong were brought out on the front stretch and each driver was introduced to the crowd on stage on the front stretch.
Local DJ Tracy Black of 106.5 WCTQ served as Grandmarshall of the event. After the driver intros were completed track owner John Sarrpriacone threw a challenge to the field saying he would pay any driver who could win both segments of the Twin 125's would an extra $1,000. Robert Yoho added he would kick in an extra $250 for John stepping up to the plate and making the race that much more exciting. This would make it a possible $7,250 pay day for one driver.
Last year AACS point's champion Justin Drawdy won both races.
With the pre-race activities completed it was time to get down to the real deal, race #1 of the Seafest 250. Thirty cars roared to life on the front stretch and the cars pulled off behind the pace car. As the cars came out of turn 4 for the wave lap, the front stretch was lit up with fireworks from the safety fence poles.
A huge fireworks display was blazing the skies as the field took the green. Race #1 Joe Boyd was fast qualifier from Friday night but the roll of the die inverted the first four rows. Justin Drawdy assumed the pole position and roared to the lead on the drop of the green.
It wasnt long before "Mr. Excitement" Jimmy Cope slid the 61 machine under Drawdy and took the top spot. Drawdys car slid high allowing Darryl Shelnut and Wayne Anderson to take over the second and third spots. Several laps later Joe Boyd was able to get by Drawdy and Anderson to set the top five, Cope, Shelnut, Boyd, Anderson and Drawdy.
Boyd looked like his car was the one to beat. Lap after lap the car seemed to get stronger but as he was looking to take over the second spot the car slowed coming out of two with mechanical problems. He made repairs and came back out on the track many laps down finishing in the 20th position.
Anderson was running a comfortable third when a puff of smoke came out the back of his ride as he dove down into three. The car did not accelerate coming out of turn four causing Drawdy to get hard on the binders. The rest of the field went askew, Dave Pletcher was also caught up in the wreck getting damage to the nose of his machine all this bringing out the yellow.
When the green came out several cars had to pull off the speedway from damage caused by the wreck including Justin Drawdy and Wayne Anderson. Anderson took 24th Drawdy 22nd.
It wasnt long before "the King" Dicky Anderson made his way into the top five from his 14th starting position and methodically picked off car after car until he took over the top spot. Cope was stuck on the high side and slid all the way back to 10th spot.
Anderson went on to dominate the rest of the 125 lap feature keeping just enough distance between himself and Dave Pletcher to take home the top spot in race #1. Pletcher finished second, third went to Darryl Shelnut, fourth was Mike Bresnahan and fifth went to James Glover. When asked his strategy for race #2 and the $1,000 bonus Anderson said" I race cars for a living, this was my paycheck for the week I'm going to be conservative for the next one."
Race#2 Race #2 had fireworks of its own as Cope took the lead and lead most of the laps until late in the race. Darryl Shelnut had moved into second and was looking to take the lead with a move on the outside out of turn two. Shelnut who had gotten up to the rear quarter panel of Cope was forced up into the wall as the 61 machine drifted high. Shelnut lost several positions after the contact.
Darryl later caught Cope and gave him a bump sending the 61 machine around. Shelnut was sent to the rear for the altercation but wasnt done. Showing his displeasure with the earlier move by Cope he drove the 7 machine over his right front. Cope continued on with a fender hanging Shelnut was Dqed.
The story this night though was the man in the black 92, Anderson took his car on a conservative run from the 16th starting spot all the way to lead over Cope and cruised to victory in race #2 taking the $1,000 bonus. Cope finished second, third was Chris Fontaine, fourth was Jeff Scofield and rounding out the top five was Brad Barkis.
As more fireworks were exploding in the background Anderson was beside himself in winners circle. He said, "I just can't believe this, I came out of retirement and did this, this is great! I want to thank John for putting on such a professional show for us and the fans, This is the race track to race on!"
Anderson not only won both legs of the 250 and the added bonus he was also the Hardcharger for the night due to his 14th and 16th starting positions making his payday close to $7,500.
Limited Late Models
The Limited Late Models were on hand for the Friday night portion of the big Seafest 250 weekend. Twenty six cars were on hand to take the green. Tommy Younkman looked like he was on his way to his first victory in the class. He led most of the 100-lap feature race before getting tangled up with Marty Pierce late in the race. Younkman's car spun and hit the turn one wall with the rear of the car damaging the rear clip and ending an awesome run finishing in the 15th spot.
Dwayne Bryan was able to keep his out of most the trouble on the speedway to take the victory. Doug Samion who was the surprise fast qualifier for the event proved it was no fluke and crossed the stripe in second, third place went to Chad "the Hood" Allman, fourth was Jeff Dufresne and fifth place went to Richie Anderson.
Pure Stock 1.Scott McDaniel 2.Rob Taylor 3.Roy Anderson 4.Keith Thorbin 5.Alex Abbott Mini-Stock 1.Todd Freed Jr. 2.John Wilson 3.Steve Booth 4.Ed Jasper 5.Dean Butrum Open Wheel 1.Wayne Jefferson 2.Pat Nanney 3.Timmy Moore 4.Steve Perez 5.Kevyn Terry Street Stock 1.Tommy Huffstutler 2.Dan Hall 3.Brad Price 4.Jonathan Hiedenthal 5.Tim Miller Jr. Mod-Mini 1.Steve Gill 2.Clay Joseph 3.Robbie Storer 4.Dusty Robinson 5.Brent Yoder
