Billy Mowery and Jay Middleton Top Guns at Charlotte
It was kids night Saturday at Charlotte County Speedway.
Jay Middleton, a 19-year-old from Lake City, captured the Florida Pro Late Model 100-lapper.
In the other big race of the night the Gulfcoast Triple Classic 75-lapper for Open Wheel Modifieds another kid won. Although Billy Mowery is 24-years old, he goes by the nickname "The Kid".
A big crowd weathered nuisance on-and-off sprinkles on a long night of racing at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval.
The rain canceled lap qualifying for the Florida Pro Late Models, which started its race by points. That meant Middleton began the 100-lapper on the pole. He withstood early pressure from the No. 2 man in points, Michael Faulk of Gainesville, and then later from Brian Finney, who ended up second.
It was the first 100-lap victory of Middleton's short career. He began racing in the Legends cars two years ago and moved to Late Models and the Florida Pro Series last year, where he was rookie of the year.
"Starting first helped a lot, but I had a great car tonight", said the Sante Fe Community College engineering student who pilots the No. 74 Late Model. "I was running in the 90's".
Middleton inched closer to the points title. There is one more race this year for the Florida Pros at Columbia Motorsports Park in Lake City.
Faulk finished third, Doyle Boatwright was fourth and Chris Turner fifth.
Saturday night was the second of three races for the Gulfcoast Triple Classic Modifieds. The first race held in September at Sunshine Speedway in St. Petersburg. It was won by Ralph Bowman. He was a non-factor Saturday in Punta Gorda, finishing 18th in the 27-car field.
As expected, 75 green flag laps of Open Wheel Modifieds at CCS would be an unpredictable and caution-packed affair. There were 15 yellow flags thrown as drivers failed to settle into any kind of a groove until late.
It was evident a third of the way in that the No. 1 car of Wayne Jefferson would be the car to watch. He moved up through the field and was on leader Dan Partelos tail by lap 50. First, Jefferson tried to pass Partelos No. 9 car high, but that didnt work. Jefferson grew impatient and on lap 64 tried to pass Partelo on the dirt in turn one. Both cars ended up spinning. Jefferson took his car to the pits for the night. Partelo got his spot back.
It looked like the race would be a lock for Partelo, but on lap 71, the unthinkable happened. Partelo ran out of fuel, leaving Mowery with the lead in the No. 5 car.
Mowery finished third in the first Triple Classic race at Sunshine. With the win, he now is the series points leader heading into the finale a 100-lapper which will be held Nov. 9 at Bronson Speedway.
"It was a race of attrition", said Mowery, who also races Hooters Pro Cup Series. "I didnt have the fastest car, but I was patient and it worked out for me."
Charlotte County Speedway Modified points leader L.B. Skaggs was third. Tommy Bower was fourth and Teddy Nelson fifth.
In the Sportsman 25-lap feature, James DuBose of Arcadia took the checkered, but his car was disqualified in post-race technical inspection. That left Dale Dean III the winner. Jerry Bryant of Punta Gorad was second. George Ellsworth took third.
In the kids 4-cylinders, Eric Ludvigsen took checkers. The adult race was copped by Bobby Fischer.