IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

June 6, 2004 FSCR Alan McCafferty tops Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modifieds at Ocala Speedway by Jane Smith Ocala, Fla. (June 5, 2004) Rain was the name of the game for the weekend but somehow Ocala was lucky and got to run all their heats and features with no wet stuff. The big event of the night was the Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modifieds with 19 cars in the field. Wayne Jefferson of St. Pete set fast time with a 15.281 followed by the Powell Memorial Sunbelt winner at Citrus County Speedway the night before Wayne Anderson of Wildwood with a 15.318. Completing the top five were Alan McCafferty of Clermont with a 15.383, David Baxley of Anthony with a 15.399 and Red Vann of Lutz with a 15.552 Jefferson pulled the number 3 pill inverting the field and putting Alan McCafferty on the pole. When the green flag waved, it was Wayne Anderson who took the lead followed by McCafferty, David Baxley, Wayne Jefferson and Red Vann. But on lap 1, the yellow was thrown for Jeremy Gerstner and Jerry Symons who got together on the backstretch and spun. Both go to the rear and the race goes back green. Anderson holds the point on the restart followed by McCafferty, Baxley, Jefferson, Vann, Kevyn Terry, Gary Southard, Kevin Durden, Rick Hall, Troy Robinson, and John Gerstner. But it is a short green as the yellow comes out again on lap 6 for Greg Nordstrom who spun on the frontstretch. For two laps, the race is green with Anderson in the lead but on lap 8, the yellow is shown again for David Baxley who spun coming off 4 as McCafferty and Anderson are fighting for the lead. Baxley rejoins the field in the rear for bringing out the yellow and the race goes back green. But on lap 11, Baxley spins again in the same spot as on lap 8 and the yellow is thrown again. On the restart, McCafferty puts the pedal down and passes Anderson as Red Vann follows McCafferty into second and Anderson settles down in third. On lap 15, Ronald Blackard of Geneva brings out the yellow as he goes alittle too high and hits the turn 4 wall. Blackard is fine but the car is done for the night. On the restart it is McCafferty, Vann, Anderson, Terry, Durden, Southard, Hall, John Gerstner, and Troy Robinson leading the way. Lap 17 sees the yellow for Jason Garver and Rick Hall who spun on the frontstretch. McCafferty leads the way and on lap 20 the show is between Terry and Durden who both want the fourth place spot. As they go side-by-side for several laps, it is Durden taking over fourth and Terry settling into fifth. Top five are now McCafferty, Vann, Anderson, Durden and Terry. Lap 27 sees some wild action as Baxley and Jerry Symons get alittle too close with Symons taking a wild ride thru the infield grass. Both cars are sent to the rear for the restart as Anderson goes in with mechanical problems ending his good run for the night. On the restart, Baxley is not too happy with Symons and goes after Symons. Symons holds with Baxley being spun and sent to the rear again. On the green it is McCafferty, Vann, Durden, Terry, Southard, John Gerstner, Robinson, Jefferson, Mark Emberson, Jason Garver and Alan Bruns. Lap 31 sees Robinson and Jefferson going after the seventh place spot as Robinson holds on. On lap 37, Baxley taps Bruns sending Bruns for a grass ride into the infield. Bruns collects his ride without bringing the yellow out. Lap 45 Jason Garver spins coming down the frontstretch in a cloud of smoke. Luckily, no one hits Garvery even though it was hard to see. Garver goes to the rear and the race goes back green with McCafferty, Vann, Durden, Terry and Southard in the top five. Lap 47 the top ten are McCafferty, Vann, Durden, Terry, Jefferson, Gerstner, Southard, Robinson, Emberson and Symons. But on lap 49, the yellow comes out for John Gerstner and Gary Southard who have gotten together in turn 4 fighting for the sixth place spot. Neither are very happy since they both have run a very good race but both must go to the rear for the green, white, checkered. McCafferty holds off Vann and takes the checkered for his first win in 2004 in the Penske Racing Shocks United Pro Modified Series. Following McCafferty to the checkered was Red Vann, Kevin Durden, Kevyn Terry and Wayne Jefferson. OFFICIAL RESULTS PENSKE RACING SHOCKS UNITED PRO MODIFIED JUNE 5 - OCALA SPEEDWAY 1. #32M Alan McCafferty, Clermont 2. #32 Red Vann, Lutz 3. #0 Kevin Durden, Archer 4. #13 Kevyn Terry, Citra 5. #1 Wayne Jefferson, St. Pete 6. #0 Troy Robinson, Tampa 7. #30 Mark Emberson, Clermont 8. #66 Jerry Symons, New Smyrna 9. #06 Greg Nordstrom, Glen St. Mary 10. #12 David Baxley, Anthony 11. #77 John Gerstner, Tampa 12. #39 Gary Southard, Bronson 13. #65 Jason Garver, Lawtey 14. #4b Alan Bruns, Clermont 15. #47 Robert McElheny, Lithia 16. #70 Jeremy Gerstner, Tampa 17. #57 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 18. #15 Rick Hall, Tampa 19. #4 Ronald Blackard, Geneva Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!