IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

April 11, 2005 FSCR Abbott 3 for 3 in Legends - Rahman Sweeps Classics at Orlando by Dave Westerman Kory Abbott should be the newest member of the X-Men. Abbott, who normally drives the number 5 in the RE/MAX Legend Cars, has been running a red duct-taped number "X" on his car since the start of the season since the vinyl numbers for his new car aren't ready yet. Abbott may want to stay with the X as he won his third straight RE/MAX Legends feature Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld to remain undefeated for the season in his Kendirk Performance sponsored machine. As usual, the large field of cars required three heat races to set the field for the 25 lap feature. Much-improved Paddy Rodenbeck topped the first heat while Brandon Thomson claimed heat two. Abbott gave a preview of what was to come as he totally dominated the third heat. Thomson grabbed the early lead but Abbott was like a rocket and blasted his way to the front on lap two. Jeremy Colangelo got loose and spun in turn three to bring out the first of two cautions on lap three. Abbott continued his blistering pace but was slowed again on lap seven as Thomson and Paddy Rodenbeck made contact and spun going into turn one. Matt Bowers also got involved and smacked the wall hard while Bobby Byars also slid backwards into Rodenbeck's car. Bowers' hard luck continued as he was OK but out of the race while Thomson was also forced to retire. Rodenbeck and Byars continued and were awarded their spots back in the restart line-up. The remainder of the race ran under green and Abbott simply checked out and won by a half lap. The race for second was a doozy as Rodenbeck came back to score his best career finish in second just ahead of Jarrad Cawley and Darin Coker. Byars claimed fifth, his best run in some time and was the top finishing Masters driver. Rounding out the top ten were Brian Silas (doing a great job after starting deep in the field), Mitch Verhaagh, Doc Richardson (looking good after his bad crash in the PBG Tour race at Citrus the week before), Jeremy Colangelo and Mike Verhaagh. The Classic Cars were making their first start of any kind since last July and they put on quite a show for the fans who aren't used to the rumble of a V-8 engine during the Saturday night show. Two time Classic Car champion Jim Rahman of Clermont and Bud Spencer of Palm Harbor won the heats and made up the front row for the 20 lap feature. Rahman grabbed the point at the drop of the green and led all the way although he slowed a bit in the late going as his oil pressure light began to flicker. The pace was slowed just once for Greg Helton's harmless spin in turn four. The real story of this race had to be Vero Beach driver Simeon Spagnuolo who was racing for the first time in nearly three years. Spagnuolo took over second place near the mid-point of the race and chased Rahman down just as the checker fell. Tim Ousley took third over Ben Booth and Danny Shearer, who was making his first start in three years as well. Completing the top ten were Wayne Ashton, Helton, John Smith, Norm Agostinho and Ron Gustafson. Spencer dropped out with engine problems after starting on the outside pole and was credited with 11th with Joe Strehle 12th after calling it quits on lap three. Beaver Daughtery had problems in warm-ups and was unable to start. Gerald White, Jr. was back on top of the Bandelero Bandits as the 11 year old from Lakeland got by Blake Eden and sped to victory. Eden was second with Donovan Ponder third after a late race altercation with Christina Baluch. Tyler Rahman took fourth over Baluch and Zach Harris. Baluch won the heat race after White and Eden were disqualified for not going to tech. Dalton Bergman was a first time winner in the Bandelero Young Guns as he held off a hard-charging Ryan Rust while Kara Clarke topped the Bandelero Outlaws. William Hindman drove his Honda CRX to the Hurricane win over the Saturn of Jeff Woodrough. RE/MAX LEDGENDS CAR FEATURE FINISH - 4/9/05: 1) Kory Abbott, Apopka #X 2) Paddy Rodenbeck, Odessa #29 3) Jarrad Cawley, Winter Garden #31 4) Darin Coker, Palm Beach Gardens #00 5) Bobby Byars, Palm Bay #12 6) Brian Silas, Lake Worth #57 7) Mitch Verhaagh, Bonita Springs #9 8) Doc Richardson, Palm Harbor #00FL 9) Jeremy Colangelo, Sanford #05 10) Mike Verhaagh, Ft. Myers #7 11) Jimmy Norman, Lake Mary #2 12) Evan Russell, Palm Beach Gardens #37 13) Derrick Wood, Orlando #33 14) Wesley McLeod, Altamonte Springs #22 15) Bob Wilson, Beverly Hills #27W 16) Kyle Dombeck, Palm Bay #20 17) Tom Clarke, Palm Beach Gardens #66 18) Brandon Thomson, St. Cloud #54 19) Matt Bowers, Mt. Dora #84 20) Mark Beebo, St. Cloud #7X Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!