First AACS Win for “The Rocketman” Wayne Jefferson in Leroy Porter Icebreaker 125
“Felda Flash” Lee Collins tops 36 Gulfcoast Modified Feature
by Rick Anges
Bradenton,Fl. As the rain left the area the pits began to fill at the “South's Fastest Short Track”for the first ever running of the “Leroy Porter Icebreaker 125”.
Leroy Porter was one of the top Late Model drivers in the state of Florida back in his hey day.Among all his wins Porter's most memorable win was the 1983 Governors Cup, the most prestigious race in Florida Short Track Racing.
1990 changed his life forever. In a practice run what looked like a simple spin turned turned into a fiery inferno. Leroy was trapped in his car for what seemed like an eternity. When he finally jumped out of the passenger side window the damage was done and a carrier was over.
Porter recovered from his injuries but never lost his passion for racing. He can be seen in the pits of tracks all over the state. He spotted for Jimmy Cope, Jason Boyd, Pete Orr and is currently spotting for Mike Fritts, one the top Super Late Model drivers in the state.
John Sarppraicone the owner of DeSoto Super Speedway recognized what Porter has contributed to the sport and in his honor renamed the annual 1st Super Late Model race at DeSoto to the “Leroy Porter Icebreaker 125”. “Leroy has given so much for racing I only felt it was right to name the race for him” said Sarppraicone.
LEROY PORTER ICEBREAKER 125 Clouds hung low as the field rolled out for qualifying. The cars were having trouble hooking up in turn 4 after all the rain had washed off the previous days qualifying. It was Jeff Scofield, two time Hoosier Cup All American Challenge Series champion who took the fast time.
The dye was rolled and the field was inverted four rows for the first race of the AACS season. The inversion put “the Rocketman” Wayne Jefferson on the pole.
When the green dropped Jefferson was off like a shot, he built up a good lead and was never really challenged during the 125 lap event. The racing though was hot and heavy behind the leader and it wasn't long before Scofield had come from the middle of the pack to move into third behind second place Wayne Anderson. The race came down to the two racing side by side neither giving an inch. It was Scofield who was able to come out on top Anderson dropped back to third.
Although the race started under cloud cover the sun came out and it was obvious Jefferson's team had been prepared for that as the car was on a rail. Anderson broke a control arm late in the race sending him back to the 14th position. The Rocketman shone the rest of the race taking his first ever All American Challenge Series win and the 1st ever Leroy Porter Icebreaker 125. Scofield came home in the second spot, a solid run in the third spot was Darryl Shelnut. B.J. McLeod was quiet all day long but stayed out trouble and finished a strong fourth in fifth Mike Fritts.
Gulfcoast Modifieds The field of thirty seven Gulfcoast Modifieds rolled out on the speedway to qualify for the first race of the 2006 season. Former track champion “the Felda Flash” Lee Collins came out on top to take fast time, with a 15.10 time. The second spot went to a surprise run for Dale Shelton with a 15.11 second lap.
The field started straight up and yellow flags flew several times through out the 50 lap feature. Jimmy Houle was one of the casualties of a wreck under one of the caution flags.
Early in the race Dale Shelton was right on the back bumper of Collins for quite a few laps but had problems later in the race and ended up 25th on the day.
Wayne Jefferson did what he could trying to get by Collins late in the race but could not get the move made, Collins went on to the win, Jefferson who pulled double duty on the day finished second, third went to Ralph Bowman, fourth was Robbie Cooper and in fifth Mike Hinegardner.
Pyramid Employers Pure Stock Jeff Dufresne lead from green to checkers in the 25 lap feature. But the show on the track was Jimmy Best who came from the 19th spot to move in on the leader Best wasn't able to get around and settled for the second spot, third Duane Campbell, fourth was John Brown and in fifth Jody Collins.
Clear Channel Bombers “Chargin” Chester Lusk has been close several times to the winners circle but tonite would be his night as he would cruise to the win. The race was for second was a barn burner going three and four wide but when the smoke cleared it was “Dynamite” Dave Davis taking second, third was “Radical” Rick Germony, fourth went to “the Mayor” John Stewart and fifth coming back from a chilling crash last week was “dandy” Don Slack.
Sarasota Ford DeSoto Truck Series 1.Todd Bontrager 2.Danny Anderson 3.Jeff Firestine 4.Clint Snyder
Golden Corral Mod-Minis 1.Rick Sirmans 2.Dustin Perez 3.Ray Folwell 4.Clay Joseph 5.Steve Booth
International Contractors Street Stocks 1.William Slack 2.Jamie Cassidy 3.Casey Hall 4.Bruce Riggio 5.Wayne Dove
