Steve Dorer shows the way in Limited Late Opener, Kimpton takes firswt Magic 4 Win
By Rick Anges
Bradenton, Fl. Qualifying for the Turner Tree and Landscape Limited Late Model opener saw most of the field turning times in the 15.30’s range but it was Steve Dorer who had the fast trip around the track with a time of 15.02. “I’ve raced here quite a bit in the Limited’s and the Super’s at DeSoto, but this is my first fast time here, we are really pleased with the way the car is working” said Dorer.
Turner Tree and Landscape LLM The roll of the dye inverted the field four rows putting the 2004 champion Doug Moff on the point with Steve Gill on the outside of the front row. The field took several tries at the green before getting the first lap of the season in. Jason Bowser was one of the early causalities being caught up in an early race altercation relegating him to a fifteenth finishing spot. Steve Arnold, who had second fast time in qualifying, also had his problems after making contact with another car Arnold had to dash into the pits with a flat front tire. He returned to the track but again was caught up in incident losing a fender then finally retiring into the infield with a fourteenth place finish.
The first half of the race saw Doug Moff dominate. Moff was in his own time zone building almost a full straightaway lead over second place Steve Gill. Gill also had a good run going in the early stages of the race building a good lead over the rest of the pack and running alone in the second spot.
Just past the halfway mark Dorer made his way through the field and set his sites on the leader Moff. Lap after lap Dorer cut into the lead. When Dorer finally caught Moff the battle was on as Moff did everything he could to hold onto the top spot but it wasn’t enough as Doroer made it look easy getting around the early race dominator.
Dorer put the hammer down and was never challenged as he cruised to the first win in the Limited Late Model class, Moff who finished in the second spot said, “ The car was good early in the race but got tight in the later stages and I just couldn’t hold him off.” The move of the night came with just under five laps to go in the 100 lap feature when Mike Franklin Jr. who had been running in the top five all night saw his opportunity and made the pass to get him into the third posistion, fourth went to Steve Gill and in fifth Mike Hovis.
Q Auto and Injury OWM Bobby Baldwin who won the ’05 championship in the Open Wheel Modifieds last year on the final race of the season picked up where he left off taking the opening win of the year for the class, Sean McLaughlin had a solid run in the second spot. In only his third time in the car Brian Teeters took the third, fourth across the stripe was Dustin Chisholm and in fifth Dale Shelton.
Trailer Super Center Mini-Stocks Bruce Moorehouse made some wild moves and looked like he was on his way to the win in the Mini-Stock feature. But Todd Freed Jr. had something to say about that. Freed the ’04 champion and Dean Butrum the ’05 champ made their way through the rest of field they closed in on the leader. With Butrum drafting right on his back bumper Freed made it look easy taking over the top spot and cruising to the win, Butrum finished a close second, third went to Mike Kerrivan, fourth was Rob Stodgell and fifth Kip Bryant.
Pyramid Employers Pure Stocks The race of the night was once again in the Pure Stock division and the drivers in the fray were once again Jeff Dufresne and Jimmie Best. The duo had the fans on their feet and was in a heated battle lap after lap with Best trying to find the line to get around Dufresne. Each time that it looked like Best would make the move on the leader Dufresne would slam the door on him.
The laps ran out for Best as Dufresne went on to take his second win in row, finishing second Best moved into the lead in the points, John Brown took the third spot, fourth was David Yahraus with fifth going to Richie Thorbin.
Clear Channel Bombers
It was ’05 Champion “Dynamite” Dave Davis holding off the charge of “Radical” Rick Germony to take the win in the twenty-five lap feature. Germony took second, third was James Crawford Jr., fourth was last weeks winner “Chargin” Chester Lusk and fifth “Dandy” Don Slack.
International Contractors Street Stocks
Casey Hall made it two out of three taking his second win of the young season in the Street Stock division, Jamie Cassidy had a solid run getting around a smoking Dennis Wilson Jr. for the second spot, Wilson was third, fourth was last weeks winner William Slack and rounding out the top five was Alex Abbott.
Magic 4's
The Magic 4’s, the class made for the young drivers aged 12-17 years old made their debut in an exhibition race and David Kimpton Jr. made it known that he would be the one to deal with in the new class. Kimpton, son of Pure Stock racer Ken Smith cruised to the first ever victory in the class. Second went to Bill Leak, third was Chelsea Lajoie and fourth Albert “the Hammer” Nail.
Cowboy Caddies
It was Duane Campbell “Jr.” taking the win in the Cowboy Caddy feature, second was ’05 Joe Gagen, third went Anthony Easton, fourth Roger Swinton and fifth Tom Carlough.
