By Rick Warren
The weather was beautiful, Desoto Super Speedway was ready, the pit area was filled with race cars, and 36 entries were signed in to compete in the Highland Homes / Southern Sportsman Series 50 lap event.
After all competitors had cleared pre-race tech inspection, and run a few practice laps to check out their set-ups, it was time to qualify, to determine starting positions. Knowing that only the top 20 qualifiers would be locked in, and the final eight starting positions determined by a B-Main race, the pressure was on. One by one the Southern Sportsman drivers took a shot at being the fastest qualifier of the day. When all had given their best run, it was Steve Gainey, in the #79X that had turned the fastest lap.
With the top 20 qualifiers locked in, it was time for the B-Main, to determine the final 8 starters for the feature. The race cars rolled onto the track with Johnny Mitchell and Tommy Conquest on the front row, followed by Craig Cuzzone, Kyle Tenbusch, T.C. McElyea, Michael Soukup, Ted Head, Todd Morey, Ted Brenner, and Ricky Hoffman making outthe top ten spots in the 16 car field.
When the field took the green flag, Mitchell and Conquest began immediately to battle for the lead, running side by side, until the 31C of Roy Crain Jr., got into the back straight retaining wall, bringing out the caution flag. Fortunately, Mitchell was not injured, but his race car suffered extensive damage, and was done for the evening. As the race restarted, Mitchell and Conquest picked up right where they had left off, racing like it was the feature, and not the B-Main.
Mitchell finally gained sole possession of the top spot, but the entire race had Conquest breathing down his neck, looking for any way to grab the top spot. As the race continued, Craig Cuzzone, in the #97 Mike White Carpentry entry closed the gap and made his presence felt, joining the battle for the top spot. Mitchell drove a flawless race in the #17 Blinds Direct Camaro, winning the B-Main, and securing a starting spot in the feature. Finishing behind Mitchell were Conquest, Cuzzone, Tenbusch, McElyea, Soukup, Head, and Brenner in the top eight, also securing starting spots in the feature.
With the line-up now filled, it was time for the draw for inversion to determine the exact starting positions. The draw was done, and Derrik Heath, in the #2 sat on the pole, with Robbie Yoakam on the outside pole in the #8 F.Miley Enterprises entry.
The second row was filled by Rikk McMehan in the #12R, and Steve O’Lone in the #20X.
The remainder of the top ten was filled by George Shaver, Steve Gainey, Aaron Williamson, Joe Shaver, Bart Weatherford, and Ron Heard Jr. Richie Smith held the 11th starting spot, by virtue of winning the previous race.
The Feature race for the Southern Sportsman rolled onto the high banks of Desoto Super Speedway, 28 strong, and ready for 50 laps of green flag racing. Following the pace car for several laps, bringing motors, brakes, and tires up to temperature, the racers were more than ready when they got the one to go signal.
When the green flag waved to start the race, Heath and Yoakam went side by side trying to gain an advantage. As Yoakam raced on the outside, the rest of the lead pack dropped into single file, and hung Yoakam out to dry. As the field lined out , Yoakam fell to sixth position before he could find a spot to drop to the inside.
The first caution came out on lap 9, for a minor incident , and was quickly cleared by the Desoto track crew, and the field was reset for the restart. Heath still held the top spot in his un-sponsored family and friends entry, followed by McMehan, Shaver, Williamson, and Gainey. On the restart, McMehan got a bad start, and Shaver, Williamson, and Gainey all drove by, dropping McMehan to 5th spot. Shaver used his momentum to carry him to the outside of Heath and battle for the lead. Lap 13 saw Shaver make the pass for the lead, with Gainey following him around Heath for second spot.
Williamson was right behind, making the pass on Heath to join the top 3. Lap 15 had another brief caution for the 62, 72,and 73, spinning in turn 3. The field was quickly relined, with Shaver out front followed by Gainey, Williamson, Heath, McMehan, Yoakam, Heard, O’Lone, Arthur Conquest and Richie Smith. Cautions breed Cautions, and lap 16 saw another caution period for a multi car incident in turn 1, involving the cars of Buddy Brown, McElyea, O’Lone and others.
The track was cleared, and the field reset with Shaver, Gainey and Williamson still holding the top 3 spots, followed by McMehan, Heath, Heard, Yoakam, Conquest, Weatherford, Travis Nichols, and Craig Cuzzone holding the top ten positions. When the field once again went to green flag racing, Gainey went to the outside of Shaver to challenge for the lead. On Lap 18 Gainey completed the pass for the lead. Gainey was able to separate from the field slightly, while the race for second was far from over.
Shaver and Williamson battled tooth and nail, while behind them the races for positions were intense. The race went quickly after the halfway point, with Gainey taking the Checkered flag first, followed by Shaver, Williamson, McMehan, Heard, and Heath.
However, things are not always as they seem. In the Post Race technical inspection, it was determined that the engines of Gainey and Shaver were not in compliance with Southern Sportsman rules, and both were disqualified. This gave the win to Williamson, and moved all finishers up two positions.
Kyle Tenbusch was the winner of the Hard Charger Award, starting 24th and finishing 8th. Rikk McMehan, with his 2nd place finish, moved into the points lead over Richie Smith by a scant 11 points.
The Southern Sportsman Series will be in action again on April 8th, at the fast ½ mile of Columbia Motorsports Park, in Lake City Fl. Plan to attend, and see some great racing action.
FINAL RESULTS CONSI Race:
1 17 Johnny Mitchell High Springs, FL
2 72 Tommy Conquest Bronson, FL
3 97 Craig Cuzzone Lakeland, FL
4 10 Kyle Tenbusch Pt. Charlotte, FL
5 19 T.C. McElyea Dania Beac
6 45 Michael Soukup Deltona, FL
7 92 Ted Head Auburndale, FL
8 57 Jim Brenner Sarasota, FL
9 32 Ricky Hoffman Palm Harbor, FL
10 98 Roger Welch St. Petersburg, FL
11 27 Phil Luizzo Lake Mary, FL
12 71 Todd Morey Wauchula, FL
13 21 James Casady Arcadia, FL
14 121 Gordon Cade Ocala, FL
15 60 Ray Cuzzone Lakeland, FL
16 48 Jim McAlister Clermont, FL
17 31C Roy Crain, Jr. Live Oak, FL
FEATURE RACE
1 13 Aaron Williamson Mulberry, FL
2 12R Rikk McMehan Hudson, FL
3 00 Ron Heard, Jr. Seffner, FL
4 2 Derrik Heath ** Parkland, FL
5 78 Arthur Conquest Bronson, FL
6 22 Travis Nichols ** Brooksville, FL
7 1 Bart Weatherford Lakeland, FL
8 10 Kyle Tenbusch Port Charlotte, FL
9 31 Hal Vickery Oneco, FL
10 41 Richie Smith Hernando, FL
11 8 Robbie Yoakam Hernando, FL
12 7 Tom Raiser Naples, FL
13 17 Johnny Mitchell High Springs, FL
14 62 Buddy Brown Parrish, FL
15 45 Michael Soukup Deltona, FL
16 18 Billy Jones Lake Wales, FL
17 17N Nevin Gainey Ft. White, FL
18 72 Tommy Conquest ** Bronson, FL
19 73 Mark Peterson Sarasota, FL
20 57 Jim Brenner Sarasota, FL
21 92 Ted Head Auburndale, FL
22 97 Craig Cuzzone Lakeland, FL
23 20X Steve O'Lone Clearwater, FL
24 19 T.C. McElyea Dania Beach, FL
25 23 Edward Allen Lecanto, FL
26 11 Joe Shaver North Port, FL
DQ 79X Steve Gainey Bradenton, FL
DQ 25X George Shaver Bradenton, FL
|
