Bradenton, Fl. - The early afternoon saw fans tailgating in the parking lot hours before the scheduled arrival of NASCAR stars Rusty and Steven Wallace, Harry Gant, Sterling Marlin and Bill Elliott.
As the afternoon turned into evening the parking lot changed from a Florida short track to the infield of Talladega. Campers and pick-ups flying their favorite drivers banners were everywhere.
The drivers flew into Sarasota/Bradenton Airport from the site of next Nextel race in Atlanta courtesy of none other than Rusty Wallace himself. As the police escort roared into the speedway the crowd erupted in cheers. The drivers were escorted into their private motorcoach in preparation of an evening like DeSoto has not seen in years.
There was a good contingent of media on hand as the drivers came out for their press conference. As the questions were bantered back and forth between the reporters and drivers a question was asked why they would make the journey back to the roots of stock car racing. Daytona 500 winner Sterling Marlin summed it up, "The racing's always been about the fans and hopefully as the corporate images grow, the fences between the fans and the drivers won't."
After the media and VIP it was on to the autograph session. With the throng of people waiting with all forms of memorabilia from trading cards to hoods the drivers took their places, whipped out the sharpies and for the next hour and half entertained the masses.
From the autograph session it was back to the motorhome to get changed into their racing gear. All the drivers except Rusty were going to climb into some of the local cars of the Pure Stock class for some exhibition racing. When asked why he wasnt going race Rusty stated When I say Im done I mean it. Then Gant, Elliott, Marlin and the younger Wallace appeared from the coach and it looked like the past meeting the present. Off they went to the pitside to get strapped in to thrill the fans one more time.
Rusty Wallace has always been known as one of the most entertaining racers on the circuit with his wit on the microphone appeared through the breezeway and up into the tower to join the announcing team to call the race.
The fans rose to their feet as cars and drivers came over the hill out of the pits. Harry Gant was piloting the #18 of Jody Collins. Bill Elliott was behind the wheel of the #35 driven by current Pure Stock points leader Jimmy Best. Sterling Marlin was driving the #27 of Duane Campbell and rounding out the field was Steven Wallace in the #12 of Jeff Dufresne.
After 5 laps of hot laps to get the feel of the cars they were ready to do battle in two 8-lap races of which the field would be inverted after the first session. Marlin would start on the pole with Elliott on the outside followed by Gant and Wallace in the second row.
You would have thought from the roar of the crowd that the green flag had dropped on the Daytona 500 instead of an exhibition race. Elliott and Marlin went right after it as they fought for the top spot Behind them Wallace, whose Father Rusty had said had never driven anything like this class of cars took a few laps to get used to his ride began challenging Gant for third spot. The duo ran door handle to door handle lap after lap. When the checkers flew on the first segment it was Marlin taking the win with Awesome Bill taking a close second, Gant edged out Wallace for third spot.
The second leg of the race inverted the field. Wallace and Gant who appeared more comfortable, contested hard for the top spot. It wasnt long though that Marlin and Elliott were back at it for the lead. Marlin took over the top spot and looked like he might make it two in a row when Elliott gave him a little bump draft loosing him up enough to take the lead and go on to win the race.
When asked after the race what he thought of his winning ride Elliott said These guys really have this car set-up, it really worked well in the turns and it has one heck of a motor.
Steven Wallace said, Man that was a blast I have never driven anything like this, it was a thrill! When informed that the car he was driving was for sell he exclaimed, Stroke them a check! His father Rusty said Yea thats what I need is another race car in my garage.
Rusty was asked what was next for him and he said, Well I have to get these guys back to Atlanta then Im going home to North Carolina and do something I havent done in a long time, sit in my own living room and watch the race on TV with my wife.
With one more wave to the crowd they were off to the coach to change and then back to the airport. As they exited the speedway property the crowd gave them one more cheer that could be heard all the way out to state road 64.
The fans were not only treated to their favorite drivers but some great Saturday night stock racing.
Pyramid Employers Pure Stocks: Dynamite Dave Davis was racing his way towards the front of the pack when he got tangled up with Milena Firestine. Daviss car went airborne flipping over on his roof and grinding to a halt on the speedway. The crowd went silent as the safety crews rushed to the scene. Minutes later a roar approval came up as Davis exited his car on his own power and headed to the ambulance to be checked out. Although a little dazed Davis was ok.
As Daviss car was towed off the track the leader of the race Jerome Slideways Watland dove into the pits, it was later discovered that his car was running out of fuel. He came back out onto the track at the tail end of the field.
The green dropped with Kenny the Kid Gibson taking over the top spot. Lap after lap though Watland looked like a man on a mission weaving his way through the field. Watland had made his way to the second spot and when the white flag flew was right on Gibsons bumper for the lead. He made a last run at the top spot but couldnt get it done with Gibson coming out the victor, Watland settled for the second spot, third was Larry Brannan, fourth went to Randy Johnson and in fifth Radical Rick Germony.
Trailer Super Center Mini-Stocks It was Dean Butrum and Todd Freed Jr. putting on a show for the fans as they swapped the lead several times in their 25-lap feature race. When the smoke cleared it was Butrum taking the checkers over Freed. Third was Robert Haygood, fourth went to Gentleman Jon Bailey and fifth Mike Kerrivan.
Q Auto and Injury OWM The 50 lap Open Wheel Modified race went to first time DeSoto winner, Robbie Cooper, second, third was Ralph Bowman, fourth across the stripe was Eric Rudd and fifth L.B.Skaggs.
International Contractors Street Stocks 1 DENNIS WILSON 2 CASEY HALL 3 SUE TAYLOR 4 BRUCE RIGGIO 5 MIKE AMO
Outlaw Mods 1 CLIFF STEINMAN 2 BOBBY DAYTON 3 ROBBIE BEAN 4 MIKE BEAN 5 BILLY CAMPBELL
Golden Corral Mod Minis 1 MARTY NEIKENS 2 STEVE BOOTH 3 JEFF BARNES 4 BILLY CARLBERT JR 5 DUSTIN PEREZ
Cowboy Caddies 1 DUANE CAMPBELL 2 ROGER SWINTON 3 ANTHONY EASTON 4 CHRIS BETZ 5 SHEILA GIBSON
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