The Fast Media Group traveled with its Fastruck Pros and Fast Kids to Charlotte County Speedway for the final early season visit to the track. After two Winter Heat visits and an opening night for the 2006 points season two weeks ago, most of the FMG drivers knew the layout at Charlotte County Speedway.
The Kids and Pros totaled 38 teams with the Kids starting 14 and the Fastruck Pros giving the green to 23, as one fell out just before the feature went green. That was the #13 of Rich Pellerito, sponsored by Water One Bottled Water, Hydell-Ester International and Racers Parts Wholesale. Seems the ignition drive gear on the distributor shaft sheared at an inopportune time. Practice also saw the #14 Kid Truck have problems as young Dillon Johnson’s ride expired, leaving the younger Johnson brother to run the older Brandon’s #41 truck in the 35-lap Kids event.
Qualifying got under way with the Kids setting some quick times. Fast time went to the un-sponsored #7NY of John Kidwell at 16.524, with the new blue NAPA #31 of Brian Blum going 16.570 early in the sequence. Third fast would be Anthony Campi’s #81 Royal Tee’s ride, clocking in at 16.613. The Pro drivers could muster a few tenths quicker, as Brandon Johnson set fast time on the night at 16.343. Second quick went to the 01X of Travis Roland at 16.426, with James Wright III reminding everyone that he was a threat to take another win at 16.452. Post qualifying inspection saw Rowland’s #01X penalized for an unauthorized engine part, that would send the second quick truck to the back of the field for the start of the 75-lap main event.
As the Fast Kids rolled-out for the “Q” Auto & Injury Attorney’s 35, it would be the two fast qualifier’s on the front row. Except the pill draw of 2, meant Kidwell would be outside pole and Brian Blum would go on the inside of row one. After several failed starts, it was finally Blum into turn one first and he never looked back. Dillon Johnson would bang the outside retaining wall on the front stretch in his barrowed #41, sending him into the pits for repairs on his brother‘s Pro ride. Leading wire to wire, Blum helped his points run for the 2006 Championship and kept his new Blue NAPA ride clean and undamaged. Working hard to get the win, but coming up one spot short would be John Kidwell in second and Anthony Campi brought the Royal Tees, McDonough Plumbing, Bodies Automotive, VIP Pool Service, Campico ride home third. Fourth in line at the checkered was a hard charging Michael Pilla in his black #17, followed by the white #96 of Austin Howell.
The Pro line up was affected by both, the 01X penalty in tech after qualifying and the FMG rule on last race winners and runner-ups, starting no higher than 11th and 12th respectively. That put Jimmy Gill’s Precision Communication #5 outside row 6 and Brandon Johnson battered $41 inside the same. All of that meant James Wright III would sit on the pole, while J.R.Garca III, set outside him. The Pros settled in quickly for the 75-lap distance of the Budweiser, Hydell-Ester International Feature. The battle of the III’s did not last long as Garcia got the advantage. The Ramm Transport, 1st Choice Bar-B-Q, Florida Can, Franklin Welding, Commercial Metals, certified Spring & Brake, Smorgon Steel, Industrial Metals #36 truck seemed to be dialed in and looked to be another wire to wire run in the making. Midway through the event, Danny Anderson in his Q Auto #50 tried to take advantage of the “Hired Gun” “Big” Al Newman as Jimmy Gill worked him high, but Anderson’s low side pass sent him up into the #4 of Newman and during the recovery effort in turn-2, he collected Pat Mahoney’s #84. Both sustained major damage, with only Anderson returning to the track after extensive repairs.
Brandon Johnson was nursing the earlier damaged #41 into contention, when he was left in the outside racing groove, but as he made an effort to get back down onto the bottom he made contact with “Hollywood” Michael Powers. The #41 was sent to the rear, but managed to fight back to a top 5 finish. A late race caution set up the final run to the checkered, with Garcia getting passed by young Travis Hanson on the restart and that wound up being the difference at the double checkered flags. The history making finish saw the youngest ever winner in FasTruck Series history, at 14 years of age, Hanson has set a mark that may remain for many years to come. Following Hanson across the strip would be Garcia second, new Pro Series racer Levi Hobbs found his way to third in his Excel Communications, Get-R-Done Motorsports orange and camouflage #9, while Gary Foxworth brought the Florida Gator #25 to fourth. Rounding out the top-5 would be that banged up, but charging, #41 of Brandon Johnson.
Next stop for the Fast Media Group Extravaganza will be Ocala Speedway on Saturday April 15th. Come see all the stars, trucks and cars of the Fast Kids, FasTruck Pros, Fast Late Models and Fast Drifters-Formula DST spectacular. For more info call 813-817-RACE or visit www.fastruckracingseries.com.
We’ll See You At The Extravaganza!
Fast Kids CCS Finish 03/25/2006
31 Brian Blum 7NY John Kidwell 81 Anthony Campi 17 Michael Pilla 96 Austin Howell 36 Ross Chastain 52 Michael Cenzi 46 Matt Cohen 59 Dustin Dunn 111 Kyle McCann 33 Casey Caudill 3 Dustin Rockenhaus 44 Codey Benoit 94 Matthew McGillivray 41 Dylan Johnson (DNF)
FasTrucks CCS Finish 03/25/2006
14 Travis Hanson 36 J R Garcia 9 Levi Hobbs 25 Gary Foxworth 41 Brandon Johnson 56 James Wright III 5 Jimmy Gill 05 Mike Powers 01 Travis Roland 63 Michael Famigetti 9 Jason Deaton 94 Andy Megronigle 2 Joe Coulter 07 Kyle Musselman 52 Josh Schmidt 4 Al Neumann 44 Mike Wear 50 Danny Anderson 84 Pat Mahoney 26 Glenn Bidwell 7 Alex Petrone M1 Jake Reedy 5x Rick Heath Jr. 13 Richard Pellerito (DNS) FASTRUCK 2006 POINTS
FASTRUCK PROS POINTS
1. 41 Brandon Johnson 200 2. 36 J R Garcia 195 3. 141 Travis Hanson 193 4. 5 Jimmy Gill 192 5. 25 Gary Foxworth 187 6. 9 Levi Hobbs 184 7. 01 Travis Roland 183 8. 56 James Wright III 182 9. 94 Andy Megronigle 158 10. 05 Mike Powers 158 11. 2 Joe Coulter 152 12. 50 Danny Anderson 150 13. 99 Jason Deaton 146 14. 4 Al Neumann 140 15. 07 Kyle Musselman 132 16. 26 Glenn Bidwell 128 17. 84 Pat Mahoney 122 18. 7 Alex Petrone 112 19. 97 Patrick Staropoli 84 20. 63 Michael Famigetti 82 21. 03 Charlie Worth 80 22. 02 David Hartin 78 23. 83 Tom North 70 24. 44 Mike Wear 70 25. 13 Richard Pellerito 62 26. 78 Austin Hopper 60 27. M1 Jake Reedy 60 28. 15 Jerry Maxson 54 29. 38 Ralph Chastain 52 30. 91 Larry Chumney 48
FASTKIDS 2006 POINTS
FAST KIDS POINTS
1. 31 Brian Blum 201 2. 81 Anthony Campi 199 3. 7ny John Kidwell 193 4. 24 Michael Pilla 184 5. 59 Dustin Dunn 180 6. 36 Ross Chastain 178 7. 46 Matt Cohen 170 8. 92 Michael Cenzi 170 9. 96 Austin Howell 170 10. 33 Casey Caudill 160 11. 39 Codey Benoit 152 12. 6 Josh Williams 97 13. 2 T J Duke 86 14.111 Kyle McCann 82 15. 3 Dustin Rockenhaus 78 16. 87 Westley Hopper 74 17. 95 Matthew McGillivray 74 18. 40 Jessica Green 72 19. 14 Dylan Johnson 72
FAST LATE MODEL POINTS (as of March 11th)
1. 1 Cody Pitts 104 2. 20 Sean Bass 101 3. 40 Brock Burns 97 4. 46 Spencer Taylor 97 5. 28 Steve Smith 96 6. 111 Donnie Williams 90 7. 74 John Garrett 88 8. 8 Michael Seeright 86 9. 00 Jason Kuykendall 84 10. 16 Timothy Garrod 82 11. 3 Earl Beckner 80 12. 01 Bobby Spaeth 78
