Sloan takes All American Challenge Series Win at Desoto Super Speedway
by Rick Anges
Bradenton, Fl. On a night that "The South’s Fastest Short Track" would host eleven feature races the fans rolled in for a night of action packed racing.
First up on the nights events was qualifying for race number four of the "Hoosier Cup" All-American Challenge Series. Jeff Choquette was going for an unprecedented third win in a row for the series. Choquette would qualify third on the grid of the high powered Super Late Models. Jeff Sloan who had a solid top three run in the last race qualified in the second spot.
Fast time for the event went to the "Rocketman" Wayne Jefferson. Although it was Jefferson’s first fast time in the Super just last week he had taken fast time for the 50 lap modified race. Also pumping up the "Rocketman" was the first trip to the racetrack for the "Rocketbaby" Chase Jefferson who was released from All Children’s Hospital in the past week.
Hoosier Cup AACS The field was inverted four rows putting "Big" Wayne Morris and veteran Late Model racer Daryl Shenut on the front row. Shelnut would take the lead on the drop of the green and would dominate the first quarter of the race. B.J. McLeod followed in the tire tracks of Shelnut as the duo pulled away from the rest of the field. McLeod had a solid run going until the car began slow and then looped coming out of turn four.
McLeod would dive into the infield pits for replacement of flat right rear tire. He would return to the track and the end of the field and made his way back through the pack but could only muster an eleventh place finish.
Next up to challenge Shelnut was Tim Russell. Russle had dominated in the Limited Late Model class at DeSoto but as of yet had not found his stride in the Super class. Russell made several attempts at the leader but Shelnut slammed the door on him each time. Behind the leaders the battle was heating up.
Fast qualifier Jefferson was shuffled back in the field and it was later found out that he had lost power steering around lap 35, the Rocketman continued to run hard staying in the top five. Meanwhile Choquette had caught third place runner Jeff Sloan. Choquette who damaged the nose of his car early in the race looked like he was going to make the move for third when his car slid high.
Choquette’s car slowed dramatically on the track bringing out the yellow. With a flat left rear it looked like his bid for three in a row would end. Choquette dove into the pits and as the field took the one to go sign roared back out onto the track and the tail end of the field.
Shelnut continued to lead but now it was Sloan who was making his move for the second spot. Russell would slide high and open the door as Sloan slid into second and set his sites on Shelnut. It wasn’t long before Sloan was right on the back bumper of the leader.
Sloan would try every line in the book to get by Shelnut but each time he was denied. After being given the “Pick a line” signal from the flag stand and being threatened with the Black Flag Shelnut gave Sloan the racing line and he was able to get by.
Just when it looked like Sloan would cruise to the win Choquette appeared from no where into the second spot. Sloans lead evaporated lap after lap and with two to go Choquette was challenging for the lead. Choquette made one last dash for the lead but Sloan did something the top Late Model drivers in the state have not been able to do, beat Choquette to finish line and take the win. Choquette would settle for second, third would go to a hard charging Chris Fontaine who had started fourteenth, fourth across the stripe was a struggling Wayne Jefferson and fifth Tim Russell.
Magic 4’s The growing class for kid’s 12-17 years old had the fans on their feet with an action packed feature. Young Dylan Bigley son of Billy Bigely Jr. had the crowd holding their collective breathes as flipped on his roof. With safety in mind in the rules for this class Bigely was helped out of his car without a scratch. The safety crew flipped his car back over and without hesitation he jumped back in, fired it up and finished sixth on the night.
It was Shane Yoder making it two wins in a row, Clay Joseph Jr. took the second spot, third went to Bill Leak, David Kimpton was fourth and in fifth Chelsea LaJoie.
Clear Channel Bombers 1 JOHN STEWART 2 DAVID DAVIS 3 JAMES CRAWFORD JR 4 MILENA FIRESTINE 5 JEROME WATLAND KENNY GIBSON DQ
DeSoto Trucks 1 JEFF FIRESTINE 2 JIM REPPI JR 3 JIM REPPI 4 CLINT SNYDER 5 GRAHAM McCORVEY
Trailer Super Center Mini-Stocks 1 CAMERON CRUSE 2 MIKE KERRIVAN 3 DEAN BUTRUM 4 TODD FREED JR. 5 MICHAEL PEACE
Outlaw LM 1 MARK NELSON 2 RICHARD HAUGH 3 DENNIS NEIGHBOR SR 4 ZACHARY PERRY 5 DUANE BEST
OUTLAW MODIFIED 1 ROBERT CAMPBELL 2 WILLIAM CAMPBELL 3 MIKE BEAN 4 ROBBIE BEAN 5 CRAIG SHERAR
Pyramid Employers Pure Stocks 1 DARRIN ELLIS 2 JIMMIE BEST 3 JODY COLLINS 4 JEFF DUFRESNE 5 RICHIE THORBIN BOBBY ERVIEN DQ
International Contractors Street Stocks 1 WILLIAM SLACK 2 DENNIS WILSON 3 CASEY HALL 4 JAMIE CASSIDY 5 WAYNE DOVE
