STICHMANN, TODD, TAYLOR & SNYDER GET FIRST WINS FRIDAY AT SPEEDWORLD
By Dave Westerman
Friday night racing action at Orlando Speedworld saw a trio of new winners as well as a driver taking his first victory here in several years.
In the Super Late Models, Dusty Cornelius, who had taken his first career win the week before, established himself as the early favorite by running away with the heat race.
However, his car never seemed to get up to power on the initial start of the 25 lap feature and he back slid through the field as Matthew Stichmann grabbed the early lead from his pole starting spot.
Lap five saw a bumping incident involving David Debelius and Jared Allison, but Cornelius got the worst end of the deal when he tried to squeeze between one of the cars and the wall. Cornelius was able to drive away but his car was too damaged to continue while Debelius also went to the pits.
Stichmann had his car working extremely well in the low groove and pulled away on the restart as Ronnie Roach and Dalton Zehr worked their way into second and third. However, Roach and Zehr tangled going into turn one on lap 17 with Zehr forced to the pits and Roach restarting at the tail of the field.
Stichmann led the remaining eight laps to score his first win at Speedworld. Doc McKinney took second spot from Chris Staggs with three laps to go but could not chase down Stichmann. Staggs held on for third followed by Rick Bates, Roach, Russ Shaw, Zehr, Allison, Debelius and Cornelius.
Veteran driver Jon Compagnone, Sr. took a "thank you very much" win in the Modifieds in a race that saw a wild final three laps.
Shain Held zipped out to the lead and looked like he was on his way to his first win in his new machine recently purchased from Hoot Flynn.
With three laps to go, Blake Lehr and Corey Freed tangled coming off turn two while fighting for second putting Alan Bruns right behind Held for the restart. One lap later, Held and Bruns tangled sending them to the rear of the line-up handing Compagnone the lead.
Compagnone, who has been fast all year but having terrible luck, had no problems the rest of the way as he drove his All Racing Classifieds machine to his first win here in several years. Kelly Jarrett came home second ahead of Gary Fountain, Sr., Freed and Held. Randy Froelich, Lehr, Bruns, Mark Emberson and Steve Tornbrugh rounded out the top ten while Held won the Modified heat race.
Timmy Todd, Jr. keep a family tradition going strong by taking his first career win in the Sportsman class in wire to wire fashion. Todd, whose dad Timmy, Sr. and Uncle Mike, known as the "Todd Squad," won many races here over the years, held off a determined late race challenge from Andy Nicholls to get the win with John Hodge, Richard Hight and Bryan Silas the top five. Todd also won the heat.
Pedie Allison returned after a brief hiatus to take his third Mini Stock win of the year. R.J. Arnone led the early laps but could not hold back Allison. Arnone was second with Rex "Boneman" Hollinger third, Randy Blakeslee fourth and Tom Rose fifth. Allison won the heat race as well.
Rick Taylor became the third first-time winner on the evening taking his initial victory in the Super Stocks.
Robert Ward led the first three laps before Taylor took over. Bill Loomis was charging through the field and took the top spot from Taylor on lap eight only to have a right front ball joint break going into turn one. Loomis kept his car off the wall but his race was over.
Taylor took over the lead once again and had no problems the rest of the way as he took the checker over Bobby Riley, Lee Wagner, Jason Foster and Johnny Brown. Heat race wins went to Riley and Loomis.
Crab Heaven Restaurant in Titusville put up $100 to the winner of the Strictly Stock feature and that apparently lit a fire under Bob Snyder as he took the win - also his first here at Speedworld. Neil Kirby picked up $25 from "Boss" for coming home second while Bobby Crites, Miguel Barrenchea and Robert Remus also picked up a few bucks for rounding out the top five.
Luke Gaier took his second Junior Stock age 8-11 feature race topping Luke Burke, Jacob Cameron, Wes Railing, Jr., Trey Edenfield, Jeff Cuddy Jessica Railing and Zachary Curtis while Jessie Cuddy topped the age 12-15 group for her third win finishing ahead of Chad Cameron, Kaisee Crites, Alex Fortune, Justin Curtis and B.J. Hefler.
OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - MAY 5
SUPER LATE MODEL
1. #52 Matthew Stichmann 2. #141 Doc McKinney 3. #56 Christopher Staggs 4. #4 Rick Bates 5. #14 Ronnie Roach 6. #68 Russ Shaw 7. #05 Dalton Zehr 8. #18 Jared Allison 9. #38 Dave Debelius 10. #22 Dusty Cornelius
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. #5 Jon Compagnone Sr. 2. #55x Kelly Jarrett 3. #33 Gary Fountain Sr. 4. #12 Corey Freed 5. #55 Shain Held 6. #8 Randy Froehlich 7. #4 Blake Lehr 8. #4b Alan Bruns 9. #30 Mark Emberson 10. #7t Steve Thornbrugh
SPORTSMAN
1. #25 Timmy Todd Jr. 2. #66 Andy Nicholls 3. #00 John Hodge 4. #23 Richard Hight 5. #44 Bryan Silas 6. #6 Spencer Lemmerman 7. #99 Brett Woodley DNS
SUPER STOCK
1. #77 Rick Taylor 2. #52 Bobby Riley 3. #74 Lee Wagner 4. #49 Jason Foster 5. #86 Johnny Brown 6. #28 Ray Mullis 7. #25 Robert Ward 8. #00 Mike Gennett 9. 3#07 Daniel Laszlo 10. #114 Michael Poole 11. #4 Ray Brown 12. #7 Vince Keeler 13. #69 Sparky Wilson 14. #26 Bill Loomis 15. #3 James Frisbie 16. #lb John Bennett 17. #12 Bobby Byars
MINI STOCK
1. #92 Pedie Allison 2. #30 R.J. Arnone 3. #85 Rex "Boneman" Hollinger 4. #77 Randy Blakeslee 5. #43 Tom Rose 6. #09 Bob Kelchner 7. #07 Dick Laszlo 8. #06 Heather Suggs 9. #24 John Cook 10. #7 Tim "Missileman" McPhail 11. #31 Tommy Morrison
JR. STOCK (8-11)
1. #78 Luke Gaier 2. #68 Luke Burke 3. #69 Jacob Cameron 4. #51 Wes Railing 5. #31 Trey Edenfield 6. #364 Jeff Cuddy 7. #17 Jessica Railing
1. #16x Bob Snyder 2. #8 Neal Kirby 3. #1 Bobby Crites Jr. 4. #22 Miguel Barrenechea 5. #16 Robert Remus 6. #80 Steven Streight 7. #20x Ricahrd Barrenchea 8. #x15 Chuck Smeltzer 9. #10 Clinton Love 10. #0 Steven Houseman
Friday night racing action at Orlando Speedworld saw a trio of new winners as well as a driver taking his first victory here in several years. 
Timmy Todd, Jr. keep a family tradition going strong by taking his first career win in the Sportsman class in wire to wire fashion. Todd, whose dad Timmy, Sr. and Uncle Mike, known as the "Todd Squad," won many races here over the years, held off a determined late race challenge from Andy Nicholls to get the win with John Hodge, Richard Hight and Bryan Silas the top five. Todd also won the heat. 
Rick Taylor became the third first-time winner on the evening taking his initial victory in the Super Stocks. 
