Abbott tops RE/MAX Legends Car Season Opener at Orlando SpeedWorld
by Dave Westerman
Orlando Speedworld opened up the Saturday night portion of the 2007 racing schedule under clear skies but with some chilly temperatures to go along with some hot racing action.
The RE/MAX Legends Car 25 lap feature saw heat winners Chelsea Schillig and Kory Abbott on the front row for the start. Abbott wasted no time asserting himself out front as Schillig settled in behind him. The race ran under green until the half-way mark when Troy Mahrt and Shaughn McCormick tangled in turn three. On the restart, Tom Clarke and Mike Fazio locked horns in turn one. All four were able to continue.
Only one more caution would be displayed, with two laps to go as Troy Mahrt ran over some debris on the front stretch. Abbott would just hold off Schillig at the stripe for the win with Andy Logan finishing a strong third.
Jimmy Norman crashed his primary car in practice but his back-up machine was equal to the task as he came home with a strong fourth while Tony Sansom had a good run for fifth. Rounding out the top ten were James Rodriguez, Mike Verhaagh, Leonard Hearndon, Tom Clarke and Rick Wetmore. The remaining finishers were Wild Willie Wilson, Doug Hall, David Tart, Gary Verdier, McCormick, Mahrt, Eric Eichelberger and Fazio.
Leonard Hearndon grabbed the lead at the drop of the green flag and held off teammate Alex Kempf to win the Legends Car Charger division feature for his first career win. Former Bandelero champion Gerald White, Jr. made his first ever Legends Car start and finished third despite a mid-race spin. Heat winner Bryan Beland was fourth trailed by Randy Garven, Robby Gentry and Dean Moslow. Gerald Campbell was unable to start after a bout with the wall in warm-ups.
The Florida Open Wheel Lites ran their feature green to checker with Dennis Diehl leading all the way to take the victory. Sonny O'Sullivan celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a strong second place finish while Roger Richmond trailed in third. Roger Wolff was a distant fourth with Phil Krauthoff fifth.
Completing the finishers were Jeff Wolff, Jason Stout, Max Howe, Nick Shadid, Dave Kellogg, Robert Johnson and Rick Lundeen. Heat wins went to Diehl and Roger Wolff.
In Hearndon Construction Bandelero action, the finish of the Bandits feature was a wild one as early leader Jake Perkins spun in turn four headed for the checker and was hit hard by the car of Justin Bechtold. Both youngsters were OK but their cars were badly damaged. Critter Saile took the lead late in the going and held on for the win over heat race winner Shawn Hooven, Zach Harris, Coty Bibeau, Layton Hearndon, Perkins, Bechtold and Daniel Conlin.
The Young Guns saw heat winner Kaleb Hearndon lead the first couple of laps but it was Mark Hooven grabbing the top spot and holding on for his first Young Guns win after taking the Bandit championship last year. Hearndon held on for second ahead of Donovan Ponder, Bruce Bennett and Gerald Campbell.
The Classic Cars saw just six machines go to post but three of those drivers shared a part of the lead. Simeon Spagnuolo led the opening laps before being passed by teammate Derrick Wood. Wood led until half way when John Smith slipped by. Smith would lead the rest of the way to claim the victory over Wood, heat winner Spagnuolo, Ron Gustafson, Doug Johnson and Andrew Gustafson.
Devin McLeod was doing some fast delivery in his Dominos Pizza sponsored machine as he took the lead near mid race from Corey White and went on to take the Florida Mini Cup Racing Association feature win. White held off Brady Marshall for second with Phil Beede fourth, Don Mays fifth and Tye Larsen sixth. McLeod also won the heat.
The ABC Towing Hurricane feature was taken by Rob Reynolds, giving him a sweep of the weekend "Strictly Stock" action. Gary Thomas took second ahead of Brian Townson, Doug Webb and Brenda Taylor.
