Scrape takes 2nd Win of Season and Extends Point Lead
By Tera Gunter
With five point races left in the season, the close point battle between seasoned veteran Otto Scrape and young gun Matt Kurtz is heating up. Twenty members of the Florida Sprint Car Association brought the lightening quick sprint car action to a packed house Saturday night at North Florida Speedway in Lake City.
North Florida fans are die hard race fans and proved that last night as the grandstands remained packed through misty rain. Exciting heat races set the stage for the feature to come. Rich Alexander took a lead he would not relinquish in the first heat race. The 2006 FSCA champion, Dakotah Stephens, who started at the tail of a ten car field, was just as determined to unseat Alexander. Picking off his competitors, Stephens took up position behind Alexander on lap 3. Fans cheered as both took the checkered flag side by side with Alexander taking the win by a ˝ car length lead.
The lead changed three times in an equally exciting second heat race with Danny Jones taking the lead from pole sitter Gene Machuga between turns 3-4. Quickly moving through the field, Rocketman Bruce Durden set his sights on Jones, running side by side with the race leader in turn 4 of lap 3, and taking the lead in turn 1 of the next lap. Durden gained on the field and took the checkered with a good margin.
Dan Pickett and Rich Alexander lined up in row 1 of a 19 car field. Phil Pettay loaned his #0 ride to Barry McCance, who suffered mechanical issues in the first heat race. The green flag dropped and Alexander quickly took the lead, looking to repeat his success in the heat race. T.W. Parkinson moved into position behind Alexander, bringing Willie Jude with him.
Parkinson placed heat on Alexander on the backstretch but Alexander held onto the lead. The caution flew on lap 1 as Parkinson spun on the backstretch. Alexander took the lead again at the restart only to see Jude snatch it from him before the field was red flagged for Red Stauffer, who had flipped in turn 4.
Officials ensured Stauffer was ok and Jude took the lead over Alexander on the restart. Jones overcame Alexander and began placing pressure on Jude. Jude maintained his lead as Kurtz pulled into position behind Jones.
Stephens, who started near the rear of the field, quickly moved into contention only to find himself with a bent wing as he, Jones and Gavin Thomas tangled in turn 4. The incident ended Thomas’ night early and Stephens exited the field after the restart.
Bringing Durden with him, Kurtz took the lead from Jude at the green flag drop and the race leaders quickly gained ground over the field. Scrape took up the 3rd position and a caution on lap 14 tightened the field back up.
Durden once again took a good lead over Kurtz until Kurtz’ ride failed him on the backstretch. Two laps later Durden exited the field, handing the lead to Scrape. Gaining an 81 point lead over Kurtz, Scrape took the checkered with Shawn Murray, John Byers, Jude, and Gene Machuga rounding out the top five.
The Florida Sprint Car Association returns to action with a point race on September 15th at Putnam County Speedway in Satsuma, Florida. See you there.
