Clear skies and great racing. That is exactly what was on hand at Hendry County Speedway this past Saturday night. The show went as smooth as the race track was fast.
Larry Thacker has been responsible for getting this track to hold together well and keep the moisture through the evening. Central Sheds and Trailers teamed up with Sugarland Motorsports to bring us the Street Stock Challenge. A 30 lap event with a large payout for the whole class.
Jerry Ferrel had the # 7a running strong to take the first heat race win over John Wilson # 64. Jesse Brown won the 2nd heat with Del Powell in the # 14 closing in on him by the end of the race. For the feature Brown and Wilson being in the top 3 in points at the track were offered $300 winning bonus if they started in the back row. The offer was also extended to Ferrel and Powell for there finishes in the heat race. Ferrel took the bait but Powell kept his starting position.
When the green flag fell the battle was on. Bobby Vaughn # 32 jumped out into the early lead. Powell held a steady 2nd for the first ten laps. Back in the field fast cars were triing to make their way to the front. Ferrel scraped the wall after making it to 3rd and I don't think the car was the same for the rest of the night.
He ended up finishing a lap down in 6th place. Leading lap 12 earned Vaughn a $25 gift certificate from Joey's Pizza. At the half way point, track point leader Jesse Brown was in the lead. That was worth $50 cash from Wilson Racing. Vaughn was able to keep pace with brown as they lapped cars under a long green run. With the field bunched up after a late race caution, Wilson got sent to the rear after some contact with Vaughn. I don't think he was real happy about that call, but noone ever is. He ended up 4th when the night was done. Tommy Messier # 9 was able to fly low under the radar and take a respectable 3rd place finish. The last caution with 2 laps to go was the last chance for Vaughn to make a run for the lead. Jesse Brown would have no part of that.
Brown went on to win the $400 purse along with the $300 bonus for starting at the rear. Sheehan Towing also stepped up and through in another $100 to the winner. Nice paycheck. He can use that to buy a new transmission for next week. Brown spun a victory donut and felt the tranny let go. That's racing.
Sportsman Division got the news that Michael Cherry is going to miss a few races because he has gotten a chance to go test with some NASCAR teams. The whole track got behind him donating money to help him pay expenses up and back. Maybe someday we will be saying "I used to watch that guy at our local track, now he is a Cup Champion."
Notice I didn't say the cup sponsor. Who knows who that will be in a couple more years. I knew the beep beep company would never last. Maybe I should get back to our track. O.K. Michael did go out and win the first heat race after starting in the back. Joe Henke # 3 was 2nd.
Heat race # 2 went to the # 96 of Bob Steinmetz who was looking fast as he has been all year. Veteran Tommy Evanoski # 19 finished 2nd. I have noticed over the last couple of races that some of the cars that were fast when the track is dry are struggling a bit now that the track is moist. Others have embraced the moisture. Steinmetz has figured out the moist condition. Going into the first corner of the feature he tried to put the move on the outside of Cherry but couldn't beat him into turn 3.
A lap later coming out of turn 4 the # 96 was inside of Cherry looking to steal the lead. Side by side going in to turn 1, Steinmetz used a little to much brake and stalled the car. Sideways! In front of the whole field! You know what happens next. Henke was able to turn down the track and avoid hitting Steinmetz, But mayhem ensued behind him. Jimmy Loubert # 69 clobbered the # 96 car. Ron Schron # 9 moved up the race track and made contact with Travis Drapal # 73. Drapal broke an axle and was also out of the race. This was the break Tom Lusk # 88 needed to pass Steinmetz for 3rd in the point series. Henke, 2nd in points, was out to catch Cherry for the rest of the race. Don't forget about Evanoski. He had a spin on lap 2 that sent him to the rear, but he was on a mission to the front of the field. Passing Henke for 2nd with only 5 laps to go. Michael Cherry could not be caught. He went on to win. In a huge display of sportsmanship, Evanoski offered his race winnings for the night to help Cherry on his trip. What a great group of racers we have here.
--Advertisement--
Pure Stock action was very clean racing once again. Gary Champion had the car to beat in the heat race. Tommy Hill driving a rent a car of his uncle jay's had 2nd for most of the race till the last lap when Jonny Mosely took the spot. In the feature race, Champion continued where he left off in the heat. The only car that seemed to have anything for him was the # 9 of Brian Morgan coming off a win the last race a couple of weeks ago. Champion was flawless and could not be beaten. Morgan settled in to the 2nd spot. Jonny Mosely held off Tommy Hill for 3rd. Mary Cordis got the 5th spot.
Bombers were rougher than usual. Damage to the point leaders car in the heat looked like Carol Vanwagner's night was done. She was able to start and finish the feature but it was not pretty. Joe Minnitti led the first five laps of the heat but was passed by David Deilman. Deilman in only his 2nd night of racing at our track was looking very fast. Fast enough for a wire to wire win in the feature. Minnitti ran a strong 2nd place but could not get a move in on the leader. Chip Bache ran 3rd. Adam Powell took the 4th place spot followed by Nelson Tuya.
Mini Stock Division drivers just keep getting better. This class has really turned around over the last couple of races. Great racing has been fun to watch as any one of the top drivers could win on any night. Ron Dubeau being one of them. He took the heat race win over point leader Brian Bail. Tonight Wayne Hildebrand was in the field, starting in the rear for the feature. Bail and Dubeau swapped the lead back and forth while Christian Augsperger battled with Hildebrand. Problems for Bail gave Augsperger the 2nd spot. He still managed to hold off Hildebrand for 3 more laps. With just 5 laps to go Hildebrand got clear but was unable to get by Dubeau for a win. Dubeau takes another win and adds a feather in his cap for staying out in front of the veteran Hildebrand who was driving a lighter more horsepowered Mini Mod. Augsperger gets the credit for 2nd place. The boy told me at the begining of the night that was exactly what he was shooting for. He has showed quite a bit of talent as well as restraint in keeping his car unscathed all season long. Jason Intoppa took 3rd. Brian Bail ended up 4th and Paul Sutton 5th.
The Central Sheds and trailers Limited Late Model Six Pack Series is back in town next week. Also on the bill are Mini Sprints and Open Wheel Modifieds. Ya'll come out and see us. Ya Hear?
Cow-Boy out
Race results for the New Hendry County Speedway's Saturday October 6th races:
Jesse Brown (Clewiston) wins the Central sheds and trailers / Sugarland Motorsports Street Stock Challenge from the last row earning $300 bonus dollars for volunteering to start in the rear. Bobby Vaughn (Okeechobee) 2nd.Tommy Messier (Jupiter) 3rd John wilson (Okeechobee) 4th and Tony Conant (Ft. Pierce) 5th.
Sportsman Michael Cherry(Valrico) wins Tommy Evanoski (Lutz)2nd, Joe Henke (Naples)3rd, Steve Throop 4th and Ron Schron (Jupiter) 5th.
Pure Stock was Gary Champion (Okee) winning Brian Morgan(Okee) 2nd Jonny Mosely(Belle Glade) 3rd Tommy Hill (Clewiston) 4th and Mary Cordis 5th
Bomber David Deilman (Hialeah)1st Joe Minnitti(Davie) 2nd ,Chip Bache(Davie) 3rd, Adam Powell (Jupiter) 4th and Nelson Tuya 5th.
Mini Stock Ron Dubeau(RPB) 1st , Christian Augsperger(PBG) 2nd, Jason Intoppa(WPB)3rd, Brian Bail(RPB) 4th, Paul Sutton (Clewiston) 5th.
Wayne Hildebrand (Okee) drove his mini mod to 2nd racing with the mini stock class from the rear of the field
