Drivers lined both sides of the front straightaway with their cars. Kids poured on to the race track in search of their favorite driver and their favorite candy. The fall festival trick or treat at Hendry County Speedway was a fun time for young and old. This was the final race in the 2007 points season. Seeing all the drivers on the track at one time, talking and laughing, sure was nice.
Fresh back from NASCAR team try outs, Michael Cherry was the man to beat in the Sportsman Division.
Cherry led every lap in the Sportsman Division races this night. The heat race was exciting to watch as #96 Bob Steimetz was held up on the outside lane by #21 David Bratman. The two were on there way to the rear of the field when some contact between the two cars sent Bratman high up in turn 2.
Steimetz got by and passed 4 cars on the outside in one lap. Second place was all the better he could do after chasing Cherry the rest of the night. Tom Lusk went into the night with a 3 point lead on Steimetz for 3rd place in the point standings. After a 6th place finish in the heat race, he was one point behind. It was all going to come down to who finished ahead in the feature for those two drivers. Early in the feature Lusk was involved in a crash with #73 Travis Drapal.
Both cars wound up against the wall on the back straight. Lusk carried on and finished 3rd behind Steimetz ending the season 6 points out of 3rd spot. Drapal had a flat tire after the incident that was easily cured with a quick pit stop. On the restart #69 Jimmy Loubert delt the final blow to Drapal's evening. Loubert got loose in turn four and came down the track hitting Drapal's right front wheel and caving in the control arm. Calvin Filingame in his final ride in the #35 car T-Boned Loubert during the incident.
A lot of front end damage didn't stop him from racing on. That is until another collision later with Loubert finally ended his night too. Matt Baker showed up with the #15 car after a few months off. He had a respectable evening keeping his out of trouble all night. Baker would end the evening with a 4th place run in the feature. David Bratman held in there for 5th. Joe Henke in the #3 car ended the year 2nd in points. A slow run in the heat gave him a bad starting position for the feature. He battled up to 3rd spot until a spin sent him to the rear. That was another bullet Lusk had to dodge while triing to keep Steimetz in his sights. Henke had a late race spin hold him back to the 6th spot.
The Street Stock heats were split into two races. Tim Powers was substituting for John Wilson in the #64 car. He did a great job winning the heat race over #75 Gary Roberts. Heat two started off with #22 Todd Ansel in the lead. Lap three he was overtaken by Del Powell's #14 car for the win over #29 Jesse Brown. The start of the feature was Powers in the lead with Brown right behind. Soon Jesse was on the outside challenging for the position.
Caution flag after caution flag prevented the two from really getting their battle on. Then with only five laps to go, the two were coming up on a lapped car and Powers went into turn three too low. He ran right over the tire and cone combo rolling it out into the track causing a caution and sending the #64 car to the rear. Brown ended his winning season with another feature win. Del Powell was right on his heels as he had been the entire race. Jerry Ferrell got the 3rd spot. Tommy Messier took 4th and Ron Abney 5th.
Jonny Mosely went wire to wire in the 1st Pure Stock heat. It was point winner Tommy Hill winning the 2nd heat. Mosely led the 1st 5 laps before letting Hill get by to lead the rest. Some good clean racing all through the field ended up with Gary Champion catching the 2nd spot. Chad Carver tried his luck in the #74 car and drove it hard to take 3rd place honors.Jonny Mosely ended up 4th and David McCormack 5th.
Zane Reed was back at the track after racing Enduro events all around. He was the man to beat in both the heat race and the feature. All but the 1st 2 laps of the heat race belonged to him. J.R. Fitch and Steve Deilman battled together for 2nd spot most of the race.
Phil Peterson waited patiently for his chance to get by. Patience pays off as Peterson would get by and run 2nd until a last lap collision with Deilman. After the dust settled Deilman stole---stole the 2nd spot and Peterson made it through 3rd. J.R. Fitch took the 4th spot and Joe Minitti 5th. Point winner Carol Vanwagner finished 8th.
Ron Dubeau had the strong car in the Mini Stock heat race. Racing along with them were the Mini Mods led by Shawn Reis. Jason Intoppa winner of the last Mini race was off to a good start in the feature. A good start and a good finish as he led wire to wire. Mini Mod driver S.C. Klinger ran 2nd in the whole race but could not hang with Intoppa.
Being scored separately, Christian Augsperger held on for the 2nd spot. Billy Evans took 3rd. Brian Bail, point winner, took 4th and Ron Dubeau 5th. Mini Mod was won by S.C. Klinger over Richard LaFrance and Bob Short. Honorable mention to Robert Garrett of LaBelle for winning the Lawn Mower heat and feature.
November 10th is the day you want to mark on your calendar. Central Sheds and Trailers along with Central Mobile Homes is holding the Fall Nationals. The final leg of the Limited Late Model/Sportsman/Street Stock Challenge series.
Open Wheel Modifieds will grace us with their superb sportsmanship and great driving.
30 plus Late Models also scheduled to do battle for a $5000.00 first place prize. ASA Rookie of the year Jeff Choquette has a new Dirt Late Model he will debut. Names like Roger Crouse, Terry England, Keith Nosbith, Billy Costello and John Davis will be attending. This is a must see show for any Dirt Racing fan. Come out and see us along with all your friends.
Cow-Boy Out!!!
Sportsman
#45 Michael Cherry (point winner) #96 Bob Steinmetz #88 Tom Lusk #15 Matt Baker #21 David Bratman
Street Stock
#29 Jesse Brown (point winner) #14 Del Powell #7a Jerry Ferrell #9 Tommy Messier #64x Ron Abney
Pure Stock
#1H Tommy Hill (point winner) #23 Gary Champion #74 Chad Carver #68 Jonny Mosely #38 David McCormack
Bomber
#37 Zane Reed #26d Steve Deilman #88 Phil Peterson #9 J.R. Fitch #20 Joe Minitti (Point winner Carol Vanwagner #101)
Mini Stock
#18 Jason Intoppa #00 Christian Augsperger 12 yrs. old #32 Billy Evans #27 Brian Bail (point winner) #16 Ron Dubeau
Mini Mod #28 S.C. Klinger #29 Richard LaFrance #24 Bob Short
