Short track race car driver Patrick Williams may not be very well known in Southwest Florida, but if he keeps delivering like he did Saturday night in the Super Late Model 100-lapper at Charlotte County Motorsports Park, folks will soon recognize him as a hotshoe.
Williams, a 34-year-old who lives just outside Gainesville in Archer, grabbed the lead from Steve Dorer on lap 86 and then held off the likes of Billy Bigley Jr. and Wayne Anderson the rest of the way.
Williams collected $3,000 for his victory in the 77 car, owned by James Powell III.
It was the second time Williams has driven the silver 77. The other time was also a success, as he won in Ocala.
It was Williams' first win at Charlotte County Motorsports Park. He had raced a couple of times a few years ago at the Punta Gorda 3/8-mile paved oval.
Williams is also a successful dirt driver in North Florida.
The defining moment of the race came on lap 86 when Williams passed Dorer on the backstretch. Dorer's 10 car got into the right rear quarter panel of the 77 car as it went on by. The 10 car was damaged and couldn't continue, leaving Dorer steaming.
"I don't know why he's mad at me," Williams said. "I never touched him."
Williams was on the move earlier in the race as he passed Bigley for third place on lap 42. Ironically, Dorer was passing Dave Pletcher for the lead up the track on the same lap.
On lap 46, Williams got by Pletcher for second. He patiently waited until lap 86 to make his move to the front.
Bigley, the Naples veteran, took second in the 28 car. Anderson, who hails from Wildwood, was third.
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Pletcher, the wily old talent, overheated with four laps left and lost fourth place. Scott Grossenbacher of San Antonio picked up fourth. Tommy Styer was fifth. Richie Anderson of Naples came back from a long illness and looked sharp with a sixth-place finish.
In the Sportsman 35-lapper, Bobby Shelton of Delray Beach grabbed the checkers ahead of Ryan Pancoast. Jeff Padilla was third.
In the Fastrucks 30-lapper, Travis Hanson of Cooper City passed Mark Evans of Lehigh Acres for the win. Patrick Fox of Alva made a late pass for third.
Charlotte County Motorsports Park Finishes for Sat 11-10-07
Super Late Models 1) 77-Patrick Williams 2) 28-Billy Bigley 3) 84-Wayne Anderson 4) 09-Scott Grossenbacher 5) 2-Tommy Styer 6) 51-Richie Anderson 7) 8-Sean LeMaster 8) 36-Ross Chastain 9) 16-Ray Derry 10) 38-C.J. Calabrese 11) 66-Todd Anglani 12) 12-Steve Weaver 13) 74-Dave Pletcher 14) 84K-Matt Bowers 15) 10-Steve Dorer fast time 16) 18-Mike LeMaster 17) 27-Rob Elting 18) 81-Art Cross 19) 86-Randy Anderson 20) 184-Chuck Burkhalter
Fab 4: 1) 26- Michael Rodriguez 2) 4- Rose Macho 3) 28-Dillon Bigley 4) 57- Logan Leonard 5) 97- Josh Flesher 6) 11- Paul Graham 7) 25- Corey Bigley 8) 18-Travis Amboyan 9) 2- Lance Sober 10) 10- Jarrett Reynolds DNS 0- Mark Davis
Sportsman: 1) 10-Bobby Shelton 2) 47- Ryan Pancoast 3) 21- Jeff Padilla 4) 86- Stuart Vandevender 5) 16- Guy Sheets 6) 99- Robert Benning 7) 39- Dale Dean fast time DNS 6-Greg Gorniak
Fast Trucks 1) 141-Travis Hanson fast time 2) 50- Mark Evans 3) 4- Patrick Fox 4) 99- Jason Deaton 5) 84- Bill Vandevender 6) 23- Mike Smith 7) 93- Gene Lehnen 8) 28- T.J. Duke 9) 39- Tyler Laing 10) 64- Brent Huber
