IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

April 25, 2008 Allison and Allison Winners at Orlando SpeedWorld by Dave Westerman A nice crowd was on hand Friday night at Orlando Speedworld for just the second "regular" program of the season featuring all six FASCAR racing divisions. It was Yellow Book Night as well as Orange County Employee night at the Speedway. It was just the second regular season appearance for the Super Late Models and the results were the same as the first race as 2007 champion Jared Allison scooted by early leader Earl Beckner on lap five and never looked back in scoring the win. Behind him the action was fast and furious with nearly everyone racing on the "edge" and that produced a total of four caution flags which shuffled the running order each time. When the dust finally settled, Allison took an easy win followed by Mark Emberson, Bobby Orr, Becker, Ronnie Roach, Scott McKinley, Derrick Wood and Tom Root. allison also won the heat race. Allison is not defending his 2007 crown as he'll be racing primarily up north during the summer driving for veteran car owner and racing icon Harold Fair, Sr. Not to be outdone, Allison's dad, Pedie, shook off a nagging shoulder injury that had been bothering him over the past few weeks to score a wire to wire win in the Mini-Stocks. It was the elder Allison's first win of the season in the car after taking the 2007 championship. R.J. Arnone drove to a runner-up finish over Randy Blakeslee, Rob Reynolds, John Cook, Bob Kelchner and Emily Cottrell. Like father like son, Allison also won his heat race. Mark Emberson backed up his second place finish in the Super Late Models with a win in the Modifieds. Driving a car sponsored by Don's Paint & Body (his dad's business), Emberson had the pole slot for the feature. After heat winner Alan Bruns, the outside pole sitter, had problems on the opening lap and had to take his car to the pits, Emberson shot out to a commanding lead and took the checker comfortably ahead of Chris Smyth, Art Kunzeman, Randy Froelich, Terri Bryant and Bruns. For the second time this year, Andy Nicholls looked to be settling for a third place finish in the Sportsman feature when the leaders collided handing the point and eventual win to the likable pyrotechnician from Orlando. Cocoa's Rapid Ron DiCandio appeared headed to his first win in some time here, but during the final lap was spun by second-running Derrick Wood. Track officials ordered both cars to the rear for the restart which upset DiCandio and he took his machine pit side which ultimately cost him second in the point standings. Point leader Nicholls led the final lap for his third win of the year and added to his point lead while Justin Reynolds checkered second and moved up to second in the point tally. Wood came back for third ahead of Jessie Cuddy, Mike Santa and DiCandio. Nicholls won the heat race as well. Another great field of Super Stocks treated the big crowd to some very good racing. 2007 champion Lee Wagner was back in form and led the opening pair of laps but Bobby Simcox was on a mission and snatched the lead and held off some dynamic competition to take his first win of the year. Simcox, who is trying to sell his car and move up to the Sportsman class, showed everyone his machinery was top notch in taking the win. "What better advertising can you have than to put the car in victory lane?," said Simcox after the race. Wagner stayed close throughout but had to settle fo second ahead of David Gould, Dennis Snyder and Bobby Riley who drove back up to fifth after spinning out of third place with two laps to go. Rounding out the top ten were Delaun Fifeld, Ray Mullis, Austin Carr, William Hindman and Vince Keeler, Jr. Completing the finishers were Todd McCreary, Matt Reynolds, John Hodge, Matt Jarrett, Bob Starr, Jim Erb and Jason Pick. Heat wins went to Jarrett and Riley. Rex "Boneman" Hollinger left his Mini Stock at home and took the offer from Todd McCreary to drive his Ford Probe in the Action Gator Tire Strictly Stocks. That move proved to be a winning one as Hollinger led all the way to capture the win over Todd's dad Ron McCreary who was filling in for Devon Cuddy in his Acura. The Mazdas of Neal Kirby and Tim Walters, Jr. were third and fourth while Shane Sutorus drove his new Honda to fifth. Completing the top ten were Gary Thomas, Tom Stewart, Ricky Solomon, Jr., Danny Binda and Bomber Bill Loomis. Hollinger and Loomis were the heat race winners. Fan Participation Races were held for the first time in recent memory with ten entries that ran the gamut from a RAV 4 to a Chrysler Mini Van and more. The one-on-one oval drag finale saw Jim Erb in a GMC 4X4 pick-up outrun the Monte Carlo of William Hindman. Paul Ogletree, who was on hand representing Yellow Book, decided to try his hand in the action and came home the surprise winner in the five lap dash in his Honda Accord. OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD APRIL 25, 2008 SUPER LATE MODEL 1. #18 Jared Allison 2. #30 Mark Emberson 3. #30X Bobby Orr 4. #36 Earl Beckner 5. #14 Ronnie Roach 6. #12M Scott McKinley 7. #33 Derrick Wood 8. #19 Tom Root 9. #13 Bob Green DNS MODIFIED 1. #30 Mark Emberson 2. #07 Christopher Smyth 3. #9 Art Kunzeman 4. #8 Randy Froehlich 5. #08 Terri Bryant 6. #4B Alan Bruns SPORTSMAN 1. #66 Andy Nicholls 2. #20 Justin Reynolds 3. #33 Derrick Wood 4. #64 Jessie Cuddy 5. #151 Mike Santana 6. #20S Ron Dicandio MINI STOCK 1. #92 Pedie Allison 2. #30 R.J. Arnone 3. #77 Randy Blakeslee 4. #24 John Cook 5. #A1 Rob Reynolds 6. #09 Bob Kelchner 7. #19 Emily Cottrell SUPER STOCK 1. #61 Bobby Simcox 2. #74 Lee Wagner 3. #16 David Gould 4. #11 Dennis Snyder 5. #52 Bobby Riley 6. #45 Delaun Fifield 7. #316 Ray Mullis 8. #8 Austin Carr 9. #89 William Hindman 10. #7 Vince Keeler, Jr. 11. #54 Todd McCreary 12. #77R Matt Reynolds 13. #00 John Hodge 14. #98 Matt Jarrett 15. #40 Bob Starr 16. #37 Jim Erb 17. #44 Jason Pick STRICTLY STOCK 1. #77 Rex "Boneman" Hollinger 2. #4 Ron McCreary 3. #8N Neil Kirby 4. #29 Tim Walters, Jr. 5. #315 Shane Sotorus 6. #76 Gary Thomas 7. #66 Tom Stewart 8. #19 Ricky Solomon, Jr. 9. #27 Danny Binda 10. #0 Bill Loomise 11. #54 Mike Dresch 12. #29X Alex Fortune DNS Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!