IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

September 28, 2008 Johnny Kay Wins Late Model 100 By Linda Jericka If you missed Saturday nights racing at Charlotte County Motorsports Park you missed out on a full and exciting night of racing, one might of thought it was a full moon. The night started out with the Legends feature who saw the 6 driven by Josh Williams out of North Port lead all 25 laps, Devin McCleod was second and Mike Verhaagh finished third when the 20 of Codey Benoit was in the third spot with one lap to go spun and had to settle for 8th. The Legends ran a feature Friday night and Mike Verhaagh came in first with Josh Williams second and Gerald Campbell third. T.Q. Midgets saw the 26 of Ted Durfee cross the line first, Michael Belusar second and Jack Duffy third. Fifteen Fastrucks came out for a fifty lap feature event that was all excitement from the line up, which inverting the entire field, put fast qualifier Josh Williams (winner of the legends race), and Ross Chastain, the last fastruck winner, dead last and slowest times up front. Michael Smith from Auburndale who was fifth fastest was in the lead on lap five and Josh Williams who was battling with Smith for the lead when on lap 23 they both got sent to the rear for bringing out the caution. The 1 truck of Dustin Breeden was moved up to the lead when the 23 and 6 got sent to the rear and the the 36 of Ross Chastain was in second. On lap 33 Chastain was sent to the rear for spinning out Breeden and two laps later Josh Williams who made it back up to second was also sent to the rear for the same thing as the rumble from the fans in the stands was “break check” Williams decided to retire to the pits after being warned by the official that was your second time to the rear settle down. The battle continued as Ross Chastain tried for ten laps to get around the Breeden and ran out of patience when the white flag came out, he tried to nudge the 1 over which caused him to spin as Chastain was the first to take the checker. As Ross was pulling into the winners circle the whole crew of the 1 truck came running out onto the track, swarmed the 36 truck and Breenden ( after a lengthy discussion by officials) would be dqed for crew on the track and Chastain would take up the rear and the win would go to the 412 of Steve Darralies of Venice second Michael Smith in the 23 and third Jeff Firestine in the 93 truck out of Venice. Fab 4 had another new face in the winners circle as the 44 car of Barbra Hooper jumped out front and lead all 25 laps for her first win. Jason Perkins in the 21 car tried his best but would end up with the second spot and Kevin Underwood, first time out in the Benoits 20 car came in third. The Mini Stock put on a heck of a show with Jessie Duttly winning, Todd Freed Second and Chris Zimmerman third. The 21 late models (who were rained out last time) came out for 100 laps that had fourteen cautions and some tore up race cars and thirteen cars finishing the race. Scott Walters driving the 96 car took the early lead until Johnny Kay got by him on lap fourteen and went on to lead the rest of the caution fill race. With several different versions of all the cautions when the checkered flag dropped it was Johnny Kay in the winners circle with Joe Winchell second and Mike Franklin Jr third Randy fox second and Scott Walters third. Ross Chastian who finished sixth in the Fastrucks would also finish sixth in his Late Model. Road Warriors and Thunder Trucks ran together and the 97 of Chris Scott of North Port captured his first win with team mate Gary McFall second and Blaine Baer third. Ryan Pancoast of N. Ft Myers came in first in the 14 truck of Randy Kile and Lance Sober second and Tom Pryor third. The finale race of the night was the Pro 4’s that had 15 cars battle for 15 laps with Cory Bigley leading the first half till Danny Daniel in the 09 passed him on lap eight and went on to win the race. David Amelotte driving the 85 came in second and Wally Smith third. For more info about Charlotte County Motorsports Park located in Punta Gorda visit there web site at charlottecountyracing.com and all up coming events Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!