IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 9, 2009 Pierce tops Modifieds & Sportsman at Orlando SpeedWorld by Dave Westerman The heat was on for the first time in 2009 Friday afternoon at Orlando Speedworld as hot laps were just that... hot, with temperatures in the mid 90's. By race time, the sun had set and it was a bit more comfortable for drivers and fans alike with Orlando driver Chad Pierce snaring a pair of wins on the evening running his season total to four in three different classes. Pierce somehow managed to miss plenty of bumping and bashing amongst his other competitors to score his first win in the Modified division since taking over the wheel of David Debelius' potent "Orange Crate." The action in the Modified feature began right at the start as David Hite, Mark Emberson, Michael Williams and Matt Jarrett got tangled up going into turn three on the opening lap. Despite quite a bit of damage, all four continued. Rick Johns would then lead the opening lap only to see a second yellow for Chris Smyth's spin in turn four. Earl Beckner jumped into the lead on the restart with Pierce all over him in second. Williams and Art Kunzeman got together on the front stretch during lap eight sending Williams to the showers. On the restart, Hite spun in turn one and was clipped by Ted Head who was forced out of action. Pierce took advantage of the restart and shot by Beckner and continued to set the pace until yet another caution on lap 15 for another turn four spin by Smyth. One lap after the green flew, Alan Bruns and Matt Wheeler crashed hard on the front stretch while battling for third place. Both drivers were OK but their machines weren't as lucky. Only one more green flag lap could be run before Johns had to take his car pit side following an altercation with Randy Froelich. As the green came back out, Shain Held began making his presence felt, driving alongside Pierce and even leading lap 18 by a nose. But Pierce re-asserted himself and led the rest of the way to claim the win over Held and Emberson who had a great run after the early race crash back to the front. Beckner cruised home fourth while Kunzeman took fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Jarrett, Smyth, Froelich, Johns and Wheeler. The start of the Sportsman feature saw Ron Dicandio and Sean Bass' battle for the lead end up with a wreck just shy of the flag stand ending lap one. Pierce was also involved and had to pit to remove a bowed-up hood while Dicandio was done for the night. Andy Nicholls took over on the restart but could not hold back the high-flying Pierce who grabbed the point and never looked back in scoring his second win in the Sportsman class and second win of the night. Nicholls came home second ahead of Billy Belflower, Timmy Todd, Jr., Bass and Dicandio. The Late Model feature totally belonged to Alan Bruns as he drove off in convincing fashion slowed only by a lap eight yellow flag for a spin by Todd Allen. Bruns scored his first LM win of the year trailed by Donny Williams, Allen, J.W. Douglas and Chris Gillespie. Alex Kempf again dominated the Legends Cars taking the lead from Zach Harris on lap two and leading the rest of the way for his fifth straight victory. Harris held on for second followed by Rick Wetmore, Gary Verdier, Critter Saile and Danny Conlin. Neil Kirby took the win in the Strictly Stocks after apparent winner William Hindman was DQ'd for not having the newly required brake light installed on his car. Kirby picked up a unique prize... a life-size poster of Tony Stewart donated by race fan Katie Cone. Kaisee Crites wound up in second place followed by Dan Binda, Tim Walters, Jr., Hindman and Bruce Gayton. The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association made their first appearance of the year and the Stock Car class put on a great show with Gene Vitiello just nipping Frank Lendhardt at the line for the win in their feature. Pat McNear in his restored Howe Camaro took third followed by Keith Grant and Clint Hamilton. Ronnie Rohn, Larry Larrivee, Kenny Coleman, Jim Kaserman and Bill McPeek rounded out the top ten. In the DAARA Caged Sprint Cars, young Matt Jarrett took over for his grandfather Dave Jarrett (who had won the heat race) and took his first pavement win in the DAARA orginazation over Roy Campbell, Jack Sapp and Dave Cash. The Cageless Sprint feature went to Don Bigelow over Janis Strickland and Fred Strickland while Bill Wendt topped the Midgets finishing in front of Josh Rynd and Don Farnum. Jonnie Varga grabbed the point when Danielle Stratton spun while leading to claim the Bandolero victory. Trailing Varga to the checker were Michael Held, Tanner Cornwell, Noah Cornman, Daniel Conlin, Jr., Matthew Green and Stratton. ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD OFFICIAL RESULTS - 05.08.09 LIMITED LATE MODEL 1. #4b Alan Bruns 2. #111 Donny Williams 3. #55 Todd Allen 4. #6 Richard Douglas 5. #19 Chris Gillespie OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED 1. #38 Chad Pierce 2. #55 Shain Held 3. #30 Mark Emberson 4. #51 Earl Beckner 5. #9 Art Kunzeman 6. #72 Matthew Jarrett 7. #07 Chris Smyth 8. #8 Randy Froehlich 9. #4 Rick Johns 10. #96 Matthew Wheeler 11. #4B Alan Bruns 12. #54 David Hite 13. #40 Michael Williams 14. #92 Ted Head DNS #15 Bruce Packer SPORTSMAN 1. #57 Chad Pierce 2. #66 Andy Nicholls 3. #14 Billy Bellflower 4. #25 Timmy Todd Jr 5. #08 Sean Bass 6. #20s Ron DiCandio LEGENDS 1. #99 Alex Kempf 2. #54 Zach Harris 3. #06 Rick Whetmore 4. #44 Gary Verdier 5. #12 Critter Saille 6. #05 Daniel Conlin STRICTLY STOCK 1. #8 Neil Kirby 2. #6 Kaisee Crites 3. #27 Danny Binda 4. #29 Tim Walters Jr DQ #89 William Hindman DQ #93 Bruce Gayton DAARA - MIDGETS 1. #71 Bill Wendt 2. #56 Josh Rynd DNS #5 Don Farnum DAARA - CAGELESS SPRINTS 1. #14 Don Biglow 2. #60 Janis Strickland DNS #80 Fred Strickland DAARA - CAGED SPRINTS 1. #9 Matt Jarrett 2. #7 Roy Campbell 3. #77 Jack Sapp 4. #98 Dave Cash DAARA - STOCK CARS 1. #99 Gene Vitiello 2. #93 Frank Lendhardt 3. #71 Pat McNear 4. #8 Keith Grant 5. #3x3 Clint Hamilton 6. #1 Ronnie Rohn 7. #711 Larry Larrivee 8. #51 Kenny Coleman 9. #21 Jim Kaserman 10. #73 Bill McPeek EARLY SHOW BANDOLERO YOUNG GUNS 1. #83 Danielle Stratten 2. #8 Donovan Ponder DNS BANDOLERO BANDITS 1. #2 Jonnie Varga 2. #55 Michael Held 3. #54 Tanner Cornwell 4. #30 Noah Cornman 5. #48 Daniel Conlin 6. #22 Matthew Green Have an opinion on this story? 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