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Stephen Nasse Wins the Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite 100 Lap Feature at ASA Sanctioned Desoto Super Speedway.
By Tom Blakeley
October 10,2009, Bradenton Fl. It was one great weekend of racing even if it was really warm for a Florida October night. The Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Super Late Models all star cast ran one of the most exciting races in years. With names like Billy Bigley, Anthony Campi, Stephen Nasse, Eugene Anderson, Joe Boyd, Chris Fontaine, Justin Larson, Scot Walters, Mallory Harvey, Tim Russell, Robert Yoho, Richard Sapp, and Jason Hogan how could it not be one of the best.
The Super Late Model 100 lap feature was the headliner for this weekend’s super star event. Winning the feature was Stephen Nasse in the #51 car. He started in the pole position but fell back through the field early. Joe Boyd lead for many laps but as the race went on Nasse was patient and took advantage of every opportunity to climb back into the lead for the win. The entire proud Nasse family joined Stephen in Victory Circle to celebrate the huge win.
Anthony Campi drove a great race and really held his line on some tough and close racing to take second place in the #81 car. Billy Bigley Jr. was in it the whole way and was third only by a fender length and the #28 car looked great all night. Jason Hogan took fourth place in the #21 H car while Richard Sapp Jr. in the #44 car rounded out the top five.
The Super Late Models qualified in the following order: 1. Tim Russell #36 2. Billy Bigley Jr. #28 3. Anthony Campi #81 4. Justin Larson #88 5. Joe Boyd #5 6. Stephen Nasse #51 7. Scot Walters #55 8. Jason Hogan #21 H 9. Robert Yoho #00 10. Richard Sapp #44 11. Mallory Harvey #29 12. Chris Fontaine #47 13. Eugene Anderson #21
Rockem-Sockem Bombers. The Rockem-Sockem boys had quite a weekend of racing and fun. On Friday night Jody “The Bad Boy” Collins in the orange #32 car won both the 6 lap heat and the 25 lap feature race. Also in Friday’s feature Richie “The Razor” Shepherd Sr. took second place in the #30 Pop’s Thorbin Memorial car and Steve “The Hammer” Elder won third place. Saturday’s feature 25 lap race saw Richie “The Razor” Shepherd win the event in the #30 Car while Jody “The Bad Boy” Collins in the #32 car took second and John “The Mayor” Stewart was third in the #02 car. Michael “The Punisher” Crooks won the 6 lap heat race on Saturday.
Open Wheel Modified. LB Skaggs in the #71 car started the action by winning the first 6 lap heat race for the Open Wheel Modified class and then Dwayne Dempsey in the #6 car won the second 6 lap heat race. The 50 lap feature saw a lot of yellow flags as the boys wanted to rub a lot of paint and bump and grind, but Ralph Bowman in the #2 car fought and pushed his way to the checkered flag to the win of this major event. Bobby Baldwin the #4 car drove a great race and won second place while Dwayne Dempsey in the #6 took third place. Jeff Sloan in the #31 car was fourth and rounding out the top five was Pat Nanney in the #60 car.
Pure Stock. The Pure Stock class did the usual close, bumper to bumper, 3 wide thing on Saturday night. “Terrific” Troy Thiem in the #18 car won the 6 lap heat race. “Rockin” Robert Crisp in the #2 car won the 15 lap feature race. Crisp started 4th and worked his way to the front in about 6 laps and it was his taillights that everybody else saw all race long. “Too Hot” Scott Dawley in the #74 car was back to Desoto Super Speedway after a break from racing action and he won second place with a great driving effort. “Terrific” Troy Thiem in the #18 car won third place after starting in sixth.
Flyin 4’s. Dalton Baldwin in the #4 car won the first 6 lap heat race for the Flyin 4 class. Alex “The Sniper” Patten in the #13 car won the second 6 lap heat race of the evening. The 25 lap feature race was won by Randy Johnson in the #01 Silver Bullet car. Dalton Baldwin in the #4 car took second place while Ken Smith in the #11X car won third place. This class continues to be one of the best for the fans to watch and cheer.
Magic 4’s. Austin Cavey in the #20 car drove another great race and won the 6 lap heat race for the Magic 4 class. Winning the 20 lap feature race was Brittany Barr in the #81 car. Dallas Troyer in the #01 car won second place. Taking the third place prize was Austin Cavey in the #20 car. This class which is comprised of kids from 11 to 17 years old is one of the most fun classes to watch. The kids really go at it but are all friends and care about each other. Many of the adults could learn from watching these kids and the way they go about the sport and keep a positive outlook. Way to go Magic 4’s.
Modified Mini. The Modified Mini class was out of control on Friday night. It was a huge night for Mike Birk Jr. in the #10 car as he won both the 6 lap heat race and the 20 lap feature race. Dennis Colletti in the #4 car took second place and Chad Rose in the #0 car won third. There were a lot of yellow flags and tempers showed as the heat of the night wore on to the drivers. The Modified Mini class is always an exciting class to watch and the drama always adds to the fun for the fans.
The Incredible J Jr. Well, there were a lot of us wondering if he would make it. His Mom would not watch and his Dad offered him $1000 not to attempt it. Nobody left the track after the Super Late Model feature, as the suspense was building. Jr. said he had talked to NASA and got it “all figured out” about needing to reach 55 mph before hitting the ramps. He drove a couple practice laps and then he went for it. He hit the ramps and up in the air that old Oldsmobile Cutlass went. It stayed airborne over the two school busses parked end to end and came down on the front end and rolled over and on its side.
The emergency crew flew to the car and pointed thumb up, he then appeared. J Jr. pulled himself up and out of the door window and gave the crowd a victory wave. A huge sigh of relief for many of us and then everybody was on their feet cheering and screaming. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful weekend of racing and fun at the raceway. Somewhere from above hopefully, Evil Knievel was watching and smiling.
Please join us Saturday October 17th as the gates open at 5 PM and the action starts at 7 PM. We are located just 9 short miles from I-75 East on SR 64 in Bradenton, Fl. Check us out at www.desotosuperspeedway.com or give us a call at 941-748 3171. The entire staff of Desoto Super Speedway will do everything possible to make your night of racing fun and entertaining.
