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Anthony Campi Wins the Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Super Late Model Feature Race at ASA Sanctioned Desoto Super Speedway.
By Tom Blakeley
October 24, 2009 (Bradenton, FL.) The cooler weather did not cool off the hot action at ASA sanctioned Desoto Super Speedway tonight. The Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Super Late Models really went at it from the start. Fast qualifier for the night was Anthony Campi in the #81 car.
The feature took three complete restarts just to get things underway. Once the laps began to count the bumping and grinding went to another level and made for one of the most exciting races for the fans in a long time. Robert Yoho in the #00 car drove the race of the season for himself and his team. He was in the lead for over 20 laps and was holding his own when he got bumped and went backwards into the wall in turn 3 and 4. The car looked like an accordion with the rear way up in the air.
The most unbelievable thing was he continued the race and never even went to the pits for an adjustment. Nobody could believe the car would still run, yet alone actually race competitively. But Race he did and he even finished the race in third place. Anthony Campi in the #81 car won the race. Campi drove a great race and was able to get to the front even though he had been bumped throughout the entire race.
Anthony Campi is one of the future stars of the Super Late Model class and it is a pleasure to watch him improve week after week. Richard Sapp Jr. in the #44 car took a tough second place and left his mark on the track. Justin Larson in the #88X car finished right behind Yoho and in fourth place while David Pollen, Jr in the #88 car took fifth place.
After the race, as the cars were coming out of the tech area someone started to talk smack and then one thing lead to another and there was the entire Bischoff Race Team running after the #44 car and Richard Sapp Jr. The Bischoff Team was not the only angry team tonight, it seemed most of the cars were torn up to some degree. There is one more Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Super Late Model race this season and it should be a dandy.
The Racecar Engineering Hoosier Elite Series has many wonderful sponsors. The drivers and fans would like to thank Southern Racing Fuel, Basset Wheels, E Z Up Tents, Longacre, Wilwood, FLF Chassis, Advanced Racing Shocks, Butler Built, Quickcar, Allstar, Sweet Parts of Florida, Joe’s, Simpson, Racecar Engineering, Ricky Saunders Pit Equipment, Winters Performance, Ringer Gloves, Howe, Five Star Bodies, and ARP Bodies.
Magic 4’s. The magic 4’s had quite a night tonight as well. Brittany Barr in the #81 car did a great job of driving and took the checkered flag for the 20 lap feature race. Zac Campilonga in the Pop’s Thorbin memorial #30 car won second place and was really thrilled and excited to be in Victory Circle. The very likeable Zac lives with his grandparents who really work hard so that young Zac can do his favorite thing..Drive a racecar. Joann Danielson in the #38 car took a very nice third place. Shanna Clark in the #44 car was fourth and Dallas Troyer in the #01 car took fifth place.
To start the night off the Magic 4’s ran a 6 lap heat race which was won by Dallas Troyer in the #01 silver bullet car. Dallas Troyer is really coming into his own and has won many races this year. Modified Mini’s.
The Modified Mini’s played rockem-sockem tonight but in the end it was Mike Birk Jr. in the #10 car winning the 20 lap feature race. Andy Fischer in the #21 car took second and third was won by Dennis Colletti in the #4 car. Chad Rose in the #0 car was fourth and rounding out the top five was Mitchell Webb in the #6 car. Open Wheel Modified.
The Open Wheel Modified class ran a 35 lap feature race tonight with Pat Nanney in the blue #60 car winning. Bobby Baldwin in the #4 car was second and Kyle Cooper in the #40 car took third place. Rounding out the top five was Devin Kyle in the 2X car fourth, and Ralph Bowman in the #2 car coming in fifth. Bobby Baldwin in the #4 car won the 6 lap Open Wheel Modified heat race tonight. The Open Wheel Modified class seemed to be really fast tonight, many of the fans and drivers think it could be the cooler weather.
Pure Stocks. The Pure Stocks ran two 6 lap heat races tonight with George Bartimac in the 21X car winning the first heat and Darrin Ellis in the #71 car winning the second heat. The 25 lap feature race was won by Darrin Ellis in the #71 car. Ellis held the lead for most of the race with lots of side by side and bumper to bumper racing. Troy Thiem in the #18 car was right on Ellis’ bumper and took a very respectable second place. “Rockin” Robert Crisp in the #2 car was third while Jackie Jettle in the #00 car won fourth. Rounding out the top five was Austin Craig in the #10 car.
Flyin 4’s. Should you happen to drive a Flyin 4 car you will need to be on the lookout for a “sniper”. Alex “The Sniper” Patten is on the loose at Desoto Super Speedway, and you better watch out. Young Mr. Patten did it again this week with a great win of the feature race in his #13 car. Alex Patten has been on a mission as of late and he is all serious business running on the big oval with the adults. It is great to watch this guy mature as a person and a driver, and he is doing really well in both areas.
Always the professional, Ken Smith in the #11X took second place. Dalton Baldwin in the #4 car won third place. Rounding out the top five were Arthur Danielson in the #38 car won fourth place, and Austin Cavey in the 20X car took fifth place. Austin Cavey is making the jump from Magic 4’s to Flyin 4’s and he looked really good on the big oval tonight.
Rockem-Sockem Bombers. The Rockem-Sockem boys came to play and they did just that. Randy “The General” Spicer in car #83 took most of the marbles with a terrific win in the 25 lap feature race. Jody “The Bad Boy” Collins in the 32C car drove to a second place finish and Richie Shepherd in the #30 car took third place. Michael “The Punisher” Crooks in the #33 car was fourth and Todd Degroff in the #4X car was fifth.
Anthony Easton drove the #90 car and came in sixth, this was Anthony’s first Bomber start and he did a great job. The Bombers drove two 6 lap heat races tonight with John Stewart in the #02 car winning the first heat and Richie Shepherd winning the second heat race. In the feature John Stewart blew the engine in the #02 car and was done for the night.
In the first heat race Mason Love in the #12X car got into the rear bumper of the #144 car driven by Neal Martin and it resulted in both cars hitting the wall and being finished for the night, possibly the year. Both drivers agree it was an accident and no hard feelings. And that, ladies and gentlemen; is how the Rockem-Sockem Bombers roll.
Queens of the Front Stretch or The Powder Puffs. The ladies were all fired up for this one with 12 entries and 20 laps of hot competition. Jessica Crooks in the #33 car and Mary Elder in the #42 car jumped off to early leads and were running what seemed to be very fast laps. It looked as if it was going to be a run away when they were pulling away from the pack.
Then things went a little wild and Jessica Crooks ended up spinning out and landing on the dirt mound that circles the light stand, and Mary Elder spun out on the back stretch. Going to Victory Circle as the 2009 Powder Puff Champion was Courtney Andries in the #10 car. Courtney drove from last to first for her big win. The second place winner was Lisa Blakeley in the #96 car. Lisa was “Steady Eddie” as she held her line and kept inching toward the front.
Lisa was emotional with her second place finish at Victory Circle as it was one year ago this month that she had Breast Cancer surgery, she has come a long way BABY! Jessica Crooks recovered from the thrill of spinning out and drove to a very nice third place finish. The other drivers in this year’s Powder Puff race were:
Mary Elder #42 Daphnie Wilson #4X Harriet Andries #30 Krystal Tractenberg #44X Cindy Dring #13 Sherry Cavey #02 Dee Patten #44 Katelyn Brown #12
Join us Saturday October 31st for a Halloween Celebration. The drivers will be giving candy to the kids in the infield at intermission, and there is a costume contest along with many other surprises. The gates open at 5 PM with the racing action starting at 7 PM.
The big School Bus Figure 8 race will be the featured race of the night for the kids. The Desoto School Bus Figure 8 race will feature only the elite of the school bus racers and the track is famous for the incredible action of the high banks and fast busses. It is the only place to watch the School Bus figure 8’s.
Check us out at www.desotosuperspeedway.com or give us a call at 941-748-3171. We are located just 9 short miles east of I-75 on SR 64 in Bradenton Florida. The entire staff of Desoto Super Speedway will do everything possible to make your night at the race fun and safe.
