PHOTOS FROM USA INTERNATIONAL

(KNS) Lakeland,FL The pits were overflowing Saturday night at USA International Speedway with some of the top names in Florida stock car racing like Cope, Anderson, Boyd, Dempsey, and Symons. It was easy to tell that this was going to be one of those magic race nights......

Qualifying got underway for the SARA Sportsman class, and right away you could tell the track was fast. Over 40 cars took to the Speedway, almost all running in the 22.5's around the 3/4 mile. But, it was Chip Shell in the #2 who blistered the track surface with a 21.936 run to take the fast qualifier.

Other top qualifiers for the SARA Sportsmen were Clint Slaggy at 22.087; Kevin Ingram #86 with 22.014; and last year's winner at this race, #8 Mike MCrary at 22.075. This was one fast field. Tony Amico in the #77 took the win during the consolation race.

Next up for their shot at speed was the Sunbelt Series Super Late Models. These guys were hooked up and flying around the USA Speedway.

B.J. McLeod #78 went out for his run as the clouds were thickening over the track and turned in a first lap time of 21.14 before the sky opened up and the rains came. After a lengthy rain delay and qualifying resumed, BJ and his team decided to stand on his time and watch the rest of the over 40 Super Lates make their runs. As the rains cleared and a rainbow appeared across the speedway, McCleod's time didn't last long as the green race track proved fast. Mike Franklin roared to a fast time of 20.88 seconds to take the low qualifier spot. Other top runners were #96 Foster at 21.03, and Finney #80 at 21.08.

SARA Open-Wheel Modifeds came out for their shot around the track. As Teddy Nelson #17 flew around the track with a fast time of 21.74, the sky again opened up bringing to a grinding halt to the Open-Wheel qualifying session. With lighting flashing, the session was called off and the field was set by qualifying draw and points per SARA rules.

When the rain stopped and the track was finally dried, it was time to get this show underway as 40 Sunbelt cars rolled out onto the speedway for Sunbelt Series 125-lap race.

B.J. McLeod drew the number one pill inverting the field back to the fifth spot. But on the outside of "The Kid," was the "The Man" Dick "The King of Florida Short Tracks" Anderson. On the drop of the green, it was Anderson who got the early jump on McCleod with a great start.

A hard crash on the first lap took out Jimmy Foster #96. Also involved was #11 David Rogers, #69 Sunshine regular Johnny Stanford, and series leader Jimmy Cope #61c, but all were able to continue. When the green dropped, again it was Anderson who was smooth as silk on the restart jumping out and having a two-car length lead over McCleod by the time he was diving into to turn one. McCleod had his hands full with the #72 of Mike Franklin who was right on his rear bumper for second. Meanwhile both Rogers and Cope were making their way back through the field.

After a caution brought out by a spin on the back stretch #80 Brian Finney went hard into the wall on the restart ending his night after having one of the fastest cars on the track. Ricky Carlton #34 was making moves on his own, slicing and dicing his way up through the field after starting near the back of the pack.

Franklin with an inside move was able to get by McCleod and take over second and set his sites on Anderson. Just as Franklin was within a bumper of Anderson, a huge wreck on the front stretch brought out the caution. The wreck took out some top drivers. Conrad Burr #174, Glen Whitney #99, Michael Williams #32, and David Rogers #11 all had heavy damage in the incident.

McLeod after being passed by Franklin earlier continued to lose places until motor troubles forced him to retire on lap 63. Carlton who was now in third place looked high and low on Franklin but was unable to get by. The cagey veteran Anderson was able to hold off the young guns and take the green to checkers win, his second in a row with his Lakeland Super Late Model victory. Franklin came across a strong second. Carlton roared across the line third, points leader Jimmy Cope ran fourth, and rounding out the top five was a great run by #9 Jonathan Brown.

Sonny Hughes #45 started on the pole and a fast Jason Boyd #15 in a brand new car sat on the front row for the SARA Late Model Sportsman 100-lapper. After running side-by-side through turns one and two, Boyd got by and took the lead, which he would not relinquish for the rest of the race.

Mike McCrary #8 ran strong all night, but was unable to catch young Boyd and finished second. Bobby Beachemin #161 lost a drive shaft early in the race forcing a pit stop, but he was able to charge his way back through the field and battle Jeff Scofield #07 for the third spot. Scofield was able to hold off the #161 and take third. Tracey Raven #29 came across the stripe fifth.

Number one qualifier, #2 Chip Shell, went for a wild ride flying in air and literally driving over the unsuspecting #29x of Mike Hovis. Unbelievably, Shell was able to continue and ran in the top five before having to retire with mechanical problems.

The ride of the night went to young Brian Hutchenson #06, who while trying to avoid several crashing cars on the back stretch, ended up on his roof. I spoke to Brian after the race and he said the car would need a whole new front clip but he hopes to be ready for the next SARA show in Alabama.

SARA Open-Wheel Modified 35 lap race saw the field line up in order of points, and leader Jerry Symons #66 took the point and held off the hard charging #6 Dwayne Dempsey. Jamie Burrows the #11b came home in the third spot, fourth went to #47 DeWayne Lawhon. Larry Martin #07, who was battling for the lead early, slipped on the back stretch but was able to hold for the fifth spot.

In the winner's circle after the race, Rusty Dixon #205 made the "put up or shut up" move and claimed Symons motor. Symons accepted, but opted for the motor swap and the $350 cash. Symons was later heard saying "I'll beat him with his own motor." It was not that long ago that Jamie Burrows made a claim on Robert Hamm's motor at this same race track; Hamm declined and his win was taken away.

After 260 laps hard racing, three men emerged victorious. These three men also were the only leaders all night long. Not one lead change was made the whole evening...although there were plenty of challenges, none got by.

It was another great night of racing that USA International Speedway. Everyone walked away from all the grinding crashes tonight without a scratch; a tribute to the car builders, crews and the great safety team at Lakeland. The back stretch wall took a beating and kept the forklift operator busy all night, but even with the rains and the late finish, the track crews kept the racing moving at a good pace.

Don Nerone, Rick Day, Billy Martino, Sunbelt and SARA put on one heck of a show with awesome racing and some of THE top names in the sport. As always this is one of the best races of the year and looks like it will be for a long time to come.....From Lakeland.........Rick Anges
ORDER OF FINISH


FINISHING POSITION CAR NUMBER DRIVER
1 00 DICK ANDERSON
2 72 MIKE FRANKLIN, JR.
3 34 RICKY CARLTON
4 61 JIMMY COPE
5 9 JONATHAN BROWN
6 12 JUSTIN DRAWDY
7 11 DAVID ROGERS
8 74 BARRY WILLOUGHBY
9 10 ERIC BLACK
10 178 JOHN LOVELADY
11 77 TUFFY HESTER
12 69 JOHNNY STANFORD
13 43 BILL PRATT
14 5 DWAYNE DEMPSEY
15 72 DON FENN
16 14 RONNIE ROACH
17 63 JOE FITOS
18 11B GEORGE RICHARDSON
19 88 TRAVIS KITTLESON
20 32 MICHAEL WILLIAMS
21 12E JEFF EMERY
22 200 JASON OVERSTREET
23 27 MIKE GOOD
24 23 DAVID SCHWENDEMAN
25 78 B. J. MCLEOD
26 99 GLENN WHITNEY
27 174 CONRAD BURR
28 19 TOM ROOT
29 33 RICKY THORPE
30 80 BRIAN FINNEY
31 51 JACOB WARREN
32 00Y ROBERT YOHO
33 09 SCOTT GROSSENBACHER
34 70 JEREMY GERTSNER
35 2B RANDY FOX
36 S40 GEORGE MURPHY, JR.
37 96 JIMMY FOSTER
38 22 LARRY OSTEEN

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