The hot summer day began to cool off just as practice began. The sun had gone behind a large rain cell coming out of LaBelle. The practice session went well and Racing started right on time at 7:00pm. Shortly after the heat races began light showers were reaching the Hendry County clay. Determined racers and fans were not going to let that ruin the night. The action continued non-stop and the skies cleared by the end of the heats.
4 cylender Bombers were on the track first. a $500 prize had been offered up to the winner. This drew cars from Tampa as well as some of Punta Gorda’s asphalt drivers. Tampa Fl. driver D.B. Hogwaller in the Hog 3 car was the class of the field. He stayed out front despite chalenges from 2nd place driver Patrick Tabb also in a 3 car. The 3rd position went to Ft. Myers driver Jason Perkins in the 21X.
The Sportsman Division Feature was captured by former Street Stock driver John Wilson from Okeechobee. His new Sportsman #64 was on rails and he was able to stay out front the whole night. Robert Regula drove the 15R to a 2nd place finish despite damage to the front end from an early battle for position with #23 Portus Mellette. The 3rd spot went to Hollywood driver Richie Henry in the #4.
Street Stock Division Feature was another wire to wire win for the Clewiston based Jesse Brown #29. Tim Powers #2 looked like he had a shot at catching Brown but restarts were not beneficial to his night. Tommy Hill #1H got by for the 2nd place spot but could not challenge Brown for the lead. #14 Del Powell raced his way by for 3rd. Powers was slipping back through the field on the outside lane when heavy contact with #64 Trent Wilson ended the night for the #2 car. Wilson was able to complete the event but crossed the finish on a flat right rear tire. The most recent feature winner #84 Charlie Paschal bounced off the #15 of John Bledsoe and spun in front of Wilson. Trent did a great job of getting slowed enough to not clobber the #84. Behind him #87 John Basquin and #7r Rick Osteen split either side of wilson’s car and all three had some part of turning over Paschal’s car. It was a graceful roll all the way back onto it’s wheels. After a new tire the #84 was back on track to complete the race.
The Mini Mod Feature looked like a runaway from West Palm Beach driver Glenn Bidwell in the #26. Out in front alone dominating most of the race. Something went away on the car. A possible low tire or even suspension component. The #26 spun on his own in turn 2. Restarted at the tail but went back to the front very quikly. Then just as before he found the wall at turn 4 all on his own and that ended the night for Bidwell. Shawn Reiss was glad to take over the top spot. The Jupiter Fl. driver was unchallenged after Bidwell had left the track. The 21x reached it’s 2nd feature podium finish of the night. This time piloted by Jeremy Perkins out of Ft. Myers. Jupiter’s Mark Derita 3rd in the U2 car.
The 21 car field for the Pure Stock Division Feature was rolled onto the track. The final Feature of the night was held on a slicked up narrow groove racetrack. Many previous feature winners were starting deep in the pack. David Bange #87 held the lead position for the first half of the race. Getting some really good restarts to keep his car well away from the battles raging on behind him. There were more front nose pieces dragging the ground and missing rear bumpers than I had ever seen. Brian Morgan #9L was not able to escape damage. Racing with #23 Gary Champion had ripped the right front fender back against the door. Soon after coming through the field to take the lead away from Bange the hood started flopping up in one corner. The battered looking 9L crossed the stripe to take the win. Morgan later added “I have been having overheating problems and tearing the front end off seemed to help.” David Bange was able to keep ahead of a challenging #67 John Basquin who had driven for Bange in the Street Stock Feature.
Travis and Maverick Varnadore Took to the track in their Late Models and looked pretty evenly paced against each other. Travis rode the cushion to the checkers first while Maverick was getting good bite down on the apron finishing close behind. Howard Brokaw #71 outlasted the #9L of Brian Morgan to take the Open Wheel Modified win.
That is all I have for this week. Be sure to check out the big Limited Late Model race scheduled for the 24th. Cowboy out!
