Tweet
DANNY ANDERSON & BRANDON MORRIS BIG WINNERS IN COULTER CHARITY RACE WEEKEND AT
AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
The ninth annual Joey Coulter Charity Race Weekend at Auburndale Speedway
proved to be a big success and, despite very cold weather, drew an
enthusiastic crowd both Friday and Saturday night and they were treated to
some great racing all while raising money for three families in need.
Three-year-old Emily Leasure (who has Leukemia) and her family were in
attendance as were 8-year-old Jayden Taylor (Autism/ADHD) and his family. The
family of 4-year-old Logan Ressler, who passed away from cancer in late
October, also attended the event.
The Pro Trucks were again the featured attraction as they have been since the
first charity race held in 2006. The Trucks got things started off Friday
evening with 17 machines making a qualifying attempt. Steve Darvalics of
Venice, a three-time winner of the event, made himself the early favorite by
setting quick time of 14.563 seconds, just ahead of the 14.572 lap of Ft.
Myers driver Cody Allen. 2014 Joey Coulter Fellow's Truck Brokers Pro Truck
Series champion Becca Monopoli of Lakeland was third quick at 14.682.
Darvalics earned the $100 Fast Time Award posted by Moyer Logistics. The
entire field timed in at .425 seconds between 1st through 17th meaning this
race would be a barn-burner from start to finish and it would live up to it's
hype on Saturday.
The top ten from qualifying re-drew for starting positions for the Les & Judy
Smout Pro Truck Charity 100 with Darvalics starting sixth, Allen fourth and
Monopoli ninth. The front row spots went to local favorite Cody McDuffie and
Sam Scott of Naples.
Scott zipped to the lead at the drop of the green as the field settled in for
some early green flag racing with the top four of Scott, McDuffie, Allen and
Darvalics breaking well away from the rest of the field. The first caution
flag appeared on lap 17 as Kim Scheffler went for a spin with a little help
from Phil Ellis. Both went to the tail of the field for the restart with
Scheffler again getting helped into a spin again shortly thereafter in turn
four to keep the yellow out a bit longer.
Just after the field went back to racing, Allen moved into second bringing a
very fast Billy Carlbert, Jr. with him as McDuffie began to slide back on the
high side. On lap 22, the field checked up a bit and McDuffie plowed into the
back of Darvalic's truck causing enough damage to send him to the pits where
repairs were made during the ensuing caution period although he would
eventually be forced to drop out later.
Two laps after the restart, Cole Partelo got turned around and into the turn
one wall to bring out another yellow. Partelo's truck was OK and he
continued. Scott continued to lead after the restart with a very
good-handling truck underneath him. Carlbert moved by Allen into second
(bringing Darvalics with him) just before lap 28 when Tommy Caveney broke a
ball joint and hit the turn four wall a ton. Caveney was unhurt but his truck
was done for the evening.
On the restart, Darvalics shoved his way underneath Carlbert and set after
Scott taking the lead on lap 30 only to see the caution out yet again for
Danny Anderson's spin in between turns three and four. The field only made
one more lap before Partelo went for a spin in turn four.
Darvalics and Scott brought the field down for the restart with Allen back up
to third and Darin Coker now in fourth after starting 17th. Two more laps got
in the books before Carlbert and Monopoli locked horns with Becca going for a
spin in turn one. Kody Jett had nowhere to go and hit Monopoli's truck. Jett
had to be towed off the track while Monopoli pitted and returned to action
with just minor damage.
After the spate of cautions, the rest of this race would run under green. At
the half-way mark of 50 laps Darvalics was pulling away from the field with
Allen now back up to second, a resurgent Danny Anderson in third while Scott
had fallen to fourth ahead of Monopoli, Coker, Carlbert, Ellis, Eddie
Lichtenberger and Scheffler.
As the field settled in for the remainder of the race it appeared Darvalics
was well on his way to a fourth win in the event but Allen and Anderson had
other ideas. The track had become a bit oily from some of the earlier
incidents. Darvalics, who later stated his truck was a bit "loose" and not
liking the track conditions, began to fall back into the clutches of Allen and
Anderson. Anderson's truck was a bit on the "tight" side and began to really
hook up as the track got greasy. Anderson nosed his machine under Allen on
lap 79 and began to track Darvalics down using lapped traffic to his
advantage.
With eight laps left, Anderson pulled up on Darvalic's tailgate. Darvalic's
ill-handling truck was a sitting duck as Anderson made quick work of him with
six laps left and drove off to a huge crowd-pleasing victory.
Anderson was very emotional in victory lane stating that he himself had lost a
very good friend and fellow competitor recently to cancer. "I carry some of
his ashes with me in the cockpit of my truck," said Anderson. "He's been my
co-pilot and this year we won the DeSoto Speedway Pro Truck championship and
now the charity race... this is just a real honor to be standing here," he
said.
A disappointed Darvalics took home the runner-up spot saying there just wasn't
anything he could do within reason to hold Anderson back. Allen crossed the
checker in third but was later set down in tech for an engine compression
infraction. That moved Scott up to a third place finish while Monopoli held
on for fourth ahead of Coker who won the Troy Thompson, Inc. Hard Charger
Award for advancing from 17th on the grid to fifth. Rounding out the top ten
were Ellis, Lichtenberger, Scheffler, Carlbert and Partelo.
Darvalics won the American Automotive Half-Way Leader Award, McDuffie took the
Rex Engineering Hard Luck Award, Scott won the Tony Carreno Cool Move of the
Race Award and Anderson took home the Dannis & Dannis Calculated Move of the
Race Award. The Robert Howell Photography "Most Missing Body Pieces" Award
went to Ellis.
The Sportsman cars were added to the card this year for the Coulter
Motorsports Charity 100. The numbers were disappointing as only a dozen cars
showed to take part but they were all top-notch machines ready to do battle.
Things did not get off to a good start on Friday as Josh Calvert had the
throttle hang open on his car during practice and he hit the wall, mangling
his racer but emerging unscathed. Calvert was done for the weekend as was
Roger Blevins who loaded up his car early due to mechanical issues.
Nine cars took time on Friday with the Moyer Logistics Fast Qualifier award
going to Lakeland's Dylan Martin with a nice lap of 14.514 seconds. Kurt Jett
of Middleburg was second quick in a wild-looking new car at 14.796 with Shawn
Jenkins of Lakeland third quick at 14.815.
Fourth quick Mike Smith would be on the pole for Saturday's century run after
the re-draw with Jett to his outside. Fast qualifier Martin lined up in
fourth spot. Smith grabbed the early lead but got tangled up with Jett on lap
six as both drivers were relegated to the back of the field for the restart as
Martin led for a lap before Chris Narramore, Jr. took over for a pair of
laps.
By now, sixth-starting Brandon Morris was on the move and he blasted to the
front on lap ten. Things settled down until Martin and Sean Bass got tangled
up coming off turn four on lap 23 sending Martin pit side for extensive
bodywork removal. Bass stayed on track but retired soon after with
overheating problems. Green flag racing continued in earnest after the
restart with Jett using the top groove to move into second on lap 36 although
he was well behind Morris.
At half way it was Morris easily in command ahead of Jett, Narramore, Smith,
Jenkins, Martin, Junior Beckner, Dora Thorne and Dan Scott. Just after the
crossed flags, cars started dropping out right and left. First it was Jett
off the pace on lap 52 followed by Beckner two laps later. Thorne pulled out
on lap 57 leaving just six cars on track to duke it out the remaining
distance.
Action continued under green until a lap 81 altercation between Martin and
Smith. The next two restarts were aborted by turn one incidents, the first a
double spin by Jenkins and Scott then a tangle between Smith and Narramore
that resulted in Smith being black-flagged and sent off for the rest of the
race.
Morris led the rest of the way uncontested to score his second big win in as
many weeks with his car having also topped a star-studded field at the
Pensacola Snowball Derby the week before. Narramore came home second followed
by Martin, Jenkins and Troy Thompson, Inc. Hard Charger Award winner Scott who
was actually the only other car still running. Smith was credited with sixth
place trailed by Thorne, Beckner, Jett and Bass who took home the Rex
Engineering Hard Luck award.
The Peterson Family sponsored a pair of race awards with Morris getting the
"Cool Move of the Race" award and Martin easily getting the "Most Missing
Pieces" award. Morris also won the American Automotive Half Way Leader
award.
Other action took place on Friday night including a 50-lap contest for the
Bombers. Bobby Mobley set quick time at 16.310 seconds but found a problem
after going back to the pits and did not start the feature. Brandon "Bones" Duchscherer
thus ended up with fast time at 16.642 seconds followed by Carl Thompson and
Nick Malverty.
The top six cars were inverted for the start placing James Wright on the pole
and he took advantage by leading the first three laps that saw a caution just
after the first lap was completed when Danny Burchfield spun in turn three.
Thompson got by Wright shortly after the restart and was looking
strong until he got trapped behind a lapped car that was actually leaving the
track on lap 20. Before he could get back up to speed, Anderson had been
passed by several cars including new race leader Malverty.
Caution flew on lap 22 as the car of Mike Hubbard stalled while Thompson took
his smoking car to the pits and out of the running. Two laps later the yellow
was out again as Aaron Holmes spun coming off turn four. The race stayed
green until the 42nd lap when Duchscherer's car stalled in turn four ending
his night. The final yellow flag flew on lap 47 when Dustin Myers spun out of
second place after a strong late run.
All this time Malverty was in control and he cruised to the win over late
entry Roy Healey and Burchfield. Holmes came back from his earlier spin to
claim fourth with Wright in fifth. Completing the top ten were Preston Davis,
Myers, Eric Burchell, Steve Breiner and Hubbard.
Richard Edwards led most of the way to win the 20-lap Scrambler feature that
saw only one caution flag on lap 17 when Bobby Fellows lost a wheel in turn
four. Chuck Harrison trailed Edwards to the checker but was disqualified for
not bringing his car to post-race tech inspection. That moved Robert Fellows
up to second with early leader Kelly Hahn third ahead of Andy Travis and
Ronnie Culpepper. Rounding out the top ten were Dustin Wilson, Keith
Cantrell, Josh Hall, Bobby Fellows and Glen Swanson.
Jim Erb topped Shane Sutorus and Steve Utley to win the 50-lap Enduro race
then Erb came back to also win the School Bus Figure-8 race over Preston Davis
and Mike Gamache.
The Front-Wheel-Drive All-Pro Demolition Derby was won by the "Crazy Cuban"
Shawn Michaels.
Main sponsors for the weekend were Aarons, Blackwater Integration, Southern
Air Compressor Service Inc., Haddock Timber, Fellows Truck Brokers and
Davenport Fights Back. Orlando Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep & Ram, Enterprise
Rent-A-Car and 97 Country/Max 98.3 were associate sponsors.
Race Founder/Organizer and President of C.A.R.S. Racing for a Cause, Inc. Rick
Bristol had this to say at the conclusion of Saturday night: "I am very
thankful to all the sponsors, drivers, crews, volunteers and fans who braved
the cold and came together to help these families. Thanks to Rex & Colette
Guy for donating the track and showing great hospitality to all of us. We are
still totaling up all the different things that were happening and will pay
the remaining bills then announce how we ended up doing. We are still selling
remaining shirts and still have a signed Garth Brooks guitar on a Facebook
auction this week, so things will change. I just wish a special blessing for
all those that made this possible and hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and
may 2015 be a great year for all of us."
Photos:
1) Pro Truck winner Danny Anderson...
2) Kim Scheffler with the three kids' photos on her truck...
3) Dylan Martin with Jayden Taylor...
4) Bomber winner Nick Malverty...
AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
The ninth annual Joey Coulter Charity Race Weekend at Auburndale Speedway
proved to be a big success and, despite very cold weather, drew an
enthusiastic crowd both Friday and Saturday night and they were treated to
some great racing all while raising money for three families in need.
Three-year-old Emily Leasure (who has Leukemia) and her family were in
attendance as were 8-year-old Jayden Taylor (Autism/ADHD) and his family. The
family of 4-year-old Logan Ressler, who passed away from cancer in late
October, also attended the event.
The Pro Trucks were again the featured attraction as they have been since the
first charity race held in 2006. The Trucks got things started off Friday
evening with 17 machines making a qualifying attempt. Steve Darvalics of
Venice, a three-time winner of the event, made himself the early favorite by
setting quick time of 14.563 seconds, just ahead of the 14.572 lap of Ft.
Myers driver Cody Allen. 2014 Joey Coulter Fellow's Truck Brokers Pro Truck
Series champion Becca Monopoli of Lakeland was third quick at 14.682.
Darvalics earned the $100 Fast Time Award posted by Moyer Logistics. The
entire field timed in at .425 seconds between 1st through 17th meaning this
race would be a barn-burner from start to finish and it would live up to it's
hype on Saturday.
The top ten from qualifying re-drew for starting positions for the Les & Judy
Smout Pro Truck Charity 100 with Darvalics starting sixth, Allen fourth and
Monopoli ninth. The front row spots went to local favorite Cody McDuffie and
Sam Scott of Naples.
Scott zipped to the lead at the drop of the green as the field settled in for
some early green flag racing with the top four of Scott, McDuffie, Allen and
Darvalics breaking well away from the rest of the field. The first caution
flag appeared on lap 17 as Kim Scheffler went for a spin with a little help
from Phil Ellis. Both went to the tail of the field for the restart with
Scheffler again getting helped into a spin again shortly thereafter in turn
four to keep the yellow out a bit longer.
Just after the field went back to racing, Allen moved into second bringing a
very fast Billy Carlbert, Jr. with him as McDuffie began to slide back on the
high side. On lap 22, the field checked up a bit and McDuffie plowed into the
back of Darvalic's truck causing enough damage to send him to the pits where
repairs were made during the ensuing caution period although he would
eventually be forced to drop out later.
Two laps after the restart, Cole Partelo got turned around and into the turn
one wall to bring out another yellow. Partelo's truck was OK and he
continued. Scott continued to lead after the restart with a very
good-handling truck underneath him. Carlbert moved by Allen into second
(bringing Darvalics with him) just before lap 28 when Tommy Caveney broke a
ball joint and hit the turn four wall a ton. Caveney was unhurt but his truck
was done for the evening.
On the restart, Darvalics shoved his way underneath Carlbert and set after
Scott taking the lead on lap 30 only to see the caution out yet again for
Danny Anderson's spin in between turns three and four. The field only made
one more lap before Partelo went for a spin in turn four.
Darvalics and Scott brought the field down for the restart with Allen back up
to third and Darin Coker now in fourth after starting 17th. Two more laps got
in the books before Carlbert and Monopoli locked horns with Becca going for a
spin in turn one. Kody Jett had nowhere to go and hit Monopoli's truck. Jett
had to be towed off the track while Monopoli pitted and returned to action
with just minor damage.
After the spate of cautions, the rest of this race would run under green. At
the half-way mark of 50 laps Darvalics was pulling away from the field with
Allen now back up to second, a resurgent Danny Anderson in third while Scott
had fallen to fourth ahead of Monopoli, Coker, Carlbert, Ellis, Eddie
Lichtenberger and Scheffler.
As the field settled in for the remainder of the race it appeared Darvalics
was well on his way to a fourth win in the event but Allen and Anderson had
other ideas. The track had become a bit oily from some of the earlier
incidents. Darvalics, who later stated his truck was a bit "loose" and not
liking the track conditions, began to fall back into the clutches of Allen and
Anderson. Anderson's truck was a bit on the "tight" side and began to really
hook up as the track got greasy. Anderson nosed his machine under Allen on
lap 79 and began to track Darvalics down using lapped traffic to his
advantage.
With eight laps left, Anderson pulled up on Darvalic's tailgate. Darvalic's
ill-handling truck was a sitting duck as Anderson made quick work of him with
six laps left and drove off to a huge crowd-pleasing victory.
Anderson was very emotional in victory lane stating that he himself had lost a
very good friend and fellow competitor recently to cancer. "I carry some of
his ashes with me in the cockpit of my truck," said Anderson. "He's been my
co-pilot and this year we won the DeSoto Speedway Pro Truck championship and
now the charity race... this is just a real honor to be standing here," he
said.
A disappointed Darvalics took home the runner-up spot saying there just wasn't
anything he could do within reason to hold Anderson back. Allen crossed the
checker in third but was later set down in tech for an engine compression
infraction. That moved Scott up to a third place finish while Monopoli held
on for fourth ahead of Coker who won the Troy Thompson, Inc. Hard Charger
Award for advancing from 17th on the grid to fifth. Rounding out the top ten
were Ellis, Lichtenberger, Scheffler, Carlbert and Partelo.
Darvalics won the American Automotive Half-Way Leader Award, McDuffie took the
Rex Engineering Hard Luck Award, Scott won the Tony Carreno Cool Move of the
Race Award and Anderson took home the Dannis & Dannis Calculated Move of the
Race Award. The Robert Howell Photography "Most Missing Body Pieces" Award
went to Ellis.
The Sportsman cars were added to the card this year for the Coulter
Motorsports Charity 100. The numbers were disappointing as only a dozen cars
showed to take part but they were all top-notch machines ready to do battle.
Things did not get off to a good start on Friday as Josh Calvert had the
throttle hang open on his car during practice and he hit the wall, mangling
his racer but emerging unscathed. Calvert was done for the weekend as was
Roger Blevins who loaded up his car early due to mechanical issues.
Nine cars took time on Friday with the Moyer Logistics Fast Qualifier award
going to Lakeland's Dylan Martin with a nice lap of 14.514 seconds. Kurt Jett
of Middleburg was second quick in a wild-looking new car at 14.796 with Shawn
Jenkins of Lakeland third quick at 14.815.
Fourth quick Mike Smith would be on the pole for Saturday's century run after
the re-draw with Jett to his outside. Fast qualifier Martin lined up in
fourth spot. Smith grabbed the early lead but got tangled up with Jett on lap
six as both drivers were relegated to the back of the field for the restart as
Martin led for a lap before Chris Narramore, Jr. took over for a pair of
laps.
By now, sixth-starting Brandon Morris was on the move and he blasted to the
front on lap ten. Things settled down until Martin and Sean Bass got tangled
up coming off turn four on lap 23 sending Martin pit side for extensive
bodywork removal. Bass stayed on track but retired soon after with
overheating problems. Green flag racing continued in earnest after the
restart with Jett using the top groove to move into second on lap 36 although
he was well behind Morris.
At half way it was Morris easily in command ahead of Jett, Narramore, Smith,
Jenkins, Martin, Junior Beckner, Dora Thorne and Dan Scott. Just after the
crossed flags, cars started dropping out right and left. First it was Jett
off the pace on lap 52 followed by Beckner two laps later. Thorne pulled out
on lap 57 leaving just six cars on track to duke it out the remaining
distance.
Action continued under green until a lap 81 altercation between Martin and
Smith. The next two restarts were aborted by turn one incidents, the first a
double spin by Jenkins and Scott then a tangle between Smith and Narramore
that resulted in Smith being black-flagged and sent off for the rest of the
race.
Morris led the rest of the way uncontested to score his second big win in as
many weeks with his car having also topped a star-studded field at the
Pensacola Snowball Derby the week before. Narramore came home second followed
by Martin, Jenkins and Troy Thompson, Inc. Hard Charger Award winner Scott who
was actually the only other car still running. Smith was credited with sixth
place trailed by Thorne, Beckner, Jett and Bass who took home the Rex
Engineering Hard Luck award.
The Peterson Family sponsored a pair of race awards with Morris getting the
"Cool Move of the Race" award and Martin easily getting the "Most Missing
Pieces" award. Morris also won the American Automotive Half Way Leader
award.
Other action took place on Friday night including a 50-lap contest for the
Bombers. Bobby Mobley set quick time at 16.310 seconds but found a problem
after going back to the pits and did not start the feature. Brandon "Bones" Duchscherer
thus ended up with fast time at 16.642 seconds followed by Carl Thompson and
Nick Malverty.
The top six cars were inverted for the start placing James Wright on the pole
and he took advantage by leading the first three laps that saw a caution just
after the first lap was completed when Danny Burchfield spun in turn three.
Thompson got by Wright shortly after the restart and was looking
strong until he got trapped behind a lapped car that was actually leaving the
track on lap 20. Before he could get back up to speed, Anderson had been
passed by several cars including new race leader Malverty.
Caution flew on lap 22 as the car of Mike Hubbard stalled while Thompson took
his smoking car to the pits and out of the running. Two laps later the yellow
was out again as Aaron Holmes spun coming off turn four. The race stayed
green until the 42nd lap when Duchscherer's car stalled in turn four ending
his night. The final yellow flag flew on lap 47 when Dustin Myers spun out of
second place after a strong late run.
All this time Malverty was in control and he cruised to the win over late
entry Roy Healey and Burchfield. Holmes came back from his earlier spin to
claim fourth with Wright in fifth. Completing the top ten were Preston Davis,
Myers, Eric Burchell, Steve Breiner and Hubbard.
Richard Edwards led most of the way to win the 20-lap Scrambler feature that
saw only one caution flag on lap 17 when Bobby Fellows lost a wheel in turn
four. Chuck Harrison trailed Edwards to the checker but was disqualified for
not bringing his car to post-race tech inspection. That moved Robert Fellows
up to second with early leader Kelly Hahn third ahead of Andy Travis and
Ronnie Culpepper. Rounding out the top ten were Dustin Wilson, Keith
Cantrell, Josh Hall, Bobby Fellows and Glen Swanson.
Jim Erb topped Shane Sutorus and Steve Utley to win the 50-lap Enduro race
then Erb came back to also win the School Bus Figure-8 race over Preston Davis
and Mike Gamache.
The Front-Wheel-Drive All-Pro Demolition Derby was won by the "Crazy Cuban"
Shawn Michaels.
Main sponsors for the weekend were Aarons, Blackwater Integration, Southern
Air Compressor Service Inc., Haddock Timber, Fellows Truck Brokers and
Davenport Fights Back. Orlando Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep & Ram, Enterprise
Rent-A-Car and 97 Country/Max 98.3 were associate sponsors.
Race Founder/Organizer and President of C.A.R.S. Racing for a Cause, Inc. Rick
Bristol had this to say at the conclusion of Saturday night: "I am very
thankful to all the sponsors, drivers, crews, volunteers and fans who braved
the cold and came together to help these families. Thanks to Rex & Colette
Guy for donating the track and showing great hospitality to all of us. We are
still totaling up all the different things that were happening and will pay
the remaining bills then announce how we ended up doing. We are still selling
remaining shirts and still have a signed Garth Brooks guitar on a Facebook
auction this week, so things will change. I just wish a special blessing for
all those that made this possible and hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and
may 2015 be a great year for all of us."
Photos:
1) Pro Truck winner Danny Anderson...
2) Kim Scheffler with the three kids' photos on her truck...
3) Dylan Martin with Jayden Taylor...
4) Bomber winner Nick Malverty...
Attached Files
Comment