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BECCA MONOPOLI TAKES SOUTHERN PRO TRUCK WIN AT ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
Oval track racing finally returned to Orlando SpeedWorld Sunday afternoon with some great action held in near-perfect weather conditions.
The headlining event was a 50-lap contest for the Southern Pro-Am Truck Series and these drivers would not disappoint the fans as they put on a great show.
Thirteen Trucks signed in to do battle but Randy Leonard had to shove his machine back in the trailer after breaking a rear end during hot laps. The likable driver from Lake Placid was obviously disappointed but stayed around to help out and cheer on the other race teams.
Lakeland's Cody McDuffie set quick time at 15.61 seconds driving the David Hartin Race Cars/Southern Air Compressor Service Chevrolet followed closely by the 15.64 lap of 15-year-old Cole Partelo of St. Petersburg. Becca Monopoli, veteran Joe Winchell and Chad Chastain rounded out the top five in time trials.
The top six qualifiers were inverted for the start placing Big Donnie Burkhalter on the pole flanked by Chastain who zipped out to an early lead. Burkhalter began to slip back in the field as Monopoli quickly moved to second spot by lap seven. Fast qualifier McDuffie suddenly pulled off the track during the ninth lap as the transmission broke in his machine. The first yellow flag was displayed on lap 14 as Brent Tyler spun coming off turn four.
On the restart, Winchell got by Monopoli for second but Becca returned the favor on lap 21. Taylor Moxley was now on the move taking third from Winchell on lap 27 after starting eighth. The battle was on now between Chastain and Monopoli for the top spot and they began a close but clean bit of racing that eventually culminated in some body work being knocked off Chastain's truck causing a debris caution on lap 38. Chastain's crew had spent the morning fixing the right side of his Truck and replacing the fenders after a rough evening the night before at Desoto Speedway in Bradenton.
Chastain and Monopoli resumed their battle on the restart and yet more stuff was left on the track as the left front fender of Monopoli's machine was now flapping in the wind. As the race resumed again, Monopoli ducked low into the lead as Chastain was obviously fighting a very loose truck. On lap 40, Chastain slapped the back stretch wall but held on as Winchell spun into the infield trying to avoid everything. Winchell's machine ended up stuck in a small mud-filled ditch and it had to be slowly pulled out by the Tim's Automotive wrecker crew. After shaking off most of the mud, Winchell returned to action.
The final ten laps ran off without a hitch as Monopoli easily breezed to the victory. Moxley nearly got by Chastain for second but he recovered and held on to take the runner-up spot with Moxley taking the checker with an apparent hard-fought third place finish. However, she was disqualified in tech after it was found her machine had gun-drilled axles that are illegal in the Southern Pro-Am Truck Series. "I'm pretty sure my dad (her truck owner and crew chief Ricky Moxley) was aware of that rule, so it goes to say I'm a bit upset. It's going to be a very silent ride home, I think," she said with a bit of a chuckle.
That moved Partelo up to a nice third place finish trailed by a resurgent Winchell and yet another young lady driver, Taylor Hosford.
Daniel Miller of Tavares dominated the Outlaw Pro Challenge Series feature taking the lead from Randy Glick on lap three. Miller held off heat race winner Jarrett Snowden the rest of the way with Glick hanging on for third ahead of Steve Greenwell, Sene Capps and Pete Briggs who brought the only caution of the race when he broke an axle and spun on lap four.
Ron McCreary of Vero Beach drove his Billy Cuddy Painting Buick to victory in the V-8 Bomber feature that ended up with a wild tangle on the last lap that allowed Crash Tyner to sneak into a second place finish with his big Lincoln. Charlie King recovered from the last lap skirmish to claim third ahead of Wes Railing, Aaron Overman, Brian Millar, Bruce Gayton and Cheyenne Sullivan.
Zachary Curtis and his latest Saturn race car continued his domination of the Four Cylinder Bombers as he led all but the opening circuit in claiming the win. Greg Bruce was second ahead of Shane Sutorus, William Hindman Tyler Jewer, Thomas Melnick, Troy Gregory, Jarrett Farrell, Travis Lewis, Mike Hanna, Matt Loomis and Kendra Gregory.
The Bomber classes got to race for a bit of extra cash courtesy of Old School Racing, DWG Enterprises, INc of Melbourne, Ocean Water & Breakers Irrigation System Repairs of Casselberry and Amsoil dealer James Moore of St. Cloud.
Vintage Modified winners were Larry Larivee and Kelly Jarrett.
SOUTHERN PRO-AM TRUCK SERIES OFFICIAL FINISH - 4/10/16:
1) Becca Monopoli, Lakeland #59X
2) Chad Chastain, Alva #36
3) Cole Partelo, St. Petersburg #9
4) Joe Winchell, Dade City #52
5) Taylor Hosford, Madison #13
6) Derek Pugh West Palm Beach #3
7) Raymond Donner III, Chuluota #M7
8) Donnie Burkhalter, Windermere #24
9) Mark Bryer, Port St. Lucie #73
10) Brent Tyler, Chuluota #99
11) Cody McDuffie, Lakeland #25
DQ - Taylor Moxley, Palm City #38
DNS - Randy Leonard, Lake Placid #77
Oval track racing finally returned to Orlando SpeedWorld Sunday afternoon with some great action held in near-perfect weather conditions.
The headlining event was a 50-lap contest for the Southern Pro-Am Truck Series and these drivers would not disappoint the fans as they put on a great show.
Thirteen Trucks signed in to do battle but Randy Leonard had to shove his machine back in the trailer after breaking a rear end during hot laps. The likable driver from Lake Placid was obviously disappointed but stayed around to help out and cheer on the other race teams.
Lakeland's Cody McDuffie set quick time at 15.61 seconds driving the David Hartin Race Cars/Southern Air Compressor Service Chevrolet followed closely by the 15.64 lap of 15-year-old Cole Partelo of St. Petersburg. Becca Monopoli, veteran Joe Winchell and Chad Chastain rounded out the top five in time trials.
The top six qualifiers were inverted for the start placing Big Donnie Burkhalter on the pole flanked by Chastain who zipped out to an early lead. Burkhalter began to slip back in the field as Monopoli quickly moved to second spot by lap seven. Fast qualifier McDuffie suddenly pulled off the track during the ninth lap as the transmission broke in his machine. The first yellow flag was displayed on lap 14 as Brent Tyler spun coming off turn four.
On the restart, Winchell got by Monopoli for second but Becca returned the favor on lap 21. Taylor Moxley was now on the move taking third from Winchell on lap 27 after starting eighth. The battle was on now between Chastain and Monopoli for the top spot and they began a close but clean bit of racing that eventually culminated in some body work being knocked off Chastain's truck causing a debris caution on lap 38. Chastain's crew had spent the morning fixing the right side of his Truck and replacing the fenders after a rough evening the night before at Desoto Speedway in Bradenton.
Chastain and Monopoli resumed their battle on the restart and yet more stuff was left on the track as the left front fender of Monopoli's machine was now flapping in the wind. As the race resumed again, Monopoli ducked low into the lead as Chastain was obviously fighting a very loose truck. On lap 40, Chastain slapped the back stretch wall but held on as Winchell spun into the infield trying to avoid everything. Winchell's machine ended up stuck in a small mud-filled ditch and it had to be slowly pulled out by the Tim's Automotive wrecker crew. After shaking off most of the mud, Winchell returned to action.
The final ten laps ran off without a hitch as Monopoli easily breezed to the victory. Moxley nearly got by Chastain for second but he recovered and held on to take the runner-up spot with Moxley taking the checker with an apparent hard-fought third place finish. However, she was disqualified in tech after it was found her machine had gun-drilled axles that are illegal in the Southern Pro-Am Truck Series. "I'm pretty sure my dad (her truck owner and crew chief Ricky Moxley) was aware of that rule, so it goes to say I'm a bit upset. It's going to be a very silent ride home, I think," she said with a bit of a chuckle.
That moved Partelo up to a nice third place finish trailed by a resurgent Winchell and yet another young lady driver, Taylor Hosford.
Daniel Miller of Tavares dominated the Outlaw Pro Challenge Series feature taking the lead from Randy Glick on lap three. Miller held off heat race winner Jarrett Snowden the rest of the way with Glick hanging on for third ahead of Steve Greenwell, Sene Capps and Pete Briggs who brought the only caution of the race when he broke an axle and spun on lap four.
Ron McCreary of Vero Beach drove his Billy Cuddy Painting Buick to victory in the V-8 Bomber feature that ended up with a wild tangle on the last lap that allowed Crash Tyner to sneak into a second place finish with his big Lincoln. Charlie King recovered from the last lap skirmish to claim third ahead of Wes Railing, Aaron Overman, Brian Millar, Bruce Gayton and Cheyenne Sullivan.
Zachary Curtis and his latest Saturn race car continued his domination of the Four Cylinder Bombers as he led all but the opening circuit in claiming the win. Greg Bruce was second ahead of Shane Sutorus, William Hindman Tyler Jewer, Thomas Melnick, Troy Gregory, Jarrett Farrell, Travis Lewis, Mike Hanna, Matt Loomis and Kendra Gregory.
The Bomber classes got to race for a bit of extra cash courtesy of Old School Racing, DWG Enterprises, INc of Melbourne, Ocean Water & Breakers Irrigation System Repairs of Casselberry and Amsoil dealer James Moore of St. Cloud.
Vintage Modified winners were Larry Larivee and Kelly Jarrett.
SOUTHERN PRO-AM TRUCK SERIES OFFICIAL FINISH - 4/10/16:
1) Becca Monopoli, Lakeland #59X
2) Chad Chastain, Alva #36
3) Cole Partelo, St. Petersburg #9
4) Joe Winchell, Dade City #52
5) Taylor Hosford, Madison #13
6) Derek Pugh West Palm Beach #3
7) Raymond Donner III, Chuluota #M7
8) Donnie Burkhalter, Windermere #24
9) Mark Bryer, Port St. Lucie #73
10) Brent Tyler, Chuluota #99
11) Cody McDuffie, Lakeland #25
DQ - Taylor Moxley, Palm City #38
DNS - Randy Leonard, Lake Placid #77