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Allman wins wild Sunoco Challenge feature at Desoto
By SCOTT LOCKWOOD
Desoto Speedway
When Colin Allman spun into the infield just a few laps into Saturday
night's 100-lap Sunoco Challenge Super Series Late Model feature
event at Desoto Speedway, he figured his chances of a decent finish went up
in smoke.
But when the smoke and carnage ended, it was Allman who was left holding
the trophy in victory lane after beating several of the state's top drivers
in his first-ever win in a Super Late Model – part of a night that saw all
sorts of madness under a full moon in eastern Manatee County.
Polesitter Joe Boyd and third place starter Michael Atwell got the jump on
Tyler Scofield and Jesse Dutilly on the start. The pair needed just a
handful of laps to build a sizable lead, which was erased with Allman's
spin on lap 9.
Dylan Bigley went from fourth to second on the restart. Dutilly eventually
got by Atwell for third, quickly ran down Bigley and was battling for the
runner-up spot when he got loose and spun coming out of turn two on the 28th
lap.
As Boyd controlled the race, all eyes were on Dutilly to see if he could
drive his way through the field. After battling Nick Neri for several laps,
he got to sixth at the halfway point, was fourth eight laps later and
caught the Atwell/Bigley battle for second on lap 70.
Dutilly dispatched Atwell for third as the field completed the 73rd lap and
would stage a side-by-side battle with Bigley for second. Bigley was just
ahead of Dutilly when the yellow flag came out for John Coffman's spin with
20 laps to go.
Dutilly got by Bigley with 16 laps left and was on Boyd's rear bumper
within three laps. The pair raced nose-to-tail for several laps, with Boyd
thwarting Dutilly's efforts on the outside. Dutilly was trying a cross-over
attempt on Boyd when the caution flew with seven laps to go.
On what appeared to be the final restart, Dutilly got the jump on Boyd and
crossed the start/finish line before the rest of the field. Dutilly was
sent to the rear of the field for jumping the start, ending his hopes of
back-to-back Desoto victories.
Boyd spun his tires on the restart, allowing Atwell to grab the lead with
six laps to go. A lap later, Boyd and Atwell got together coming out of
turn four. Atwell spun into the infield, and both were sent to the rear of
the field.
The incident put Allman, who started on the outside pole, in the lead. The
young driver withstood a pair of restarts and held on for the victory.
“I didn't think I was going to be able to bounce back, but luck was on our
side tonight,” Allman said. “I wanted to be sure we were really good on
those last few restarts and not spinning the tires. We got a good drive off
the corner on the last restart and it stuck.”
Bigley finished second, with Shane Sawyer, Boyd and Dutilly rounding out
the top five. Boyd claimed the Desoto Triple Crown for the Late Models that
went back to last season. He received a ring from Martin's Jewlers along with a
custom trophy for his efforts.
The DART Pro Trucks were also on hand for a 50-lap feature event. Tommy
Kelly grabbed the lead from polesitter Cameron Cruse at the green flag with
Corey Bigley in tow. The three set sail from the rest of the field over the
course of the next 40 laps.
As Kelly fought a loose race truck to stay in the lead, Bigley and Cruse
staged a side-by-side battle for second place. Cruse eventually got by, but
couldn't run down Kelly in the final laps. Cruse held off Bigley in a photo
finish for second. Scott McKay and Cody McDuffie rounded out the top five.
Kelly and Cruse were both later disqualified after they failed postrace
technical inspection, which gave the win to Bigley.
In other action Saturday night, Jimmy Wilkins won the 25-lap TQ Midget
feature; Cameron Cruse held off Johnny Marra to win the 25-lap Mini Stock
feature; Carl Thompson passed Aaron Holmes with two laps to go to win the
25-lap Bomber feature; Rachelle Rudolph won the 25-lap Pep Boys Speed Shop
Modified Mini feature; and Jeff Firestine finished the night by winning the
25-lap Take Aim Gun Range Street Stock feature.
Next week at Desoto Speedway, the Bombers take center stage for the 100-lap
Florida State Bomber Championship. School Bus Figure 8's and Desoto Enduro
classes will also be in action.
By SCOTT LOCKWOOD
Desoto Speedway
When Colin Allman spun into the infield just a few laps into Saturday
night's 100-lap Sunoco Challenge Super Series Late Model feature
event at Desoto Speedway, he figured his chances of a decent finish went up
in smoke.
But when the smoke and carnage ended, it was Allman who was left holding
the trophy in victory lane after beating several of the state's top drivers
in his first-ever win in a Super Late Model – part of a night that saw all
sorts of madness under a full moon in eastern Manatee County.
Polesitter Joe Boyd and third place starter Michael Atwell got the jump on
Tyler Scofield and Jesse Dutilly on the start. The pair needed just a
handful of laps to build a sizable lead, which was erased with Allman's
spin on lap 9.
Dylan Bigley went from fourth to second on the restart. Dutilly eventually
got by Atwell for third, quickly ran down Bigley and was battling for the
runner-up spot when he got loose and spun coming out of turn two on the 28th
lap.
As Boyd controlled the race, all eyes were on Dutilly to see if he could
drive his way through the field. After battling Nick Neri for several laps,
he got to sixth at the halfway point, was fourth eight laps later and
caught the Atwell/Bigley battle for second on lap 70.
Dutilly dispatched Atwell for third as the field completed the 73rd lap and
would stage a side-by-side battle with Bigley for second. Bigley was just
ahead of Dutilly when the yellow flag came out for John Coffman's spin with
20 laps to go.
Dutilly got by Bigley with 16 laps left and was on Boyd's rear bumper
within three laps. The pair raced nose-to-tail for several laps, with Boyd
thwarting Dutilly's efforts on the outside. Dutilly was trying a cross-over
attempt on Boyd when the caution flew with seven laps to go.
On what appeared to be the final restart, Dutilly got the jump on Boyd and
crossed the start/finish line before the rest of the field. Dutilly was
sent to the rear of the field for jumping the start, ending his hopes of
back-to-back Desoto victories.
Boyd spun his tires on the restart, allowing Atwell to grab the lead with
six laps to go. A lap later, Boyd and Atwell got together coming out of
turn four. Atwell spun into the infield, and both were sent to the rear of
the field.
The incident put Allman, who started on the outside pole, in the lead. The
young driver withstood a pair of restarts and held on for the victory.
“I didn't think I was going to be able to bounce back, but luck was on our
side tonight,” Allman said. “I wanted to be sure we were really good on
those last few restarts and not spinning the tires. We got a good drive off
the corner on the last restart and it stuck.”
Bigley finished second, with Shane Sawyer, Boyd and Dutilly rounding out
the top five. Boyd claimed the Desoto Triple Crown for the Late Models that
went back to last season. He received a ring from Martin's Jewlers along with a
custom trophy for his efforts.
The DART Pro Trucks were also on hand for a 50-lap feature event. Tommy
Kelly grabbed the lead from polesitter Cameron Cruse at the green flag with
Corey Bigley in tow. The three set sail from the rest of the field over the
course of the next 40 laps.
As Kelly fought a loose race truck to stay in the lead, Bigley and Cruse
staged a side-by-side battle for second place. Cruse eventually got by, but
couldn't run down Kelly in the final laps. Cruse held off Bigley in a photo
finish for second. Scott McKay and Cody McDuffie rounded out the top five.
Kelly and Cruse were both later disqualified after they failed postrace
technical inspection, which gave the win to Bigley.
In other action Saturday night, Jimmy Wilkins won the 25-lap TQ Midget
feature; Cameron Cruse held off Johnny Marra to win the 25-lap Mini Stock
feature; Carl Thompson passed Aaron Holmes with two laps to go to win the
25-lap Bomber feature; Rachelle Rudolph won the 25-lap Pep Boys Speed Shop
Modified Mini feature; and Jeff Firestine finished the night by winning the
25-lap Take Aim Gun Range Street Stock feature.
Next week at Desoto Speedway, the Bombers take center stage for the 100-lap
Florida State Bomber Championship. School Bus Figure 8's and Desoto Enduro
classes will also be in action.
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