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DARTS TRUCKS FALL TO MARTELL AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
A hot, sticky afternoon gave way to a comfortable east breeze after sunset at Auburndale Speedway as the DeSoto-Auburndale Race Truck Series (DARTS) provided plenty of hot action in a race that ran green to checker for 50 hard-fought laps.
Eighteen Trucks signed in to do battle with Lakeland's Cody McDuffie setting fast time at 14.825 seconds. Tommy Kelley of Myakka City was second quick at 14.983 followed by Naples driver Michael Goddard at 14.928, Chad Chastain of Myakka City (14.517) and Auburndale's Travis Roland (15.040). McDuffie pulled a "9" pill for the inversion placing Cody Martell of Arcadia on the pole flanked by veteran racer Danny Anderson of Bradenton.
Martell got the jump at the start as he, Anderson and Ocoee driver Big Donnie Burkhalter began to separate themselves from the pack. Roland dropped off the pace early and headed to the pit area with a broken rear end. Burkhalter slipped by Anderson for second on lap eleven.
Leader Martell began lapping the tail end of the field with just 15 laps in the books as he, Burkhalter and Anderson became embroiled in a battle for the top three positions. The race continued under green with Anderson falling off the pace and out of the event with mechanical issues on lap 38. Fast qualifier McDuffie worked his way to fourth by getting around Chad Chastain on lap 40.
That's how they remained through to the finish as Martell won his third Truck race in a row between here and DeSoto Speedway as he held off a late charge by Burkhalter to net the victory ahead of Burkhalter, Tommy Kelly, McDuffie and Michael Goddard. Chastain held on for sixth trailed by Becca Monopoli, Mason Love, Jason Lester and Derek Pugh. The remainder of the finishers were Cody Carlbert, Billy Carlbert, Jr., Dakota Hunt, Mike Gamache, Kristin Clements, Anderson, Rendell and Roland as the entire 50-lap contest ran green to checker without any caution flag laps.
Donovan Ponder led the opening nine circuits of the Legend Car feature before Seth Adams zipped by for the top spot. Three minor spins slowed the action but Adams went on to cruise to his third straight victory. Ponder got out of shape during the last lap and fell well back in the finishing order as Dave Gleason came on to finish second ahead of Alan Hiefnar. Becca Monopoli picked up a ride in Wild Willie Wilson's car and brought the machine home in fourth ahead of Tim Hunt, Ponder, Dave Fusco, Mike Verhaagh, Cale Nolen and Mitch Verhaagh. The heat race was won by Ponder.
Aaron Holmes took the early lead in the V-8 Bomber feature and held point for the first nine laps until Chris Narramore, Jr. and Zach Briggs tangled in turn three to bring out the yellow flag. James Wright III took advantage of the yellow as he zoomed to the lead on the restart, never to be headed. One other caution slowed the action as the hood flew off Narramore's car, landing on the back stretch surface. Wright easily led after the restart and he went on to take the win over Carl Thompson, Jr., David Purvis, Danny Burchfield, Holmes, Briggs, Narramore, Jr., Bobby Diestler, Bill Konopa, Bubba Healey and Glen Swanson. Cody Bush and Ricky Norman did not start. Thompson, Jr. won the heat race.
Keith Roggen led every lap to win the Mod Mini feature race over point leader Chris Spring. Kristin Clements took the checker in third in front of Rachelle Rudolph, Donnie Ezell, Fred Paravacini and Logan Allen. Roggen also won the heat.
Donald Gatlin won the Mini Stock heat and led the early going of the feature but had point leader Chris Narramore, Sr. in his rear view mirror as Narramore was charging toward his 12th consecutive victory. However, Narramore's engine let go going into turn one on lap 11 ending his consecutive win streak at 11. Gatlin went on to score a hard fought victory after a great battle with Bruce Cozad who had to settle for being the runner-up. Third went to John Cummins, Jr. ahead of Bud Bronson, Fred Martin, Danny Leet, Tony Davidson and Narramore, Sr.
Nicole Green took the lead from William Kerns on lap three then went on to score the Scrambler feature win despite tons of pressure from second-finishing Dustin Wilson. Heat winner Kyle Little came home third in front of Kerns, Matt Miller, Anthony Carroll, Chris Narramore, Sr., Josh Clouse and Shane Bennett.
Russell Bush won his second Mini Cup feature in a row over Brey Holmes, Clayton Samuels and Douglas Herrin, Jr. Bush also won the heat.
A hot, sticky afternoon gave way to a comfortable east breeze after sunset at Auburndale Speedway as the DeSoto-Auburndale Race Truck Series (DARTS) provided plenty of hot action in a race that ran green to checker for 50 hard-fought laps.
Eighteen Trucks signed in to do battle with Lakeland's Cody McDuffie setting fast time at 14.825 seconds. Tommy Kelley of Myakka City was second quick at 14.983 followed by Naples driver Michael Goddard at 14.928, Chad Chastain of Myakka City (14.517) and Auburndale's Travis Roland (15.040). McDuffie pulled a "9" pill for the inversion placing Cody Martell of Arcadia on the pole flanked by veteran racer Danny Anderson of Bradenton.
Martell got the jump at the start as he, Anderson and Ocoee driver Big Donnie Burkhalter began to separate themselves from the pack. Roland dropped off the pace early and headed to the pit area with a broken rear end. Burkhalter slipped by Anderson for second on lap eleven.
Leader Martell began lapping the tail end of the field with just 15 laps in the books as he, Burkhalter and Anderson became embroiled in a battle for the top three positions. The race continued under green with Anderson falling off the pace and out of the event with mechanical issues on lap 38. Fast qualifier McDuffie worked his way to fourth by getting around Chad Chastain on lap 40.
That's how they remained through to the finish as Martell won his third Truck race in a row between here and DeSoto Speedway as he held off a late charge by Burkhalter to net the victory ahead of Burkhalter, Tommy Kelly, McDuffie and Michael Goddard. Chastain held on for sixth trailed by Becca Monopoli, Mason Love, Jason Lester and Derek Pugh. The remainder of the finishers were Cody Carlbert, Billy Carlbert, Jr., Dakota Hunt, Mike Gamache, Kristin Clements, Anderson, Rendell and Roland as the entire 50-lap contest ran green to checker without any caution flag laps.
Donovan Ponder led the opening nine circuits of the Legend Car feature before Seth Adams zipped by for the top spot. Three minor spins slowed the action but Adams went on to cruise to his third straight victory. Ponder got out of shape during the last lap and fell well back in the finishing order as Dave Gleason came on to finish second ahead of Alan Hiefnar. Becca Monopoli picked up a ride in Wild Willie Wilson's car and brought the machine home in fourth ahead of Tim Hunt, Ponder, Dave Fusco, Mike Verhaagh, Cale Nolen and Mitch Verhaagh. The heat race was won by Ponder.
Aaron Holmes took the early lead in the V-8 Bomber feature and held point for the first nine laps until Chris Narramore, Jr. and Zach Briggs tangled in turn three to bring out the yellow flag. James Wright III took advantage of the yellow as he zoomed to the lead on the restart, never to be headed. One other caution slowed the action as the hood flew off Narramore's car, landing on the back stretch surface. Wright easily led after the restart and he went on to take the win over Carl Thompson, Jr., David Purvis, Danny Burchfield, Holmes, Briggs, Narramore, Jr., Bobby Diestler, Bill Konopa, Bubba Healey and Glen Swanson. Cody Bush and Ricky Norman did not start. Thompson, Jr. won the heat race.
Keith Roggen led every lap to win the Mod Mini feature race over point leader Chris Spring. Kristin Clements took the checker in third in front of Rachelle Rudolph, Donnie Ezell, Fred Paravacini and Logan Allen. Roggen also won the heat.
Donald Gatlin won the Mini Stock heat and led the early going of the feature but had point leader Chris Narramore, Sr. in his rear view mirror as Narramore was charging toward his 12th consecutive victory. However, Narramore's engine let go going into turn one on lap 11 ending his consecutive win streak at 11. Gatlin went on to score a hard fought victory after a great battle with Bruce Cozad who had to settle for being the runner-up. Third went to John Cummins, Jr. ahead of Bud Bronson, Fred Martin, Danny Leet, Tony Davidson and Narramore, Sr.
Nicole Green took the lead from William Kerns on lap three then went on to score the Scrambler feature win despite tons of pressure from second-finishing Dustin Wilson. Heat winner Kyle Little came home third in front of Kerns, Matt Miller, Anthony Carroll, Chris Narramore, Sr., Josh Clouse and Shane Bennett.
Russell Bush won his second Mini Cup feature in a row over Brey Holmes, Clayton Samuels and Douglas Herrin, Jr. Bush also won the heat.
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