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COLT CECIL GETS FIRST CAREER WIN IN MINI STOCK 30 AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
Auburndale Speedway celebrated Mother's Day eve with some great racing as a nice crowd braved some early "iffy" weather to enjoy the show and by sunset the skies had totally cleared. WPCV 97 Country sponsored the evening with free backpacks and goodies to the first 100 moms through the gates.
The Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Mini Stocks headlined the show with a 30-lap contest, their first extra-distance race of the year. The class also qualified for the first time this season with point leader Chris Narramore, Sr. setting the fastest lap at 15.485 seconds while trying to remain unbeaten in his starts this year here. Colt Cecil was close behind with a lap of 15.494 while Donald Gatlin made his first start of the year and was third quick at 15.943.
The field was totally inverted, though, for the start of the feature race placing Danny Leet and Fred Martin on the front row. Leet zipped out to the early lead and held point for five circuits before Bruce Cozad moved out front. Cozad was having a good run but Narramore caught and passed him for the top spot on lap 15. It looked like yet another win for Narramore until a late caution allowed the field to close back up.
On the restart, Narramore's engine sputtered and things got interesting very quickly as everyone was trying to find racing room without crashing. Narramore's car finally caught fire again but he tapped Martin into a spin in turn three to keep the yellow flag out with both Narramore and Martin restarting from the tail of the field.
Cozad now found himself out front again but the engine in his car was misfiring and Cecil sped by on the outside to lead the 27th lap. From there, Cecil was not to be denied his first career victory as he easily held off Cozad and a resurgent Narramore to the checkered flag. For Cecil, who began racing late last year at the age of 29, the win ended several weeks of frustration including a multitude of mechanical problems and close second place finishes.
"It's a dream come true," said Cecil in victory lane. "I can't believe I'm finally a winner... I'm truly speechless right now," he said although he later thanked his entire crew including his father Greg, a former Late Model racer who scored numerous victories around Florida and the Southeast. Cecil also thanked Narramore for all his help in setting his car up.
Cozad thought he might have won the race had his engine not began to run rough but he did have the horses to hold off Narramore for second. It was the first race he started that Narramore had not won this season. Danny Leet had his best recent run in taking fourth while Martin was fifth ahead of John Cummins, Jr. and Gatlin.
Young Dustin Wilson notched his seventh Scrambler win of the year and for the fourth time led only the final lap in doing so. St. Pete-area visitor Kevin Grant, Jr., winner of the first heat, had a strong car and started from the outside pole. However, Grant jumped the start and had to fall back to the rear of the field or risk getting black-flagged.
That allowed Chucky Harrison to lead the first three laps before Andy Travis took over. Harrison had a tire explode coming off turn four to bring out the caution at lap ten. Travis held point following the restart as Wilson restarted from second. Neither could hold back Keith Cantrill who stormed out front and looked to be on his way to his second win of the year. But, alas, Wilson had other ideas as he got a good run on the white flag lap to nip Cantrill at the line, the third time he has topped Cantrill in such a fashion this season.
Cantrill was again a disappointing second while Travis held on for third in front of Grant and Gilbert Corbin. Rounding out the finishers were second heat winner William Kerns, Anthony Carroll, John Morrow, Austin Bristol and Harrison. Anthony Brown was unable to start the feature.
Richard Elkins, Jr. led all the way to top the Street Stock feature for his second win in as many starts. Ross Francisco kept Elkins honest but could not amount a serious challenge. Howard O'Steen made his return to racing with a third place effort while Josh Lindsey was fourth. Steven O'Steen was unable to start. Elkins also won the heat race.
Chris Spring won both the Mod Mini heat and feature in dominant fashion easily topping Scott Bumgardner, Rachelle Rudolph and David Myers, Sr. in the headliner.
The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association (DAARA) brought a nice field of cars to the track and put on quite a show.
72-year-old Charlie Dean of North Port, driving a car he recently purchased, led all the way to win the DAARA Sprint Car feature in a close finish over Robert Campbell who was making his first-ever start in a Sprint Car that was also seeing track action for the first time. Jimmy Miltner was also part of the blanket finish that took place among several lapped cars but settled for third. Chris Hahn was fourth while Roy Campbell battled a sick engine to fifth ahead of Merle Strickland, Terry Broadus (who at 78 years young brought his Chad Freeman-restored Bill Roynon tribute car all the way from Biloxi, MS to compete), Dave Cash and Bob Wolpert.
Titusville's Tobi Smith led all the way to top the V-8 Stock Car field in his 1983 NASCAR Tour-Type Modified that is set up as a tribute to the late car owner Mario Fiore and driver Reggie Ruggerio. Unfortunately the race saw another Tour-Type Modified go off the hook after heat winner Cory Lane clobbered the turn four wall on the opening lap. Cory was OK but the right front of his fast machine was in shambles.
Louis Brashear took second place with Jody Modine third. Completing the finishers were Ron Hess, Darren Nichols, Steady Eddie, John Smith, Lane and Scott Fobes.
The six-cylinder/small block V-8 Stock Car feature was won by Fred Robinson of Ft. Pierce driving a car owned by former racer and cancer survivor Wayne Ashton. Richie Iverson closed late but had to settle for second ahead of Steve Parrish, Ricky Taylor, Dave Davis, Kenny Thornton, Richie Gomes and Chris Hatton.
Odessa's Wes Hill topped Bob Law, Luke Hill and Jerry Paquin to win the Midget feature.
Photos:
1) Colt Cecil took his first career win in the 30-lap Mini Stock Feature...
2) Tobi Smith won the V-8 Stock Car feature for DAARA (My Country Photos)
3) 72-year-old Charlie Dean won the DAARA Sprint Car feature (My Country Photos)
Auburndale Speedway celebrated Mother's Day eve with some great racing as a nice crowd braved some early "iffy" weather to enjoy the show and by sunset the skies had totally cleared. WPCV 97 Country sponsored the evening with free backpacks and goodies to the first 100 moms through the gates.
The Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Mini Stocks headlined the show with a 30-lap contest, their first extra-distance race of the year. The class also qualified for the first time this season with point leader Chris Narramore, Sr. setting the fastest lap at 15.485 seconds while trying to remain unbeaten in his starts this year here. Colt Cecil was close behind with a lap of 15.494 while Donald Gatlin made his first start of the year and was third quick at 15.943.
The field was totally inverted, though, for the start of the feature race placing Danny Leet and Fred Martin on the front row. Leet zipped out to the early lead and held point for five circuits before Bruce Cozad moved out front. Cozad was having a good run but Narramore caught and passed him for the top spot on lap 15. It looked like yet another win for Narramore until a late caution allowed the field to close back up.
On the restart, Narramore's engine sputtered and things got interesting very quickly as everyone was trying to find racing room without crashing. Narramore's car finally caught fire again but he tapped Martin into a spin in turn three to keep the yellow flag out with both Narramore and Martin restarting from the tail of the field.
Cozad now found himself out front again but the engine in his car was misfiring and Cecil sped by on the outside to lead the 27th lap. From there, Cecil was not to be denied his first career victory as he easily held off Cozad and a resurgent Narramore to the checkered flag. For Cecil, who began racing late last year at the age of 29, the win ended several weeks of frustration including a multitude of mechanical problems and close second place finishes.
"It's a dream come true," said Cecil in victory lane. "I can't believe I'm finally a winner... I'm truly speechless right now," he said although he later thanked his entire crew including his father Greg, a former Late Model racer who scored numerous victories around Florida and the Southeast. Cecil also thanked Narramore for all his help in setting his car up.
Cozad thought he might have won the race had his engine not began to run rough but he did have the horses to hold off Narramore for second. It was the first race he started that Narramore had not won this season. Danny Leet had his best recent run in taking fourth while Martin was fifth ahead of John Cummins, Jr. and Gatlin.
Young Dustin Wilson notched his seventh Scrambler win of the year and for the fourth time led only the final lap in doing so. St. Pete-area visitor Kevin Grant, Jr., winner of the first heat, had a strong car and started from the outside pole. However, Grant jumped the start and had to fall back to the rear of the field or risk getting black-flagged.
That allowed Chucky Harrison to lead the first three laps before Andy Travis took over. Harrison had a tire explode coming off turn four to bring out the caution at lap ten. Travis held point following the restart as Wilson restarted from second. Neither could hold back Keith Cantrill who stormed out front and looked to be on his way to his second win of the year. But, alas, Wilson had other ideas as he got a good run on the white flag lap to nip Cantrill at the line, the third time he has topped Cantrill in such a fashion this season.
Cantrill was again a disappointing second while Travis held on for third in front of Grant and Gilbert Corbin. Rounding out the finishers were second heat winner William Kerns, Anthony Carroll, John Morrow, Austin Bristol and Harrison. Anthony Brown was unable to start the feature.
Richard Elkins, Jr. led all the way to top the Street Stock feature for his second win in as many starts. Ross Francisco kept Elkins honest but could not amount a serious challenge. Howard O'Steen made his return to racing with a third place effort while Josh Lindsey was fourth. Steven O'Steen was unable to start. Elkins also won the heat race.
Chris Spring won both the Mod Mini heat and feature in dominant fashion easily topping Scott Bumgardner, Rachelle Rudolph and David Myers, Sr. in the headliner.
The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association (DAARA) brought a nice field of cars to the track and put on quite a show.
72-year-old Charlie Dean of North Port, driving a car he recently purchased, led all the way to win the DAARA Sprint Car feature in a close finish over Robert Campbell who was making his first-ever start in a Sprint Car that was also seeing track action for the first time. Jimmy Miltner was also part of the blanket finish that took place among several lapped cars but settled for third. Chris Hahn was fourth while Roy Campbell battled a sick engine to fifth ahead of Merle Strickland, Terry Broadus (who at 78 years young brought his Chad Freeman-restored Bill Roynon tribute car all the way from Biloxi, MS to compete), Dave Cash and Bob Wolpert.
Titusville's Tobi Smith led all the way to top the V-8 Stock Car field in his 1983 NASCAR Tour-Type Modified that is set up as a tribute to the late car owner Mario Fiore and driver Reggie Ruggerio. Unfortunately the race saw another Tour-Type Modified go off the hook after heat winner Cory Lane clobbered the turn four wall on the opening lap. Cory was OK but the right front of his fast machine was in shambles.
Louis Brashear took second place with Jody Modine third. Completing the finishers were Ron Hess, Darren Nichols, Steady Eddie, John Smith, Lane and Scott Fobes.
The six-cylinder/small block V-8 Stock Car feature was won by Fred Robinson of Ft. Pierce driving a car owned by former racer and cancer survivor Wayne Ashton. Richie Iverson closed late but had to settle for second ahead of Steve Parrish, Ricky Taylor, Dave Davis, Kenny Thornton, Richie Gomes and Chris Hatton.
Odessa's Wes Hill topped Bob Law, Luke Hill and Jerry Paquin to win the Midget feature.
Photos:
1) Colt Cecil took his first career win in the 30-lap Mini Stock Feature...
2) Tobi Smith won the V-8 Stock Car feature for DAARA (My Country Photos)
3) 72-year-old Charlie Dean won the DAARA Sprint Car feature (My Country Photos)
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