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MONOPOLI HOLDS OFF MCDUFFIE TO WIN SSCS PRO TRUCKS AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
Saturday night, Auburndale Speedway was the only asphalt race track to run in the State of Florida as several either had scheduled the week off or canceled due to an "iffy" weather forecast. Well, the weather turned out sunny and hot for the most part at the "Bull Ring" and when some odd-looking clouds began to build just before intermission, track officials moved the show along quickly although nothing materialized weather-wise as the fans went home happy after a full action-packed show that was completed in just over two hours and 15 minutes!
It was also Armed Forces Night at the Speedway sponsored by Harvest Meat Markets. Veterans and current military members from all branches of military service were recognized during pre-race ceremonies.
The big event of the evening saw the Sunshine State Challenge Series Pro Trucks running for 50 laps. Qualifying turned out to be very interesting to say the least. SSCS point leader Tommy Kelly missed the call to bring his truck to the infield, so he left from the pit exit and got just one lap of time. That was all Kelly needed, though, as his single lap of 14.496 seconds was the quickest of the 17 Pro Trucks entered. However, Kelly was set down in tech for being too low on ride height. Third-fast qualifier Cody Martell also lost his lap in tech for coming in underweight. "Forgot to put gas in the truck... our own fault," said Martell. Fifth fastest Austin Pickens also did not pass post-qualifying tech and his team opted to load up and leave rather than start from the tail of the field leaving 16 trucks on the starting grid.
When all was said and done, the 14.515 lap turned in by Becca Monopoli ended up as fast time with Donnie Burkhalter second quick at 14.567 and Corey Bigley third at 14.590. Bigley would earn the pole for the 50-lap headliner with Burhalter to his outside while fast qualifier Monopoli would start fourth outside of newcomer James Armas.
The initial start was aborted as several trucks went around or got minor damage in turn one including Nick Haag, Steven King and Kelly. Both Haag and Kelly pitted for quick repairs then continued. The second start was much better as Burkalter grabbed the early advantage but, admitting his truck was "tight" all night, gave way to Monopoli and Cody McDuffie who took over first and second places on the sixth lap.
From there, the duo sped away from the field and began a wild duel that got even crazier every time the pair hit lapped traffic. Kelly charged from the rear and took fifth from Bigley on lap 15. Danny Anderson passed Burkhalter for third on lap 23. From that point it was a Monopoli/McDuffie show as they raced tooth and nail all the way to the checker as the race ran all 50 laps under green flag conditions. Monopoli just held off McDuffie at the stripe for her first win of the year here although it was her third win during the month of May between three different race tracks.
Both drivers expressed their displeasure with the slower trucks that were being lapped. "I really don't think some of these drivers know what the move-over flag means," said Monopoli in victory lane. "I gave him (McDuffie) the outside lane but he kept getting blocked off. I just tried to hold my line but even that wasn't easy to do tonight," she said. Monopoli was driving a truck sponsored by Q Auto & Injury Attorneys, Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches, Progressive Racing Engines and AMF Chassis.
"I really think I has the faster truck," said McDuffie of his Southern Air Compressor-sponsored machine. "Every time I would get a good run a lapped truck would get in the way. Congratulations to Becca, though, she drove a great race," he said.
Danny Anderson took a "satisfying" third spot. "Well we showed the classic Anderson style," said the third place finisher. "Got to the track a little late and took no real no practice. Since it was extremely hot and practicing in that heat doesn't make a bit of sense, we just ran two laps to scuff in the tires and qualified. There's my problem! I either need to learn to qualify better or pick better pills because both of those tasks, I'm horrible at. Started eighth and ended up third with no incidents from anyone so I've got to be pleased. Needed a caution to catch those first two and that never happened," he said.
Kelly made a late pass on Burkhalter to take fourth while Burkhalter settled for fifth. "I knew Tommy was leading the points so I didn't give him the position but I wasn't going to get in his way, said Big Donnie." The 50 green flag laps were a disadvantage to Kelly who "simply ran out of time." Bigley held on to take the checker in sixth trailed by Mike Kohut while Martell, King and Armas rounded out the top ten.
Mike Hubbard held off all challengers through 25 laps of racing and two caution flag periods to score his second V-8 Bomber feature win of the year. Hubbard, who took some time off from racing and has really just been back full-time this season, admitted he has been surprised at how good his car has been running thanks to a lot of hard work from his crew. On the opposite end of the spectrum was second place Brandon "Bones" Duchscherer. "We last raced three weeks ago," he said. "Backed the thing off the trailer and it's just been sitting there in the weeds. Decided about seven o'clock to load it up and go racing and end up second," said Duchscherer.
For the second week in a row, Bobby Mobley drove Bubba Healey's new Camaro to a third place finish followed by Brey Holmes and Ricky Norman who turned in his best effort of the year. Carl Thompson, Jr. raced Hubbard hard early for the lead but dropped back to sixth at the finish. David Purvis was seventh while Healey drove an older car out of his stable to eighth ahead of rookie driver Andrew Whitlock. Those were the only cars running at the end as James Wright III was credited with tenth ahead of Danny Burchfield, Chuckie Harrison and Jeff McCaw. Rich Petruzzelli did not start. Heat races were won by Burchfield and Wright.
Heat winner Donald Gatlin led the first six laps of the Mini Stock feature only to begin slowing with engine issues. As Gatlin fell off the pace and ultimately out of the event, Chris Narramore, Sr. grabbed the lead and went on to score yet another 2017 win although Chuck Frazier had his car back in action and he gave Narramore fits the whole way. Colt Cecil, last week's first-time winner, battled a "tight" car to third in front of John Cummins, Jr., Fred Martin, Danny Leet, Gatlin and Bruce Cozad.
With Showtime Speedway near St. Pete having the night off, Ken Smith decided to come over and give Auburndale a try, and he's now glad he did. Smith, nicknamed "Captain Chaos," was running a 1991 Acura Integra and had DOT tires on it compared to the other drivers running racing tires in t5he Scrambler class. Smith was told by his crew that he was "trying too hard" in his heat and should "just slow down a bit" during the feature. The idea worked as Smith blasted to the lead at the drop of the green in the Scrambler feature and was never headed in the all green flag race.
Keith Cantrill started well back in the field and fought his way to second but, even though he felt his car was faster, was too far behind to deal with Smith without benefit of a yellow flag that never came. Glenn Swanson had an ignition box go bad in his Saturn during his heat race but he fixed the problem and drove to a nice third place ahead of point leader Dustin Wilson and first heat winner Anthony Carroll. Chucky Harrison was sixth ahead of Andy Travis, Shane Bennett, Gilbert Corbin, second heat winner William Kerns, Anthony Brown and David Gray.
Russell Bush topped heat winner Doug Higbie, Doulas Herrin, Jr. and Bill Rychel to win the Mini Cup feature.
Photos from "My Country Photos"
1) Becca Monopoli enjoying her time in victory lane after the SSCS Pro Truck feature...
2) Tommy Kelly #15 passes Donnie Burkhalter late in the SSCS Pro Truck race to claim 4th place...
Saturday night, Auburndale Speedway was the only asphalt race track to run in the State of Florida as several either had scheduled the week off or canceled due to an "iffy" weather forecast. Well, the weather turned out sunny and hot for the most part at the "Bull Ring" and when some odd-looking clouds began to build just before intermission, track officials moved the show along quickly although nothing materialized weather-wise as the fans went home happy after a full action-packed show that was completed in just over two hours and 15 minutes!
It was also Armed Forces Night at the Speedway sponsored by Harvest Meat Markets. Veterans and current military members from all branches of military service were recognized during pre-race ceremonies.
The big event of the evening saw the Sunshine State Challenge Series Pro Trucks running for 50 laps. Qualifying turned out to be very interesting to say the least. SSCS point leader Tommy Kelly missed the call to bring his truck to the infield, so he left from the pit exit and got just one lap of time. That was all Kelly needed, though, as his single lap of 14.496 seconds was the quickest of the 17 Pro Trucks entered. However, Kelly was set down in tech for being too low on ride height. Third-fast qualifier Cody Martell also lost his lap in tech for coming in underweight. "Forgot to put gas in the truck... our own fault," said Martell. Fifth fastest Austin Pickens also did not pass post-qualifying tech and his team opted to load up and leave rather than start from the tail of the field leaving 16 trucks on the starting grid.
When all was said and done, the 14.515 lap turned in by Becca Monopoli ended up as fast time with Donnie Burkhalter second quick at 14.567 and Corey Bigley third at 14.590. Bigley would earn the pole for the 50-lap headliner with Burhalter to his outside while fast qualifier Monopoli would start fourth outside of newcomer James Armas.
The initial start was aborted as several trucks went around or got minor damage in turn one including Nick Haag, Steven King and Kelly. Both Haag and Kelly pitted for quick repairs then continued. The second start was much better as Burkalter grabbed the early advantage but, admitting his truck was "tight" all night, gave way to Monopoli and Cody McDuffie who took over first and second places on the sixth lap.
From there, the duo sped away from the field and began a wild duel that got even crazier every time the pair hit lapped traffic. Kelly charged from the rear and took fifth from Bigley on lap 15. Danny Anderson passed Burkhalter for third on lap 23. From that point it was a Monopoli/McDuffie show as they raced tooth and nail all the way to the checker as the race ran all 50 laps under green flag conditions. Monopoli just held off McDuffie at the stripe for her first win of the year here although it was her third win during the month of May between three different race tracks.
Both drivers expressed their displeasure with the slower trucks that were being lapped. "I really don't think some of these drivers know what the move-over flag means," said Monopoli in victory lane. "I gave him (McDuffie) the outside lane but he kept getting blocked off. I just tried to hold my line but even that wasn't easy to do tonight," she said. Monopoli was driving a truck sponsored by Q Auto & Injury Attorneys, Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches, Progressive Racing Engines and AMF Chassis.
"I really think I has the faster truck," said McDuffie of his Southern Air Compressor-sponsored machine. "Every time I would get a good run a lapped truck would get in the way. Congratulations to Becca, though, she drove a great race," he said.
Danny Anderson took a "satisfying" third spot. "Well we showed the classic Anderson style," said the third place finisher. "Got to the track a little late and took no real no practice. Since it was extremely hot and practicing in that heat doesn't make a bit of sense, we just ran two laps to scuff in the tires and qualified. There's my problem! I either need to learn to qualify better or pick better pills because both of those tasks, I'm horrible at. Started eighth and ended up third with no incidents from anyone so I've got to be pleased. Needed a caution to catch those first two and that never happened," he said.
Kelly made a late pass on Burkhalter to take fourth while Burkhalter settled for fifth. "I knew Tommy was leading the points so I didn't give him the position but I wasn't going to get in his way, said Big Donnie." The 50 green flag laps were a disadvantage to Kelly who "simply ran out of time." Bigley held on to take the checker in sixth trailed by Mike Kohut while Martell, King and Armas rounded out the top ten.
Mike Hubbard held off all challengers through 25 laps of racing and two caution flag periods to score his second V-8 Bomber feature win of the year. Hubbard, who took some time off from racing and has really just been back full-time this season, admitted he has been surprised at how good his car has been running thanks to a lot of hard work from his crew. On the opposite end of the spectrum was second place Brandon "Bones" Duchscherer. "We last raced three weeks ago," he said. "Backed the thing off the trailer and it's just been sitting there in the weeds. Decided about seven o'clock to load it up and go racing and end up second," said Duchscherer.
For the second week in a row, Bobby Mobley drove Bubba Healey's new Camaro to a third place finish followed by Brey Holmes and Ricky Norman who turned in his best effort of the year. Carl Thompson, Jr. raced Hubbard hard early for the lead but dropped back to sixth at the finish. David Purvis was seventh while Healey drove an older car out of his stable to eighth ahead of rookie driver Andrew Whitlock. Those were the only cars running at the end as James Wright III was credited with tenth ahead of Danny Burchfield, Chuckie Harrison and Jeff McCaw. Rich Petruzzelli did not start. Heat races were won by Burchfield and Wright.
Heat winner Donald Gatlin led the first six laps of the Mini Stock feature only to begin slowing with engine issues. As Gatlin fell off the pace and ultimately out of the event, Chris Narramore, Sr. grabbed the lead and went on to score yet another 2017 win although Chuck Frazier had his car back in action and he gave Narramore fits the whole way. Colt Cecil, last week's first-time winner, battled a "tight" car to third in front of John Cummins, Jr., Fred Martin, Danny Leet, Gatlin and Bruce Cozad.
With Showtime Speedway near St. Pete having the night off, Ken Smith decided to come over and give Auburndale a try, and he's now glad he did. Smith, nicknamed "Captain Chaos," was running a 1991 Acura Integra and had DOT tires on it compared to the other drivers running racing tires in t5he Scrambler class. Smith was told by his crew that he was "trying too hard" in his heat and should "just slow down a bit" during the feature. The idea worked as Smith blasted to the lead at the drop of the green in the Scrambler feature and was never headed in the all green flag race.
Keith Cantrill started well back in the field and fought his way to second but, even though he felt his car was faster, was too far behind to deal with Smith without benefit of a yellow flag that never came. Glenn Swanson had an ignition box go bad in his Saturn during his heat race but he fixed the problem and drove to a nice third place ahead of point leader Dustin Wilson and first heat winner Anthony Carroll. Chucky Harrison was sixth ahead of Andy Travis, Shane Bennett, Gilbert Corbin, second heat winner William Kerns, Anthony Brown and David Gray.
Russell Bush topped heat winner Doug Higbie, Doulas Herrin, Jr. and Bill Rychel to win the Mini Cup feature.
Photos from "My Country Photos"
1) Becca Monopoli enjoying her time in victory lane after the SSCS Pro Truck feature...
2) Tommy Kelly #15 passes Donnie Burkhalter late in the SSCS Pro Truck race to claim 4th place...
Attached Files