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DQ SPOILS BIG NIGHT FOR SERGI AS ALLMAN TAKES GOBBLER 150 AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
Auburndale Speedway closed out the 2017 regular racing season in style Saturday night. The weather was cool but the action was hot as three Sunshine State Challenge Series classes did battle including the big Gobbler 150 for the SSCS Super Late Models.
Twenty Super Late Model teams made the trek to the Auburndale "Bullring" and it was Plant City's Colin Allman fastest of the bunch as he turned a quick lap of 13.813 seconds to top the second fastest lap of Oviedo's Michael Goddard who toured the speedway at 13.867. Nick Neri of Palmetto, Anthony Sergi of Oviedo and Naples driver Michael Atwell rounded out the top five in time trials.
The re-draw saw Atwell get the pole for the start flanked by Goddard while Allman and Sergi started from the second row. Row three for the start had the cars of Patrick Staropoli and Nick Neri. Atwell zipped out to a quick lead of several car lengths as Goddard was in second leading a tight formation that included Allman, Sergi, Neri and point leader Jesse Dutilly who started the race from seventh spot.
The first caution came out on lap 21 when John Gerstner's mount came to a halt at the top of turn two. Gerstner would make a long pit stop then eventually return to the track and finish the event. Using the "Auburndale restart," Second =running Goddard opted to stay in behind the leader allowing Allman to restart in second from the outside pole slot. Atwell held Allman at bay while Sergi slipped past Goddard and into third spot. Neri got by Goddard's fading machine on the 25th lap as he took over fourth spot bringing Dutilly with him.
George Gorham , Jr. went for a turn two spin courtesy of Staropoli on lap 31 with both going to the rear of the restart line-up. Sergi moved up to the outside for the restart as Allman chose to restart behind Atwell. Sergi got a great "surge" and blasted into the lead just after the green flew bringing Neri with him into second spot. The pair would then start a great nose to tail battle that would last for many laps. L. J. Grimm dropped out on the 41st lap with a flat tire as the leaders entered lapped traffic for the first time on lap 48.
Sergi and Neri were well in front of the rest of the field as several other drivers started suffering various problems and fell by the wayside including Matt McCrary on lap 64 and Paul White on lap 69. Dylan Bigley headed for the infield on lap 73 just before the first of two "competition cautions" were thrown. Bigley would return but fall out of the event later in the going.
Sergi and Neri simply took off after the restart as the halfway mark of 75 laps was completed with Sergi leading Neri, Atwell, Dutilly, Allman, Gorham, Chris Fontaine, Becca Monopoli, Staropoli and Cody Martell who was making his first Late Model start here in a car that was actually a Pro-style Late Model and just a bit under-powered.
Brandon "Bones" Ducsherer, driving Gorham's second car, slowed to a stop in turn two to bring out the yellow flag on lap 80. Sergi continued to hold sway in front of Neri and Dutilly but the caution was out again on lap 84 as Gorham went for his second spin of the night. During the caution period, Neri suddenly pulled off the track and went to the pits with some type of mechanical issue, never to return.
Two laps after the restart Allman slipped between Sergi and Dutilly into second. Behind them it was Fontaine and Staropoli getting into a bumping and banging fight for fifth spot. As the field completed lap 100 it was Sergi out front trailed by Allman, Dutilly, Atwell, Staropoli, Fontaine, Monopoli, Gorham and Martell.
Gorham got by Monopoli for position then both got by Fontaine to take over the 6th and seventh spots. A second "competition caution" was called for on lap 126 as Goddard pulled into the pits for quick work to try and "tighten" the car up.
Allman tried his best to get Sergi on the outside following the restart but had to settle back in between Sergi and third-running Dutilly. All of a sudden, the engine of Dutilly's car began to pop and sputter and he began to fall back into the clutches of Atwell, his closest pursuer in the point race.
Sergi would take the checker with Allman right on his tail. Dutilly's car picked up speed over the last five laps and he was able to hold Atwell off for third with Staropoli in fifth.
Sergi had just taken what appeared to be the biggest win so far of his young career but unfortunately it was not to be. The University of Central Florida student had watched his school's football team score an exciting last-second win over South Florida on Friday to finish the season undefeated. For Sergi, his big run to victory would be called back on a penalty, though. Following a protest, head tech inspector Ricky Brooks was forced to disqualify Sergi for an unapproved lower front valance on the nose of his car that is not in compliance with ABC body rules.
Thus Allman was awarded the victory in his final race of the year before heading back to Newberry (NC) College where he plays on the baseball team. "I just didn’t have enough drive off the corners to make a pass," said Allman. "Not taking any credit away from Anthony though, he drove a hell of a race and raced me clean and I real hate the way things turned out for him. I just can’t thank my Dad (Chad Allman) enough for letting me get one more race in before baseball season and giving me a fast race car again. Also thanks to my mom and grandpa for coming out and watching. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel again in May," he said.
Dutilly ended up second and said it was some sort of electrical problem that caused him to slow down. "I shut off the fans and everything and it picked back up. Luckily there were just a few laps left so we didn't totally cook the engine and still held on to our position," said Dutilly as he definitely had a "hot rod" in victory lane. Atwell ended up third but lost more ground to Dutilly in the season-long point race with one event left at 417 Southern Speedway. Staropoli brought Jim McCoy's car home in fourth while Gorham came back from his pair of spins to nab the fifth spot.
Becca Monopoli, who started in 16th, drove to sixth in a car recently purchased from Steve Dorer while Chris Fontaine finished his rather eventful race in seventh with David Weaver having a nice run to eighth in front of Martell and Eric Sharrone. Just 12 of the 20 starters were around at the finish.
The SSCS Legend Cars were in the house 16-strong but their 25-lap feature could be described as "chippy" at best. Michael Cherry grabbed the early lead only to see newcomer Christian Baker loop his machine during the second lap. On the restart, Baker, Travis Guard and Cale Nolen got tangled up to keep the yellow out. Cherry continued to lead as his SAR Racing teammate Seth Adams worked his way to second trailed by their other teammate Kyle Pitts who had set fast time earlier at 15.571 seconds.
On lap 15 it was side by side between Adams and Pitts before Adams got a bit loose and bumped Pitts' machine sending Adams into a spin off turn four. Adams restarted from the tail of the field as only two more laps could be completed before Joey Langis and Gavin Sexton locked horns in turn one to bring out the caution again.
On the restart, it was Pitts using the high side to lead laps 18 and 19 before he and Cherry bumped going into turn one sending Pitts into a smoky spin. Both drivers were penalized to the back of the restart grid as Bobby Diestler restarted as the leader although he would never be credited with leading a lap as Adams streaked to the front once the green flag dropped. The final caution was displayed on lap 21 for a Dave Fusco spin in turn four.
Adams easily led the remaining four laps to take the win and the SSCS Legend Car point title. Diestler made his return to the Legend Cars a good one as he claimed the runner-up spot while Jim Smith had a steady drive to third. Pitts and Cherry worked their way back up to fourth and fifth while sixth through tenth went to Alan Hiefnar, Langis, Mitch Verhaagh, Blake Boyette and Sexton. Rounding out the finishers were Fusco, Bob Wilson, Guard, Baker, Mike Verhaagh and Nolen.
The other SSCS point race of the night was for the V-8 Bombers. George Gorham, Jr. of Winter Haven, the point leader, borrowed the car of Bubba Healey for the evening and promptly set quick time at 16.50 seconds. As the 30-lap race got under way, Brey Holmes led the opening circuit only to give way to Craig Cuzzone who led through lap 15 before Danny Burchfield slipped past and took over the point.
From there it was a battle up front between Burchfield, Gorham, Cuzzone and James Wright III. Wright moved into third spot but it was Gorham putting the pressure on Burchfield who was holding his own while looking for that big win that has eluded him. Unfortunately, Burchfield slipped just enough coming off turn two on the white flag lap to allow Gorham the room he needed on the inside. The pair raced side by side to the line with Gorham winning by just two inches as the checker fell.
For Gorham, the win assured him of the 2017 SSCS V-8 Bomber championship. Burchfield was disappointed with his second place finish but admitted it was the best his car has run all year. Wright admitted his car was "just a touch off" and was happy to hold on to third. Cuzzone took fourth trailed by Jody Gill in fifth. Rounding out the finishers were Holmes, Jeff McCaw, Ricky Norman, Edward Schultz and Ronnie Abney. Clayton Samuels did not start.
Chris Narramore, Sr. won yet another Q Mini Stock feature to add to his 2017 winning points total for the class. Fred Martin, admitting his car was finally "turning like it should in the corners," came home with his best finish of the year in second ahead of Bruce Cozad, Donald Gatlin, Matt Cummins, Colt Cecil (in his final Mini Stock race as he'll race Pro Trucks full-time next year) and John Cummins, Jr.
Kevin Grant, Jr. ran away with the Scrambler feature easily out-distancing 2017 champion Dustin Wilson, Justin Ryan and Andrew Hall.
Russell Bush topped the Mini Cup feature holding off a late charge by Douglas Herrin, Jr. Clay Samuels was third ahead of Easton Bush.
The final weekend of racing at Auburndale Speedway will take place on Saturday and Sunday, December 9-10 with the 12th and final Joey Coulter Charity 212 for the Pro Trucks. 31 Pro Trucks are now entered for the event that will also include racing for the Legend Cars, V-8 Bombers, Showtime/Citrus County Speedway Street Stocks, TQ Midgets and Mini Stocks. For more information visit www.auburndalespeedway.net or www.carsevents.com.
Photos:
1) Colin Allman ended up with the Gobbler 150 victory (Robert Howell Photo)
2) Anthony Sergi #20 and Nick Neri battled for many laps but Neri was a DNF and Sergi was Dq'd from the win (Robert Howell Photo)
3) Jesse Dutilly gets his nose under the back of Nick Neri's car as they battle Brandon Duchscherer during the Gobbler 150 (Buddy Bryan Photo)
4) Despite a pair of spins, George Gorham, Jr. came back to finish fifth in the Gobbler 150 (Buddy Bryan Photo)
5) Dr. Patrick Staopoli drove Jim McCoy's #64 to 4th place in the Gobbler 150 (Buddy Bryan Photo)
Auburndale Speedway closed out the 2017 regular racing season in style Saturday night. The weather was cool but the action was hot as three Sunshine State Challenge Series classes did battle including the big Gobbler 150 for the SSCS Super Late Models.
Twenty Super Late Model teams made the trek to the Auburndale "Bullring" and it was Plant City's Colin Allman fastest of the bunch as he turned a quick lap of 13.813 seconds to top the second fastest lap of Oviedo's Michael Goddard who toured the speedway at 13.867. Nick Neri of Palmetto, Anthony Sergi of Oviedo and Naples driver Michael Atwell rounded out the top five in time trials.
The re-draw saw Atwell get the pole for the start flanked by Goddard while Allman and Sergi started from the second row. Row three for the start had the cars of Patrick Staropoli and Nick Neri. Atwell zipped out to a quick lead of several car lengths as Goddard was in second leading a tight formation that included Allman, Sergi, Neri and point leader Jesse Dutilly who started the race from seventh spot.
The first caution came out on lap 21 when John Gerstner's mount came to a halt at the top of turn two. Gerstner would make a long pit stop then eventually return to the track and finish the event. Using the "Auburndale restart," Second =running Goddard opted to stay in behind the leader allowing Allman to restart in second from the outside pole slot. Atwell held Allman at bay while Sergi slipped past Goddard and into third spot. Neri got by Goddard's fading machine on the 25th lap as he took over fourth spot bringing Dutilly with him.
George Gorham , Jr. went for a turn two spin courtesy of Staropoli on lap 31 with both going to the rear of the restart line-up. Sergi moved up to the outside for the restart as Allman chose to restart behind Atwell. Sergi got a great "surge" and blasted into the lead just after the green flew bringing Neri with him into second spot. The pair would then start a great nose to tail battle that would last for many laps. L. J. Grimm dropped out on the 41st lap with a flat tire as the leaders entered lapped traffic for the first time on lap 48.
Sergi and Neri were well in front of the rest of the field as several other drivers started suffering various problems and fell by the wayside including Matt McCrary on lap 64 and Paul White on lap 69. Dylan Bigley headed for the infield on lap 73 just before the first of two "competition cautions" were thrown. Bigley would return but fall out of the event later in the going.
Sergi and Neri simply took off after the restart as the halfway mark of 75 laps was completed with Sergi leading Neri, Atwell, Dutilly, Allman, Gorham, Chris Fontaine, Becca Monopoli, Staropoli and Cody Martell who was making his first Late Model start here in a car that was actually a Pro-style Late Model and just a bit under-powered.
Brandon "Bones" Ducsherer, driving Gorham's second car, slowed to a stop in turn two to bring out the yellow flag on lap 80. Sergi continued to hold sway in front of Neri and Dutilly but the caution was out again on lap 84 as Gorham went for his second spin of the night. During the caution period, Neri suddenly pulled off the track and went to the pits with some type of mechanical issue, never to return.
Two laps after the restart Allman slipped between Sergi and Dutilly into second. Behind them it was Fontaine and Staropoli getting into a bumping and banging fight for fifth spot. As the field completed lap 100 it was Sergi out front trailed by Allman, Dutilly, Atwell, Staropoli, Fontaine, Monopoli, Gorham and Martell.
Gorham got by Monopoli for position then both got by Fontaine to take over the 6th and seventh spots. A second "competition caution" was called for on lap 126 as Goddard pulled into the pits for quick work to try and "tighten" the car up.
Allman tried his best to get Sergi on the outside following the restart but had to settle back in between Sergi and third-running Dutilly. All of a sudden, the engine of Dutilly's car began to pop and sputter and he began to fall back into the clutches of Atwell, his closest pursuer in the point race.
Sergi would take the checker with Allman right on his tail. Dutilly's car picked up speed over the last five laps and he was able to hold Atwell off for third with Staropoli in fifth.
Sergi had just taken what appeared to be the biggest win so far of his young career but unfortunately it was not to be. The University of Central Florida student had watched his school's football team score an exciting last-second win over South Florida on Friday to finish the season undefeated. For Sergi, his big run to victory would be called back on a penalty, though. Following a protest, head tech inspector Ricky Brooks was forced to disqualify Sergi for an unapproved lower front valance on the nose of his car that is not in compliance with ABC body rules.
Thus Allman was awarded the victory in his final race of the year before heading back to Newberry (NC) College where he plays on the baseball team. "I just didn’t have enough drive off the corners to make a pass," said Allman. "Not taking any credit away from Anthony though, he drove a hell of a race and raced me clean and I real hate the way things turned out for him. I just can’t thank my Dad (Chad Allman) enough for letting me get one more race in before baseball season and giving me a fast race car again. Also thanks to my mom and grandpa for coming out and watching. I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel again in May," he said.
Dutilly ended up second and said it was some sort of electrical problem that caused him to slow down. "I shut off the fans and everything and it picked back up. Luckily there were just a few laps left so we didn't totally cook the engine and still held on to our position," said Dutilly as he definitely had a "hot rod" in victory lane. Atwell ended up third but lost more ground to Dutilly in the season-long point race with one event left at 417 Southern Speedway. Staropoli brought Jim McCoy's car home in fourth while Gorham came back from his pair of spins to nab the fifth spot.
Becca Monopoli, who started in 16th, drove to sixth in a car recently purchased from Steve Dorer while Chris Fontaine finished his rather eventful race in seventh with David Weaver having a nice run to eighth in front of Martell and Eric Sharrone. Just 12 of the 20 starters were around at the finish.
The SSCS Legend Cars were in the house 16-strong but their 25-lap feature could be described as "chippy" at best. Michael Cherry grabbed the early lead only to see newcomer Christian Baker loop his machine during the second lap. On the restart, Baker, Travis Guard and Cale Nolen got tangled up to keep the yellow out. Cherry continued to lead as his SAR Racing teammate Seth Adams worked his way to second trailed by their other teammate Kyle Pitts who had set fast time earlier at 15.571 seconds.
On lap 15 it was side by side between Adams and Pitts before Adams got a bit loose and bumped Pitts' machine sending Adams into a spin off turn four. Adams restarted from the tail of the field as only two more laps could be completed before Joey Langis and Gavin Sexton locked horns in turn one to bring out the caution again.
On the restart, it was Pitts using the high side to lead laps 18 and 19 before he and Cherry bumped going into turn one sending Pitts into a smoky spin. Both drivers were penalized to the back of the restart grid as Bobby Diestler restarted as the leader although he would never be credited with leading a lap as Adams streaked to the front once the green flag dropped. The final caution was displayed on lap 21 for a Dave Fusco spin in turn four.
Adams easily led the remaining four laps to take the win and the SSCS Legend Car point title. Diestler made his return to the Legend Cars a good one as he claimed the runner-up spot while Jim Smith had a steady drive to third. Pitts and Cherry worked their way back up to fourth and fifth while sixth through tenth went to Alan Hiefnar, Langis, Mitch Verhaagh, Blake Boyette and Sexton. Rounding out the finishers were Fusco, Bob Wilson, Guard, Baker, Mike Verhaagh and Nolen.
The other SSCS point race of the night was for the V-8 Bombers. George Gorham, Jr. of Winter Haven, the point leader, borrowed the car of Bubba Healey for the evening and promptly set quick time at 16.50 seconds. As the 30-lap race got under way, Brey Holmes led the opening circuit only to give way to Craig Cuzzone who led through lap 15 before Danny Burchfield slipped past and took over the point.
From there it was a battle up front between Burchfield, Gorham, Cuzzone and James Wright III. Wright moved into third spot but it was Gorham putting the pressure on Burchfield who was holding his own while looking for that big win that has eluded him. Unfortunately, Burchfield slipped just enough coming off turn two on the white flag lap to allow Gorham the room he needed on the inside. The pair raced side by side to the line with Gorham winning by just two inches as the checker fell.
For Gorham, the win assured him of the 2017 SSCS V-8 Bomber championship. Burchfield was disappointed with his second place finish but admitted it was the best his car has run all year. Wright admitted his car was "just a touch off" and was happy to hold on to third. Cuzzone took fourth trailed by Jody Gill in fifth. Rounding out the finishers were Holmes, Jeff McCaw, Ricky Norman, Edward Schultz and Ronnie Abney. Clayton Samuels did not start.
Chris Narramore, Sr. won yet another Q Mini Stock feature to add to his 2017 winning points total for the class. Fred Martin, admitting his car was finally "turning like it should in the corners," came home with his best finish of the year in second ahead of Bruce Cozad, Donald Gatlin, Matt Cummins, Colt Cecil (in his final Mini Stock race as he'll race Pro Trucks full-time next year) and John Cummins, Jr.
Kevin Grant, Jr. ran away with the Scrambler feature easily out-distancing 2017 champion Dustin Wilson, Justin Ryan and Andrew Hall.
Russell Bush topped the Mini Cup feature holding off a late charge by Douglas Herrin, Jr. Clay Samuels was third ahead of Easton Bush.
The final weekend of racing at Auburndale Speedway will take place on Saturday and Sunday, December 9-10 with the 12th and final Joey Coulter Charity 212 for the Pro Trucks. 31 Pro Trucks are now entered for the event that will also include racing for the Legend Cars, V-8 Bombers, Showtime/Citrus County Speedway Street Stocks, TQ Midgets and Mini Stocks. For more information visit www.auburndalespeedway.net or www.carsevents.com.
Photos:
1) Colin Allman ended up with the Gobbler 150 victory (Robert Howell Photo)
2) Anthony Sergi #20 and Nick Neri battled for many laps but Neri was a DNF and Sergi was Dq'd from the win (Robert Howell Photo)
3) Jesse Dutilly gets his nose under the back of Nick Neri's car as they battle Brandon Duchscherer during the Gobbler 150 (Buddy Bryan Photo)
4) Despite a pair of spins, George Gorham, Jr. came back to finish fifth in the Gobbler 150 (Buddy Bryan Photo)
5) Dr. Patrick Staopoli drove Jim McCoy's #64 to 4th place in the Gobbler 150 (Buddy Bryan Photo)
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