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FONTAINE FOILS FOES IN MOTHER'S DAY 125 SUPER LATE MODEL RUN AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
Auburndale Speedway celebrated Mother's Day in style Saturday evening with some great racing held under perfect weather conditions. A pair of lucky moms in the grandstands left the track with two beautiful bracelets donated by the sponsor of the night's events, Max Pay Pawn of Lakeland.
The big race of the night would be the Mother's Day 125 for the Super Late Models, race number three of the track's Super-8 Series. Although his race was scheduled when the Auburndale Speedway schedule was released late last year, two other tracks decided to schedule Super Late Models on the same night. Despite this, a dozen teams signed in to do battle and they would end up putting on a superior show.
George Gorham, Jr. of Winter Haven, winner of the most recent Super-8 race, had two cars at his disposal for the night and he opted for the "older" of the two machines. Gorham promptly went out and set fast time, tripping the clocks at 13.410 seconds topping the 13.424 lap turned in by "The Polk City Flash," Josh Todd. Daniel Webster of Auburndale showed up to perform his usual job as Car Chief for Chris Fontaine. Webster's dad brought a car to the track but when the assigned driver decided not to race, the younger Webster was given the night off from Fontaine's squad and took over the seat of the #3 machine, a car he had not driven himself in ten years. Webster then went out and set third quick time at 13.455, out-qualifying his boss Fontaine and most of the rest of the field. All in all, the top six in time trials were separated by just over a tenth of a second. Fontaine would get his revenge on Webster, though.
The top eight qualifiers were inverted for the start placing Joe Boyd on the pole flanked by Matt McCrary. Boyd wasted little time in moving to the point as McCrary was freight-trained several spots, stuck on the outside lane. Boyd, Fontaine, Jett Noland and Super-8 point leader Brandon Duchscherer formed a four-car breakaway with Webster running fifth several car lengths back. Fast qualifier Gorham, who started eighth, slipped back to tenth spot at the start and just seemed to be biding his time.
This race was much different than the last Super-8 event that saw a record number of cautions and two red flags. This time the green was out and the racing was fast and clean. Fontaine was looking strong and he drove by Boyd on the outside to capture the top spot on lap 21. Todd and Gorham slipped into spots five and six an lap 25 as Webster began to fade with brake problems eventually pulling off the track during lap 27. "The pedal just went to the floor," said Webster later.
The first caution flag did not appear until lap 34 when Gorham spun in turn two and that put him at the back of the field for the restart. At this point Fontaine began to put some distance between himself and everyone else as second-running Boyd's car was starting to drift high in the corners. Heading into turn one on lap 46, Duchscherer tried to dive under Boyd and the pair touched sending Boyd up the track. Duchscherer moved into second spot bringing Noland with him.
The field continued to circulate the oval under green and at half-way the top five consisted of Fontaine, Duchscherer, Noland, Todd and Boyd with Gorham again lurking back in sixth. At this point Fontaine began to experience brake problems as well and Duchscherer slipped under him for the lead on lap 65. Meanwhile Noland, who was also dealing with brake issues lost third spot as both Todd and and Gorham sped past him.
By now the lead duo has zipped out to a comfortable advantage with Fontaine staying within striking distance of Duchscherer trying to cool off his brakes. The next caution appeared on the 79th lap for an apparent problem with Brian Dorer's car. Dorer pitted but returned just as the race went back green. The green flag did not stay out long as leader Duchscherer got loose going into turn one and he found cars on either side of him coming off turn two. Fontaine moved back out front while Duchscherer and Gorham got together to keep the caution out. Duchscherer pitted to check his car but returned for the restart at the tail of the field.
The next attempt at restarting the race was for naught as Dorer, Boyd and McCrary tangled and spun in turn one. All were able to continue with minimal damage.
Fontaine, who was still fighting persistent brake issues, held sway out front but now had a charging Josh Todd behind him. Duchscherer was hard at it again taking fifth from Boyd on lap 89. Boyd pulled off track and out of the race on lap 92.
From that point it was all green flag racing to the checker. Todd was able to take a look underneath Fontaine a couple of times but Fontaine held on to the finish to take the win and make it three different winners in the three Super-8 races held so far this year. Todd was a close second with 14-year-old Noland earning his best career Auburndale finish in third. Gorham stormed back to finish fourth just ahead of Duchscherer. Rounding out the top ten were McCrary, Dorer, David King, Mark Wilkins (in his first-ever race here) and Boyd.
"The brakes were a big problem," said Fontaine after his win. "Josh could have easily shoved me out of the way but he raced me clean and I appreciate him for doing that," he continued. "Man we were close again," said second place Todd. "I had a chance to move him up but I don't drive like that and finishing second is a really fine effort for this team. We are really close to getting that first win," Todd added. Noland was a surprised as anyone that he finished the race in third. "The brakes would come and go and I was just trying to hang on. This is really great for my team," he said.
The Legend Car feature saw just one caution flag that took place at the end of lap one when Jade Hubert spun in turn two. From that point it would be a battle between teammates Kyle pitts (the heat race winner) and Seth Adams who had his own car finally back on track after nearly destroying it during the Legend Car Winternationals back in February.
Pitts held on until a brief slip off turn four allowed Adams to grab the front position on lap 18. From there it was all Adams as he grabbed his second win of the year. Adams had also changed his number from 5 to 75 in honor of his late grandfather Ron Kitchens who had raced in the old Super-Six class here many years ago.
Pitts held on for second followed by 14-year-old Brandon Taylor and point leader Jim Smith. Hubert, who is also just 14 years of age, came back from her spin to nab fifth spot trailed by Mike Verhaagh, Jason Welage, Cale Nolen and Greg Welage.
It was a wild Street Stock feature for point leader Steven O'Steen but he still brought his battered machine home first for his third win of the year.
On the initial start, David Myers got loose going down the back stretch and, when John Smith slowed to avoid him, O'Steen climbed up and over the left rear corner of the Smith machine. Despite a wealth of cosmetic damage, both O'Steen and Smith continued as did Myers. Jimmy Castleberry has "un-retired" yet again and the veteran led the opening four laps but O'Steen was on the charge and bolted to the lead despite some flapping body parts.
A pair of other cautions for a Walt Kirk spin on lap 8 and a multi-car mess that eliminated Castleberry from the running on lap 15 did not slow O'Steen who had no idea his car had so much damage until he climbed out of it in Kelly's Used Cars of Auburndale victory lane. "Did I get airborne for a moment?," asked O'Steen after the race. "All I know is it got very quiet for a second," he joked. Ross Francisco finished up in second place followed by George Gorham, Jr., Smith, Kirk, Myers and Castleberry. O'Steen also won the heat race.
Heat winner Chris Narramore, Jr. sped by early leader Fred Martin on lap nine then went on to score his fourth win of the year in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Mini Stock feature. Chris Narramore, Sr. brought out the only caution of the race when he spun on lap three but he rebounded from that and a sick-sounding engine to claim second behind his son. Together the Narramore family has won every Q Mini Stock feature this season. Martin held on for a fine third place effort trailed by Chris Spring, T. J. Tanner, Jimmy Donahue, David McCaig and Brian Harper. Bruce Cozad and Jeremiah Frere did not start the feature.
After winning the heat, Keith Cantrill returned to action by passing Bubba Healey for the lead on lap four to claim his second win of the year in the Scrambler class. Danny Burchfield also got by Healey to finish second with Healey third and Roger Alexander fourth after clobbering the wall mid-race.
The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association (DAARA) brought a fine field of cars to the track that were split into three feature races.
Jimmy Miltner zipped out to a big early lead in the Sprint Car main only to be eventually caught by both John Parrish and Chris Hahn. Miltner looked like a sitting duck but he used some lapped cars to his advantage to claim the victory. Miltner, a former crew member for the late Frank Riddle's race team, did not get a car and begin racing until he was 64 years old! Hahn slipped through for second with Parrish third. Completing the finishers were heat winner Charlie Dean, Dave Cash, Josh Rynd, Cole Nichols, Merle Strickland and Darren Nichols.
After a close win in the heat race, Tobi Smith led all the way to take the V-8 Stock Car feature in his NASCAR Tour-Type Modified that is a tribute to car owner Mario Fiore and driver Reggie Ruggerio. Cory Lane came home second followed by Scott Fobes, Carl Doughty, Scott Hadley, Gary Lyons and Scott Hatton.
Fred Robinson dominated both the DAARA Six-cylinder Stock Car heat and feature driving a car owned by former driver Wayne Ashton of Ft. Pierce. Robinson finished well ahead of second place Dave Davis. Richie Gomes was third followed by Al Jurkowski, Richie Iversen and Steve Parrish.
FINISH - SUPER-8 SERIES MOTHER'S DAY 125 for SUPER LATE MODELS - AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY - 5/12/18:
1) Chris Fontaine, Auburndale #47
2) Josh Todd, Polk City #0
3) Jett Noland, Groveland #50
4) George Gorham, Jr., Winter Haven #03
5) Brandon Duchscherer, Lakeland #23
6) Matt McCrary, Lakeland #54
7) Brian Dorer, Lakeland #97
8) David King, Bartow #22
9) Mark Wilkins, Brooksville #56
10) Joe Boyd, Riverview #5 (DNF)
11) Jamie King, Bartow #24 (DNF)
12) Daniel Webster, Auburndale #3 (DNF)
Photos:
1) Super Late Model winner Chris Fontaine...
2) Second place in Super Lates Josh Todd...
3) Jett Noland took third spot in the Super Late feature...
4) Legend Car winner Seth Adams with his dad and mom...
5) Street Stock winner Steven O'Steen with his dad Howard...
Auburndale Speedway celebrated Mother's Day in style Saturday evening with some great racing held under perfect weather conditions. A pair of lucky moms in the grandstands left the track with two beautiful bracelets donated by the sponsor of the night's events, Max Pay Pawn of Lakeland.
The big race of the night would be the Mother's Day 125 for the Super Late Models, race number three of the track's Super-8 Series. Although his race was scheduled when the Auburndale Speedway schedule was released late last year, two other tracks decided to schedule Super Late Models on the same night. Despite this, a dozen teams signed in to do battle and they would end up putting on a superior show.
George Gorham, Jr. of Winter Haven, winner of the most recent Super-8 race, had two cars at his disposal for the night and he opted for the "older" of the two machines. Gorham promptly went out and set fast time, tripping the clocks at 13.410 seconds topping the 13.424 lap turned in by "The Polk City Flash," Josh Todd. Daniel Webster of Auburndale showed up to perform his usual job as Car Chief for Chris Fontaine. Webster's dad brought a car to the track but when the assigned driver decided not to race, the younger Webster was given the night off from Fontaine's squad and took over the seat of the #3 machine, a car he had not driven himself in ten years. Webster then went out and set third quick time at 13.455, out-qualifying his boss Fontaine and most of the rest of the field. All in all, the top six in time trials were separated by just over a tenth of a second. Fontaine would get his revenge on Webster, though.
The top eight qualifiers were inverted for the start placing Joe Boyd on the pole flanked by Matt McCrary. Boyd wasted little time in moving to the point as McCrary was freight-trained several spots, stuck on the outside lane. Boyd, Fontaine, Jett Noland and Super-8 point leader Brandon Duchscherer formed a four-car breakaway with Webster running fifth several car lengths back. Fast qualifier Gorham, who started eighth, slipped back to tenth spot at the start and just seemed to be biding his time.
This race was much different than the last Super-8 event that saw a record number of cautions and two red flags. This time the green was out and the racing was fast and clean. Fontaine was looking strong and he drove by Boyd on the outside to capture the top spot on lap 21. Todd and Gorham slipped into spots five and six an lap 25 as Webster began to fade with brake problems eventually pulling off the track during lap 27. "The pedal just went to the floor," said Webster later.
The first caution flag did not appear until lap 34 when Gorham spun in turn two and that put him at the back of the field for the restart. At this point Fontaine began to put some distance between himself and everyone else as second-running Boyd's car was starting to drift high in the corners. Heading into turn one on lap 46, Duchscherer tried to dive under Boyd and the pair touched sending Boyd up the track. Duchscherer moved into second spot bringing Noland with him.
The field continued to circulate the oval under green and at half-way the top five consisted of Fontaine, Duchscherer, Noland, Todd and Boyd with Gorham again lurking back in sixth. At this point Fontaine began to experience brake problems as well and Duchscherer slipped under him for the lead on lap 65. Meanwhile Noland, who was also dealing with brake issues lost third spot as both Todd and and Gorham sped past him.
By now the lead duo has zipped out to a comfortable advantage with Fontaine staying within striking distance of Duchscherer trying to cool off his brakes. The next caution appeared on the 79th lap for an apparent problem with Brian Dorer's car. Dorer pitted but returned just as the race went back green. The green flag did not stay out long as leader Duchscherer got loose going into turn one and he found cars on either side of him coming off turn two. Fontaine moved back out front while Duchscherer and Gorham got together to keep the caution out. Duchscherer pitted to check his car but returned for the restart at the tail of the field.
The next attempt at restarting the race was for naught as Dorer, Boyd and McCrary tangled and spun in turn one. All were able to continue with minimal damage.
Fontaine, who was still fighting persistent brake issues, held sway out front but now had a charging Josh Todd behind him. Duchscherer was hard at it again taking fifth from Boyd on lap 89. Boyd pulled off track and out of the race on lap 92.
From that point it was all green flag racing to the checker. Todd was able to take a look underneath Fontaine a couple of times but Fontaine held on to the finish to take the win and make it three different winners in the three Super-8 races held so far this year. Todd was a close second with 14-year-old Noland earning his best career Auburndale finish in third. Gorham stormed back to finish fourth just ahead of Duchscherer. Rounding out the top ten were McCrary, Dorer, David King, Mark Wilkins (in his first-ever race here) and Boyd.
"The brakes were a big problem," said Fontaine after his win. "Josh could have easily shoved me out of the way but he raced me clean and I appreciate him for doing that," he continued. "Man we were close again," said second place Todd. "I had a chance to move him up but I don't drive like that and finishing second is a really fine effort for this team. We are really close to getting that first win," Todd added. Noland was a surprised as anyone that he finished the race in third. "The brakes would come and go and I was just trying to hang on. This is really great for my team," he said.
The Legend Car feature saw just one caution flag that took place at the end of lap one when Jade Hubert spun in turn two. From that point it would be a battle between teammates Kyle pitts (the heat race winner) and Seth Adams who had his own car finally back on track after nearly destroying it during the Legend Car Winternationals back in February.
Pitts held on until a brief slip off turn four allowed Adams to grab the front position on lap 18. From there it was all Adams as he grabbed his second win of the year. Adams had also changed his number from 5 to 75 in honor of his late grandfather Ron Kitchens who had raced in the old Super-Six class here many years ago.
Pitts held on for second followed by 14-year-old Brandon Taylor and point leader Jim Smith. Hubert, who is also just 14 years of age, came back from her spin to nab fifth spot trailed by Mike Verhaagh, Jason Welage, Cale Nolen and Greg Welage.
It was a wild Street Stock feature for point leader Steven O'Steen but he still brought his battered machine home first for his third win of the year.
On the initial start, David Myers got loose going down the back stretch and, when John Smith slowed to avoid him, O'Steen climbed up and over the left rear corner of the Smith machine. Despite a wealth of cosmetic damage, both O'Steen and Smith continued as did Myers. Jimmy Castleberry has "un-retired" yet again and the veteran led the opening four laps but O'Steen was on the charge and bolted to the lead despite some flapping body parts.
A pair of other cautions for a Walt Kirk spin on lap 8 and a multi-car mess that eliminated Castleberry from the running on lap 15 did not slow O'Steen who had no idea his car had so much damage until he climbed out of it in Kelly's Used Cars of Auburndale victory lane. "Did I get airborne for a moment?," asked O'Steen after the race. "All I know is it got very quiet for a second," he joked. Ross Francisco finished up in second place followed by George Gorham, Jr., Smith, Kirk, Myers and Castleberry. O'Steen also won the heat race.
Heat winner Chris Narramore, Jr. sped by early leader Fred Martin on lap nine then went on to score his fourth win of the year in the Q Auto & Injury Attorneys Mini Stock feature. Chris Narramore, Sr. brought out the only caution of the race when he spun on lap three but he rebounded from that and a sick-sounding engine to claim second behind his son. Together the Narramore family has won every Q Mini Stock feature this season. Martin held on for a fine third place effort trailed by Chris Spring, T. J. Tanner, Jimmy Donahue, David McCaig and Brian Harper. Bruce Cozad and Jeremiah Frere did not start the feature.
After winning the heat, Keith Cantrill returned to action by passing Bubba Healey for the lead on lap four to claim his second win of the year in the Scrambler class. Danny Burchfield also got by Healey to finish second with Healey third and Roger Alexander fourth after clobbering the wall mid-race.
The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association (DAARA) brought a fine field of cars to the track that were split into three feature races.
Jimmy Miltner zipped out to a big early lead in the Sprint Car main only to be eventually caught by both John Parrish and Chris Hahn. Miltner looked like a sitting duck but he used some lapped cars to his advantage to claim the victory. Miltner, a former crew member for the late Frank Riddle's race team, did not get a car and begin racing until he was 64 years old! Hahn slipped through for second with Parrish third. Completing the finishers were heat winner Charlie Dean, Dave Cash, Josh Rynd, Cole Nichols, Merle Strickland and Darren Nichols.
After a close win in the heat race, Tobi Smith led all the way to take the V-8 Stock Car feature in his NASCAR Tour-Type Modified that is a tribute to car owner Mario Fiore and driver Reggie Ruggerio. Cory Lane came home second followed by Scott Fobes, Carl Doughty, Scott Hadley, Gary Lyons and Scott Hatton.
Fred Robinson dominated both the DAARA Six-cylinder Stock Car heat and feature driving a car owned by former driver Wayne Ashton of Ft. Pierce. Robinson finished well ahead of second place Dave Davis. Richie Gomes was third followed by Al Jurkowski, Richie Iversen and Steve Parrish.
FINISH - SUPER-8 SERIES MOTHER'S DAY 125 for SUPER LATE MODELS - AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY - 5/12/18:
1) Chris Fontaine, Auburndale #47
2) Josh Todd, Polk City #0
3) Jett Noland, Groveland #50
4) George Gorham, Jr., Winter Haven #03
5) Brandon Duchscherer, Lakeland #23
6) Matt McCrary, Lakeland #54
7) Brian Dorer, Lakeland #97
8) David King, Bartow #22
9) Mark Wilkins, Brooksville #56
10) Joe Boyd, Riverview #5 (DNF)
11) Jamie King, Bartow #24 (DNF)
12) Daniel Webster, Auburndale #3 (DNF)
Photos:
1) Super Late Model winner Chris Fontaine...
2) Second place in Super Lates Josh Todd...
3) Jett Noland took third spot in the Super Late feature...
4) Legend Car winner Seth Adams with his dad and mom...
5) Street Stock winner Steven O'Steen with his dad Howard...
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