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CRAZY PRO TRUCK 50 EVENTUALLY GOES TO CODY McDUFFIE - WINS V-8 BOMBER FEATURE TOO AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY
Well, it was yet again "one of those nights" at Auburndale Speedway Saturday evening with plenty of crazy goings-on mixed in with some great racing on FFA Night sponsored by DARN Apparel. Fans had to "weather" a one hour rain delay during the middle of the racing program that was followed by several long caution and red flag periods needed to clean water and mud from the speedway after various incidents.
The big race of the night would be a 50-lap contest for the Pro Trucks who were just trying to get a show in after a pair of recent losses to Mother Nature. Sixteen Pro Trucks were in the pits and 15 of those took time trials minus the truck of Big Donnie Burkhalter who had yet to arrive at the track... more on that later.
The most recent Pro Truck winner here, Derek Pugh of West Palm Beach, kept his recent hot streak alive by setting quick time at 14.524 seconds just a tick faster than the 14.540 lap turned in by Cody McDuffie of Bartow, the current Pro Truck point leader. Windermere's Nic Haag continued to impress by clicking off the third quick qualifying lap followed by Jason "Scrappy" Lester, Danny "Trumpy Bear" Anderson and Brennon Pletcher. As has been the case recently, the re-draw did the top qualifiers no favor as the top ten spots from time trials were inverted. After the autograph session at intermission it was found the engine in Eddie Hartin's truck had a broken rocker arm and he was unable to start.
There was a fantastic moment that took place at the start of the Pro Truck feature as little Ella Green, recently diagnosed as cancer-free, was assisted to the flag stand where she dropped the green flag... a very touching moment for herself, her family and the fans gathered in the stands.
With that big of an invert and a very "green" race track after the rain, things would get off to a rough start as the first three attempts at going green were quickly aborted. Anderson went for a spin after contact with Nic Haag during the first attempt at a start. Anderson continued with considerable cosmetic damage while Haag pitted with a flat tire. The second attempt was no better as Jacob Nicoletti spun in turn one. Nic Haag was able to get back on the speedway thus not losing a lap but the pole sitter, Brey Holmes, headed to the pit area with no brakes.
The third try was also for naught as Carter Brown spun in turn three. "Mac N' Cheese" was OK and returned to his spot in the line-up but Jason Lester went to the pits for adjustments and returned to restart at the tail.
At this point, track officials decided they had seen enough and ordered a single-file start. Colt Cecil led the opening circuit but quickly began to fade as Brennon Pletcher took over the point. McDuffie made a quick run to third spot but got trapped behind Cecil and eventually found himself all the way back in seventh.
Lap eight would bring the first caution flag as Brown and Todd Haag tangled in turn one. Both pitted but only Haag would return. Nic Haag also pitted a second time but returned. Pletcher began to drive away from the field as Anderson slipped by Derek Pugh for third on the 11th lap. Lester was charging and he passed McDuffie for fifth on lap 13.
Mike Kohut had been running second but Anderson caught and passed him with Kohut slipping all the way back to sixth before he could get back in line. Nic Haag again had a right front tire go down and he brought out the yellow on lap 18. Pletcher continued to look sharp up front on the restart as Lester passed Anderson for second bringing McDuffie with him.
Things went clean and green until lap 37 when Lester went spinning wildly off turn four. Lester felt he was "turned" by McDuffie while track officials saw it differently as "good hard racing" in which Lester got his left front tire into the water on the low side of turn four causing his spin. Lester was not in agreement but reluctantly went to the back of the lead lap cars for the restart.
From there everybody expected McDuffie to really put a charge on leader Pletcher but it was not to be as Pletcher was just running too good holding the inside lane. Burkhalter, who started 14th, got by Pugh for fourth bringing Lester with him with Lester then passing Burkalter for fourth two laps later. Pugh fell off the pace with a broken tie rod after scraping the wall.
Pletcher, who is no relation to the Pletcher racing family from the St. Pete area, held steady to the finish for his apparent first career win in just his seventh Pro Truck race. That would all fall apart in tech as his truck was disqualified for an issue with the axles. According to Brennon's mom Pam, "As we were removing the plate for inspection, we came to find out the axles we had were not correct. The Pro Trucks at Auburndale run a solid axle and we had no clue ours were wrong," she said. "Later the tech guy also said those axles did not win that race, that it was the guy behind the wheel," she continued.
McDuffie thus was awarded the win. The very tired driver (who was competing in his second race of the night), had little to say other than the outside lane, where he likes to run, "just wasn't there." Anderson ended up second and said he was just happy to finish on the podium after seeing the condition of the left side of his truck. Lester battled back for third and happy as always that he gave the fans a "show."
The fourth place run for Burkhalter almost did not happen. "I worked my job at Manheim Atlanta (GA) until 4, boarded a plane at the Atlanta airport at 5:40, landed at the Tampa airport at 7:10 then got a ride to the area around I-4 and State Road 33 in Lakeland where my wife picked me up and dove me to the track," he said. "Had it not been for the rain delay I would not have made it on time. The truck had been on the trailer since the last time we ran here, we hadn't touched it. After backing it off the trailer we checked the tire pressure, stagger and shocks and went at it cold turkey. Just drove steady and stayed out of trouble and we get a fourth... what a day," he stated.
Fifth went to Kohut with Todd Haag, Cecil, Pugh, Nic Haag and Adam Briggs rounding out the top ten.
Earlier in the evening McDuffie piloted owner David Hartin's new V-8 Bomber to a big win in the V-8 Bomber feature after a ding-dong battle with point leader James Wright III that saw them trade the lead five times over the course of 25 laps. McDuffie made the final pass, using the outside lane, with two laps left to secure the win over Wright, Danny Burchfield, Jammie "Wild Child" Dunnahoe, Jr. and Jamie Castleberry.
Eddie Hartin came home sixth followed by Ronnie Abney, Jr., Brian Harbin, Bobby Mobley and Gilbert Corbin. McDuffie also won the heat.
It was a first time winner in the Mini Cup class as 12-year-old Bryton Horner won the heat race then led green to checker to score his first career victory outdistancing point leader Douglas Herrin, Jr., Brey Holmes, Maria Martins, Clay Samuels, Russell Bush and Bill Rychel.
It was back to normal in the Q Mini Stocks as Chris Narramore, Jr. took the lead from heat winner Chris Spring on lap 13 then led his dad Chris, Sr. to the checker for his fifth win of the season. John Cummins, Jr. was third trailed by Bruce Cozad, Fred Martin, Jimmy Donahue, Spring (who fell out with engine woes on lap 17), David McCaig and T. J. Tanner.
Chuck Frazier was back in action in the Modified Mini Stocks and made his first start of the year a winning one dominating both the heat and feature. Chris Spring came home second in the 25-lap headliner followed by point leader Fred Harrison. Rachelle Rudolph had a fine run for fourth trailed by Tim Scalise, Matt Cummins, Dave Barnett, Scott Bumgardner and Clint Holmes. The later pair provided a scary moment on lap six when they collided head-on in turn one. Both drivers emerged in OK shape.
It was win number four for Steven O'Steen as he won the heat then led all the way to win the Street Stock feature over Ross Francisco, John Smith and Walt Kirk.
OFFICIAL FINISH - PRO TRUCKS - AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY - 6/9/18 (50 Laps):
1) Cody McDuffie #25
2) Danny Anderson #50
3) Jason Lester #7
4) Donnie Burkhalter #24
5) Mike Kohut #11K
6) Todd Haag #54
7) Cold Cecil #19
8) Derek Pugh #3 DNF
9) Nic Haag #53 DNF
10) Adam Briggs #14 DNF
11) Carter Brown #11Jr. DNF
12) Jacob Nicoletti #74 DNF
13) Johnny Marra #99 DNF
14) Brey Holmes #57 DNF
DQ - Brennon Pletcher #92 (axles)
DNS - Eddie Hartin #69
Well, it was yet again "one of those nights" at Auburndale Speedway Saturday evening with plenty of crazy goings-on mixed in with some great racing on FFA Night sponsored by DARN Apparel. Fans had to "weather" a one hour rain delay during the middle of the racing program that was followed by several long caution and red flag periods needed to clean water and mud from the speedway after various incidents.
The big race of the night would be a 50-lap contest for the Pro Trucks who were just trying to get a show in after a pair of recent losses to Mother Nature. Sixteen Pro Trucks were in the pits and 15 of those took time trials minus the truck of Big Donnie Burkhalter who had yet to arrive at the track... more on that later.
The most recent Pro Truck winner here, Derek Pugh of West Palm Beach, kept his recent hot streak alive by setting quick time at 14.524 seconds just a tick faster than the 14.540 lap turned in by Cody McDuffie of Bartow, the current Pro Truck point leader. Windermere's Nic Haag continued to impress by clicking off the third quick qualifying lap followed by Jason "Scrappy" Lester, Danny "Trumpy Bear" Anderson and Brennon Pletcher. As has been the case recently, the re-draw did the top qualifiers no favor as the top ten spots from time trials were inverted. After the autograph session at intermission it was found the engine in Eddie Hartin's truck had a broken rocker arm and he was unable to start.
There was a fantastic moment that took place at the start of the Pro Truck feature as little Ella Green, recently diagnosed as cancer-free, was assisted to the flag stand where she dropped the green flag... a very touching moment for herself, her family and the fans gathered in the stands.
With that big of an invert and a very "green" race track after the rain, things would get off to a rough start as the first three attempts at going green were quickly aborted. Anderson went for a spin after contact with Nic Haag during the first attempt at a start. Anderson continued with considerable cosmetic damage while Haag pitted with a flat tire. The second attempt was no better as Jacob Nicoletti spun in turn one. Nic Haag was able to get back on the speedway thus not losing a lap but the pole sitter, Brey Holmes, headed to the pit area with no brakes.
The third try was also for naught as Carter Brown spun in turn three. "Mac N' Cheese" was OK and returned to his spot in the line-up but Jason Lester went to the pits for adjustments and returned to restart at the tail.
At this point, track officials decided they had seen enough and ordered a single-file start. Colt Cecil led the opening circuit but quickly began to fade as Brennon Pletcher took over the point. McDuffie made a quick run to third spot but got trapped behind Cecil and eventually found himself all the way back in seventh.
Lap eight would bring the first caution flag as Brown and Todd Haag tangled in turn one. Both pitted but only Haag would return. Nic Haag also pitted a second time but returned. Pletcher began to drive away from the field as Anderson slipped by Derek Pugh for third on the 11th lap. Lester was charging and he passed McDuffie for fifth on lap 13.
Mike Kohut had been running second but Anderson caught and passed him with Kohut slipping all the way back to sixth before he could get back in line. Nic Haag again had a right front tire go down and he brought out the yellow on lap 18. Pletcher continued to look sharp up front on the restart as Lester passed Anderson for second bringing McDuffie with him.
Things went clean and green until lap 37 when Lester went spinning wildly off turn four. Lester felt he was "turned" by McDuffie while track officials saw it differently as "good hard racing" in which Lester got his left front tire into the water on the low side of turn four causing his spin. Lester was not in agreement but reluctantly went to the back of the lead lap cars for the restart.
From there everybody expected McDuffie to really put a charge on leader Pletcher but it was not to be as Pletcher was just running too good holding the inside lane. Burkhalter, who started 14th, got by Pugh for fourth bringing Lester with him with Lester then passing Burkalter for fourth two laps later. Pugh fell off the pace with a broken tie rod after scraping the wall.
Pletcher, who is no relation to the Pletcher racing family from the St. Pete area, held steady to the finish for his apparent first career win in just his seventh Pro Truck race. That would all fall apart in tech as his truck was disqualified for an issue with the axles. According to Brennon's mom Pam, "As we were removing the plate for inspection, we came to find out the axles we had were not correct. The Pro Trucks at Auburndale run a solid axle and we had no clue ours were wrong," she said. "Later the tech guy also said those axles did not win that race, that it was the guy behind the wheel," she continued.
McDuffie thus was awarded the win. The very tired driver (who was competing in his second race of the night), had little to say other than the outside lane, where he likes to run, "just wasn't there." Anderson ended up second and said he was just happy to finish on the podium after seeing the condition of the left side of his truck. Lester battled back for third and happy as always that he gave the fans a "show."
The fourth place run for Burkhalter almost did not happen. "I worked my job at Manheim Atlanta (GA) until 4, boarded a plane at the Atlanta airport at 5:40, landed at the Tampa airport at 7:10 then got a ride to the area around I-4 and State Road 33 in Lakeland where my wife picked me up and dove me to the track," he said. "Had it not been for the rain delay I would not have made it on time. The truck had been on the trailer since the last time we ran here, we hadn't touched it. After backing it off the trailer we checked the tire pressure, stagger and shocks and went at it cold turkey. Just drove steady and stayed out of trouble and we get a fourth... what a day," he stated.
Fifth went to Kohut with Todd Haag, Cecil, Pugh, Nic Haag and Adam Briggs rounding out the top ten.
Earlier in the evening McDuffie piloted owner David Hartin's new V-8 Bomber to a big win in the V-8 Bomber feature after a ding-dong battle with point leader James Wright III that saw them trade the lead five times over the course of 25 laps. McDuffie made the final pass, using the outside lane, with two laps left to secure the win over Wright, Danny Burchfield, Jammie "Wild Child" Dunnahoe, Jr. and Jamie Castleberry.
Eddie Hartin came home sixth followed by Ronnie Abney, Jr., Brian Harbin, Bobby Mobley and Gilbert Corbin. McDuffie also won the heat.
It was a first time winner in the Mini Cup class as 12-year-old Bryton Horner won the heat race then led green to checker to score his first career victory outdistancing point leader Douglas Herrin, Jr., Brey Holmes, Maria Martins, Clay Samuels, Russell Bush and Bill Rychel.
It was back to normal in the Q Mini Stocks as Chris Narramore, Jr. took the lead from heat winner Chris Spring on lap 13 then led his dad Chris, Sr. to the checker for his fifth win of the season. John Cummins, Jr. was third trailed by Bruce Cozad, Fred Martin, Jimmy Donahue, Spring (who fell out with engine woes on lap 17), David McCaig and T. J. Tanner.
Chuck Frazier was back in action in the Modified Mini Stocks and made his first start of the year a winning one dominating both the heat and feature. Chris Spring came home second in the 25-lap headliner followed by point leader Fred Harrison. Rachelle Rudolph had a fine run for fourth trailed by Tim Scalise, Matt Cummins, Dave Barnett, Scott Bumgardner and Clint Holmes. The later pair provided a scary moment on lap six when they collided head-on in turn one. Both drivers emerged in OK shape.
It was win number four for Steven O'Steen as he won the heat then led all the way to win the Street Stock feature over Ross Francisco, John Smith and Walt Kirk.
OFFICIAL FINISH - PRO TRUCKS - AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY - 6/9/18 (50 Laps):
1) Cody McDuffie #25
2) Danny Anderson #50
3) Jason Lester #7
4) Donnie Burkhalter #24
5) Mike Kohut #11K
6) Todd Haag #54
7) Cold Cecil #19
8) Derek Pugh #3 DNF
9) Nic Haag #53 DNF
10) Adam Briggs #14 DNF
11) Carter Brown #11Jr. DNF
12) Jacob Nicoletti #74 DNF
13) Johnny Marra #99 DNF
14) Brey Holmes #57 DNF
DQ - Brennon Pletcher #92 (axles)
DNS - Eddie Hartin #69