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BROOKE STORER TOPS WHEELMAN SPORTSMAN AT AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY - GORHAM PUTS ON A SHOW BUT HAS NOTHING TO "SHOW" FOR IT
After being dark since the 23rd of June, Auburndale Speedway re-opened for racing action and fans were treated to a dynamite night of racing that saw close finishes and plenty of controversy.
Several lucky youngsters were awarded fully-loaded back packs courtesy of Q Auto and Injury Attorneys and a lucky fan from Apollo Beach picked up $100 in "Q Cash" from the long-time Auburndale Speedway sponsor. The 50/50 raffle was won by a fan from Seattle, WA!
The big race of the night was for the Brandon Ford Wheelman Series making its second appearance of the season here. A fine field of 24 signed in but two wily veteran drivers never made it through hot laps. Joe Winchell was down from his new home in Tennessee but engine problems forced his team to load up the Rutherford #92. Gayle Haines had a new car for the event but broke a rear end right at the end of the first practice session.
The remaining 22 cars went out for qualifying with George Gorham, Jr. blistering the field with a lap of 14.089 seconds, over two-tenths quicker than anybody else. However, Gorham's machine was DQ'd in post-qualifying tech for being too low. That gave fast time honors to Clermont's Jason Vail who was driving a second car out of the Junior Beckner shop. Vail's time of 14.308 ended up as the best of the evening while Aaron Williamson was also set down in tech as was Beckner. That put three of the top veterans in the field at the rear of the starting line-up.
It really would not make much difference as Vail's pill draw was a 12 so he started 12th on the grid while Gorham, Williamson and Beckner weren't that far behind in 18th, 19th, and 20th.
The pill draw put another Auburndale Speedway veteran on the pole in the person on Richard Elkins, Jr. who was driving a new car owned by Scott Bramlett while he awaits finishing his own new Sportsman. Charlie Brown started on the outside pole with Brooke Storer starting third.
Elkins took off at the drop of the green and led the opening lap before Gorham got spun coming off turn four ending up facing traffic on the front stretch. Then the controversy began. After the restart, caution was immediately back out as Wheelman officials said Elkins jumped the start. Elkins thus went to the back of the restart line-up as Storer assumed the point.
Storer was holding sway while a wholesale war was going on behind her. Brown got a bit loose coming off turn two during the fifth lap causing L. J. Grimm to get into his left rear and spin out bring out the yellow flag. Both continued at the back of the restart field.
Then it was time for some good, solid green flag racing. Storer, driving a brand new race car, was coming off the corners like a rocket and was holding off a bevy of challengers. The race ran green through the midway point with the top ten at lap 25 consisting of Storer, Jesse Henley, Brett Jenkins, Brandon Morris, Devin McLeod, a high-flying Gorham, Chad Rutherford, Williamson, Colton Bramlett and fast qualifier Vail whose car just did not seem to have the speed it did in time trials.
The race stayed green through lap 29 when Daniel Alvarez spun in turn two. Storer now had her hands full but continued to hold off all comers. The next yellow flag was flown on lap 35 when Brett Jenkins was tapped into a spin by McLeod. Rutherford had nowhere to go and plowed into Jenkin's car putting both drivers on the sidelines for the night while McLeod was relegated to the rear of the restart grid. One lap after the restart there was a big mix-up at the back of the field going into turn one with McLeod again involved as Rex Struble spun but continued. McLeod made a pit stop but was back out for the restart.
Gorham had been putting on a show and clearly had the fastest car on the track. He grabbed second spot on the restart and began dogging Storer for the lead making a pass off turn two on lap 43 to take the point. However, Gorham was given the black flag right away and he slowed to a stop to bring out the caution on lap 44. Wheelman officials had determined Gorham's pass to be too aggressive. It's unclear whether Gorham could have restarted again at the tail of the field again but he went to the pits victim of what many said was a very bad call. However, the call stood and the race continued although minus Vail's machine as his car stalled during the caution flag period and would not re-fire.
The race got back under way but only for a lap as Beckner and Alvarez got into it off turn two. Both cars received damage but continued. Brandon Morris took over second and began to pressure Storer only to see a final yellow with two laps to go for an altercation including Beckner, Alvarez and Jason Bartram.
Morris did all he could on the restart but Storer held on for the biggest win of her career while Henley slipped under Morris for second at the line. Williamson drove back up to fourth while Mcleod rebounded from his earlier issues for a nice fifth place run. Travis Roland had a steady effort for sixth with Bartram, Shawn Jenkins, Beckner and Struble rounding out the top ten.
"I can't thank my team enough for all the hard work getting this new car ready and making some great changes between qualifying and the race," said Storer in victory lane. "This is actually only the eighth race I've run at this track but it's certainly becoming my favorite place to race," she continued.
Henley was satisfied with his runner-up finish. "She (Storer) was really getting off the corners well making it really tough for us. That was a great race with Brandon (Morris) there at the end though," said Henley.
"We were going for it at the end," said Morris. "Just gave second away there on the final lap but I'm still happy with third in a race like this," he said.
A nice field of Legend Cars were on hand and their race was a good one. Young Super Late Model/Pro Late Model standout Anthony Cataldi was back in a Legend Car for the first time in awhile and grabbed heat one while SAR Racing's Kyle Pitts took the measure of the field in heat two.
Newcomer Jarrett Wagman led the opening pair of laps in the 25-lap feature before being passed by Noah Cornman who was driving the car normally assigned to Colt Hensley whose family was on vacation. 18-year-old Cornman, who now races Super Late Models on both asphalt and dirt, was back in a Legend for the first time in over a year calling them "Still the most fun type of car to drive."
Cornman was holding off Cataldi until Rusty Mallett spun on lap 13 allowing the field to close on the two leaders. Seth Adams grabbed second on the restart and pressured Cornman for two laps before grabbing the point on lap 15 while his teammate Pitts shot into third around Cataldi on lap 18.
Joey Langis spun off turn four with five laps to go setting up a great dash to the finish. Adams held on for his third straight win here while Pitts slipped by Cornman on the white flag lap for second giving the SAR group another one-two finish at Auburndale. Driving a new car and a new number, point leader Jim Smith came on strong to take fourth ahead of Wagman who had a nice run for fifth and looked really good for his first effort here. Mike Verhaagh took sixth ahead of Langis, Brandon, Taylor, Mallett, Wild Willie Wilson, Cataldi, Cale Nolen, Brandon Hershey and Christian Baker.
There were only six "official" finishers in the V-8 Bomber feature. Apparent winner Brandon "Bones" Duchschere indicated in victory lane that his car would not pass tech because it was a machine set to run in next week's C-S Street Stock challenge race that he was testing out and not actually legal as a V-8 Bomber. He was correct and his machine was DQ'd along with apparent fifth place finisher Jamie Dunnahoe, Jr. (crate engine) and Bobby Mobley (unknown) who actually finished in last place anyway.
So second place finisher (and current point leader) James Wright III was awarded the victory, his fifth of the season. Cody McDuffie was a close second trailed by David Purvis, Danny Burchfield, Sr., Jody Gill and Bubba Healey. Wright also won the heat race.
Although his dad had led the opening 22 laps of the Q Mini Stock feature, Chris Narramore, Jr. bided his time then took the lead from Chris, Sr. with three laps to go racing to his sixth win of the year tying his father for the most wins this year in the class. The elder Narramore was fighting a big "miss" in his engine again and indicated after the race that he'd been spending too much time making his son's car go faster. "Guess it's time to get to work on mine," joked Narramore, Sr.
John Cummins, Jr. took third spot ahead of Freddy Martin, Nicole Green and David McCaig. Green was making here first Q Mini Stock start after winning the Scrambler championship in 2016. "This is the same Kia with the same engine that we ran in the Scramblers," she indicated. "All we did was put on a new body and change the shocks.. but we are way down on power until we get a new engine," she said. Narramore, Jr. also won the heat.
The night for the Mini Cup class got off to a rough start when point leader Douglas Herrin, Jr. got sideways off turn two during the heat race and he was literally "run over" by Maria Martins who just kept her machine from tipping over. Although both cars were towed to the pits they were amazingly race-ready for the feature although Herrin would fall out on the fifth lap.
Clay Samuels won the heat race then led all the way in the feature despite tons of pressure and a late charge by Russell Bush who nearly nipped Samuels at the line as both drivers were looking for their first win of the year. Samuels finally got the win he'd been looking for while Bush settled for an extremely close second place. Bryton Horner passed Martins on the final lap to get third with fifth going to Easton Bush ahead of Bill Rychel, Herrin and Brey Holmes.
Danny Burchfield, Sr. won his third Scrambler feature of the year after also winning the heat. Brian Harbin was second followed by Danny Burchfield, Jr. and Fred Wilson.
OFFICIAL FINISH - WHEELMAN SPORTSMAN SERIES - AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY - 8/11/18 (50 Laps)
1) Brooke Storer #9
2) Jesse Henley #3
3) Brandon Morris #56
4) Aaron Williamson #67
5) Devin McLeod #5
6) Travis Roland #29
7) Jason Bartram #73
8) Shawn Jenkins #43
9) Junior Beckner #71
10) Rex Struble #69
11) Adam Briggs #14
12) Sam Cornman #74
13) Daniel Alvarez #32 (DNF)
14) Colton Bramlett #22 (DNF)
15) Jason Vail #71X (DNF)
16) Brett Jenkins #199 (DNF)
17) L. J. Grimm #54 (DNF)
18) Chad Rutherford #192 (DNF)
19) Bobby Mills #06 (DNF)
20) Richard Elkins, Jr. #122 (DNF)
21) Charlie Brown (DNF)
DQ - George Gorham, Jr. (Rough Driving)
DNS - Joe Winchell #92 (Engine)
DNS - Gayle Haines #19 (Rear End)
After being dark since the 23rd of June, Auburndale Speedway re-opened for racing action and fans were treated to a dynamite night of racing that saw close finishes and plenty of controversy.
Several lucky youngsters were awarded fully-loaded back packs courtesy of Q Auto and Injury Attorneys and a lucky fan from Apollo Beach picked up $100 in "Q Cash" from the long-time Auburndale Speedway sponsor. The 50/50 raffle was won by a fan from Seattle, WA!
The big race of the night was for the Brandon Ford Wheelman Series making its second appearance of the season here. A fine field of 24 signed in but two wily veteran drivers never made it through hot laps. Joe Winchell was down from his new home in Tennessee but engine problems forced his team to load up the Rutherford #92. Gayle Haines had a new car for the event but broke a rear end right at the end of the first practice session.
The remaining 22 cars went out for qualifying with George Gorham, Jr. blistering the field with a lap of 14.089 seconds, over two-tenths quicker than anybody else. However, Gorham's machine was DQ'd in post-qualifying tech for being too low. That gave fast time honors to Clermont's Jason Vail who was driving a second car out of the Junior Beckner shop. Vail's time of 14.308 ended up as the best of the evening while Aaron Williamson was also set down in tech as was Beckner. That put three of the top veterans in the field at the rear of the starting line-up.
It really would not make much difference as Vail's pill draw was a 12 so he started 12th on the grid while Gorham, Williamson and Beckner weren't that far behind in 18th, 19th, and 20th.
The pill draw put another Auburndale Speedway veteran on the pole in the person on Richard Elkins, Jr. who was driving a new car owned by Scott Bramlett while he awaits finishing his own new Sportsman. Charlie Brown started on the outside pole with Brooke Storer starting third.
Elkins took off at the drop of the green and led the opening lap before Gorham got spun coming off turn four ending up facing traffic on the front stretch. Then the controversy began. After the restart, caution was immediately back out as Wheelman officials said Elkins jumped the start. Elkins thus went to the back of the restart line-up as Storer assumed the point.
Storer was holding sway while a wholesale war was going on behind her. Brown got a bit loose coming off turn two during the fifth lap causing L. J. Grimm to get into his left rear and spin out bring out the yellow flag. Both continued at the back of the restart field.
Then it was time for some good, solid green flag racing. Storer, driving a brand new race car, was coming off the corners like a rocket and was holding off a bevy of challengers. The race ran green through the midway point with the top ten at lap 25 consisting of Storer, Jesse Henley, Brett Jenkins, Brandon Morris, Devin McLeod, a high-flying Gorham, Chad Rutherford, Williamson, Colton Bramlett and fast qualifier Vail whose car just did not seem to have the speed it did in time trials.
The race stayed green through lap 29 when Daniel Alvarez spun in turn two. Storer now had her hands full but continued to hold off all comers. The next yellow flag was flown on lap 35 when Brett Jenkins was tapped into a spin by McLeod. Rutherford had nowhere to go and plowed into Jenkin's car putting both drivers on the sidelines for the night while McLeod was relegated to the rear of the restart grid. One lap after the restart there was a big mix-up at the back of the field going into turn one with McLeod again involved as Rex Struble spun but continued. McLeod made a pit stop but was back out for the restart.
Gorham had been putting on a show and clearly had the fastest car on the track. He grabbed second spot on the restart and began dogging Storer for the lead making a pass off turn two on lap 43 to take the point. However, Gorham was given the black flag right away and he slowed to a stop to bring out the caution on lap 44. Wheelman officials had determined Gorham's pass to be too aggressive. It's unclear whether Gorham could have restarted again at the tail of the field again but he went to the pits victim of what many said was a very bad call. However, the call stood and the race continued although minus Vail's machine as his car stalled during the caution flag period and would not re-fire.
The race got back under way but only for a lap as Beckner and Alvarez got into it off turn two. Both cars received damage but continued. Brandon Morris took over second and began to pressure Storer only to see a final yellow with two laps to go for an altercation including Beckner, Alvarez and Jason Bartram.
Morris did all he could on the restart but Storer held on for the biggest win of her career while Henley slipped under Morris for second at the line. Williamson drove back up to fourth while Mcleod rebounded from his earlier issues for a nice fifth place run. Travis Roland had a steady effort for sixth with Bartram, Shawn Jenkins, Beckner and Struble rounding out the top ten.
"I can't thank my team enough for all the hard work getting this new car ready and making some great changes between qualifying and the race," said Storer in victory lane. "This is actually only the eighth race I've run at this track but it's certainly becoming my favorite place to race," she continued.
Henley was satisfied with his runner-up finish. "She (Storer) was really getting off the corners well making it really tough for us. That was a great race with Brandon (Morris) there at the end though," said Henley.
"We were going for it at the end," said Morris. "Just gave second away there on the final lap but I'm still happy with third in a race like this," he said.
A nice field of Legend Cars were on hand and their race was a good one. Young Super Late Model/Pro Late Model standout Anthony Cataldi was back in a Legend Car for the first time in awhile and grabbed heat one while SAR Racing's Kyle Pitts took the measure of the field in heat two.
Newcomer Jarrett Wagman led the opening pair of laps in the 25-lap feature before being passed by Noah Cornman who was driving the car normally assigned to Colt Hensley whose family was on vacation. 18-year-old Cornman, who now races Super Late Models on both asphalt and dirt, was back in a Legend for the first time in over a year calling them "Still the most fun type of car to drive."
Cornman was holding off Cataldi until Rusty Mallett spun on lap 13 allowing the field to close on the two leaders. Seth Adams grabbed second on the restart and pressured Cornman for two laps before grabbing the point on lap 15 while his teammate Pitts shot into third around Cataldi on lap 18.
Joey Langis spun off turn four with five laps to go setting up a great dash to the finish. Adams held on for his third straight win here while Pitts slipped by Cornman on the white flag lap for second giving the SAR group another one-two finish at Auburndale. Driving a new car and a new number, point leader Jim Smith came on strong to take fourth ahead of Wagman who had a nice run for fifth and looked really good for his first effort here. Mike Verhaagh took sixth ahead of Langis, Brandon, Taylor, Mallett, Wild Willie Wilson, Cataldi, Cale Nolen, Brandon Hershey and Christian Baker.
There were only six "official" finishers in the V-8 Bomber feature. Apparent winner Brandon "Bones" Duchschere indicated in victory lane that his car would not pass tech because it was a machine set to run in next week's C-S Street Stock challenge race that he was testing out and not actually legal as a V-8 Bomber. He was correct and his machine was DQ'd along with apparent fifth place finisher Jamie Dunnahoe, Jr. (crate engine) and Bobby Mobley (unknown) who actually finished in last place anyway.
So second place finisher (and current point leader) James Wright III was awarded the victory, his fifth of the season. Cody McDuffie was a close second trailed by David Purvis, Danny Burchfield, Sr., Jody Gill and Bubba Healey. Wright also won the heat race.
Although his dad had led the opening 22 laps of the Q Mini Stock feature, Chris Narramore, Jr. bided his time then took the lead from Chris, Sr. with three laps to go racing to his sixth win of the year tying his father for the most wins this year in the class. The elder Narramore was fighting a big "miss" in his engine again and indicated after the race that he'd been spending too much time making his son's car go faster. "Guess it's time to get to work on mine," joked Narramore, Sr.
John Cummins, Jr. took third spot ahead of Freddy Martin, Nicole Green and David McCaig. Green was making here first Q Mini Stock start after winning the Scrambler championship in 2016. "This is the same Kia with the same engine that we ran in the Scramblers," she indicated. "All we did was put on a new body and change the shocks.. but we are way down on power until we get a new engine," she said. Narramore, Jr. also won the heat.
The night for the Mini Cup class got off to a rough start when point leader Douglas Herrin, Jr. got sideways off turn two during the heat race and he was literally "run over" by Maria Martins who just kept her machine from tipping over. Although both cars were towed to the pits they were amazingly race-ready for the feature although Herrin would fall out on the fifth lap.
Clay Samuels won the heat race then led all the way in the feature despite tons of pressure and a late charge by Russell Bush who nearly nipped Samuels at the line as both drivers were looking for their first win of the year. Samuels finally got the win he'd been looking for while Bush settled for an extremely close second place. Bryton Horner passed Martins on the final lap to get third with fifth going to Easton Bush ahead of Bill Rychel, Herrin and Brey Holmes.
Danny Burchfield, Sr. won his third Scrambler feature of the year after also winning the heat. Brian Harbin was second followed by Danny Burchfield, Jr. and Fred Wilson.
OFFICIAL FINISH - WHEELMAN SPORTSMAN SERIES - AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY - 8/11/18 (50 Laps)
1) Brooke Storer #9
2) Jesse Henley #3
3) Brandon Morris #56
4) Aaron Williamson #67
5) Devin McLeod #5
6) Travis Roland #29
7) Jason Bartram #73
8) Shawn Jenkins #43
9) Junior Beckner #71
10) Rex Struble #69
11) Adam Briggs #14
12) Sam Cornman #74
13) Daniel Alvarez #32 (DNF)
14) Colton Bramlett #22 (DNF)
15) Jason Vail #71X (DNF)
16) Brett Jenkins #199 (DNF)
17) L. J. Grimm #54 (DNF)
18) Chad Rutherford #192 (DNF)
19) Bobby Mills #06 (DNF)
20) Richard Elkins, Jr. #122 (DNF)
21) Charlie Brown (DNF)
DQ - George Gorham, Jr. (Rough Driving)
DNS - Joe Winchell #92 (Engine)
DNS - Gayle Haines #19 (Rear End)