Two new names were added to the 2021 feature winners’ list after the Saturday, May 8 racing competition. The divisions had previously been scheduled to compete on April 24, but a track issue had postponed the class to tonight’s program.
The Q Auto & Injury Medical Malpractice Attorneys Micro Sprints opened the night’s action. William Burnside used the bottom of the track to take the early lead. Defending track champion Paul Seburn and heat race winner Doug Dyal provided competition for Burnside early in the race, but Burnside was determined to make a drive to Victory Lane. His quest was fulfilled when the checkered arrived after 15 laps. Burnside had earlier related that he spent until 3 in the morning doing engine work on the car to be prepared for the night’s action. The effort proved to be the right recipe for his first win in the class for 2021.
V-8 Warriors took to the surface next, joined by the lone 4.6L Ford that led to combining the classes. George Handy would be the early leader until Jason Burnside made an outside pass on lap 4 for the top spot. Handy would get the lead back, just in time for a lap six restart. Burnside would have his hands full with Nick Brown, who started at the tail. The two waged a war for second place, allowing Handy to cruise out front for the remainder of the race. Heat winners were Gary Lucas and Raymond Vann.
The 602 Limited Late Models saw Brandon Yates return to Victory Lane for the second time of the year. Yates gave credit to his crew, who took a car that was not handling in the heat race and converted it into an unstoppable force in the main. Tim Dowling took the preliminary.
A field of 21 cars graced the pits for the Gladiator division with Daniel Bowman, Charles Paris Jr. and Robert Kissam on top in their heat races. It would be Paris Jr. who prevailed in the 15-lap main, giving him his second feature win of the year. In an earlier heat race, Ricky Rutledge Sr. flipped twice after contact with a disabled car, bringing out the red flag. Rutledge climbed from the car on his own, but could not continue competition.
The racing action returns on Saturday, May 15 with 604 Late Models, Outlaw 4s, Street Stocks, Q Mini Sprints, Mod Lites and Florida Old Time Modifieds on the schedule.
602 LLM
Feature: Brandon Yates (86), Tim Dowling (12D), Robert Vaughn Jr. (32), Austim Leamon (18), John Wayne Haynes (52)
V-8 WARRIORS
Feature: George Handy (105), Jason Burnside (12J), Nick Brown (12), Gary Lucas (106), Kayla Handy (104), Derek Gray (189), Juston Meeks (10), Wayne Kissam (107), Mike Wilson (68), Raymond Vann (1), Cody Mezyk (40), Michael Hart (99), George Christensen (4.6L Ford #92)
Q MICRO SPRINTS
Feature: William Burnside (13), Doug Dyal (97D), Paul Seburn (23). DNS – Cliff Evans (24), Kaylee Dyal (11D)
GLADIATORS
Feature: Charles Paris Jr. (03T), Tracy Maynard (62), Robert Kissam (911), Rodney Martin (21), Daniel Bowman (46), Wayne Kissam (07), Patrick Tabb (03), Derrick Edwards (17), Alyssa Grant (47), Jerry Moore (70), Callie Gubich (513), Trevor Johnson (21W), Daniel Casey (3D), Brett Proctor (1), Davey Martin (55), Ricky Rutledge Jr. (124), Tim Simmons (16). DNS – Brittany Hart (99), Patrick Fiore (88), Ricky Rutledge Sr. (4). DQ – Jeff Smith (15)