Powers takes Win after DQ in Tech

2/12/2017

Freedom Factory

Powers takes Win after DQ in Tech

Powers takes Win after DQ in Tech
By Jake Wilson

On a crisp Full Moon under the lights of Desoto Speedway, the Take Aim Gun Range Street Stocks and Sunshine State Challenge Series Modified Mini's took center stage. The Street Stocks 50 Lap Feature saw an increase of 400 dollars to the winner to bring the total to 1,000 Dollars for the winners purse. The best local drivers took to the 3/8th mile oval to battle for bragging rights and that coveted winners purse. Venice's Kenny Gibson set fast time earlier in the evening in his number 23 car and drew the number 4 pill to invert the top 4 for the feature. Blaine Baer would start on the poll after the invert with Gibson starting fourth. Baer would lead early but soon found Bradenton's Bobby Huffstutler and his black number 74 hot on his heels. Huffstutler would take the lead from Baer on lap 12 but would lose the lead five laps later to the 23 of Gibson who used a great move on the outside line to take the top spot. Gibson would lead past the halfway mark and looked to be in control of the race until lap 39 when leader Kenny Gibson would abruptly pull off track handing the lead back to Bobby Huffstutler. The local driver from Bradenton would lead the remaining eleven laps and pick up the checkered flag. Following the race the 74 car was DQ'ed for refusing to break down in tech. That meant the win and the 1,000 dollars would go to Myakka City's Donnie Powers who finished 2nd but was declared the winner following tech. Myakka City's Travis Barfield took 2nd and Joshua Lindsey from Lakeland finished 3rd.
The Sunshine State Challenge Series Modified Mini's had their first race of 2017 at the south's fastest 3/8th mile for a 40 lap feature with a stout field of cars, Bradenton's Fred Paravicini set fast time in his number 86 machine earlier in the evening but would start fourth after the inversion to start the feature. New Smyrna Beach's Tyler Simpson would start on pole in his number 115 car and would set the early pace. Simpson would set a great pace in front of the field but soon had company in the form of our fast qualifier from earlier the 86 of Paravicini. The veteran driver would apply pressure to the young driver Simpson but ran out of time and laps as Tyler Simpson would lead all 40 laps and pick up the win in his first ever race at Desoto Speedway. Fred Paravicini took 2nd and 3rd went to Myakka City's Mike Kerrivan who arrived just minutes before the feature.
In other racing action the Desoto Speedway Strictly Stock Class made its 2017 debut. The class consists of a triple header of races, the enduro 25 lapper, 10 lap Road course race, and 10 lap Flag Pole race. The class tests a drivers versatility in 3 unique events. In the 25 lap endure, John Peters of Pinellas Park took the checkered flag in the first event. In the 10 lap road course race Clearwater's Ralph Murchie got the win and to wrap up the final event Bradenton's Michael Meeks took the checkered flag in the always exciting Flag Pole race. The Desoto Speedway mini stocks also were in action for 25 laps and saw Palmetto's Justin "Buzz" Amspaugh pick up his first win at Desoto for the season holding off Justin Ryan who took 2nd and 3rd place finisher 14 year old Jacob Wozniak who got his best career finish in just his second race ever at Desoto Speedway.
Desoto Speedway will be closed the next two weekends February 18th and 25th while NASCAR competes at Daytona International Speedway for their annual Speed Weeks leading up to the 59th running of The Great American Race The Daytona 500. This Friday Feb 17th Desoto Speedway will hold its 2016 awards banquet in Sarasota to honor last years Champions and top finishers for the season. Desoto Speedway returns to action Saturday March 4th when the track will host a Double Header 50 lap features for the Sunshine State Challenge Series Pro Trucks and Sportsman. Street Stocks, Modified Mini's and Bombers will also be in action. For more information log onto Desotospeedway.net or check them out on Facebook or Twitter.

2-11-2017
DESOTO SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS

Strictly Stock Enduro