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Webster wins again at Auburndale
SCOTT LOCKWOOD
Florida Short Track Report.com
AUBURNDALE - For awhile Saturday night, it looked as if mother nature would be the only one
winning races at Auburndale Speedway. But thanks to a big break in the clouds and the hard
work of drivers and safety crews alike, the racing went on.
With late models on the schedule for the fourth time this season, Daniel Webster was looking to
keep his perfect record at the .25 mile oval in tact for the year. In fact, he had led every lap run
there this season, including all 125 laps from the pole in the Brian Davidson Memorial race in
March.
Rain washed out qualifying, so a draw was held to determine the starting lineup. Webster would
start the 75-lap feature race from the third spot, and needed only four laps to find his way to the
lead. From there, Webster set sail from the rest of the field, but there was plenty of action behind
him. Raymond Lovelady started near the rear of the field and had worked his way up into the top
five about a quarter of the way through the race. However, contact with another car and the
ensuing spin just a few laps later sent Lovelady to the rear.
On the restart, Webster continued on his torrid pace, easily pulling away to a straightaway lead.
Lovelady, who appeared to have the only car that would have anything for Webster if he could get
past traffic, quickly worked his way back into fifth. At about the halfway point, Lovelady was
battling with Wayne Morris when he suddenly slowed in turn 4 and pulled into the infield.
With Lovelady out and already showing he had the rest of the field covered, Webster ran and hid
from the rest of the pack enroute to winning fourth consecutive race at Auburndale.Steve Smith
was second, and Webster's teammate, Jim Smith, was third.
In other Auburndale action, Brandon Morris appeared to be on his way to an easy win in the street
stock feature, but a caution with five laps to go bunched up the field and put James Wright III right
on his tail. Wright, who was faster than Morris before the caution, and looked as if he could make
a quick move for the lead on the restart. However Morris held his own and fended off a last ditch
effort by Wright as the checkered flag flew. Ronnie Miller was third. Morris also won the heat race.
The mod lite feature looked as if it would be a showdown between heat race winners Billy Gise
and John Bailey along with Jonathan Guy. The trio coming through lapped traffic when a
backmarker pushed Gise up into the front stretch wall. Gise came down and collected Bailey,
sending both cars into the infield and out of the race. From there Guy held off all challengers on
his way to the win.
Donnie Guy started in the rear of the mini stock feature, and used a well timed move to get past
leader and heat race winner Ashlee Williamson to get the lead halfway through the race. He went
on to win and was followed by Chris Spring and Eugene Davidson - the exact order that they sit in
the current points standings.
Dave Dunkin made it a sweep in the sportsman class for the night, leading every lap he ran in
both the heat and feature races from the pole. Shawn Harper was second in the feature, with
points leader Daivd Williamson finishing third.
The Bombers were the final race on the card for the night, and came out to see that they would be
running on a "road course" that featured a chicane in the middle of the infield. Chaos ensued
from the start as the drivers appeared to be confused as to where they were supposed to be
going and came together for a huge crash. Three cars were seriously damaged in the incident
and were forced out, but others continued - smoking, flat tires and flapping fenders and all! Mike
Knight, who had won the heat race earlier in the night on the regular track, showed he may have
some road racing skills too in holding off the badly smoking car of George Crenshaw for the win.
Auburndale Speedway will not be racing next weekend in observance of the Independence Day
Holiday. Racing Resumes July 12th and will feature mini stocks and their Brown Motorsports
Spectacular series, along with modified minis, street stocks, V-8 Bombers, open wheel modifieds
and Fast mini cups kids club and figure 8's.
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