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“Big Daddy” Kevin Mills Back in Victory Lane!!
By: Tera Gunter
8-4-07
Kevin Mills took the lead over a field of 15 Street Stocks with Martin Johnson and
Marc Kinley in hot pursuit. Richard Adams and Jacky Bennett dueled for 5th
behind Chris Manucy until Adams and Bennett tangled. At the restart, Josh
Sanford and Joe Willis battled behind Manucy. Sanford passed Willis and set off
after Manucy. Sanford would close in on Manucy on the turns only to see Manucy
pull out on the straights. As the laps ticked down, Ricky Land dueled with Sanford
before snagging Sanford’s position. Kinley began closing in on Johnson but
Johnson maintained as Mills took the checkered over Johnson, Kinley, Manucy,
and Land.
Troy Sullivan and Shawn Pawlak lined up in the front row of the Box Stock feature
with Pawlak taking the lead in turn 1. Sean Strama, Johnathan Green, and point
leader Kenn Devane dueled for position. Green took up position behind Sullivan
with Casey Feaster, who started at the rear of the field, behind Green. Feaster,
Green, and Devane provided good entertainment as they battled for position.
Pawlak led Sullivan, Feaster, Devane, and Mike Barfield under the checkered.
Chad Scranton took the lead in the Pure Stock feature but Scranton had a battle
on his hands in the form of Floyd Martin. Martin and Scranton provided edge of
the seat racing action as Martin snagged Scranton’s lead. Scranton ensured
Martin would work to maintain his lead as Scranton tried both the inside and
outside of Martin in an attempt to take the lead back. Martin held Scranton off as
Luke Sadler and Tim Gigon took up position behind Scranton. The race leaders
battled for the remainder of the feature until Martin took the checkered ahead of
Scranton, Sadler, Gigon, and Jimmy Dowling in one of this season’s best pure
stock features.
Keith Briggs continued his dominance in the Mini Stock feature with Cole
Ridenhour and Jay Farris in 2nd-3rd. Farris’s night ended early and contrition
depleted the field of 12 mini stocks. Briggs took the checkered over Ridenhour,
Freddie Daniels, and Michael Butler.
Late Models put on an entertaining feature as the 2006 point champion, Billy
Costello, took the lead over Paul Gibbs. David Crews returned to the speedway,
dispatched Gibbs, and set off after Costello. Snagging Costello’s lead in turn 2 of
lap 3, Crews put the pedal to the medal to gain ground over the field. As the laps
ticked down and the race leaders began picking their way through lapped traffic,
Costello closed in on Crews. Michael Cherry passed Gibbs and took up position
behind Costello. By lap 20, Costello challenged Crews only to find himself
sideways in turn 2. Crews took the lead again at the restart and Costello worked
his way back through the field. Cherry began challenging Crews for the lead with
Al Larson in 3rd. A caution on lap 22 in turn 2 placed Gibbs and Larson at the rear
of the field. At the restart, the caution was quickly thrown again for Costello in turn
4. With Costello at the rear of the lead lap, Cherry once again challenged Crews.
Crews maintained his lead to take the checkered over Cherry, Gibbs, Larson, and
Costello. A protest of Crews led to a post-race engine breakdown in tech. At
press time, the results of the protest are unknown.
Bruce Birkett took the lead in the Hobby Stock feature over Randy Strehle. David
Miller dispatched Ron Frank and Strehle and set off after Birkett. The caution flew
for Birkett in turn 4. With Birkett at the rear of the lead lap, Miller had the lead.
Birkett began working his way back through the field. By lap 17, Birkett was behind
Frank and after a caution for Mike Tripp, Birkett passed Frank in turn 2. By the
next lap, hard racing and flared tempers resulted in Birkett and Frank being
disqualified. Contrition depleted a field of 12 hobby stocks, leaving just three to
cross the finish line: Miller, Strehle, and Ricky Adams.
After dad’s dominating appearance in the Hobby stocks, William Martin took his
ride back to take the win in the backwards race.
Racing resumes Saturday with the return of the fast, speeding bullets of the Florida
Mini Sprint Association. Grandstands open at 5pm. For more information, call 386-
649-5372, or visit the speedway’s website at www.putnamcountyspeedway.com.
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