Photo from Bridgett Whitener
Report from track staff
Barberville ,Fl
6-27- 2016) Mother Nature tried her hardest to take another night of racing on Saturday night, but Rob Underwood and the track prep crew were ready this time. Around 5:30pm the track was hit with a massive rain shower that would threaten the nights racing action, but the track was packed in very hard and would only take about two hours to be completely run in. After the drivers meeting everyone agreed they came to race and they would stick the night out.
It ended up being a great night of racing action as Mark Whitener would top the Advanced Medical Labs Late Model division in a thriller with Jason Fitzgerald. The two would exchange the lead three times before Whitener got around Fitzgerald for the final time with a power move off turns four with ten laps to go. Nevin Gainey would finish third, David Clegg fourth and Howard Stalls rounded out the top five.
Newcomer to the 2016 season Bill Adkins would shock the field in the Mercedes Benz of Daytona Beach Limited Late Model Division after Nevin Gainey continued is small streak of bad luck exiting the race early. Adkins put on a great show with fellow competitor Sonny Thompson, who recorded a win earlier this year, but Adkins would prove to be too much taking home his first win of 2016. Paul Shead would come home in third, brother Steve Shead in fourth, and Tom Smith rounded out the top five.
The Integrity Painting V8 Thunderstocks were running the third and final qualifier race for the Benny Corbin Memorial at North Florida Speedway later in the year this past Saturday Night. The race would pay $1,000 to win and the winner is also guaranteed a starting spot in the main event later next month.
David Shower Jr. has been the man to beat this year, but on Saturday Night it was evident the field is catching up, and quickly. Shower Jr's father, David Showers Sr. would set the pace for the first half of the race and dominate before mechanical woes forced the #8 Shower Chassis machine pit side. This would set up another battle with Bubba Durbin who became the class of the field with Ronnie Ponce and Alan Peacock in tow. David Shower Jr. was deep in the field and was on the move in the 20 lap feature as well. Just past the half way marker Bubba Durbin would be struck with bad luck and was forced pit side with mechanical issues as well. Now Ronnie Ponce would inherit the lead with Alan Peacock on his rear bumper and David Shower Jr. within striking distance. The three would duke it out until the final lap when David Showers Jr. would make a bold pass on both of the front runners on the final turn to take home yet another win and extend his winning streak on the 2016 Season. Ronnie Ponce came home second, Alan Peacock third, Kent Corbin fourth, and Ben Hutto had his best finish of 2016 in fifth.
The newly sponsored Gary Yeomans Performance Parts Gladiator division was up next to round out the evening as Ashley Eng would lead the field to the green flag. Ashley would lead the first half of the race, but it was her brother Kyle Eng who was on the move from his second row starting spot challenging lap after lap. With just a handful of laps, Kyle would make the winning pass on the outside to take the lead away from Ashley and go onto win the main event for his first win in the 2016 season. Dustin Carter charged from 11th to come home third, Josh Walker was fourth, and Dustin Childers came from 12th to round out the top five.
VSP is back on track this Sunday, July 3rd for our first ever Forth of July bash with the Advanced Medical Labs Late Models and Daytona Sportswear Modifieds each running for $3,000 to win. The Allen Plumbing Hobby Stocks are running for $2,500 to win and the Integrity Painting V8 Thunderstocks are running the Cole North Memorial race for $1,500 to win.
Since this is a Sunday race, The Pit and Drive Thru gates will open at 3:00pm. The Main Gate will open at 4:00pm and we will be racing at 6:30pm sharp! We hope to see you all there!
Advanced Medical Labs Late Models - (17 Cars)
(Feature/25 Laps) Mark Whitener, Jason Fitzgerald, Nevin Gainey, David Clegg, Howard Stalls, Davey Cline, Travis Staats, Larry Anderson, Jamie Dayhaw, Hamp Conley, Ray Price, Corey Howard, Blake Spencer, Cheyenne Cox, Richard Ferry, Adam Bennett, Erik McElroy (DNS)
Mercedes Benz of Daytona Beach Florida Limited Late Models - (13 Cars)
(Feature/20 Laps) Bill Adkins, Sonny Thompson, Paul Shead, Steve Shead, Tom Smith, Riley Cason, Mark Steube, Robert Hicks, Michael Ridgeway Jr. Lisa O'Conner, Adam Bennett, Nevin Gainey (DNF), Grady Christian (DNS)
Integrity Painting V8 Thunderstocks / Benny Corbin Prelude Race #3 - (33 Cars)
(Feature/20 Laps/$1,000 to win) David Showers Jr., Ronnie Ponce, Alan Peacock, Kent Corbin, Ben Hutto, Ron Adams, Brian Morgan, Donnie Ashford, Jonathan Croson, Kevin Durdin, Dean Jarvis, Tim Hughes, Matt Schloss, John Thorpe, Bubba Durbin (DNF), Dustin Turnage Jr. (DNF), David Showers Sr. (DNF), Mike Tovet (DNF) Roger Wren (DNF), Dustin Turnage Sr (DNF), Chris Lawrence (DNF), Hayden McCormick (DNF), James Smith (DNF), Danny Wuest (DNF), Paul Schloss (DNF), Maro Reyes (DNF)
Gary Yeomans Performance Parts Gladiators - (12 Cars)
(Feature/15 Laps) Kyle Eng, Ashley Eng, Dustin Carter, Josh Walker, Dustin Childers, Casey Feaster, Erik Mantz, Jamie Sullivan, Chris Yeomans, John Baxter, Dewayne Yeomans, Jeff Wells (DNS)
