On a cool and chilly winter evening The USA Sprints Posse rode into Bithlo Florida with only 1 thing on their minds. That was to stake a claim on who was going to grab the Loot that Promoter Lou Banka had offered this night. After heat race # 1 it was obvious that Colorodo's own Bob "Thundefoot" Schaeffer's #22 was making his bid for the lions share as he drove a great race to best "Tiny" Tim George's #1 "Venice Wrecker" Shaw and hometown favorite John Cickota in the #45.
Heat Race # 2 saw RC Roper and Mike Love start from the front row with "Strange" Love grabbing the top spot for a lap until Andy Kelly drove high in turn 3 to use the cushion and take the lead over RC Roper who dove to the bottom to follow the # 11 Gambler Staggs Tree Service car. They finished that way with up and coming veteran Mike "The Professor" Steinruck coming home 3rd in the #44a, Ron Armstrong's Pennzoil Sponsored #56 was next followed by Mike Love in the #7.
The main event was shaping up top be a "barn burner" but the drivers were thrown for a loop as the Track just didn't have the grip it had the last time out. It was not only going to be a contest of driver ability but a good car set-up was to be crucial as well.
RC Roper would bring the cars down for the green flag with "Thunderfoot" Bob Schaeffer flanked to his right and Tiny Tim George and Andy "HammerDown" Kelly directly behind in the second row. Roper's # 92 "Hayloft Western Wear" Special stumbled and did not accelerate off of turn 4 which allowed The #22 of Schaeffer to blow by on the outside going into turn 1. Andy Kelly also took the high line and followed the #22 as the cars exited turn 2 and down the back straight. Tim George took advantage of Ropers mechanical woes to make the pass off of turn 4.Schaeffer was well on his way to stretching his margin when John Cickota in the #45 spun after he made slight contact with a inside retaining Tire. Unfortunately he was out for the evening.
The green flew for the lap 3 restart and "Thunderfoot" rocketed off of turn 4 and led for the next 3 laps until he slid high and jumped the cushion in turns 1 & 2 allowing "Hammer Down" Kelly's # 11 to grab the lead. The race went the next 12 laps under green with Andy Kelly distancing himself from the pack. "Tiny" Tim George would bring out the caution on lap 17 when he clipped one of those same inside Tractor Tires in turns 3 & 4. The race resumed with Kelly out front followed by Schaeffer and David "Skeeter" Kelly who borrowed Mike Davis's Car # 3. Skeeter and Schaeffer were waging a fierce battle unitl the caution flew again on lap 20 when newcomer Eddie "The Jewel" Newl's # 1e and Tim George got tangled in turn 4.
On the lap 21 restart it was apparent that there was no one to challenge the "Hammer" as Andy was again pulling away from the field. Meanwhile Schaeffer and 'Skeeter" Kelly's war almost brought an end to their night when the 2 collided off of turn 4 at which time Skeeter kept his foot in it to out dragrace Schaeffer down the front stretch into turn 1 with a slight advantage.Tim George came out of nowhere to pass RC Roper and Mike "The Professor" Steinruck who were battling with cars not performing up to thier usual standards but did a good job holding on to positions 5th and 6th.Andy Kelly cruised home for his 2nd USA Sprints Victory at OCS and was chased home by his older brother David "Skeeter" Kelly and Bob Schaeffer. Tim George rallied big to storm back from a late race spin to take 4th and was followed by Steinruck,Roper, Armstrong and Mike Love and Eddie Jewel with his first top 10 finish.
Andy Kelly now takes his points lead at 361 into the next race at Hendry County Speedway followed by Tim George's 345, Bob Schaeffer 321 and John Cickota 303.This will be the 2nd appearance of the young season at HCS where Bob Schaeffer won the first Exhibition race there. Race time will be 7:00pm.Call John Burger for more information (239) 839-8606 or Call the Track 863-805-8725 on Saturday.
