Jax Raceways Results 99-05-02

"Cool Temps, High Winds" By: Donnie Helmly

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA, (May 2, 1999) Cool Temperatures and high winds kept some of the fans away, but didn't stop the exciting racing action at Jax Raceways ½ mile NASCAR sanctioned track, with racing action in five divisions.

The open Wheel Modified Division saw a repeat winner in victory lane, as Robert McCormick was the dominant car for the second week in a row. McCormick and Robert Balkcom won the heat races, but the re-draw put them back a few spots at the start of the 20-lap event. Marty Whitener would be the early leader, but would give that spot up early to McCormick, who would never entertain a serious challenge for the rest of the night. David Ryals moved up to second with just a handful of laps remaining, and would cross the line in second, with points leader Kevin Bayless, Balkcom and Whitener rounding out the top five. Six through tenth was Kenny Bayless, Manny Valderrama, Ronnie Ponce, Keny Porter and Anthony Stamps.

The Late Model race saw a familiar face in victory lane, as "The Dominator" Jeff Godbee set fast time in qualifying, and led every lap, to claim his fifth feature event of the season. Chuck Chitty would follow in second, with points leader Buddy Geiger in third, Homer Leonard and Lee Blacksher made up the top five. Six through ten was Buster Delay, Michael Murrer, J.O. Nobles, Chuck Meredith and David Crews. Former division Champion Steve Whitener was involved in an early caution flag, and rolled an undetermined amount of times, and was out of contention.

The Hobby Stock saw a new face setting fast time in qualifying action, as Rohn Moon set fast time turning the track in a 22.102, with Lee Blacksher turning second fast time. Moon would get the jump on the fire of the race, and lead for a few laps until Blacksher made his way to the front spot, where he would stay. Moon applied pressure through out the event, but was forced to settle for the runner up spot. Defending 1998 champion Tony Callaway crossed for third, with Joey Miller and Rick Hutchinson making up the top five. Six through ten was Eddie Holton, John Wood, Randy Clark, James Jeffers and Mark Beebe.

The Pure Stock division provided the most excitement of the night, as drivers were three and four wide through out the 15-lap event. Ray Pruett and Windal Clark won their respected heat events, but the re-draw would move them back in the field for the start of the race. Wade McBride and Mark Whitener would share the lead early, but would be over taken by Pruett by lap five, with both of them falling back. Pruett would hold the front position until late in the 15-lap event, when Clark would find the outside grove to his liking, and make the move to the front spot to stay. John Taylor would also make the move around Pruett to finish in second with Pruett in third, Ron Doan crossed in fourth, with Chad Grogan coming from the tail to finish out the top five. Sixth through ten was made up of Mark Whitener Hardy Jarvis, Lee Adkins, Joey Zimmerman and John Shortridge.