SPTS Lake City Race Report

Lake City, Fla. - The Myakka Brokers Southern Pro Truck Series traveled to Bert Ashleman’s Columbia Motorsports Park near Lake City, Fla, for 75 lap of slamming and banging around the semi-banked half mile speedway. When all was said and done it was Scott Bramlett of St Cloud, Fla. standing in Victory lane after a scintillating drive through the field to capture the win. Points leader Butch Yoakam of Newport Richie, Fla. finished second with Mark Manfredi of Debary Fla. in third. Jeff Sloan and Mike Gamache rounded out the top five.

In early qualifying action, Rusty Dixon of Riverview, Fla. set the quick time on his first of two laps around the oval, only to drive off the back straight as he tried to better what already was a track record for the Late Model trucks. His excursion caused the oil pan to rupture, laying oil down around the entire track and making it virtually impossible for anyone to beat his time.

The front five trucks were inverted for the start which put newcomer John Shields of Bradenton, Fla. on the pole for the start in his 1999 Dodge Ram. Yoakam in his Ford F-150 sat on the outside pole. Bramlett elected to scratch his qualifying attempt and started the race on the tail end of the field.

Bramlett soon showed the strength of his Chevrolet Silverado as he began to slice his way through the field. Using his Florida Pro experience on this same track, Bramlett had the truck setup perfectly and while the racing throughout the field was two and sometimes three wide, he was patient and picked off the opposition at the rate of one truck per lap in the early going.

Butch Yoakam was out front and Mark Manfredi was having his best outing of the season as he moved into the top five early on. But the focus of the crowd was on Bramlett as he continued his charge through the pack. Darting inside or using the high side, Bramlett continued his relentless advance to the front. Although his progress was slowed somewhat when he entered the top five, he still continued to advance.

By lap 70 Bramlett was in second place and pressuring leader Yoakam for the lead. With the laps winding down, the experience of Yoakam seemed to be prevailing until on lap 74 as the two headed to the white flag, Bramlett got the room and the run he needed and the two trucks flashed under the flagstand side-by-side as the white hankie waved,

The crowd was on its feet, roaring its approval as Yoakam and Bramlett entered turn one still side-by-side. Through one and two they battled even and then as they exited the turns on to the back straight, Bramlett began to edge ahead, Yoakam fought back, but with Bramlett on the inside going into turn three, the advantage lay with the Chevy and Bramlett emerged from turn four with the lead and swept across the finish line to take his first ever Series win, and completing a remarkable last-to-first run.

The next event for the exciting Southern Pro Truck Series will be Saturday April 24 at St. Augustine (Fla.) Speedway.

Race Result

1.      12      Scott Bramlett          Chev
2.      47      Butch Yoakam            Ford
3.      20      Mark Manfredi           Dodg
4.      31      Jeff Sloan              Ford
5.      44      Mike Gamache            Chev
6.      28      Steve Smith             Chev
7.      46      Tommy Caveney           Chev
8.      70      Jason Williamson        Chev
9.      37      Bruce Gaskins           Ford
10.     7       Randy Davis             Chev
11.     87      Terry Woodard           Chev
12.     76      Ronnie Barnett          Chev
13.     23      John Shields            Dodg
14.     74      Hubert Simmons Jr.      Chev
15.     04      Gayle Haines            Chev
16.     10      George Receveur Jr.     Chev
17.     97      Rusty Dixon             Ford
18.     95      Todd Blevins            Toyo

John Kaiser, SPTS