Saturday, July 5, 2008 Checkered Flag Sprints Goes to Butler By Curtis Whalin The Checkered Flag Sprint Series (CFSS) made a Friday appearance at Charlotte County Motor Sports Park to help celebrate July 4th with a 35 lap feature race. With a car count of 18, the crowd was treated to three heat races. After one false start, Keith Butler in the 19 car came from third place at the start of the first race to take the lead on the first lap and keep it to take the win. The second and third heats were both won by their pole sitters - Bryan Riddle in the 11X and Scott Adema in the 22. The three heat race winners were all eligible for the Barfield’s Clean Sweep Award that has grown to $500 - all they have to do to win the money was too win the feature race. After a short autograph session with the crowd, the track was cleared and the cars were fired off. For the first time this season and to celebrate this special day, the cars performed the 4 wide parade lap as a salute to the fans before the start of the feature race. Ryan Partin in the #14 car had the pole for the start of the feature event, with heat two winner Bryan Riddle in the 11X on the outside. Bryan made the better start and took the race lead but he was only able to hold onto it for one lap until he was passed by Dakotah Stephens in the 79DD who had started in 6th position. The first of two cautions came out on lap 4 when the 21A of Amanda Ferguson and the 2 driven by Geoff Styner both spun coming out of turn 4. Both cars were re-fired and joined the back of the pack for the restart. The race got back to green with a close fought battle at the front between Dakotah Stephens in the 79DD, Keith Butler in the 19 and David Slawiak in the79. On lap 7, the 21 of Darrin Miller and the 37 driven by Jason Bradford both pulled in to the infield. A new race leader was crowned on lap 9 when Keith Butler made pass to take the lead. The 5s of Stephen Sinwald pulled off on lap 15. Bryan Riddle in the 11X had contact with another car and spun between turns one and two on lap 20 to bring out the second and final caution of the race. The battle at the front between the 19, 79DD and 79 continued until the end of the race, when Keith Butler in the 19 took the checkered flag to win both the race and the Barfield Clean Sweep Award. David Slawiak in the 79 car took second and Dakotah Stephens in the 79DD had to settle for third. The 51 of Mark Gimmler was fourth and Scott Adema in the 22 finished in fifth place. The Real Racin USA Hard Charger Award goes to David Slawiak. Just a reminder that Keith Butler and the sponsors of his car, the 19 car that has been named “The Patriot”, have started an initiative called “Race for Freedom” to collect supplies and donations for the troops overseas. Fans coming to the track can donate money or bring supplies (razors, deodorant, shampoo, baby wipes, etc) and drop them off at the track entrance. Any cash donations will be used to buy additional supplies and pay for the mailing costs. So far the Butlers have sent over 100 pounds of supplies to troops overseas thanks in a large part to the generosity of the CCMP racers and fans. The donation boxes will be available at the next CFSS race for anyone that would like to contribute. If you can’t make it to a race but still want to contribute or would like more information, you can contact Keith at kjmotorsports@aol.com. CFSS will be back at Charlotte County Motorsports Park on August 23rd. Thanks to the fans and the racers for their continued support. Checkered Flag Sprint Series Results Charlotte County Motorsports Park July 4, 2008 J.B. Banta Logistics Feature: 1) 19 Keith Butler; 2) 79 David Slawiak; 3) 79DD Dakotah Stephens; 4) 51 Mark Gimmler; 5) 22 Scott Adema; 6) 29 Gary Gimmler; 7) 78 Shane Miller; 8) 55 Tommy Nichols; 9) 14 Ryan Partin; 10) 11X Bryan Riddle; 11) 1 Tim George; 12) 21A Amanda Ferguson; 13) 10N Shawn Namor; 14) 15 Jason Gillespie; 15) 2 Geoff Styner; 16) 5s Stephen Sinwald; 17) 21 Darrin Miller; 18) 37 Jason Bradford Bilstein Heat #1 1) 19 Keith Butler (Riverview, FL) 2) 79 David Slawiak (Brandon, FL) 3) 14 Ryan Partin (Orlando, FL) 4) 5s Stephen Sinwald (New Port Richey, FL) 5) 1 Tim George (Venice, FL) 6) 21A Amanda Ferguson (Montverde, FL) All Pro Heads Heat #2 1) 11X Bryan Riddle (Thonosassa, FL) 2) 79DD Dakotah Stephens (Brandon, FL) 3) 55 Tommy Nichols ( Tampa, FL) 4) 51 Mark Gimmler (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) 5) 10N Shawn Namor (Deerfield Beach, FL) 6) 15 Jason Gillespie (Lutz, FL) SunCoast Vanlines Heat #3 1) 22 Scott Adema (Fort Myers, FL) 2) 29 Gary Gimmler (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) 3) 78 Shane Miller (Tampa, FL) 4) 21 Darrin Miller (Tampa, FL) 5) 37 Jason Bradford ( West Palm Beach, FL) 6) 2 Geoff Styner (Cape Coral, FL) Charlotte County Motorsports Park finishes for 7-4-08 Tag Karts 5-James Perkins, St. Petersburg 63- Rick Nicholson, Ft. Myers 107- Rich Shepard, Punta Gorda 7- Chad Manix, Napels 1-Tom Boody, Cape Coral 12- Brad Sanders, Ft. Myers 25-Joel Traub, Nort Port 07-Francios Brun-Wiboux, Bradenton 55-Chris Lovegrove 6-Ruel Ellis, Lehigh Acres 24-Danny Colleli, N. Ft. Myers 71- D.N.S. Road Warriors 93-Jeff Firestine, Venice 32-Dean Butram, Venice 38-Gary McFall,Englewood 97-Chris Scott, Nokomis 10-Ken Smith 95-Ernie Sparks,Venice 39- Jerry Tetting, Pt. Charlotte 16-James Buckmaster, North Port 4-Daniel Sweet, Port Charlotte 29-Don Jericka- DNS Sprint Cars 19-Keith Butler 79-David Slawiak 79 DD-Dakotah Stephens 51-Mark Gimmler 22-Scott Adema 29-Gary Gimmler 78-Shane Miller 55-Chris Lovegrove 14-Ryan Partin 11x-Bryan Riddle 1-Tim George 21A-Amanda Ferguson 10N-Shawn Namor 15-Jason Gillespie 2-Geoff Styner 5s-Stephen Sinwald 21m-Darrin Miller 37-Jason Bradford Figure 8 93-Jeff Firestine 27-Derrick Horton 67-Chester Lusk 16-Wally Smith 10A-Richie Shepard 34-James Crawford 95-Ernie Sparks 11-Ken Smith 17-Leonard Lindsey 39-Jerry Tetting 9-Ray Scott 32-Dean Butram DARA-Midjets 6-Jerry Pagium 1-Dale Miller 41-Richard Yurewitch 56-Bill Rynd 71-Bill Wendt DARA-Stock 93-Frank Lenhart 78-Cory Lane 4-Gary Lane 23-Roger Herbach 21-Jim Kaserman DARA-Sprints 10-Roy Campbell 7W-Sue Yahne 7B-Jay Yahne 9-Dave Jarrett 8-Dick Stanley 2-Vince Cappeli 80-Fred Strickland