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Three Palms Speedway is not with out controversy. Drivers want rules enforced but when they do, the same drivers complain.
This past Saturday was no different.
Drivers are told every week, “NO PERSONNEL IS ALLOWED ON THE TRACK AT ANYTIME, INCLUDING VICTORY LANE. IT IS TO PROTECT YOU AND THE TRACK.”
This is the quote taken right from the rules of Three Palms Speedway.
“At no time should a driver or crew member(s) approach any portion of the racing surface or apron.”
Saturday night, the Street StocksĀ but on a barn burner of a battle between Kay Jackson of Punta Gorda and fan favorite Richard Nelson from Port Charlotte.
Nelson jumped out to an early lead and proceeded to hold off the challenges of Jackson. That is until the 88 of Jim Meiser spun in oil put down by Mike Kohut.
With the yellow flag the field regrouped. A double file restart was with Nelson on the inside. Jackson was on the outside.
The two raced side by side for several laps before Nelson’s tires gave up. He crossed the line second.
Before the cars could even get off the track, Jackson’s son came on to the speedway in a trail bike to meet his father in victory lane. Per the rules that is a “no-no”.
After victory lane photos were taken, theĀ race director disqualified the Jackson car per the rule book.
In the aftermath of the Tony Stewart incident from last year. This writer has to agree with the speedway. There were still cars on the speedway. The way insurance companies are you have err on the side of safety. Anyone that does not is not paying the bill.
So the finishing order of the street stock feature were as follows, Richard Nelson was declared the winner in the first point event of the season at Three Palms Speedway. Randy Sober was second. Joe Gentry finished third and Lehigh Acres’ Jim Meiser was fourth.
Richard Nelson said afterward, “If the caution would not have come out. He would not have got by me. My tires just gave up. I could catch him in the corners put he pulled away on the straights.”
TQ Midget action was another three and four wide battle in both features.
Rob Kohler held off perennial hard charger Mike Belusar in their McKinney team mate cars. Ernie Teague from Sarasota was third. “Hollywood” Mike Nelson came home fourth.
In the second feature before things even got started the cars ran into trouble. Mike Belusar was sent to the pits for a loose fuel cap. Till he got back out Rob Kohler dropped out with mechanical issues.
Once the green flag flew it was all hot heavy again. As car were going three and four wide juggling for position. When the dust all settled Mike Belusar came from the tail end of the field to take the checkers.
“Hollywood” Mike Nelson, who was late getting to the track, finished second in his Ward/Seaford Attorneys at law special. Ernie Teague picked up his second third place finish for the evening.
Three Palms Speedway in Punta Gorda, Florida will be back in action this Saturday evening at 5pm. The track will host Dwarf Cars, Outlaw Modifeds, Import Class, Bombers and Pure Stocks. The lowest admission price in the state of Florida, (10 dollars) gets you in to see all the great action.
Race22.com, the Short Track Authority, started out at Star City News, a racing magazine in the early-to-mid 2000s. In 2006, Race22.com was formed and quickly became a leading news outlet in Late Model Stock Car racing.