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Intrigue Chases After Sportsmen for Double Points Night

By Chuck Corder

Year in and year out, the West Florida Coatings Sportsmen drive the other classes into the abrasive asphalt at Five Flags Speedway.

While other divisions have their moments, no series provides more bang for their buck like the Sportsmen.

Why should 2011 be any different? There have been storylines aplenty this year as the Sportsmen gear up for Double Points Night on Friday at Five Flags.

The Butler U-Pull-It Bombers also will get their shot at Double Points Night while the Modifieds race in another 35-Lap feature.

The Allen Turner Pro Late Models highlight Friday’s festivities with the Azera 100. It’s the Pros last race before next month’s regular season finale, the Snowflake Tune Up 100.

The grandstands open at 5 p.m. Friday with admission as follows: $15 Adults; $14 Seniors/Military; $12 Students; $5 Child (6-11); Under 6 is Free. The pits open at 2 p.m. with passes costing $25.

One of the recurring themes to the Sportsmen’s season has been lead changes. Four different drivers have sat atop the standings at some point this season. Current leader Brannon Fowler, whose 541 points are 95 clear of Jim Pokrant, has led for two months now.

The level of racing has been as intense as ever. A three-car battle among Fowler, Pokrant and Randy Thompson in late July comes to mind.

The three were nose to tail coming out of Turn 4 before Pokrant’s aggressive move sent Thompson spinning down the front straightaway and yielding the win eventually to Fowler.

Other drivers, such as either Stevie Mercer or Steve Buttrick, held seemingly insurmountable leads only to be done in by either tire troubles or mechanical failures.

And there’s always the pins and needles guessing game of if the winner’s car will pass post-race technical inspection.

Above it all, Fowler and Buttrick have reigned supreme, setting up an intriguing battle Friday.

The pair has won eight of the 11 Sportsmen features, including the last six. Buttrick, the class’ defending track and Snowball Derby champion, actually boasts more wins — five to Fowler’s three.

He sits fifth in points, though, because he also competed in the Modifieds earlier this year. On those nights, Buttrick chose not to be in the seat of his blue No. 33 Sportsman car.

But he parked the Modifieds car in early August and has focused his attention squarely on the series he has dominated for the last two years.

Buttrick has 127 points to make up on Fowler.

But on Double Points Night, anything can happen.

 

West Florida Coatings Sportsmen Top 5 — 1. Brannon Fowler, 541.00, Leader; 2. Jim Pokrant, 446.00, -95; 3. Randy Thompson, 426.00, -115; 4. Marty White, 422.00, -119; 5. Steve Buttrick, 414.00, -127

 

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