9/17/2016
Freedom Factory
Dutilly takes Bigley Memorial 128 at Desoto Speedway
Desoto Speedway
On a night where Desoto Speedway honored a fallen racing legend, it seemed fitting that the inaugural Billy Bigley Sr. Memorial 128 for the Sunoco Challenge Super Series Late Models.
Longtime rivals Jeff Scofield and Jesse Dutilly put on a show for the packed house on a hot night, but in the end it was Dutilly who saw his night end on a familiar piece of Manatee County real estate – Desoto Speedway's winner's circle.
Polesitter Joe Boyd grabbed the lead at the green flag and held a compfortable lead over Billy Bigley Jr., Jeff Scofield and Dylan Bigley over the first 15 laps. On lap 20, Danny Foster, Sean LeMaster and others crashed directly in front of the leaders between the third and fourth turns. Boyd and Bigley Jr. were both collected in the accident and were knocked out of contention for the win.
Scofield made it through the melee and assumed the top spot with Dylan Bigley and Jesse Dutilly in second and third on the restart. The trio stayed in that order for several laps with Chris Fontaine and George Gorham in tow until another caution flew for Joe Winchell's spin on lap 36.
Dutilly passed Dylan Bigley for second lap 54 and immediately set his sights on Scofield for the top spot. After trailing Scofield's tire tracks for several laps Dutilly tried to make the outside line work and pulled even with Scofield a couple of times.
Dylan Bigley was slowly working his way back to the fight for the lead when John Coffman spun and brought out a yellow on lap 80. Dutilly made the outside line work on the restart and cleared Scofield by the time the leaders hit the backstretch.
“I wanted the bottom line,” Dutilly said of what would be the final restart. “They put some speedy dry down in turn four and I knew he was going to run me hard.
Dutilly checked out from Scofield and the rest of the pack over the final 40 laps and drove on to the victory. Scofield said he may have tried to force Dutilly to abuse his brakes over the course of the race but needed more long green flag runs to make it happen.
“We did all we could do tonight...and he just beat us,” Scofield said. “It was a good, hard race.”
Gorham, Bigley and T.J. Duke rounded out the top five. Devin McLeod, who finished eighth, picked up $1,280 for being the night's fastest qualifier.
Myakka City's Darrin Ellis had a big night behind the wheel of two different race cars. In the 25-lap Pep Boys Speed Shop Modified Mini Stock feature, Ellis took the lead early and drove away from the rest of the pack for the win. The 25-lap LKQ Pick-Your-Part Pure Stock race later in the evening was almost an exact replay as Ellis took the lead early on and drove away for the win.
“It was a great night,” Ellis said as he celebrated with friends and family in victory lane.
In other action Saturday night, Jeff Firestine took the lead from Duane Best at the 7-lap mark and drove on to the victory in the 25-lap Take Aim Gun Range Street Stock feature; Zach Briggs won the 25-lap bomber feature; and Ren Wright Jr. held off Ronnie Robinson to win the 25-lap Mini Stock feature.
Desoto Speedway returns to action on Oct. 1 with the Jack Smith/Lee Collins Memorial 89-lap feature for the ADMO modifieds.The Desoto Pro Trucks, Outlaw Modifieds, Street Stocks, Mini Stocks, Modified Mini Stocks and Bombers will also be in action.
09-17-2016
DESOTO SPEEDWAY RACE RESULTS
Super Late Model
- 30 Jesse Dutilly
- 7 Jeff Scofield
- 10 George Gorham
- 128 Dylan Bigley
- 28D TJ.Duke
- 51 Michael Atwell
- 59 Dustin Dunn
- 21 Devin McLeod
- 98 Justin Ashburn
- 67 Aaron Williamson
- 51 Richie Anderson
- 64 Matthew Thomas
- 57 John White
- 17 Nick Neri
- 58 John Coffman
- 47 Chris Fontaine
- 15 Joe Winchell
- 36 Chad Chastain
- 54 Matt McCrary
- 8 D. J. Hoelzle
- 99 Danny Foster
- 5 Joe Boyd
- 28 Billy Bigley
- 5x Steve Gill
- 15L Sean LeMaster
- 56 Jimmy Frazier
- 4 Marilyn McCrary
Street Stock
1 10 Jeff Firestine
2. 23 Kenny Gibson
3. 4 Donnie Powers
4. 63 Duane Best
5. 74 Bobby Huffstutler
6. 8 Dan Scott
7. 11 Travis Barfield
8. 73 Jason Bartram
9. 51 Garrett Thompson
10. 50 Dave Blanchard
Pure Stock
- 71 Darrin Ellis
- 7 Blaine Baer
- 67 Jimmie Best
- 72 Roger Dufresne
- 3 Sherry Best
- 27 Gerald Fossa
- 27 Terry Price D.N.S.
Bombers
- 75 Carl Thompson
- 23 Kenny Gibson
- 28 Troy Davis
- 12 Doug Radley
5.22 Ann Marie Ricardi - 57 Aaron Holmes
- 14 Adam Briggs
- 38 Zach Briggs D.Q.
Modified Mini Stock
- 71 Darrin Ellis
- 71 Ted Vulpius
- 6 Jimmy Frazier
- 17 Brad Blanton
- 81 Travis Kirby
- 77 Rachelle Randolph
- 10 Darrick Foster
- 58 Cody Coffman D.N.S.
- 97 Scott Bumgardner D.N.S.
Mini Stock
- 8 Ren Wright
- 5 Ronnie Robinson
- 77 Laura Mammina
- 99 Johnny Marra
- 10 Kristan Mithaler
- 37 Todd Wozniak
- 07 Trevor Appling
Article Credit: Scott Lockwood