Sunshine track reaches the finish line

Sunshine Speedway ended its 42nd season of short-track racing Saturday.

Postponed a week due to uncooperative weather, the track's final night determined the champions in the Figure 8 and Street Stock classes.

Tight competition for the lead in the respective events kept drivers and fans holding their collective breath until the last laps.

Cliff Rousseau, No. 3 of St. Petersburg, finished atop the Figure 8 standings. He beat out 2001 champ Ron "Hollywood" Davis, No. 89 of Pinellas Park, in what became Sunshine's closest title race.

Only 24 points separated the drivers entering the final event, meaning Davis had to place seven spots ahead of Rousseau to capture the championship outright.

Pulling in front of Rousseau in the early laps, Davis was unable to advance farther in the course of the race.

Rousseau, on the other hand, managed a couple of tough passes in the 20-lap event, finishing just two positions behind the defending champ -- more than enough to secure the crown.

Rousseau and Davis were locked in a battle the entire season, with neither able to obtain a definite advantage over the other throughout 37 weeks of competition until Saturday.

The championship was the first in 13 years of Figure 8 participation for Rousseau, who said he was "born and raised" at the Pinellas Park track. J.R. Meyer, who drives the No. 21 car, finished third for the season.

In Street Stocks, St. Petersburg's Roger Welch (No. 98) produced his second straight points victory. He defeated Jim Ellershaw, No. 50 of Largo, whom he led by 66 points entering the last race.

"I just can't believe it," Welch said. "I've just got to let it sink in. Two times in a row. ... What more can I ask for?"

Welch raced competitively all season. But he didn't begin to pull away in the division, whose size puts it among the most difficult classes, until midway through the schedule.

"I took (the lead) on the back half of the season ... just like last year," said Welch, a third-season Street Stock competitor.

Tampa's Bryan Rogers (No. 77) took the third-place points position, behind Ellershaw.

The championships in a number of divisions had been decided before Saturday.

Chet Senokossoff, driver of the No. 6 Open Wheel Modified, had his opponents waxed for weeks before the end of the season. But Pinellas Park's Corky Craver (No. 12) executed a last-minute siege on the turquoise No. 9 of Dan Partelo, who entered the race six points ahead of third-place Craver, when Partelo was sent to the rear early in the 25-lap feature.

Outlaw Late Model champ Robert Crisp, No. 2 of Clearwater, rounded out the year with his 21st win for the season.

Pinellas Park's Ed Kidd (No. 6) led the Outlaws most 2002 but was bumped to second when all of the drivers' two lowest performances were dropped from the record.

Kidd held his ground to take the runner-up spot. His point total was followed by St. Petersburg's Rick Haugh (No. 77), whose finish of fifth Saturday ousted former third-place resident Pete Coon (No. 27).

Mike Birk Jr. (No. 10) entered the last Mini Stock event as the class champ.

NOTES: Tampa's Tony Meehan (No. 3) took the Modified victory Saturday.

He was followed by Shane Grigsby (No. 28) and Tommy Schnader (No. 96).

Points-winner Crisp won the Outlaw feature, leading Steve O'lone (No. 20) and Mark Nelson (No. 11) across the finish line.

First in Figure 8s went to Donnie Thomas (No. 40) after a hard-dueling 20 laps against runner-up Wayne Calkins (No. 11).

John Baranauskas (No. 01) picked up third place. Troy Meredith posted the victory in the Street Stock class in his No. 89 machine.

Abbie Haugh (No. 42) took second, and was followed by Jackie Dziadul (No. 2).

Eric Cuchta (No. 12) led the Mini Stock field.

Tommy Bower (No. 51) and Ronnie Wayne Larson (No. 88) completed the top three.

Bernie Gamache won the 15-lap Enduro feature in his No. 1x car, and Andy Green took the Travel Trailer/Boat Race behind the wheel of No. 21.

Joe Cihak, driver of No. 3, captured the top spot in the Bathtub Challenge.

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