Drivers Schnader and Alberto give fans run for money

Tommy Schnader, driver of the No. 96 car in the Open Wheel Modified class, had only seconds remaining in his 25-lap feature race Saturday.

With the winner decided -- Chris Robbins (No. 88) throttled across the finish line moments earlier, nearly one-third of the track's quarter mile ahead of the pack -- the battle for second raged in full fight.

Unable to pass the second-place car after pulling within range halfway through Lap 8, Schnader crept door-to-door with Chico Alberto's orange No. 33 with three laps to go. Schnader finally edged Alberto on an open-throttle push coming out of Turn 4 in the final lap to take the runner-up position.

It was a photo finish. Speedway officials needed several minutes to confer before announcing that Schnader won. Only inches separated him from third. Schnader's scheduled 10th-place start improved to nearly eighth after two racetime no-shows. He moved up quickly, maintaining the fourth spot until a Lap 4 restart set up the opportunity to pass Tommy Bower's No. 51 four laps later.

Getting around Alberto, however, proved a greater challenge.

"We were pretty even in power," Schnader said. "I mean, I couldn't pull him down the straightaway. Chico's fast, but luckily he had handling problems."

It was during Schnader's continuous three-lap attack in the waning moments that Alberto's machine showed signs of coming undone. It lost traction midway through several key turns, dropping ground each time.

It appeared Alberto had the advantage in timing and position as the two vehicles sped down the final stretch, but a last-second burst of power from Schnader sealed the outcome.

"I tried to race him clean, tried to race him door-to-door," said Alberto, a short-track veteran of 20 years. "My car was a little loose ... that was enough. But, that's racing."

Sunshine's busy night -- the showcase event, a School Bus Figure 8 race; and the Modified division's crowd-pleaser -- was, for Schnader, what the sport is all about.

"This is all about the fans," he said. "We're the fastest class out here now that the Late Models are gone. We've got to put on a show for the fans," Schnader said. "We kind of ran away with the show."

Robbins led uncontested for the duration of the Open Wheel Modified event.

NOTES: Reigning champion Robert Crisp, No. 2 of Clearwater, took his first regular-season victory in the Outlaw Late Model class, absorbing a few knocks along the way.

Crisp was spun twice from behind.

St. Petersburg's Mark Nelson, driver of the No. 11 car, finished second, and Dunedin-based racer Scott Holly took third in his white No. 1.

Wayne Calkins grabbed the victory in his winged No. 14 Figure 8 machine.

He appeared to be a shoe-in after opening an extensive lead in the early laps. But Robbie Hage, driver of No. 74, hurriedly chiseled away at Calkins in the final four laps before capturing second. St. Petersburg's Bob Hage (No. 78) came in third place.

Division champion Roger Welch, No. 98 of St. Petersburg, posted the victory in the Street Stock class, squeezing out St. Petersburg's Dave Ochsenwald (No. 61) and Largo's James Ellershaw (No. 50). Largo's Macky Mongold, driver of No. 6, took the top spot in Mini Stocks after a tight race.

Matt Rotkis (No. 3) and Pinellas Park's Ashley Larson (No. 58) followed in second and third, respectively.

Russell Scalf captured the Enduro title in his No. 50 machine.

St. Petersburg's Scott Misener (No. 70) trailed Scalf to second, and Steve Elder of St. Petersburg clocked in at third in No. 42.

Raymond Holtorf held on to win the season's first School Bus Figure 8 race in the No. 01 Bus.

Conventional Figure 8 winner Calkins pulled double duty, finishing second in his No. 29. Speedway promoter Frank Hill (No. 45) was third.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright