Steve O'lone claimed victory in Sunshine Speedway's Outlaw Late Model division championship on Saturday, outgunning defending champ Ed Kidd and current points leader Robert Crisp.
O'lone passed Kidd in the points standings, but the driver of the red Piper Fire Protection No. 20 says he isn't in it for numbers.
"We should be in sixth place now, but we don't race for points," O'lone said after the race.
The Largo driver has stepped up thanks to some mechanical tweaking in recent weeks, winning in two of the last three races. He also registered the fastest lap in Saturday's time trials.
O'lone attributed the win in part to his recent flurry of newfound zeal.
"We came into tonight real confident," O'lone said. "We've been on a rail the last few weeks. We knew we could win some races."
The championship was run in the form new to the speedway for 2003, consisting of two 20-lap qualifying races, followed by the 10-lap winner-take-all Leo Musgrave Shootout.
O'lone took the top spot in the opening race and followed with a ninth-place showing in the second feature. The points tally after the two set up O'lone for a showdown with the Outlaw Class' reigning ruffian, the No. 2 of Crisp.
O'lone bested Crisp in two of three of the event's previous matchups. Crisp clocked the second-fastest time in the trials and finished third in the event's first 20-lap race.
Crisp got the upper hand in the second feature, starting on the eighth row, directly in front of O'lone. The points leader repelled 20 laps of fierce pressure from O'lone, finishing in eighth and setting the tone for the Shootout.
Starting side by side on the first row of the 10-lap race, the Shootout's opening laps were run neck-and-neck before Crisp gave way in Lap 3.
The final blow for Crisp came during a Lap 4 restart. Officials found his No. 2 to be leaking oil and he was sent to the pits.
He emerged before the green flag after replacing a missing oil cap, but his trip from the oval cost him his position and he was relegated to the rear of the pack.
O'lone wasn't seriously challenged again. Dunedin's Scott Holly, No. 1, took second and current points runner-up Wendell Overstreet came away with third.
O'lone applauded Sunshine's novel approach to the championship race.
"I love the Shootout. The 50-lappers are good, but we race in Florida and let's face it, it's hot," O'lone said with a laugh. "It gets really hot out there. So it's nice to get some water, get a break."
NOTES: Holly followed O'lone for second in the first Outlaw feature. Crisp registered third.
Overstreet led the No. 16 of Troy Johnson across the line in the second Outlaw qualifier and Rikk McMehan rounded out the top three.
Teddy Nelson, driver of the No. 84 machine, prevailed in a knockdown, drag-out fight in the Open Wheel Modified class. Nelson's only challenger, the No. 1 of Mike Hinegardner, applied 25 laps of intense competition to Nelson, but was ultimately unable to make the pass.
Crisp finished third pulling double duty in the No. 20 auto. In Figure 8s, Joey Catarelli clinched the win in the No. 37.
Wayne Calkins, No. 14 of St. Petersburg, took second and moved to within four points of division leader Robbie Hage. "Wild Man" Shane Grigsby, operator of the blue No. 28, finished third.
St. Petersburg's Dave Cleary, No. 07, took the top spot in Street Stocks. Barry Bartlett and Larry Brannon inherited the second- and third-place spots after multiple cars were disqualified.
Rick Litka grabbed the win in Mini Stocks, driving the No. 82.
He was trailed by Glenn Kelley and Matt Rotkis in the Nos. 16 and 3, respectively. Russell Scalf, driver of the No. 50, claimed the win in Enduros.
Rick Germony finished second and Brian Lawrance third.
