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Senter wins again at East Bay
SCOTT LOCKWOOD
Florida Short Track Report.com
GIBSONTON - On the first night of the Florida Mini Sprint Winternationals at East
Bay, Travis Senter, Jr. made things look real easy in a dominating win.
After a decent finish in the second night, Senter was looking to take another trophy
back to Arkansas in the finale, but a deep field of 26 cars would make him have to
earn it.
Senter looked well on his way to a repeat, as he came out and destroyed the field in
the first heat race with a winning margin of over half a lap on second place Tyler
Reddick. New York driver Matt Pupello took the second heat, with Angelo Mercardo
and Dustin Gates taking the other two heat races.
It looked as if Pennsylvania driver Jim Young was on his way to a win in the B-main,
only to see rookie driver Wyatt Corniellie get by with less than two laps to go and go
on to lead his first laps and win his first ever race in a mini sprint. Brian Roseman
also got by Young to get the final transfer spot into the A-main.
As the field took the green flag for the 25 lap main event, Brent Marks made contact
with another car and flipped wildly into the first turn. Marks was uninjured but would
be done for the night. On the second attempt at a start, Gates made a move for the
lead but slowed suddenly to bring out a caution.
The third time turned out to be a charm as Clayton Robertson jumped out to an
early lead. Starting from the second row, Senter settled in and was up to second by
lap 6. After a spin by Corniellie brought out a caution the next lap. Senter got by
Robertson and quickly checked out on the rest of the field.
The rest of the event turned out to be a race for second and third place. Robertson
suffered a mechanical failure on lap 14 and fell out of contention, moving Marty
Hardgroder into second. In the closing laps, Tennessee’s Samantha Gargus came
from the middle of the pack, using some dicey moves and well timed passes to get to
third. However, no one had nearly enough for Senter, who was nearly as dominant
in this race as he was the first night. Luke Thomas and Mercardo rounded out the
top five.
The Florida Mini Sprints will continue their Winternationals series next weekend, and
will return to East Bay Feb. 11 and 12.
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