Becca Monopoli Scores SPATS Victory at Three Palms

Becca Monopoli stole the headlines in one of the biggest races held at Three Palms since the track reopened last December.

A quick rain shower deluged the track a little after 4pm. With the pits full, the plan was do anything to get the show in. The shower passed quickly and track officials immediately began track drying efforts. Track drying was done at 6pm and the drivers meeting was held and the racing quickly started.

Twin features for the Southern Pro Am Truck Series (SPATS) were the headline races of the evening. The first of two for the evening. Michael Burns started on the pole after he set fast time in qualifying.

Burns jumped out to commanding lead but that evaporated after a spin by David Patterson on lap 12. Becca Monopoli was on the move. Becca was all over Burns on the restart. She was on Burns’ back bumper like a second coat of paint. Lap 16 saw Monopoli take the lead from Burns.

Another caution on lap 17 for the spin of Rich Cordis bunched the field. The yellow gave Burns another shot at Monopoli. But it did not matter as Becca held on for the win over Burns. JR Garcia III was third. Steven King slipped from his front row starting position to fourth. Fifth went to Cody Martell. Jason Kuykendall, James Dellea III, David Patterson, Rich Cordis and James Dellea Jr rounded out the top ten.

The second 25 lap SPATS feature was the last event for the evening. Cody Martell took an early lead. By lap five JR Garcia III took over. At lap 18, the running order was Garcia, Steven King and Becca Monopli trying to pull a double was third. Steven King used the high side to get around Garcia. Then with three laps to go the truck of Garcia and Michael Burns tangled in turn two trying to go for the same piece of real estate.

With the restart Monopoli and King set up a battle for the win. Monopoli tried every maneuver to get around King but he held on for the victory.

“I needed two more laps and I would have got him,” Monopoli said after her second place finish in the second race.  “I just ran out of time.”

Finishing behind King and Monopoli for third was JR Garcia III. Cody Martell and James Dellea Jr finished the top five.

The Outlaw Modified feature was the first race of the evening. Ric Mitch jumped out to an early lead. Billy Campbell did a little dirt tack sliding in turn one. He kept control. The yellow flew on lap one for a spin by the 00 of Robert Campbell. During the yellow, the 26 of Mike Endee dropped out.

Then the race was on as Robert Campbell came charging to the front. He took the lead on lap five. Billy Campbell was charging all over the Robert Campbell machine trying to take the lead. But Robert Campbell held on for the win. Second went to Billy Campbell. Ric Mitch, Paul Richards and Kevin Endee rounded out the top five.

TQ Midget was next on tap. The cars were quick to battle when the red flag flew for the flip of the 44 car of Scott Robinski. When the race resumed the cars of Ernie Teed Jr and Jimmy Wilkins had an epic battle. Wilkins tried every groove to get around Teed for the lead.

Teed took the white flag. Wilkins did a power move in turns one and two. He pulled along side of Teed on the back stretch. Teed powered away in three and four. Crossing the line Teed was first with Wilkins right on his back bumper waiting for mistake that never came.

TQ Midget point leader Rob Kohler was third. Mike Nelson fourth. Scott Robinski came back from his flip to finish fifth.

The Daytona Antique Auto Racing Association also held a race. The group brought plenty of cars and had very exciting racing. The features also came down to the wire. Taking those features were in Midgets, Robert Jon. Open Wheel Modified, Charlie Paschal took the win. Pat McNear in the V8 Stock class took the checkers. Jimmy Miltner came home first in the Sprint Car division.

Brian Hillyer got his first win ever in his newly acquired truck in the Rookie Truck Class over James Dellea III.

Michael Burns came from the back to finish sixth after his altercation in turn two. Rich Cordis, James Dellea III, David Patterson and Jason Kuykendall completed the top ten.

Three Palms Speedway in Punta Gorda, Florida will be back in action this Saturday night with Sportsman, Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, the always exciting Thunder Trucks and Outlaw 4’s. Racing begins at 6pm.