Bradenton’s Dutilly takes first career win at Showtime Speedway

The last time Jesse Dutilly wheeled a Super Late Model at Showtime Speedway, a last-lap pass robbed the Bradenton driver of the Florida State Super Late Model Championship in July.

Dutilly made sure that history wouldn’t repeat itself in Saturday’s main event. He grabbed the lead at the halfway point and held off a pack of some of the state’s top drivers to take his first career Showtime victory in the Late Model 2017 finale.

A five-car inversion put Chris Fontaine on the pole for the main event. From the drop of the green flag LJ Grimm was challenging Fontaine for the top spot and took the lead with an outside move coming out of turn two on lap 7.

George Gorham Jr. and fast-qualifier Dutilly moved up into second and third at the 10-lap mark. Gorham’s car began showering sparks several laps later and he began to drop back into the field.

Grimm was pulling away from the rest of the field when he got into the lapped car Kyle Allen to bring out the caution. Despite some heavy damage to the right front fender of his car Grimm stayed out and held the lead for the restart. He would only lead for a couple of more laps as Dutilly took the lead when field hit the halfway point. Less than a lap later a caution flew for a multi-car crash in turn two.

Dutilly got by Grimm on the restart and quickly pulled away from the rest of the field. Several laps later third-place runner Patrick Staropoli blew a tire and spun in front of the field, but avoided any further contact while his car sat stranded in front of oncoming traffic.

Jamie King got by Grimm on the ensuing restart. While the lead duo pulled away from the rest of the pack a fierce battle for third between Grimm, Fontaine, Chase Lovelady and Gorham went on for several laps before Fontaine finally got the spot with 10 laps to go. A few laps later Gorham spun while battling Lovelady for fifth, bringing out the final caution. Both were sent to the rear of the field.

Dutilly got the jump on King on the final restart and drove away for the victory. Fontaine and Grimm both got by King, whose car dropped a cylinder late, for second and third. Danny Partelo finished fifth.

With his 10th-place finish, Gorham locked up the 2017 Showtime Speedway Late Model championship — the first late model title of his career.

Dutilly wasn’t the only Manatee County driver to taste victory at Showtime Speedway on Saturday night. Chad Cushing was on the charge early in Saturday night’s 25-lap Mini Stock feature. He started in the middle of the pack and found himself third just two laps into the race. When Palmetto’s Dodge Carlbert got by Von Overbeck for the lead on lap 8, he brought Cushing with him to the front of the field with Kevin Grant Jr. not far behind in third.

Cushing made the move for the top spot with 10 laps to go. Carlbert refused to go away quietly and when Cushing slid high coming to the white flag, he made the inside move to take the lead. Cushing tried a crossover move on Carlbert on the final lap, but Carlbert held off the challenge and went on to the victory. Grant, Zak Graham and Eli Thompson rounded out the top five.

Marty Neikens dominated the first half of the 25-lap Hose & Hydraulic Street Stock feature. Chuck Mathias ran down Neikens just past the halfway point and spent the final dozen laps directly on the leader’s tail. Mathias ultimately came up short in his bid for the victory as Neikens completed the green-to-checker victory. John Stewart, Thomas Meyer finished third and fourth, while Rick Haugh held off Ryan Thompson Jr. in a thrilling battle for fifth.

To top off the evening, Bradenton resident Justin Amspaugh — driving the same car that Carlbert drove to victory in the Mini Stock feature earlier in the evening — took the victory in a thrilling Mini Stock Figure 8 race.

In other action Saturday night, Becca Monopoli won the 50-lap Pro Truck feature; Marty Neikens won the Hose & Hydraulic Street Stock feature; and Sheamus Danielson capitalized on late-race contact between Kyle Courtney and Jimmy Leach to win the Strictly Stock feature.

Open Wheel Modifieds headline next Saturday night’s racing at Showtime Speedway. Mini Stocks, Street Stocks, Strictly Stocks, Street Stock Figure 8’s and the Racecars of Yesteryear will also be in action.

This story was originally published November 5, 2017 at 9:52 AM with the headline "Bradenton’s Dutilly takes first career win at Showtime Speedway."