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14-Year-Old Brannon Rises To Father's Challenge At DeSoto

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By BILL GREEN, Tribune correspondent

Published: October 18, 2007

Updated: 10/17/2007 11:45 pm

Saturday night at DeSoto Super Speedway, Drew Brannon gave notice that he is a rising star.

The 14-year-old late model driver set the fast time with a respectable 15.099 (102 mph), won the pole and led all 100 laps for his first Goodyear Challenge Series win.

Before the races at DeSoto, Brannon talked about a small challenge his father, Bob, had issued.

'Dad said that if I could win a Goodyear series or DeSoto series race, he would take me to Nashville in November for the final ASA Late Model Series event,' Brannon said. 'I want that opportunity.

'I hope to make my way into big-time racing,' the Miami native continued. 'But I don't think I could have come this far without learning by racing some of the best in the country right here in the Tampa Bay area.'

From go-karts, through the Fast Kids series at age 12 and now into late models, Brannon has won in every type of car he has raced. His first late model race was at this time last year, and he opened the 2007 season winning one of the nine World Series of Asphalt events at New Smyrna in February. He finished second in the World Series points race.

After Saturday night's race, the youngest driver in the field had all the fans in the grandstand on their feet as he exited the car, stood in the window, pumping his fists in the air as if he had just won his first NASCAR event.

Turning toward his father after the race, Brannon said into the public-address microphone: 'I did it Dad, you owe me.'

AUBURNDALE SPEEDWAY: Although the race was cut from 100 to 50 laps as curfew approached, Aaron Williamson earned the $1,500 for the Sportsman feature win. Other winners included Dustin Breeden (first Street Stock-25), Brandon Morris (second Street Stock-25), Brady Marshall (Mini-Cups), Robbie Storer (Mod-Minis), Michael Cenzi (Star Pro Trucks), Andy Leserra (Champ Carts) and Bobby Kelly (Scramblers).

CITRUS COUNTY SPEEDWAY: 'Fall Fiasco' Enduro driver Robert Ray won $5,000 for beating 33 other cars in the 150-lap event. Other big winners included Wayne Calkins (Pro Fig 8's), Mike Gamache (Pro School Buses), Phillip Perry (Rookie School Buses), Gamache (Boat Trailer Race) and the Demo Derby had a three-way tie, with Jason White, Steven Rib and Jeremy Graves.

DESOTO SUPER SPEEDWAY: Aside from Brannon, other winners were Jerome Watland (Bombers), Alex Patton (Magic 4's), Glenn Kelly (Mod-Minis), Bobby Baldwin (Open Wheel Mods), Randy Johnson (Pure Stocks) and Joey Barnes (Street Stocks).

EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK: Gene Lasker held off Greg Leonard by a few car lengths for his sixth Limited Sprint win. Other winners were: Matt Tiffany (360 Sprints), Buckshot Mexiner (Street Stocks), Shane Burrows (Outlaw 4's) and Frank Miller (4-Cyl Bombers).

CHARLOTTE COUNTY MOTORSPORTS PARK: A 'Rocktoberfest, Parrot Style' is planned for the weekend of Oct. 19-21. Proceeds benefit the Charlotte County YMCA. The weekend's events include a special mix of auto racing and music, with appearances by Brian Howe of Bad Company fame on Saturday night, and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Artimus Pyle on Sunday. Call (941) 575-7223 for information.

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