PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Davey Hamilton Jr. and 14-year-old Colton Bettis each claimed a 35-lap feature victory Saturday night at Showtime Speedway.
But by virtue of his fast time (12.383), Hamilton was crowned the Dave Steele Winged Weekend champion. His fast time was used as the determining factor that awarded award him the title.
The night’s racing activity included twin 35-lap feature events that paid $2,500 to win each feature. A point average between the two events determined the champion. Both Hamilton and Bettis won feature events and finished runner-up in the other race. At the conclusion of both events there was a tie. The tiebreaker was Hamiton’s fast time.
In the first 35-lap feature event Hamilton wasted no time getting to the front and taking the lead. As the race was nearing its conclusion, Bettis was able to catch Hamiton, who was dealing with heavy lapped traffic. Bettis showed a wheel entering turn three on the final lap. Hamilton would hold on to claim feature event No. 1. Hamilton narrowly beat Bettis by 0.326 seconds for the win.
In the second feature it would be a reversal of the first feature. Bettis would quickly assume the point early in the race from his outside row four starting position. Hamilton closed in on Bettis as the laps wound down. Bettis was battling heavy traffic late in the race all the while trying to keep Hamilton at bay.
At one-point Bettis split two lapped cars, creating a three-wide battle entering turn one in an aggressive move to hang on to the lead. Hamilton was never able to mount a serious challenge due to the aggressive handling of lapped cars by Bettis. Bettis would win by 1.031 seconds over Hamilton.
It was a popular win for Bettis as he topped Hamilton at his home track. Hamilton has been the hottest driver in Florida pavement sprint car racing the last two years. Bettis was the 2021 Showtime Speedway sprint car champion at the age of 11.
“Late in the race all I could keep doing was looking at the scoreboard” stated Bettis in victory lane. “I knew he (Hamilton) was coming. I think I burnt the right rear off a little bit too early. But it all worked out as planned.”
Despite not sweeping the night, Hamilton used consistency and a good qualifying effort to claim the Dave Steele Winged Weekend championship.
“My team and I work really good together. But we did struggle with motor issues all day” explained Hamilton Jr. “Not making any excuses. That first race I was a little worried about it. It was slowing us down. We thought we had it fixed for the second race. It started towards the end there again. We got beat. But to be the overall champion is special. It’s really cool. Congratulations to Colton. He’s part of the Kirk Morgan Racing camp. We work good together and help each other. It was a matter of time. He’s only 14 years old and I feel like I’m getting old now,” laughed Hamilton Jr.
Sprint cars will return to Showtime Speedway next weekend for the second weekend of the Dave Steele Sprint Car Championship. Non-wing sprint cars will battle it out for 125 laps and a $5,000 first place prize on Feb. 10. This race will help decide the overall Dave Steele Sprint Car champion.