PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Michael Atwell emerged as the winner the Bill Bigley Jr. Memorial 128 on Saturday night at 4-17 Southern Speedway, which earned the Florida native a whopping $25,000.
Atwell found himself in contention to win the race following a scrap between leaders Steve Dorer and Nick Neri. Dorer and Neri had been battling for the race lead as they approached the white flag, only for the two to make contact and crash out of the race.
That put Atwell on the front row for a two-lap dash to the checkered flag alongside the legendary Rich Bickle, who was making the penultimate start of his racing career ahead of next Sunday’s Snowball Derby.
Atwell pushed Bickle up and out of the way during the restart, with Bickle bouncing off the wall. Atwell went on to win the race from there, earning $20,000 for the victory plus an additional $5,000 bonus that was available to any Florida driver who could win the race.Â
Bickle, who crossed the finish line second, expressed his displeasure with Atwell post-race with a visit to victory lane. Bickle was later disqualified in post-race technical inspection for an illegal carb booster.
Albert Francis was credited with finishing second, followed by Anthony Sergi, George Gorham and Jared Irvan.
The finish:
Michael Atwell, Albert Francis, Anthony Sergi, George Gorham, Jared Irvan, Dustin Dunn, Patrick Staropoli, Michael Hinde, Adam Briggs, John Nutley, Steve Gill, Ander Jackson, Colin Allman, Jesse Dutilly, Boris Jurkovic, Corey Crisafulli, Hudson Halder, Daniel Webster, Jonathan Guy, Brandon Anderson, Dylan Bigley, Wayne Anderson, Ty Majeski, Keith Roggen, Rich Bickle, Michael Goddard, Steve Dorer, Nick Neri.Â