Pompano Beach, FL — Larry Ferrari, one of three amateur drivers outside of the Florida Amateur Drivers Club invited to the World Cup elimination tournament at Pompano Park, won the prestigious event by finishing 2-1-2 in his three races at Pompano Park on Sunday night (March 27).

Ferrari, from Macedonia, Ohio, finished the competition with 44 points, edging out Tony Dinges by five points. Dein Spriggs was third with 38 points while Ron Cusimano was next with 37. Robert Krivelin, Joe Pennacchio, Jamie Marra and Tony Verruso (who defected from the competition after round one) completed the roster with 33, 32, 22 and 10 points, respectively.

After the first round last Sunday, Spriggs had a precarious 29-23 lead but that tightened up as Tony Dinges won with the 14-1 outsider Better Call Saul, trained by Frankie Bambrick for Lee Clarke, in 1:58.1. Ferrari, handling the lines back of Somebodygetdisfool, was second while Cusimano was in the bike overcoming the outside post to finish third with
Ricky Be Sharp.

Larry Ferrari guided Rose Run Rudi to victory. Jessica Hallett photo.

In the next race, Ferrari made a sharp quarter move to the top with Rose Run Rudi and repelled a serious bid from the favored Loyal Fox Hanover (Dinges) to score in 1:56.2 for owner-trainer Fannie Saul-Beaulieu. Mr Houdini (Marra) was third as Ferrari moved on even terms with Spriggs with Dinges just two points back heading into the final leg.

Cusimano took care of things in that one by driving What A Pittstop to victory in 1:57.3 while Ferrari finished second with No Wine For You. Phoenician (Pennacchio) was next but the outcome was already cast in stone.

Said Ferrari after the event, “It was just an honor to compete in this event. I thought it was wonderful that the Florida Amateur Drivers Club invited us three outsiders to compete. They certainly didn’t have to do that.

“The competition was really excellent and we all had a chance…it was that competitive. As for my driving, well, the highlight for me, of course, was the Rose Run Rudi race. That one responded just as I asked after the opening quarter and he drove just like a Ferrari all the way home. Around the final turn, I had to step on the gas a little and, just like the car, I had more horse power in the tank!

“I just want to thank the Amateur Club here in Florida for the invitation. They have been so great to me here.”

Driver Ferrari is no stranger to the winner’s circle having 366 wins during a career stretching back 25 years.

The FADC has donated more than $240,000 to worthy charitable organizations since its inception with their membership donating all earnings from driving in their events to the cause, including donations to The Standardbred Retirement Foundation, Tomorrow’s Rainbow, Bit by Bit, The Make-A-Wish Foundation and The Christian Harness Horseman’s Association, to name a few.

Another highlight of the Sunday night card was the presence of Hall of Fame announcer Roger Huston, who called races two through eight, pushing his lifetime number of races called closer to 200,000.