Monday, February 17, 2003 Hantz wins Florida Cracker 100, Anderson Takes Points Title by Jane Smith SAMSULA, Fla. (Feb. 15, 2003) - The 37th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing came to a close Saturday night, Feburary 15. Although you can't always win the race, those that came to join the fun went home happy and look forward to the 38th running in 2004. WAYNE ANDERSON WAS THE OVERALL SUPER LATE MODEL WINNER After nine nights of racing, except this year due to the rainout on Sunday, eight nights of racing bones are tired, bodies are dirty crews are ready for some rest. Was it worth it and the majority of drivers and crews said yes. Allison Legacy cars made their second appearance with a 50 lap feature. James Lee sat on the pole but it was Fred England who took the point on the green. On lap 5, Chad McCumbee took over the point from England But by lap 18, England found his hands full with a hard charging Mark Howard who took second from England. England then found himself in a side-by-side battle with Joey Dennewitz for third. Dennewitz is able to make the move and take over third with Mike Hampton and Eric Darnell doing some side-by-side battling. Lap 36, Eric Darnell brought out the yellow when he spun going down the frontstretch and makes contact with the wall. Darnell is fine but done for the night. On the restart, Chad McCumbee has the point followed by Mark Howard, Joey Dennewitz, Fred England, and Mike Hampton. Mike Jobe brought out the second yellow as he spun on the frontstretch with Jim Fiscus taking a wild ride to avoid hitting Jobe. On the restart, Deret Lee makes a move on the fifth place car of Mike Hampton and takes over fifth. Lap 41, Fiscus spun bringing out the yellow. But on lap 45, the yellow is thrown with Fiscus going to the rear of the field and Mark Howard taking the point and the checkered. Following Howard was Deret Lee, Fred England, Keith Tolf, and Joey Dennewitz. FASTRUCKS once again came out in large numbers for their 50 lap event. Danny Foster sat on the pole but it was Jeff Firestine who took the point on the green followed by Foster, Danny Glover Sr., and John Mitchell. Lap 2, the yellow was thrown as one of the truck's blew their engine. On the restart, Firestine holds the point but not for long as James Glover goes from third to first followed by Foster, Glover Sr., Mitchell and Paul Grynewicz III. The second caution comes out on lap 13 for a spinout in the bottom of turns 1 and 2. Glover holds the point on the green but on lap 15 another yellow is thrown for Graham McCorvey who spun high in turn 3. Coming up fast is Todd Bontrager, winner of the night before, and by lap 22, Bontrager has the point followed by Glover, Mitchell, Brian Luloff and Bobby Owens. Lap 38 Eddie Moran brings out the yellow for a spin on the frontstretch with Charlie Worth bringing out the caution on a few laps later on lap 42 as he spun on the frontstretch. On the restart, Bontrager holds the point but coming up from the rear of the starting field is Tommy King who has worked his way into the sixth place position. King, who drove the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series in 2002, is making his debut in his new FASTRUCK at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. By lap 45, King has moved to fifth with Bontrager leading the way followed by Glover, Mitchell, Luloff, and Owens. Going into turn 4 on lap 46, Mickey Thomas, Jeff Firestine, Thomas North and Marty Wolf spin going into turn 3 off the backstretch. With no lap down on the restart, Brian Luloff who was in the fourth place spot, spins and hits the wall ending his good run. Bontrager holds his lead on the restart with King moving from fifth to third. Bontrager takes the checkered followed by James Glover, Tommy King, John Mitchell, and Bobby Owens. Owens, who recently returned to Florida from Alaska, drove trucks in Alaska and was the track champion in 2002. D.J. Hoelzle sat on the pole for the FL/IMCA Mods and lead from green to checkers. Hoelzle, who left for a few nights, returned Friday night with high hopes for a win. Saturday night gave him that win after taking two 2nd places, two 3rd places and one 7th. Before a lap was down in the books, Rusty Perdue brought out the yellow as he spun in the entrance to pit road at the bottom of turn 4. The field was realigned with Hoelzle taking the point on the green followed by Jason Boyd, Jerry Symons, Jerry Artuso and Brad May. Lap 16, Matt Wheeler spins high in turns 3 and 4 with Jerry Artuso, Chet Morrison and Hoelzle spinning to avoid hitting the sitting Wheeler. No cars were damaged with Hoelzle going back to the point. On the restart, Hoelzle is still strong in the lead followed by a hard charging Jerry Symons, Jerry Artuso, Jason Boyd and Brad May. Lap 17, Symons suddenly spins coming into turn 4 with Artuso and Morrison spinning to avoid hitting Symons. The cars are checked to see if one is leaking and the field is realigned for the restart. Hoelzle holds the point and takes his first win of the 2003 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing followed by Jerry Symons, Jerry Artuso, Brad May and Jason Boyd. In Victory Lane Hoelzle said, "I have to thank my crew for giving me such a great car. We knew when we came back that we might have a chance for the win, tonight was that chance." Jerry Symons lead the points and wins the FL/IMCA Open Wheel Modified Championship for the 37th running of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Jason Boyd once again sat on the pole for the Late Model 20 lap event after drawing the 0 pill. Boyd jumped to the lead on the green followed by Jerry Symons, Mike Murphy, Jerry Artuso and Kirk Hooker. Only one caution stopped the green flag action on lap 12 for debris with Boyd taking the checkered followed by Mike Murphy, Jerry Symons, Jerry Artuso, and Kirk Hooker. Jason Boyd won the 2003 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Late Model Championship. Louis Mechalides had the point for the Florida Cracker 100 but before a lap was down, Jason Hogan spun on the backstretch collecting Jacob Warren and Bob Eastwood. Hogan went into the pits for repairs as did Warren but Eastwood was done for the night going into the pits on the dreaded hook. The field is realigned with Mechalides tooking the point on the green. Marty Zehr brought out the yellow on lap 3 when he spun at the bottom of turn 4. On the restart, Mechalides holds the lead followed by Scott Hantz, Freddie Querry, Jr. Hanley and Ryan Moore. By lap 8, Wayne Anderson has made his appearance in the top five by taking over the fifth place spot from Moore. Going down the frontstretch on lap 9, Jeff Emery gets into Moore involving B.J. McLeod who has no where to go but into the sitting machine. McLeod goes into the pits with a broken drive shaft after having a very good run. Emery is also done for the night. On lap 16, the race is red flagged as Eddie Van Meter climbs up the frontstretch wall, flips on his roof, and slides down the frontstretch. Van Meter merges out of the car with the crowd cheering after a very scary ride. Van Meter's car is righted and the race rsumed on lap 16. On the restart, Mechalides holds the point followed by Scott Hantz, Jr. Hanley, Wayne Anderson and Freddie Querry. On lap 18, Hanley has to pit for his crew to take a quick look at his car and returns to the race at the rear of the field moving James Powell III into fifth. Suddenly, Querry finds his mirror full of Wayne Anderson who is right on his tail looking to take that third place spot. Randy Gentry gets a good run on James Powell and takes over fifth putting Powell sixth. Lap 53, Mechalides finds himself with Scott Hantz hot on his tail but before Hantz could take the lead, the caution comes out for Randy Gentry on lap 57. On the restart, Hantz is able to power around Mechalides and take the point followed by Mechalides, Querry, Powell and Anderson. Jonathan Smith brought out the caution on lap 64 when he spun coming off turn 4 at the bottom near the pit road entrance. Smith is able to right his car and return to the race in the rear. Jason Hogan has returned to the race and seems to have his car running right although he is laps down when he brings out the caution on lap 67 when he brushes the frontstretch wall. Hogan retires to the pits and is done for the night. Randy Gentry, who spun on lap 57 and was put to the rear of the lead lap cars, is now making his presence known again as he is quickly coming up the field as he goes into seventh on lap 75 and sixth on lap 76. By lap 78, Gentry is back to fifth putting Querry to sixth. Anderson stays under Powell's bumper trying to take third but Powell holds strong and retains his spot. Anderson is concentrating on Powell when he finds himself being passed by Gentry on lap 87. Anderson obviously cut down a tire as he and Powell were battling and on lap 88, Anderson finds himself against the turn 3 wall hard. Anderson gets out of the car and walks into the pits very disappointed after a good run. The race restarts on lap 92 with Hantz holding strong although it is obvious that his engine has dropped a cylinder. Gentry moves into third and Scott Hantz crosses the checkered for the first time in the 8 nights as winner of the Florida Cracker 100. Following Hantz to the checkered was Louis Mechalides, Randy Gentry, Ryan Moore, and James Powell III. In Victory Lane, Hantz said beaming "thanks guys for all your help. We had a good car tonight even though I lost a cylinder. This has been a great 9 nights. Thanks all." Wayne Anderson won the Points in the Super Late Models for the 37th running of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Brad May, yes I said Brad May, sat on the pole for the NASCAR Tour Type/SK Mod 25 lap event. But it was hometown boy Mike Fitch who jumped to the lead and lead from green to checkers. May ran a strong second to Fitch but was shuffled back as Ted Christopher came into the picture taking second followed by Rob Summers in third. May settled into fourth followed by George Kent. By lap 12, Tim Arre had taken fifth from Kent and Christopher was doing everything he could to take the lead from Fitch. With no cautions in this event, Fitch takes the win for his first in the 2003 World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing followed by Ted Christopher, Rob Summers, Tim Arre and George Kent. Ted Christopher and Bo Gunning were the 2003 Points Winners for the NASCAR Tour Type/SK Mods. Robert Skinner sat on the pole for the 20 lap Super Stock feature but it was Ron Whaley, who dedicated his run to his wife who died that Monday night, who took the early lead followed by Skinner, Rich Clouser, Josh Wronkowski and Rob Watford. The only caution of the 20 lap event came on lap 6 when Watford spun at the bottom of turns 3 and 4. The race was restarted with Whaley in the lead. Clouser tried his best but could not take the lead away from Whaley. Following Whaley to the checkered was Rich Clouser, Josh Wronkowski, David Gould and Jeff Colburn. In Victory Lane Whaley told the crowd, "I had a very special co-pilot with me tonight. This was a great race, the car was good and this means alot to me." So closed the 37th running of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. RESULTS FLORIDA CRACKER 100 - Super Late Models 100 Laps 1. #72 Scott Hantz 2. #47 Louis Mechalides 3. #09 Randy Gentry 4. #74 Ryan Moore 5. #37 James Powell III 6. #8 Freddie Querry 7. #10x Jack Landie 8. #12 Justin Drawdy 9. #14 Aric Almirola 10. #6 David Browning 11. #90 Box Fox 12. #23x Tim Sibila 13. #80 Jonathan Smith 14. #92 Wayne Anderson 15. #03 Adam Cain 15. #63 Marty Zehr 17. #74J Jay Middleton 18. #43 Eddie Hanley 19. #66 Jr. Hanley 20. #41 Kenny Frole 21. #5 Jason Hogan 22. #23 Eddie VanMeter 23. #26 Jeff Emery 24. #78 B.J. McLeod 25. #51 Jacob Warren 26. #4 Don Thomson Jr. 27. #71x Russ Shaw 28. #60 Bob Eastwoode 29. #12B Steve Weaver, Jr. NASCAR TOUR TYPE/SK MODS - 25 Laps 1. #9NH Mike Fitch 2. #00 Ted Christopher 3. #37 Rob Summers 4. #14 Tim Arre 5. #26 George Kent 6. #2 J.R. Bertuccio 7. #16 Mike Evanitske 8. #80 Brad May 9. #17 Bo Gunning 10. #10 Mike Andrews Jr. 11. #25 Dave Roys, Jr. 12. #44 Frank Wainwright 13. #30 J.R. Helbert 14. #46 Tom White 15. #06 Steve Whitt 16. #1 Daniel Meservey 17. #86 Thomas Bentz POINTS 1. #00 Ted Christopher 689 2. #14 Tim Arre 666 3. #2 J.R. Bertuccio 628 4. #36 Rob Summers 622 5. #9NH Mike Fitch 616 6. #26 George Kent 604 7. #17 Bo Gunning 564 8. #1 Daniel Meservey 664 9. #79 Ed Flemke, Jr. 544 10. #44 Frank Wainright 544 11. #30 J.R. Helberg 504 12. #46 Tom White 498 13. #25 Dave Roys, Jr. 496 14. #29 George Boch 492 15. #06 Steve Whitt 452 16. #80 Brad May 448 17. #50 Kevin Goodale 430 18. #18 Donny Lia 400 19. #62 Jim Willis 394 20. #86 Thomas Bentz 394 21. #11 Chuck Stoener 322 22. #7 Tom Baldwin 316 23. #16 Mike Evanistske 280 24. #35 Larry Altholtz 218 25. #10x Mike Andrews Jr. 214 26. #82 Jamie Wolf 210 27. #97 Frank Ruocco 184 28. #27 John White 180 29. #17 Steve Nalench 158 30. #19 Eric Beers 170 31. #19x Adam Horwith 100 LATE MODELS - 20 Laps 1. #15 Jason Boyd 2. #26 Mike Murphy 3. #66 Jerry Symons 4. #05 Jerry Artuso 5. #38 Kirk Hooker 6. #9 Rich Clouser 7. #22 Larry Osteen 8. #79 Pete Sheppard 9. #81 Scott Watts 10. #8 Tim Clark 11. #lx Kenny Crites 12. #82 Danny Maddox 13. #29 Steve Sunde 14. #36x Jamie Parker 15. #91 Paul Buroker 16. #90 Jonathan Smith 17. #09 Kent Nuhn 18. #17 Donnie Economy 19. #2 A.J. Curreli 20. #31 Shaun McWhirter FL/IMCA MODS - 20 Laps 1. #8 D.J. Hoelzle 2. #66 Jerry Symons 3. #05 Jerry Artuso 4. #00 Brad May 5. #2x Jason Boyd 6. #86 Chet Morrison 7. #96 Matt Wheeler 8. #38 Ricky Moxley 9. #33 Chuck Reen 10. #52 George Proctor 11. #00x Victor Almos 12. #51 Chad Pierce 13. #13 Rusty Perdue FASTRUCKS - 50 Laps 1. #8 Todd Bontrager 2. #71 James Glover 3. #16 Tommy King 4. #17 John Mitchell 5. #1 Bobby Owens 6. #2 Chris Gannon 7. #29x Tim Shaffnier 8. #03 Charlie Worth 9. #9 Marty Wolf 10. #78 Graham McCorvey 11. #18 Wendell Bristol 12. #28 Mack Payne 13. #93 Jeff Firestine 14. #7 Brian Luloff 15. #21x Danny Glover 16. #33 Kelly Caudill 17. #32 18. #83 Thomas North 19. #40 Paul Grynewicz III 20. #11 Mickey Thomas 21. #15 Eddie Moran 22. #12 Thomas Carter 23. #63 Mike Famiglietti 24. #3 Donald Davis 25. #21 Danny Glover Sr. 26. #09 Pat Dunn 27. #99 Danny Foster 28. #44 Paul Grynewicz 29. #26 Tom Nikla 30. #80 Mike Orth 31. #55 Patrick Thomas SUPER STOCKS - 20 Laps 1. #2 Ron Whaley 2. #117 Rich Clouser 3. #21 Josh Wronkowski 4. #16 David Gould 5. #3 Jeff Colburn 6. #50 Robert Skinner 7. #17L Lee Wagner 8. #34 Patrick Buckley 9. #7b Bob Wines 10. #72 Adam Biltemeier 11. #74 Jason Dreyer 12. #17 Rob Watford 13. #21x 14. #32 Robert Ham 15. #28x Paul Hudson Have an opinion on this story? 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