| Larry Osteen Wins Goodyear Challenge Late Model feature, Rain won the Rest | by Jane Smith
Bithlo, Fla (July 18, 2003) The pits at Orlando SpeedWorld was overflowing and cars had to park their haulers in the front grandstand parking lot as everyone was ready to race. But the Rain Gods had different ideas as it began to sprinkle right after the Goodyear Challenge Late Model race.
Jason Boyd set fast time for the field of 24 cars with a 14.021 lap around the 3/8 mile track. Second fastest was Joe Artuso with a 14.036 followed by Larry Osteen with a 14.188, Tim Russell with a 14.157 and Jason Crossey with a 15.189. After the pill was drawn by Boyd, it was Larry Osteen on the pole for the 100 lap event.
With rain obviously coming towards SpeedWorld, no driver introductions were made. The field was aligned and the race was green.
Larry Osteen jumped to the lead on the green followed by Jerry Artuso, Jason Boyd, Tim Russell and Jason Crossey. It did not take Boyd long before he had passed Artuso for second and was going side-by-side with Osteen for first.
Just as the battle between Osteen and Boyd was getting very hot and heavy, the first caution came out for Timmy Todd who spun on the backstretch. The field was realigned and the green was out once again. On the restart, Boyd powered pass Osteen and took over the lead followed by Osteen, Artuso, Crossey and Jerry Symons.
Caution 2 came out for Sean Murphy's fender that was in the middle of the track. The debris was clearned and the race went back green. But before a lap was down, there was a mass pile-up in turns 1 and 2. Involved was Steve Dorer, Jerry Symons, Brent O'Neill, Chris Lawrence, Sean Murphy, Rich Clouser, Clouser suffered only minor damage and remained in the field. Sean Murphy was also able to return to the field after a quick pit stop.
On the restart Boyd held the lead followed by Osteen, Artuso, Crossey, and Doug Samion. Crossey looked every way he could to pass Artuso but Artuso was having nothing of it. Retiring from the race was Sean Murphy and Ritchie Holt.
Coming off four and trying to go three wide on a two wide groove was Steve Smith who tried to go on the inside and got too far down on the Bandolero track and took a wild spin. The race remained green and Smith got his car turned around and rejoined the field.
Brad May brought out the caution when the rear end of his car seemed to burst into flames as he was going down the frontstretch. A very scary moment as May got his car off the track and on to the pit road exit. May was fine. The car was towed back into the pits and did return a few laps later to race.
Boyd once again holds the lead on the restart followed by Osteen, Artuso, Samion, and Crossey. Coming into the picture is Tim Russell who takes over fifth from Crossey.
Coming off turn 1, Russell spins high and looks like he is clear when Mike Murphy goes over the top of Russell's frontend. Just a racing accident but frustrating for Russell who was looking for a good finish. Russell is towed into the pits and the race is green once again.
The race goes back green with Boyd, Osteen, Arutso, Samion, Crossey, Clouser, Drawdy, Sumasky, Castleberry, and David Green in the top ten.
Just as Boyd was looking for that checkered flag and a win in the Goodyear Challenge, his engine blows and he goes up in smoke. Not the way he wanted to end his night but something that happens to every racer.
Osteen now has the lead on the restart followed by Artuso, Crossey, Samion and Clouser. Jimmy Castleberry brought out the yellow when he spun in turn 2. The race goes back green with Osteen on the point.
On lap 96, the caution came out for one last time when debris was on the track. The debris was quickly removed and it was back to green. Osteen holds the lead and takes the checkered followed by Jerry Artuso, Jason Crossey, Doug Samion, Rich Clouser, Joe Sumasky, Jimmy Castleberry, David Green, Dan Crowe, and Justin Drawdy in the top ten.
In tech, Samion was disqualified with the new top five Osteen, Artuso, Crossey, Clouser and Sumasky.
The Bandolero Bandits and Bandolero Young Guns were able to run their feature event before Mother Nature spoiled everyone's fun. Chad Akins won the Bandit feature with Brandon Thompson taking the Young Gun feature.
The Super Stocks were able to run 7 laps of their 15 lap feature before the race was red flagged due to rain. Leading and looking for his first win in a Super Stock was Sean Bass. Bass was one lap short of the mid-way point and his first Super Stock win.
In heat races, Matt Bowers and Chad Akins took the heat wins for the Bandolero Bandits. Brandon Thompson took the heat win for the Bandolero Young Guns.
Andy Nichols and Ron Whaley won the heats for the Super Stocks. Sportsman heat wins went to Donnie Smith and Richard Hight. The #25 and #98 took the heat wins for the Legends. Josh Herman and Tim "Missileman"
McPhail took the heat wins in the Mini Stock division. Jason Boyd took the heat win for the Open Wheel Modifieds. And last but not least, Eric Hodge and Billy Cuddy, Jr. took the heat wins for the Strictly Stocks.
Next weekend at Orlando SpeedWorld the FASCAR Pro Mods will race for 50 laps of excitement plus features will be made up from the rainout thus giving fans double racing enjoyment.
OFFICIAL RESULTS GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL SERIES
1. #22 Larry Osteen
2. #5 Jerry Artuso
3. #17x Jason Crossey
4. #9 Rich Clouser
5. #12 Joe Sumasky
6. #08 Jimmy Castleberry
7. #47 David Green
8. #926 Dan Crowe
9. #30 Justin Drawdy
10. #28 Steve Smith
11. #10 Brad May
12. #48 Ritchie Holt
13. #15 Jason Boyd
14. #60 Brent O'Neill
15. #22x Mike Murphy
16. #25 Timmy Todd
17. #36 Tim Russell
18. #81 Tate Pierce
19. #32 Sean Murphy
20. #66 Jerry Symons
21. #63 Chris Lawrence
22. #10x Steve Dorer
23. #2 A.J. Curreli
#04 Doug Samion dq'd in tech
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