| Rich Clouser wins First Ever Super Late Model 50 Lapper at SpeedWorld | by Dave Westerman
There were plenty of fireworks both above and on the track Friday night as Orlando Speedworld opened the 2005 FASCAR racing season with some awesome competition while the fans were "warmed up" on a cool night by a great fireworks show after the racing was completed.
The Super Late Models kicked off the new year with a 50 lap special and it was Orlandoan Jason Boyd setting quick time of 13.753 seconds driving Dick Anderson's Gladiator Trailers entry.
Boyd had the pole for the feature with second quick qualifier Michael Williams in his Volusia County Race Cars "house" car on the outside pole.
After a three car tangle on the initial start sent Bobby Fleckinger, Coy Riddle and Craig Tims to the pits for the night, Boyd and Williams put on a fantastic side by side racing show for several laps before Williams forged ahead.
Boyd was right on Williams' tail and putting the pressure on as Williams" car began to get loose coming off the corners. On lap 13, Boyd dove low under Williams in turn four and the two cars made contact sending both into a spin.
With the two front runners relegated to the rear of the pack, stunt driver Chad Pierce found himself in the lead. Pierce was looking strong as Boyd was racing his way from the rear until he tapped Dalton Zehr's car going into turn three on lap 29.
Zehr, a 14 year old rookie who cut his racing teeth in the Bandeleros at Speedworld, was doing a great job in his first race in a Super Late Model until the incident sent him backwards into the wall. Again, Boyd was sent to the tail of the field.
Rich Clouser was second on the restart and it didn't take the Cocoa driver long to begin putting the pressure on Pierce. Clouser finally made the move to take the point and began to motor away as Boyd was again working his way through the field.
Clouser had the field covered over the final laps and took home the victory despite some late pressure from Boyd to claim his first ever Super Late Model win after much success in other divisions here.
Boyd crossed the line second but was penalized one spot for jumping the last restart moving Jared Allison up to second. Pierce held on for fourth just in front of Eric Deffendall. Williams, Lousiana's Chet Morrison, North Florida veteran Doyle Boatwright, Mike Hinegardner and Rapid Ron DiCandio rounded out the top ten.
Completing the field were Zehr, Tims, Fleckinger and Riddle while Shaun Gourley did not start.
The fans were treated to a tremendous last lap display of driving in the Modified feature race.
Doing double duty, Jason Boyd had the pole for this race too in the famous Bob Judkins 2X car and grabbed the lead right away but Chuck Burkhalter, the new driver for the Lewis "Moonshine Runner" Modified, was looking strong until he spun while trying to get underneath Boyd for the lead on lap five bringing out the only caution of the race.
Boyd maintained the point on the restart but now had to contend with both Jared Allison and Canada's Jerry Artuso.
The three ran in close formation for several laps, but with two to go Artuso began to make his move jumping to the outside groove. Artuso passed Allson as the white flag came out then pulled alongside Boyd for the run to the checker edging ahead at the line to lead only the final few feet of the race.
Artuso received a standing ovation from the appreciative crowd in victory lane after his great run in what he called "nice cool Canadian weather."
Boyd was second over Allison while Burkhalter charged back for fourth just in front of Corey Freed. Mark Emberson, Pat Carter, Harold Crooms, Bob Beiler, Chris Gillespie and Matt Wheeler rounded out the field.
It was a night of disappointment for Shane Held. The likeable driver who is coming back from serious work-related injuries, was ready to give the Modified drivers a run for their money but the rear end broke in his car during practice putting his machine in the trailer for the rest of the evening. Charlie Pitts was also unable to start the feature.
Boyd and Burkhalter won the Modified heats.
Richard Height picked up where he left off last year as the 2004 Sportsman champion overcame an early race tangle to grab the Sportsman feature win.
The race saw a wild front stretch tangle between leaders Doug Samion and Charlie Vest that handed the lead over to Andy Nichols. Nichols was unable to hold off the streaking Height who motored away to an easy win over Nichols. Paul Colgan, subbing for Earl Beckner, was third followed by Samion and Vest while Jeff Wright, Joe Adams, Ron Gobble, and Bill Price rounded out the finishing field. Timmy Todd, Jr. and Glen Castro did not start. The Sportsman heat was won by Vest.
The Super Stocks were out in force as Dave Wright's Dave's Mower Shop machine grabbed the early lead as the field jockeyed behind him. John Castro in the Crab Shuttle Restaurant special moved in and the two began a tough tussle for the lead that ended with the two drivers tangling on lap ten.
Jason Foster took over the top spot and held on for the win over a determined Justin Reynolds. Castro blasted back through the field to take third while James Frisbee had his best career finish in fourth with newcomer Todd Ansel fifth. Rounding out the top ten were Tom Vento, Brett Woodley, Buck Atherton, Jeff Parrish, and Wright. The remaining finishers were Billy Cuddy, Bobby Riley, Ron Whaley, Bob Starr and Paul Hudson. Ferris Crews, Donald Springer, Brandon Evans, Robert Richards, and Pat Dunn, Jr. did not start. Heat wins were taken by Wright and Cuddy.
Mini Stock action was dominated by Sean "Weasel" Bass as he had no trouble in dominating the 15 lap feature. Keith Lilley was second trailed by Pedie Allison, John Cook, Jeff Davis, Michael Seay, and Richie Laszlo.
Bass also took the heat.
Robert Hicks took home the win over a rather large opening night field of Strictly Stocks. Tim Gibson took home second spot ahead of Adam Soukup, Junior Peters, and Paul Wilson. Rounding out the finishers were Ed Michalak, Tim Burr, Alvin Morris, Tom Hibbard, and Weebis Steinberg.
Daniel Laszlo and Jim Leslie did not start. Hicks also won the heat.
Best appearing car awards were also handed out on opening night. Trophies were awarded to Bobby Fleckinger (Super Late Model), Pat Carter (Modified), Charlie Vest (Sportsman), Keith Lilley (Mini Stock), John Castro (Super Stock) and Tim Gibson (Strictly Stock).
OFFICIAL RESULTS
ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - MARCH 18, 2005
SUPER LATE MODEL 50
1. #8 Rich Clouser
2. #18 Jared Allison
3. #92 Jason Boyd
4. #57 Chad Pierce
5. #26 Eric Deffendall
6. #32 Michael Williams
7. #86 Chet Morrison
8. #57 Doyle Boatwright
9. #15 Mike Hinegardner
10. #20 Ron Dicandio
11. #5 Dalton Zehr
12. #1 Craig Tims
13. #34 Bobby Fleckinger
14. #01 Coy Riddle
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. #5 Jerry Artuso
2. #2x Jason Boyd
3. #18 Jared Allison
4. #51 Chuck Burkhalter
5. #12 Corey Freed
6. #30 Mark Emberson
7. #112 Pat Carter
8. #32 Harold Adams
9. #44 Bob Beiler
10. #20 Chris Gillespie
11. #97 Matt Wheeler
12. #5 Charlie Pitts DNS
SPORTSMAN
1. #23 Richard Hight
2. #66 Andy Nichols
3. #3 Paul Colgan
4. #04 Doug Samion
5. #44 Charlie Vest
6. #50 Jeff Wright
7. #62 Joe Adams
8. #16 Ron Gobble
9. #87 Bill Price
10. #7 Glen Castro DNS
SUPER STOCK
1. #49 Jason Foster
2. #77 Justin Reynolds
3. #5 John Castro
4. #3 James Frisbie
5. #22 Toded Ansel
6. #55 Tom Vento
7. #99 Brett Woodley
8. #07 Buck Atherton
9. #05 Jeff Parrish
10. #65 Dave Wright
11. #64 Billy Cuddy
12. #46 Bobby Riley
13. #2 Ron Whaley
14. #40 Bob Starr
15. #20 Paul Hudson
MINI STOCK
1. #28 Sean Bass
2. #99 Keith Lilly
3. #92 Pedie Allison
4. #24 John Cook
5. #98 Jeff Davis
6. #10 Michael Seay
7. #07 Richie Laszlo
8. #98 Josh Hermann DNS
STRICTLY STOCK
1. #07 Robert Hicks
2. #37 Tim Gibson
3. #14 Adam Soukup
4. #18 Carl Peters
5. #41 Paul Wilson
6. #911 Edward Michalas
7. #4 Ray Brown
8. #68 Alvin Morris
9. #55 Thomas Hibbard
10. #54 Clarence Willard
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