Boyd tops Goodyear Challenge at New Smyrna Speedway
by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla. (March 19, 2005) The first race for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series saw twenty three of the finest Late Model drivers in the state at New Smyrna on Saturday.
Jerry Artuso of Ontario set fast time for the field with a 18.238 lap. Following Artuso in the top five fast qualifiers were Jason Boyd of Orlando with a 18.294, Brad May of Orlando with a 18.336, A.J. Curreli of Daytona with a 18.415 and Chuck Burkhalter of Christmas with a 18.471.
The cars of Shawn Goruley of St. Cloud and Carl Goodwin Jr. Of Tallahassee failed to qualify although Goruley was able to join the feature but only made one lap before retiring his ride. Mike Murphy of Groveland qualified 11th but had electrical problems and was not able to make the feature which left a field of twenty one for the main event.
After 100 laps of some very close racing, it was Jason Boyd of Orlando who took the victory for the first Goodyear Challenge Late Model race for the 2005 season. But it was not a runaway victory as Jerry Artuso, Rich Clouser, A.J. Curreli and Joe Winchell all gave Boyd chase and really made him work for the victory.
Boyd, who also is racing in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series in the No. 92 Super Late, said “This was a great race and I had a lot of competition. It feels good winning the first race of the new year and hopefully we will see Victory Lane more in 2005.”
The two female drivers in the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series did an outstanding job for the first race of the year. Amanda Gogel, of New Smyrna, who came from the FASTKIDS and Cynthia Strahley of Eustis. Strahley suffered a broken A-Arm and had to retire on lap 46. Gogel finished one lap down in 11th with Strahley in 19th.
The next event for the Goodyear Challenge Late Models will be April 9th at Bronson Motor Speedway.
Jerry Artuso took double wins this weekend in the Open Wheel Modified class winning both Friday night at Orlando SpeedWorld and Saturday at New Smyrna. Jim “Hoot” Flynn made a great effort in chasing down Artuso but it was not to be. Artuso took the checkered followed by Jim “Hoot” Flynn, Jason Boyd, Chuck Burkhalter and Ted Helms.
Dale Clouser took the Sportsman win but Donny Williams did his best to chase down Clouser but just could not catch him. Frank Buchanan, who is an Ocala Speedway regular, tried hard for second but Williams proved to be too strong. Clouser took the checkered followed by Donny Williams, Frank Buchanan, Phil Luizzo and Brian Dula.
Ted “Mr Mini Stock” Vulpius proved why he was the 2004 Mini Stock Champion as he took the first win of the new season. Ben Cutler Jr. followed in second and was thrilled at the end of the race with his good run. Following Vulpius to the checkered was Ben Cutler Jr., Rex Christensen, Chad Carpenter, and Jeff Pittsley.
It was young Dalton Zehr who topped the Pro Truck division. Giving Zehr a run for the money was Marty Wolf. QUICK KIDS Chad Akins did a great job coming home third followed by Matt Wheeler in fourth and Ron Dubeau in fifth.
Ron Whaley had a bad night at Orlando SpeedWorld on Friday but Saturday was his night to shine as he won the first race of the new year. Friday’s Super Stock winner at Orlando Speedworld, Jason Foster, gave chase to Whaley but just did not have enough to catch him.
Whaley took the checkered followed by Jason Foster, Chris Peludat, Faris Crews, and Bruce McGonigal Jr.
Jonathan Rowe took the Strictly Stock win over Jose Rivera, Richie Riley, Tammy Clouser and Chuck Forbes.
Next week at New Smyrna Speedway the Late Models, Sportsman, Super Stock, Mini Stock and Strictly Stock will be in action. Grandstands open at 6 p.m. with racing action at 7:30 p.m.
GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100 OFFICIAL RESULTS
1. #15 Jason Boyd, Orlando 2. #5 Jerry Artuso, Ontario 3. #9 Rich Clouser, Palm Bay 4. #A.J. Curreli, Daytona 5. #57 Joe Winchell, Davie 6. #62 Rick Wilson, Bartow 7. #73 Sam Watts, Wintersprings 8. #0 Bill Ostriker, Ridge Manor 9. #53 Charles Kopach, Clermont 10. #31 Greg Kaouk, Penbroke Pines 11. #4k Amanda Gogel, New Smyrna 12. #96 Frank Welch, N. Ft. Meyers 13. #10 Brad May, Orlando 14. #81 Tate Pierce, Zephyrhills 15. #00 John Ripley, Sanford 16. #1x Chuck Burkhalter, Christmas 17. #7 Craig Brown, Ockeechobee 18. #83 Joe Strehle, Deland 19. #4 Cynthia Strahley, Eustis 20. #14 Troy Atkins, Orlando 21. #45 Shawn Gorurley, St. Cloud 22. #26 Mike Murphy, Groveland DNS 23. #29 Carl Goodwin, Jr., Tallahassee DNS
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. #5 Jerry Artuso 2. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn 3. #2x Jason Boyd 4. #51 Chuck Burkhalter 5. #61 Ted Helms 6. #9 Art Kunzeman 7. #34 Bobby Blake
SPORTSMAN
1. #30 Dale Clouser 2. #111 Donny Williams 3. #07x Frank Buchanan 4. #27 Philip Luizzo 5. #18D Brian Dula 6. #55 Jim Snyder 7. #07 Ron Lufcy 8. #7 Tom Gamache 9. #6 Bruce McGonigal 10. #63 Dale Howard 11. #27x Kyle Maynard 12. #45 Mike Soukup
MINI STOCK
1. #71 Ted Vulpius 2. #83 Ben Cutler Jr. 3. #v3 Rex Christensen 4. #31 Chad Carpenter 5. #20 Jeff Pittsley 6. #69 Anthony King 7. #6 Mark Broat 8. #07 Steven Simpson 9. #11 Pug Puglisi 10. #17 Bobby Cable
SUPER STOCK
1. #2 Ron Whaley 2. #49 Jason Foster 3. #28 Chris Peludat 4. #8 Farris Crews 5. #22 Bruce McGonigal Jr. 6. #31 J.T. Tippins 7. #99 Gene Vitiello 8. #19 Dale Carroll 9. #210 Bill Wingate 10. #18 George Spears 11. #29 James Adams 12. #33 Bruce Wingate 13. #123 Ed Barber 14. #21 Josh Wronkowski
PRO TRUCKS
1. #07 Dalton Zehr 2. #9 Marty Wolf 3. #60x Chad Akins 4. #97 Matt Wheeler 5. #11 Ron Dubeau 6. #60 Jamie Skinner
STRICTLY STOCK
1. #3 Jonathan Rowe 2. #73 Jose Rivera 3. #50 Richie Riley 4. #30 Tammy Clouser 5. #04 Chuck Forbes 6. #83 Jeffrey Shimmel 7. #68 Alvin Morris 8. #6 Dean Bizele 9. #28 Ed Michalak 10. #67 Greg Dane 11. #15 Mike Wofford
