Anderson tops field at Bronson Motor Speedway for Sunbelt Win
by Jane Smith
Bronson, Fla. (April 2, 2005) Blue skies and crisp weather greeted the Sunbelt Super Late Model drivers as they ran their first season race scheduled for Bronson Motor Speedway in 2005. The race was delayed one week due to the storm that Bronson encountered last weekend but there was no storm Saturday night except the hot racing on the track.
Sixteen of the best Super Late Models made their way to the “little bullring” of Bronson Motor Speedway. Setting fast time was Jason Boyd of Orlando wheeling the Stavola Builders No. 92. Boyd ran a 12,908. Completing the top five qualifiers were Brock Oglesby of Ocala with a 19.914, Ryan Foster of Lowell, Arkansas with a 12.916, Jeff Choquette of West Palm Beach with a 12.930 and Wayne Anderson of Wildwood with a 12.940.
Boyd pulled the 3 pill for the inversion which put Ryan Foster on the pole but due to a tech issue, Foster had to start in the rear putting Jeff Choquette on the pole. Driver introductions were made and the drivers were ready to go for 125 laps of racing action.
The cool night air had made the track surface cool and when the green flag was thrown, Brock Oglesby's tires were just not warm enough to stick. Oglesby got loose coming off 4 causing one big traffic jam. Involved was Rich Pratt, Oglesby, Jeff Scofield, Patrick Conrad, Jay Middleton, Fain Skinner, and Scotty Crockett.
All but Oglesby, who drove off with a badly damaged front end, and Scofield, who had to go in on the dreaded hook, were able to pit and make repairs. For the second time, the field was reset for a fresh start.
As the green flew, it was Wayne Anderson taking the lead over Choquette, Boyd, Daniel Webster and Keith Zavrel. By lap 4, Foster had taken over fifth as Zavrel slides backwards. On lap 6, Pratt, who had a very good car, retired from the field with steering problems due to the early accident of the race.
Choquette is like glue on Wayne Anderson fighting for the lead when coming down the frontstretch, Anderson and Choquette actually rub tires and smoke is seen. Choquette backs off to control the car and Anderson maintains the lead. Lap 17 Patrick Conrad brings out the yellow as he spins down the backstretch. Conrad goes in for some crew attention leaving now 12 cars in the field.
Anderson maintains the lead followed by Choquette, Boyd, Webster, and Foster. Then on lap 26, Scotty Crockett brings out the yellow as he spins coming off four. Conrad returns to the field with a new modified as Robbie Smith goes in for crew attention.
Lap 32 sees the restart with Anderson, Choquette, Boyd, Webster and Foster.
On lap 41, Crockett gets under Middleton but Middleton holds strong and does not lose the car as they fight for position. Choquette once again charges Anderson on lap 44 but Anderson is not giving in. Choquette then finds a hard charging Boyd going side-by-side with him but Boyd cannot make the pass as he slides back to fourth.
Ryan Foster taps Boyd sending Boyd spinning off turns 1 and 2. Both Boyd and Foster are sent to the rear for the restart on lap 51.
Anderson once again gets the jump on the field as he leads the way over Choquette, Webster, Mac Johnson, Fain Skinner, Jay Middleton, Scotty Crockett, Keith Zavrel, Don Hale Jr., Boyd, Foster and Patrick Conrad. Johnson leaves the field on lap 58 but a caution is thrown for debris which allows Johnson back on the track on lap 58. Also returning to the field is Robbie Smith.
Lap 60 once again sees green with Anderson, Choquette, Webster, Skinner, Middleton, Crockett, Zavrel, Hale Jr., Boyd, Foster, Conrad, Johnson and Smith in the field. Skinner has sheet metal flying but it does not bother his determination to go forward. Boyd has now worked his way back to seventh and is heading for the front.. Lap 68 Boyd is right on Crockett for sixth when Keith Zavrel brings out the yellow for a spin off turns 1 and 2.
Restart lap 73 as Anderson leads the way. Lap 77, Choquette once again charges Anderson on the outside but is not able to make the car stick for the move. Anderson holds strong as Choquette falls back to third and Webster takes over second. Choquette wants second back and tries Webster which gives Fain Skinner the perfect opportunity to take over second as Choquette slides to fifth and Webster sixth. The top five are now Anderson, Skinner, Middleton, Boyd and Choquette..
Lap 100 sees the sheet metal from the passenger side of the 92 come off giving Boyd some good air conditioning although tonight, the air was already cool. The caution comes out to pick up the debris and the field sees green on lap 104.
The restart sees Anderson, Skinner, Middleton, Boyd, Choquette, Webster, Crockett, Johnson, Foster, Zavrel and Don Hale Jr. all fighting for position. Lap 118, Johnson and Hale Jr. get together sending Hale Jr. into the hard walls of Bronson. Both cars are too damaged to return to the race and retire for the night.
Anderson holds the point on the restart and takes the checkered for his second win of the 2005 Sunbelt Super Late Model Series. Following Anderson was Fain Skinner, Jay Middleton, Jason Boyd and Jeff Choquette.
OFFICIAL RESULTS SUNBELT SUPER LATE MODEL 125 - BRONSON MOTOR SPEEDWAY APRIL 2, 2005
1. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 2. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oak 3. #74j Jay Middleton, Lake City 4. #92 Jason Boyd, Orlando 5. #70 Jeff Choquette, West Palm Beach 6. #1x Daniel Webster, Brooksville 7. #28 Scotty Crockett, Land O' Lakes 8. #47x Keith Zavrel, Brookesville 9. #10x Ryan Foster, Lowell, Arkansas 10. #29 Don Hale Jr., Live Oak 11. #6 Mac Johnson, Gainesville 12. #01 Robbie Smith, Ocala 13. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont 14. #0 Rich Pratt, Anthony 15. #88 Brock Oglesby, Ocala 16. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City
