Russell on Top in Country Hearth 100: Skinner and Yoakham Also Claim Wins
By John "Mr. Excitement" Berti -Karnac.com staff writer
Fans were treated to spectacular scenes at intermission.
LAKELAND, FL -October 22, 2005- Despite ominous skies in the area and a rain delay, USA International Speedway was able to run the "Foresters Race for Kids" racing program Saturday night.
Three divisions made up the card: Goodyear Challenger Late Model Series, FASCAR Pro Trucks and Florida Mini Stock Challenge.
The Goodyear Challenge Late Models were first to take to the 3/4 mile asphalt oval for time trial qualifying. Tim Russell turned in the fastest time with a lap in 21.675 seconds (124.57 mph).
Jamie Skinner was the quickest from time trials for the FASCAR Pro Trucks. Skinner's time was 24.014 seconds.
The Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series wrapped up afternoon qualifying with Robbie Yoakham coming away as "the rabbit" with a lap in 24.289 seconds.
The rains came as the on track autograph sessions was drawing to a close at about 6:50 p.m.
The storm lasted roughly a half hour and thanks to a great team effort from track personnel, tow vehicles, safety vehicles, and volunteering competitors from the FASCAR Pro Truck and Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series the track was pronounced as race ready about an hour later.
The first seven qualifiers from Goodyear Challenger Late Model Series qualifying were inverted for the Country Hearth 100. This put Jason Bowser on the pole flanked by A.J. Currelli.
Bowser took the lead at the drop of the green. Currelli had mechanical problems dropping out within the first couple of laps.
Sam Watts got by Jerry Artuso to move into third on lap 9. With ten laps completed the top five were Bowser, Rich Clouser, Watts, Artuso and Chris Fontaine.
Bowser drifted up high coming out of turn four on lap 12 allowing Clouser the opening to take over the lead, but fortunately for Bowser the lap wasn't completed as Gary Padula and Paul Barnhill tangled between turns three and four to bring out a caution.
When the field went back to green Bowser continued to lead, but problems keeping his car at the bottom of the track persisted.
Once again on lap 19 Bowser drifted up toward the wall coming out of turn four leaving the bottom wide open for Clouser to take the lead. Bowser lost additional positions to Watts and Russell before settling back in line.
The running order of Clouser, Watts, Russell, Bowser and Fontaine remained the same until lap 40 when Watts dove under Clouser between turns one and two to become the third different race leader. One lap later Fontaine passed Bowser for fourth with Bowser fading quickly through the field.
Watts continued to show the way at the halfway point followed by Clouser, Russell, Fontaine, Artuso and Amanda Gagel.
Bobby Shelton, Bowser and Joe Strehle tangled on lap 51 with Shelton's #28 receiving the heaviest damage necessitating a tow back to the pits. Bowser and Strehle picked up at the rear.
Russell powered by Clouser on the outside through turns one and two to move into second on the restart. Watt's #73 lost power coming off turn two with Russell inheriting the lead. Watts was barely able to get the car back to the pits.
Strehl spun out once again in turn four to bring out a yellow on lap 71. On the restart Chuck Burkhalter muscled his way under Gagel making contact that saw Gagel end up in the first turn wall. Gagel's strong run came to a rude ending. Burkhalter was sited for rough riding and relegated to the end of the lead lap runners.
Russell continued to lead at the 3/4 mark followed by Clouser, Fontaine, Arturo and Mike Hovis.
A great battle brewed between Clouser and Fontaine over the next 20 laps with Fontaine finally overpowering Clouser on the outside going down the backstretch on lap 95.
The running order remained unchanged over the remaining five laps with Russell's margin of victory being a full straightaway over Fontaine. Clouser, who believed he was running out of gas, was able to hold off Arturo for third.
The first four qualifiers from FASCAR Pro Truck qualifying were inverted for the start of their 50 lap feature event. Danny Foster and Bill Vanderender made up the front row.
Venderender took the lead and held on to the spot until lap 5 when Jamie Skinner sliced under him in turn four. Venderender came down on Skinner, contact was made, with Venderender getting sideways with Skinner into his fender. Skinner stayed on as race leader with Venderender heading to the pits for repairs. He was able to rejoin the field.
The top five when the race resumed were Skinner, Foster, DeWayne Barrus, J.R. Garcia III and David Hartin.
"The Gills", Ron and Jimmy, got crossed up on the backstretch while battling each other for sixth position to bring out a caution on lap 15.
Barrus got loose coming off turn four on lap 25 while running third. He did a masterful job of keeping the swinging and swaying #33 truck off the inside wall and away from contacting his fellow competitors.
On the restart Jimmy Gill and Dalton Zehr got by Garcia to move into third and fourth respectively. Gill got under Foster coming off turn four of lap 34 to move into second.
With 35 laps in the recordbooks Skinner was still leading with Jimmy Gill, 2nd; Foster, 3rd; Zehr, 4th and Garcia, 5th.
Barrus lost control of his car once again on lap 44 going into turn one. He was not so lucky this time as he crashed, driver's side first, into the wall. He was able to walk away from the crash, but his truck was towed to the infield.
Jimmy Gill gave Skinner a shot on the restart hoping the bump and run tactic would help him get the lead.
Skinner manged to maintain the point. Before the lap was completed the yellow was displayed for debris on the track which appeared to be fragments of Jimmy Gill's right front fender.
The final five laps were run caution free. Ron Gill provided the only challenge for position as he tried to move under Hartin for 6th, but Hartin held him at bay to take the spot.
Skinner was the winner followed by Jimmy Gill, Foster, Zehr and Garcia.
The Florida Mini Stock Challenge finished the night with what proved to be one of the most exciting races ever held at USA International Speedway.
Raymond Folwell was the early race leader of the 35 lapper leading the first two laps from his pole starting position.
Charlie Brown ducked under Folwell going down the backstretch to take over the top spot on lap 3. Brown was only to keep the spot for one lap before giving way to Chris Thornton.
Robbie Storer got by Ronnie Larson for second on lap 5, but Ronnie took the position right back on lap 11.
Ronnie Larson closed in on race leader Thornton making a nifty move under Thornton for the lead going down the backchute on lap 14.
At the halfway marker the top five were Ronnie Larson, Thornton, Storer, Dustin DesChamps and Justin Larson.
Storer passed Thornton going into second on lap 22. Two laps later David Jouppi spun in turn two to put the field under caution. On the restart Storer wasted no time getting to the outside of Ronnie Larson going into turn one and coming out on top out of turn two.
DesChamps went to the bottom to get by Justin Larson between turns one and two to take third on the same restart.
Ronnie Larson regained the lead from Storer on lap 27 with Thornton getting by Justin Larson for fourth on the same lap.
Robbie Yoakam snatched fourth from Thornton on lap 33. Ronnie Larson dropped out of the race going down the backstretch on lap 34 giving the lead back to Storer and moving Yoakam up another spot into third.
The last lap was incredible as DesChamps got under Storer coming off turn two for the lead. Storer didn't give up hanging in tight. Yoakham stormed into the picture to make it a three car race to the finish.
Off turn four Yoakham went to the bottom of the track to get under both Storer and DesChamps, It was a two car duel to the checkers as Yoakham and DesChamps crossed the line side-by-side with the edge and the victory going to Yoakham. DesChamps had to settle for runnerup honors, Storer was third with Thornton and Justin Larson completing the top five.
Watts continued to show the way at the halfway point followed by Clouser, Russell, Fontaine, Artuso and Amanda Gagel.
Russell continued to lead at the 3/4 mark followed by Clouser, Fontaine, Arturo and Mike Hovis.
Skinner manged to maintain the point. Before the lap was completed the yellow was displayed for debris on the track which appeared to be fragments of Jimmy Gill's right front fender.
