Scofield tops Sunbelt, Bruns takes Double Wins at New Smyrna Speedway
by Jane Smith
Jeff Scofield with team owner Mike Leonard
Samsula, Fla. (March 18, 2006) A slight cold front came thru with a chill in the air but that did not stop the Bright House 275 at New Smyrna Speedway and the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series. Twenty one Super Late Models came to run the first Sunbelt race of the year with Jeff Scofield of Plant City setting fast time of 17.735 followed by Jason Boyd 17.781, Brian Finney 17.867, Wayne Anderson 17.887 and Mike Bresnahan 17.957. Scofield pulled the No. 9 pill putting Jeff Choquette of West Palm Beach on the pole for the 125 lap feature event.
Before the green flag was thrown, there was an on-track autograph session for the fans to get up close and personal with the drivers and their cars. Fans made their way thru the cars and then it was time to clear the track for the race to begin. As the green flag was thrown, pole sitter Jeff Choquette quickly took the point followed by Mike Bresnahan, Tim Russell, Wayne Anderson and Jeff Scofield. Anderson passed Russell for third as Scofield followed on Anderson's heels for fourth with Russell settling into fifth.
The yellow came out shortly for Fain Skinner, Ron Dicandio, Scotty Crockett, and Chris Fontaine who all got together in turns 3 and 4. Fontaine was able to drive away and make repairs but Dicandio, Crockett, and Skinner were not that lucky. The track was cleared and the green came back out with Choquette, Anderson, Bresnahan, Scofield, and Russell in the top five.
Choquette found his hands full protecting the lead as Anderson was right on his tail wanting that top spot. Chqouette tried his best but was unable to hold off the hard charge of Anderson who took over the lead. The top ten were Anderson, Choquette, Scofield, Bresnahan,, Russell, Finney, Boyd, Cope, Artuso and Johnson. Once again Choquette was being challenged for his position as Scofield was right on his tail for second. Choquette is not about to give his position up and holds strong keeping Scofield at third.
The caution comes out for Patrick Conrad and Mac Johnson in turns 1 and 2. Both cars are fine but both go to the rear of the field for the restart. Anderson once again holds the point on the green followed by Scofiield who is now in second, Choquette, Bresnahan, Boyd, Russell, Finney, Cope, Artuso and David Rogers.
Scott Millar develops problems and pulls into the pits ending his night Just as racing gets hot and heavy, the yellow comes out for Jimmy Cope, Jerry Artuso, and Chet Morrison. Cope and Morrison go in as Artuso goes to the rear of the field.
Anderson holds the point on the restart as Jason Boyd and Jeff Choquette are doing some side-by-side action for third. But Choquette holds his position and keeps Boyd at fourth. Scofield is making up ground on Anderson and beginning to challenge Anderson for the lead. Scofield proves he has the stronger car and takes over the point followed by Anderson, Bresnahan, Choquette, Boyd, Russell, Finney, Rogers, Conrad and Johnson.
Choquette is putting pressure on Bresnahan as Boyd tried to put pressure on Choquette. They are going hard and heavy but all hold their positions. Choquette challenges Bresnahan again and this time it works as Choquette takes over third and Boyd follows thru to fourth as Bresnahan settles into fifth. After running a good race, Patick Conrad retires to the pits allowing Johnson to take ninth and Chris Fontaine in tenth.
Scofield holds the point and takes the checkered for his first feature win in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series 2006 race season. Following Scofield to the checkered is Wayne Anderson, Jason Boyd, Jeff Choquette, Mike Bresnahan, Tim Russell, Brian Finney, David Rogers, Mac Johnson and Chris Fontaine.
The next race for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series is April 8th at Citrus County Speedway.
Other action at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday, March 18 saw Jason Foster win the Super Stock feature over James Frisbie, Johnny Brown, Jeff Colburn, and Ed Barber. Frisbie had the pole and lead for a good portion of the race until Foster challenged him for the lead and was able to take it.
Alan Bruns, who won Friday night at Orlando SpeedWorld in the Open Wheel Modified division, saw his second win of the weekend in his No. 4b Modified over Matt Wheeler, Tom Root, Bob Andercheck and Blake Lehr. Then Bruns came back and took the win in the Late Model division giving his total wins of the weekend to three. Following Bruns to the checkered in the Late Model division was Darren Brown, David Green, David Gibbs, and Danny Esposito Jr.
Young Chad Akins took the Pro Truck win over Ricky Moxley, Matt Towell, Marty Wolf and Tim Gertsch. The Pro Trucks will race a series race next weekend at Desoto Super Speedway in Bradenton.
Returning to New Smyrna Speedway after too long an absence was Tim "Missileman" McPhail who quickly took the point on the green but had to settle for second in the end. Returning 2005 Champion Ted Vulpius took the checkered for the Mini Stock division followed by Tim "Missleman" McPhail, Steven Simpson, Jamie Dixson, and Dick Laszlo.
A number of new Strictly Stocks were out for the first race of the year with Jay Mulins taking the feature win over Tim Logue, James Lannin, Chris Wilkinson, and Duane Eisaman.
It was Ron Lufcy who topped the Sportsman division over Robert Glover, Dale Howard, Travis Towel, and Bruce McGonigal.
Next weekend at New Smyrna Speedway, the Florida Mini Stock Challenge will headline the program with Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stock, and Strictly Stock.
OFFICIAL RESULTS NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - MARCH 18, 2006
SUNBELT SUPER LATE MODEL 125
1. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 2. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 3. #15 Jason Boyd, Orlando 4. #70 Jeff Choquette, West Palm Beach 5. #3 Mike Bresnahan, Lecanto 6. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood 7. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 8. #11 David Rogers, Orlando 9. #6 Mac Johnson, Gainesville 10. #47 Chris Fontaine, Lakeland 11. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont 12. #0 Rich Pratt, Anthony 13. #5 Jerry Artuso, Sault Saint Mario, Canada 14. #61 Jimmy Cope, Pinellas Park 15. #86 Chet Morrison, New Orleans, LA 16. #20 Scott Milalr, Ocala 17. #28 Scotty Crockett, Land O'Lakes 18. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oak 19. #20x Ron Dicandio, Canaveral Grovse 20. #1rv Jeff Gordan, Albany, GA. DNS
Late Model
1 Alan Bruns (4B) 2 Darren Brown (53) 3 David Green (47) 4 David Gibbs (47) 5 Danny Esposito Jr (40) 6 Mark Smith (48) 7 Shawn Gourly (45) 8 Rob Kayse (47K) 9 Michael Weaver (11)
Mini Stock
1 Ted Vulpius (71) 2 Tim McPhail (7) 3 Steven Simpson (07) 4 Jamie Dixson (6X) 5 Dick Laszlo (07) 6 Rex Christensen (V3) 7 Lyle Blair, Jr. (81) 8 Chad Carpenter (31) 9 Joseph Gerard (5) 10 Jeff White (5) 11 Jeff Pittsley (20) 12 Tom Rose (43) 13 Pug Puglis (11)
Modified<>/B>
1 Alan Bruns (4B) 2 Matt Wheeler (97) 3 Tom Root (19) 4 Bob Andercheck (90) 5 Blake Lehr (4) 6 Ken McCracken (56) 7 Mark Vandevender (7) 8 Jerry Symons (66X) 9 Art Kunzeman (9) 10 Jeremy Fitch (00)
Sportsman
1 Ronald Lufcy (07) 2 Robert Glover (74) 3 Dale Howard (63) 4 Travis Towell (4) 5 Bruce McGonigal (6) 6 Brian Meginley (0) 7 Bill Christen (90) 8 Dale Clouser (30)
Super Stock
1 Jason Foster (49) 2 James Frisbie (3) 3 Johnny Brown (86) 4 Jeff Colburn (3) 5 Ed Barber (23) 6 Mike Wofford (15) 7 Edward Michalak (44) 8 Nick Vogler (11) 9 Daniel Laszlo (07) 10 Barry Parks (27) 11 Ricky Lindner (311) 12 George Spears (18) 13 Mike Hendrix (71)
Pro Trucks
1 Chad Akins (60) 2 Ricky Moxley (38) 3 Matt Towell (07) 4 Marty Wolf (9) 5 Tim Gertsch (29)
STRICTLY STOCK
1. #17x Jay Mulins 2. #75 Tim Logue 3. #1 James Lannin 4. #8B Chris Wilkinson 5. #8R Duane Eisaman 6. #28 Steve Fulghum 7. #43 Skip Wager 8. #17 Leonard Ringley 9. #88 Nick Boley 10. #2 Charles Hodge 11. #009 Tankersley
