B.J. McLeod tops Bright House Challenge 50 at New Smyrna Speedway
by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla (August 12, 2006) Hot enough to fry an egg on the track. But not even the hot Florida afternoon could stop B.J. McLeod from setting fast time for race number four of the Bright House Challenge 50.
Fifteen cars took time trials for the 50 lap race with McLeod running a 17.949, the only driver to hit the 17 mark. Second fastest was Bobby Coyle with a 18.260 followed by Bobby Fleckinger with a 18.304, Chad Pierce with a 18.348 and James Powell with a 18.411.
McLeod, who says he never has much luck pulling the pill, pulled the 7 which is the most the field could be converted putting David Rogers on the pole. Rogers just got his car back together after a hard crash at New Smyrna during the Clyde Hart Memorial 200. In fact, Roger's crew was still screwing down parts in the late afternoon.
Several drivers in the Bright House Challenge were making their debuts in Super Lates among them Corey Freed, who was the 2006 Modified Champion at Orlando SpeedWorld and Matt Martin who runs the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series. In Ricky Wood's car was Michael Williams and Rusty Ebersole in Jerry Artuso's black Super Late.
After an on-track autograph sessions and driver introductions, it was time to go racing. But it was not Corey Freed's night as his car died on the warm-up laps and had to be pushed into the pits. Freed will have to wait for another day to debut his car. Rogers quickly jumped to the point on the green followed by Patrick Conrad, James Powell, Chad Pierce and Bobby Fleckinger. Conrad and Powell were fighting hard for the second position when on lap 4 got together on the backstretch taking Conrad out of the race. Powell was sent to the rear for the restart as Conrad's car was double hooked and towed into the pits.
On the restart going into turn 1, something either broke on Powell's car or his tire went suddenly down as he went straight into the turn 1 wall. Luckily Powell was not hurt but the fans were treated to a big fire as fuel had spilled on the track and had to be burned off. Powell was done before his night even began.
On the restart, it was Rogers, Pierce, Fleckinger, McLeod and Michael Williams. But by lap 5, Fleckinger had taken back the fifth place spot and Williams settled back into sixth. Running order was Rogers, Pierce, McLeod, Fleckinger, Coyle, Williams, Sam Watts, Dusty Cornelius, Matt Martin, Rusty Ebersole and Art Cross.
Pierce is fast and challenges Rogers for the lead. But they get alittle too close on the backstretch with both having to let off not to wreck. McLeod sees his opportunity and goes on the outside passing both Pierce and Rogers and taking over the lead. Pierce is in second and Rogers in third. By lap 11, both Michael Williams and Bobby Fleckinger pull into the pits with mechanical problems.
Art Cross brings out the yellow on lap 19 as he spins in turn 2. McLeod takes the point on the restart followed by Pierce, Rogers, Coyle and Watts. Martin, who has been just taking it easy and feeling out the car, puts pressure on Cornelius and takes over sixth. Lap 28 sees Rusty Ebersole retire his car into the pits.
Rogers seems to have trouble as he slides back to fourth and Coyle goes to third. By lap 41 Rogers must pit quickly for a new tire as his left rear tire is going down fast. Rogers returns to the field by lap 45. McLeod never looks back and takes his first win in the Bright House Challenge followed by Chad Pierce, Bobby Coyle, Sam Watts and Matt Martin.
Sportsman saw Ron Lufcy on the pole but it did not take Travis Towell long to challenge Lufcy for the lead. Towell, coming off the win the night before at Orlando SpeedWorld, set sail and took the checkered over Ron Lufcy, John Nusbaum, Randy Jones, and Bruce McGonigal.
Alan Bruns had the pole for the Open Wheel Modified feature and went straight to the point on the green followed by Blake Lehr, Jerry Symons, Matt Wheeler, and Russ Antonucci. Symons took over second from Lehr and began his chase for the point. On lap 11, Lehr, who had run a good race, was forced to retire to the pits with problems as Wheeler took over third. Symons was not going to settle for second and by lap 13, passed Bruns taking over the point. Symons held on to the checkered followed by Alan Bruns, Matt Wheeler, Russ Antonuccio and Jeff Colburn.
Strictly Stocks saw Anthony Robinson lead from green to checkered. Skip Wager gave it his all but could not pass Robinson. The 911 of Paul Kitner was black flagged for rough driving after he took out Chris Ridley on the backstretch. Ridley was not hurt but you could not say that for his car. After a number of cautions, it was Robinson taking the checkered followed by Skip Wager, Kerry Payne, Brent Bruner and Alan Tanguay.
Mike Wofford had the pole for the Super Stock feature and took the point on the green followed by Steve Green, Robert Skinner, James Frisbie and Bobby Holley. Frisbie wastes no time going to second with Holley in third, George Spears in fourth and Jason Foster in fifth.
Frisbie gets a good run and takes over the lead as Wofford goes to second. But Wofford has problems and leaves the field with Spears right behind Frisbie. Spears and Frisbie make it a good show as they battle for the lead but in the end, Spears has a much stronger car and takes over the point followed by Frisbie, Ron Whaley, Foster and Holley.
Foster has problems and he is out of the race as Holley takes over fourth and Johnny Brown moves into fifth. Frisbie gives it his best but cannot retake the lead as Spears crosses the checkered for the win followed by James Frisbie, Ron Whaley, Bobby Holley, and Johnny Brown.
With only three Mini Stocks in the field, their 20 lap feature was cut to ten laps with Steven Simpson taking the win over Dick Laszlo and Joe Gerrard.
For further information on the Bright House Challenge or New Smyrna Speedway, go to www.fascar.org.
OFFICIAL RESULTS NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - AUGUST 12
BRIGHT HOUSE CHALLENGE 50
1. #78 B.J. McLeod 2. #57 Chad Pierce 3. #64 Bobby Coyle 4. #73 Sam Watts 5. #66 Matt Martin 6. #22x Dusty Cornelius 7. #81 Art Cross 8. #11 David Rogers 9. #5 Rusty Ebersole 10. #33 Michael Williams 11. #34 Bobby Fleckinger 12. #13 Tommy Styer 13. #2 Patrick Conrad 14. #77 James Powell 15. #12 Corey Freed DNS
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. #66 Jerry Symons 2. #4b Alan Bruns 3. #96 Matt Wheeler 4. #46 Russ Antonucci 5. #3 Jeff Colburn 6. #9 Art Kunzeman 7. #77 Gary Fountain Jr. 8. #4 Blake Lehr
SPORTSMAN
1. #4 Travis Towell 2. #07 Ron Lufcy 3. #70 John Nusbaum 4. #75 Randy Jones 5. #6 Bruce McGonigal
SUPER STOCK
1. #3 George Spears 2. #3x James Frisbie 3. #2 Ron Whaley 4. #56 Bobby Holley 5. #86 Johnny Brown 6. #22 Bruce McGonigal Jr. 7. #1 Robert Skinner 8. #32 Steve Green 9. #21 Mike Dahm 10. #15 Mike Wofford 11. #49 Jason Foster
MINI STOCK
1. #07 Steven Simpson 2. #07x Dick Laszlo 3. #5 Joe Gerrard
STRICTLY STOCK
1. #38 Anthony Robinson 2. #43 Skip Wager 3. #11x Kerry Payne 4. #20 Brent Bruner 5. #009 Alan Tanguay 6. #48 Holli Barr 7. #68 Brian Sayne 8. #33 Randy Marshall 9. #18 Nick Boley 10. #61 Kenneth Walker 11. #39 April McGowan 12. #10 Jeremy Hardy 13. #43x Dustin Higdon 14. #11 Chris Ridley 15. #911 Paul Kitner
