Bresnahan is the MAN at Columbia Motorsports Park Sunbelt 125
by Jane Smith
It was hot, but not too hot. Sunny, no rain clouds as sixteen of the finest Super Lates qualified for the Sunbelt 125 at Columbia Motorsports Park. Mike Bresnahan of Lecanto set fast time with a blistering 16.623 followed by Tim Russell with a 16.627, Brian Finney with a 16.713, Wayne Anderson with a 16.736, and Jay Middleton with a 16.741. Bresnahan pulled the 3 pill putting Brian Finney of Merritt Island on the pole for the 125 lap race.
After on on-track autograph session and driver introductions, it was time for the drivers to be strapped in and ready to go. Brian Finney and Tim Russell went side-by-side for the lead followed by Wayne Anderson, Mike Bresnahan and James Powell but it was Finney who finally took the point. It took Anderson no time to pass Russell for second as Bresnahan took advantage also of Russell taking over third. Russell began to slide backwards as James Powell took over fourth and Jay Middleton ran fifth.
Anderson puts the heat on Finney and finally is able to pass for the lead as Finney first falls back to second and settles into third. Anderson finds a very fast Mike Bresnahan behind him now in second. By lap 15 it is Anderson, Bresnahan, Finney, Middleton, Scofield, Powell, Fritts, Gosselin, Choquette and Skinner running hard and heavy in the top ten.
Kurt Jett, who normally wheels an Open Wheel Modified at Columbia, brought out the first caution for a spin The field was realigned and the race went back green on lap 22 with Anderson, Bresnahan, Finney, Middleton and Scofield in the top five.
But on lap 25 the red flag came out for Fain Skinner who rode the front stretch wall ending up hard in the turn 1 wall. All cars were stopped as the safety crew checked on Skinner who was rattled but okay. The same cannot be said for his car which was basically toast. When the cars were restarted, Brian Finney looked to be leaking something. Finney was brought down to the frontstretch and checked and quickly went into the pits for his crews's attention. Finney was back out but had to rejoin the field in the rear for the restart.
Restart lap 26 with Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Powell, Fritts, Gosselin and Choquette in the top field. Now it was a race for position as Fritts looked at Powell and Gosselin looked at Fritts. Both Don Hale Jr. and Brian Finney leave the field with mechanical problems ending their night at Columbia.
Fritts is still on the move to pass Powell fifth but is interrupted as Tim Russell brings out the yellow for a spin off four. The race goes back green on lap 40 as Anderson shows the way for Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield and Powell. Fritts challenges Powell once again but Powell is holding strong and does not want to give up his fifth place position. Middleton tries Bresnahan for second but Bresnahan holds tight and Middleton settled back in third.
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Choquette is now on the move as he passes Mario Gosselin and Fritts finally passes Powell. It is now Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Fritts, Powell, and Choquette going for the top.
Powell seems to be having problems as he begins to slide backwards in the fielld. By lap 50 it is Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Fritts, Choquette, Powell, Kevin Durden, Russell, Gosselin, Rich Pratt, Robbie Smith and Kurt Jett. , Both Durden and Russell put the heat on Powell as they pass him leaving him sliding backwards in the field. By halfway, it is Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Fritts, Scofield, Choquette, Durden, Russell, Powell, Gosselin, Pratt, Smith, and Jett.
The field is racing hard for position when the caution comes out on lap 67 for Tim Russell and James Powell who have gotten together. Powell has too much damage to continue and pulls in after one heck of a run. Russell is able to continue and during the caution, Don Hale Jr. comes back out but is forced to retire again from the field.
With laps dwindling down fast, it is now a race for psoition. Middleton once again looks at Bresnahan in second but Bresnahan holds strong. Scofield charges Fritts and takes over fourth as Fritts slides to fifth. Gossselin, who has been fighting his car all night, retires to the pits. It is now Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Fritts, Durden, Choquette, Russell, Pratt, Smith, Jett and Hale Jr.
Scofield tries once again to pass Middleton as Scofield goes inside, Mioddleton outside. Suddenly Scofield does a 360 coming off four bringing out .the yellow. Both Scofield and Middleton are sent to the rear for the restrt, neither very happy.
Restart lap 108 as Anderson, Bresnahan, Fritts, Durden, and Choquette are the top five. Suddenly Anderson, who has lead most of the race, slows on the backstretch with a broken axle. Anderson limps his car into the pits, not happy after running a very good race and seeing that "monkey" yet another time during the season.
The final caution comes out on lap 112 when Russell and Scofield get together as Russell spins. Both drivers are sent to the rear for the final laps of the race.
With Anderson now in the pits, the lead goes to Bresnahan who has Fritts right on his tail. Fritts does try to take the lead but it is Mike Bresnahan taking the checkered for his second win of the season followed by Mike Fritts, Kevin Durden, Jay Middleton, and Jeff Choquette.
A very happy Mike Bresnahan thanked his crew for giving him such a good car as he celebrated in Victory Lane. T
he next race for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series is the Triple Crown which will run Friday, October 20 at Desoto Super Speedway, Saturday, October 21 at Bronson Motor Speedway and conclude on Sunday, October 22, at Ocala Speedway.
For more information on the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series go to www.fascar.org.
OFFICIAL RESULTS SUNBELT SUPER LATE MODEL 125 COLUMBIA MOTORSPORTS PARK
1. #3 Mike Bresnahan, Lecanto 2. #27 Mike Fritts, Debary 3. #56 Kevin Durden, Archer 4. #74 Jay Middleton, Lake City 5. #70 Jeff Choquette, Loxatchee 6. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant city 7. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood 8. #0 Rich Pratt, Anthony 9. #01 Robbie Smith, Ocala 10.. #9 Kurt Jett, Orange Park 11. #92 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 12. #12 Mario Gosselin, Lake Whales 13. #77 James Powell, Astor 14. #29 Don Hale, Jr., Live Oak 15. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 16. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oak 17. #4 Blake Lehr, Titusville DNS
FAST QUALIFIER: #3 Mike Bresnahan TOP ROOKIE: #36 Tim Russell HARD CHARGER: #70 Jeff Choquette
