Goodyear Challenge Champion to be Crowned this Friday, 11/03, at Orlando SpeedWorld
by Jane Smith
Orlando, Fla. (October 31, 2006) The day is coming this Friday, November 3rd, when the 2006 Goodyear Challenge Late Model Champion will be announced. One of the top three in points will be the 2006 Champion with each leadng the series points at one time or another during the year.
Going into the final race leading the points at present is the 2005 Goodyear Challenge Late Model Champion Rich Clouser of Palm Bay. Rich drives for car owner Bobby Sears who is known throughout Florida for his own Mini Stock and Late Model Championships. When Bobby decided he wanted to be a car owner and no longer the driver he found Rich and the two teamed together is hard to beat. In their first year of competition with the Goodyear Series, Rich won Rookie-of-the-Year and was second in points.
"Rich and I are a team. We started out very bad in the first race when Rich was out before the race even began and we have had our ups and downs, but all in all this has been a good year. Rich can drive the wheels off any car and has proven to me he is comfortable behind the wheel in any kind of stockcar. Friday is a big day for us but no matter what, we have had a good year." said Sears.
Besides the 2005 Goodyear Challenge Late Model Championship, Rich has also won the Street Stock Championship at Desoto Super Speedway and been a Super Stock Champion at FASCAR.
Second in the run for the crown is Dustin Deschamps who also knows what it is to be a champion already from the Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series.
Dustin was the driver to beat in Mini Stocks, only problem, it was hard to beat him. Dustin has already won the Rookie-of-the-Year title in 2006 and has led the points during the season.
Obviously for Dustin it is not hard to make the switch from Mini Stock to Late Model and that has shown strong throughout the year.
Our third title hopeful is none other than Hialeah's own Joe Winchell. Joe is known well throughout the Florida Late Model family having Hialeah Championships under his belt. Joe has had an up and down year and actually had to use buddy Greg Kaouk's car for the New Smyrna Goodyear race. Joe is timeless and always a hard racer.
Under the direction of Scott and Becky Jackman, the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series has had a superior year.
"It was great for us to see some old faces and new faces in 2006. Drivers have not always agreed with some of our calls and have gotten mad but our goal was to be as fair as possible to all our racers. I guess the old saying that you can't make everyone happy all the time applies to the Goodyear also but we do appreciate each and every driver and team that has supported us throughout the year. We look forward to 2007 and we look forward to celebrating our new champion this Friday night," smiled Scott Jackman. "Thanks guys and gals for a great year."
Points from fourth place to tenth place are very close also and this will be a race for position on Friday. Standing fourth is another rookie Travis Cope. With three wins under his belt at Bronson Motor Speedway, Citrus County Speedway and Columbia Motorsports Park, Travis has shown that he can race a Late Model. Travis has expanded his skills to Super Late Models and will run the 41st Annual Governor's Cup 200 and concentrate on the Sunbelt Super Late Model Championship in 2007.
A.J. Curreli stands fifith in points and wants nothing more than to win the last race this Friday at SpeedWorld. Curreli has one win under his belt at New Smyrna Speedway. Rounding out the top ten are Justin Larson, Troy Hall, Greg Kaouk, Chuck Burkhalter and Sam Watts.
There will be an open practice on Thursday, November 2nd, at Orlando SpeedWorld for the Goodyear drivers and all other divisions. Practice will start at 5 pm until 10 pm. Cost is $10.00 per person. And if you need to camp out overnight, camping is allowed.
On Friday, November 3, the pit gate will open at 2 pm with practice for the Goodyear Challenge drivers ONLY from 3 to 4 pm with division practice to follow with the Goodyear mixed in to that practice. Qualifying for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 will be at 7 pm with racing action to start at 8 pm. General admission is $20.00, students and seniors $15.00, children 11 and under FREE. Pit entrance is $25.00.
For more information on the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series go to www.fascar.org.
Second in the run for the crown is Dustin Deschamps who also knows what it is to be a champion already from the Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series. 
