The Florida Mini Stock Challenge Series hit the High Speed ½ mile of New Smyrna Speedway Saturday night in conjunction with the ASA Late Model Series.
Cody Blair, in the Lynn Blair Interiors/Pro Image entry set fast Qualifying time with a lap of 20.481 seconds. Close behind with a lap of 20.540 seconds was the Autoland entry of Robbie Storer.
Robbie Yoakam in the AAA Roofing entry set 3rd fastest time with a lap of 20.548 seconds. After the fast qualifiers cleared tech inspection, Blair pulled a 3 for the inversion, putting Yoakam on the pole position for the start.
The field rolled onto the speedway for the start with Yoakam and Storer on the front row, followed by Blair and Jared Allison in the second row. The third row was filled by Jonathan Camp and Chris Thornton, followed by Ted Vulpius, S.C. Klingler, Chris Zimmerman, and Brandon McSwain completing the top ten starters. The first attempt at a start was waved off, as the front row fired earlier than flagman Derrick Molloy had instructed.
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The field came to green the second time, and the start was good, with Yoakam and Storer racing side by side, looking for the lead. The pair continued side by side for two laps, before Storer was able to take the lead on lap 3. Allison followed suit, and was able to grab second place from Yoakam.
Allison was on Storer’s bumper, looking for a way past the leader, while Yoakam and Blair were having a spirited battle for 3rd spot.
After working hard for several laps, Allison was able to get under Storer, and take the lead. After a few more laps, Yoakam was able to catch and pass Storer for 2nd position, and right behind, Blair moved into 3rd position.
The first caution was displayed when the 32 car of Brandon McSwain had mechanical problems, and wasn’t able to exit the speedway. The field lined up for the restart with Allison out front, followed by Yoakam, Blair, Storer, Camp, Thornton, Vulpius, Zimmerman, Foote, and Klingler in the top ten positions. On the double file restart, the 81 moved into second position, while Camp moved into 4th spot.
Yoakam was able to reclaim second spot in a few short laps, while Blair got stuck on the outside, and lost several positions. Yoakam seemed to be getting stronger as the race went on, and was able to chase down Allison, and battle for the lead.
As the field took the halfway flag, Allison still held the lead with Yoakam breathing down his neck. Last years Champion, Chris Thornton was starting to make his presence felt as he began a steady charge toward the front of the field. Lap 28 was the lap for Yoakam, as he took the lead from Allison, and looked to be in control.
Lap 34 was the end for Jonathan Camp’s good run, as mechanical issues took him out of the race. Lap 36 ended Allison’s run, as he too suffered mechanical issues, bringing out the yellow flag. Yoakam sat out front for the restart, with Storer in second spot, and Thornton in third.
Thornton was able to get by Storer for second position, and began to pursue the leader. As the laps wound down, Thornton and Yoakam brought the fans to their feet as they raced for the lead.
Yoakam was running a very fast, very consistent line, while Thornton was looking inside and out for a way to the lead. The two leaders raced side by side for several laps, and coming to the checkered, rubbed down the front straight all the way to the flag.
The finish was so close that both drivers thought they had won. Yoakam was declared the winner by inches, and photos from various photographers at the finish line showed the decision to be correct.
