Daniel Keene Jr. wins Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 at USA International
by Jane Smith
Lakeland, Fla. - Twenty five Late Models were in the field for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 that followed the third and final leg of the Triple Crown. Just as the Super Late Model were given, the Late Models had one round of practice before qualifying for their event.
Brad May of Orlando made one of his rare appearances setting fast time with a 21,379 followed by A.J. Curreli, Doug Moff, Drew Brannon and Justin Larson. May pulled a 9 for the inversion putting Kevin Macy of Bartow on the pole with Daniel Keene, Jr. of Weekie Wachee on the outside pole.
When the green flag dropped, it was Keene, Larson, Ingram, Macy and Cope leading the way. Cope put pressure on Macy taking over fourth as Macy moved to fifth. By lap 13, May had worked his way from ninth to fifth. Rich Clouser passed Darren Brown for ninth. Suddenly the caution came out for Daniel Keene, Jr. and Justin Larson who had gotten together in turn 4. Larson went in for crew attention as Joe Winchell went in and behind the wall on lap 21.
Once again Keene led the point on the restart followed by Cope, Ingram, May and Curreli. Lap 30 saw the caution come out for Jeremy Goddard and Raymond Folwell who got together in turns 1 and 2. Goddard spun backwards and slowly slid backwards towards the backstretch. Goddard was quickly checked by the EMTs and taken back to his pit, down for the night.
Copes led the way on the restart followed by Ingram, Moff, Clouser and Brown. Clouser looked to take third but Moff held. Clouser looked again and by lap 55 had third with Moff in fourth. The caution came out for JR McMichael who spun in turn 4 as Chad Akins gave him a little tap. Both cars were sent to the rear for the restart.
Once again Cope led the way on the restart followed by Ingram, Moff, Clouser and Brown. But it was only two laps later when the yellow came out again for Wayne Morris who spun in turn 4. Morris was fine and put to the rear for the restart. The restart was wild and scary as Ingram went on top of Cope with Clouser going into the grass to avoid the wreck and shooting straight into the turn 1 wall. "Once I got into the grass, it was just a hold on situation" said Clouser. "I was on the brakes but nothing happened." Luckily Clouser was not hurt seriously but very sore and with a swollen foot from the clutch pedal breaking during the accident.
The track was cleared and the green once again waived only to see the yellow immediately for Greg Kaouk, Cory Collum, and Ray Black Jr. who got together on the frontstretch on the restart. Again, the green flag waved as Moff took the point over Brown, Macy, Jeremy Colangelo, and Brad May. May passed Colangelo for fourth as Keene and Curreli followed May and Colangelo settled into seventh. Brandon Thomson brought out the yellow as he rested against the backstretch wall. Thomson was fine but also done for the night. The red came out with the cars stopped as Thomson's car was taken off the track.
Moff led the way on the green followed by Brown, Macy, May and Curreli. Keene put the heat on as he made his way to third while Brown put the heat on Moff for the point. Brown suddenly found himself going side-by-side with Keene who wanted that number two spot. Just as it was getting heated, the caution came out as Brown and Moff spun due to track conditions. Both were given back their spots and the race was back green on lap 94.
Moff led the way followed by Keene, Brown, Curreli, and Macy. Keene looked high, then low, and finally was able to pass Moff for the point. Brown passed Moff for second and tried to chase down Keene but just did not quite have it. Keene took the checkered for his second win of the 2007 Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series followed by Darren Brown, Doug Moff, A.J. Curreli and Kevin Macy.
The next event for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series will be September 22 at Columbia Motorsports Park in Lake City. For more information on the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series go to www.fascartours.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100 USA INTERNATIONAL - SEPT 1, 2007
1. #16 Daniel Keene Jr., Weekie Wachee 2. #53 Darren Brown, Ormond Beach 3. #46 Doug Moff, Ft. Myers 4. #2 A.J. Curreli, Daytona Beach 5. #19X Kevin Macy, Bartow 6. #JR McMichael, Davie 7. #10 Brad May, Orlando 8. #05 Jeremy Colangelo, Deland 9. #03 Raymond Folwell, St, Pete 10. #56 Wayne Morris, Mulberry 11. #08 Drew Brannon, Miami 12. #19 Chuck Abell, Apopka 13. #23 Cory Collum, Cape Coral 14. #51 Dustin Deschamps, Brooksville 15. #54x Mark Childress, Lakeland54 16. #31 Greg Kaouk, Penbroke Pinews 17. #4 Ray Black, Jr., Palm Coast 18. #54 Brandon Thomson, Orlando 19. #26 Travis Cope, Bronson 20. #154 Kevin Ingram, Auburndale 21. #9 Rich Clouser, Palm Bay 22. #60 Chad Akins, Port Orange 23. #88 Justin Larson, Safety Harbor 24. #40 Jeremy Goddard, Naples 25. #57 Joe Winchell, Davie
