| Sam Watts wins Clyde Hart Memorial 125 at New Smyrna Speedway | by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla. (September 29, 2007) After a rain delay of 2 months, the annual Clyde Hart Memorial ran at New Smyrna Speedway on Saturday night. Although for awhile it was touch and go with the weather, the track crew and Strictly Stocks got the track dry with only an hour delay in racing. As the "ole" green truck of Clyde Hart watched the festival from it's perch on the hill, fans, drivers, and officials remembed the man who loved racing no matter what the car count was.
Twenty three Super Lates made the field up but it was Jeff Choquette in Dick Anderson's famous 92 that set fast time followed by Patrick Conrad, Sam Watts, Ricky Carmichael, and Wayne Anderson. Choquette pulled the 5 pill for the inversion putting Wayne Anderson on the pole with Ricky Carmichael on the outside.
The autograph session was skipped due to the weather but a driver introduction was done with Robert and Andrew Hart meeting the drivers introducing each one to the fans who stayed thru the rain for this 125 lap event. It was now time to strap in and go racing.
Anderson quickly jumped to the point on the start followed by Carmichael, Watts, Choquette, and Conrad. But it was a very short green as Carmichael went high into turns 1 and 2 hitting the wall.
Carmichael was fine but done before the night even began.
On the second restart after the caution, Anderson once again jumped to the point but it was another yellow with David Rogers, Kurt Jett, Dustin Skinner and Corey Freed. Freed got loose hitting Skinner with Rogers getting tagged hard and frontend damage on Jett. Rogers car was destroyed along with Skinner who could not return to the field. The race was red flagged due to Rogers's fuel tank leaking. Both Rogers and Skinner were fine with Jett and Freed returning to the race.
Once again Anderson takes the point on the restart followed by Choquette, Watts, Conrad, and B.J. McLeod. But caution came once again on lap 11 when John Coffman spun in turns 3 and 4.
The race goes back green but on lap 15 the yellow is shown again for Jeff Choquette who has hit the end of turn 4 wall hard. Track officials see the rear hub is broken ending Choquette's night after being fast qualifier. Choquette is fine but the same cannot be said about the 92.
Anderson leads the way on lap 25 followed by Watts, Conrad, McLeod and Russell. Lap 33 sees second in points Brian Finney retire to the pits with an engine problem. Conrad looks high, low to pass Anderson but Anderson holds the point keeping Conrad second. McLeod is now looking to pass Watts. Watts holds but on lap 63, McLeod finally makes the move and takes over third.
The caution comes out again for Chad Pierce who has no brakes and has dusted the turns 3 - 4 wall. Pierce is fine but out. Also out is McLeod who has gotten frontend damage to his car as Anderson slowed for the caution and he and Conrad slightly touch with McLeod having no where to go. McLeod is fine but has enough damage that he does not want his car destroyed ending his good run. McLeod had a very fast car for the night.
Lap 72 sees the restart as Anderson leads the way over Conrad, Watts, Russell, and Blake Lehr.
The top five are glued together as each wants that point. But on lap 83, the yellow comes out again as Eddie Gainey and John Coffman have gotten together and spun in turns 1 and 2. Gainey and Coffman go to the rear for the restart.
Anderson continues to lead the way as Conrad looks high, low for the pass. Each time Conrad looks, Anderson shuts the door. Anderson and Conrad do some great side-by-side action but on lap 107 coming off 4, Conrad gets alittle loose and taps Anderson sending him hard into the frontstretch wall. Anderson is not happy but it was just hard racing between the two. Anderson's car is towed off the track with Anderson going to the hospital eventually with a possible broken shoulder. Anderson was dq'd for hitting a FASCAR official as they tried to keep him from going after Conrad. Just a heated moment in a racer's life.
The race was red flagged again for track cleanup.
With only green laps left after the restart, it was Sam Watts leading the way followed by Conrad, Russell, Lehr, and Brock Burns. Russell passes Conrad for second but cannot catch Watts for the lead. Watts takes the checkered for the win followed by Tim Russell, Patrick Conrad, Blake Lehr, and Brock Burns.
This was Watts's second start in a Super Late Model and he only came to shake down the car and have some fun. What a surprise for Watts to go home with the win, one happy 16 year old for sure.
The next event for the Sunbelt Super Late Models will be October 27 at New Smyrna Speedway.
For more information on the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series go to www.fascartours.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
CLYDE HART MEMORIAL 125
NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2007
1. #73 Sam Watts, Winter Springs
2. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood
3. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont
4. #4 Blake Lehr, Orlando
5. #40 Brock Burns, Winter Haven
6. #01 Robbie Smith, Ocala
7. #24 Eddie Gainey, Ft. White
8. #12 Corey Freed, Orlaqndo
9. #58 John Coffman, Live Oaks
10. #12x Dewayne Bryan
11. #9 Kurt Jett, Orange Park
12. #78 B.J. McLeod, Wachullad
13. #22 Dusty Cornelius, Cocoa
14. #57 Chad Pierce, Orlando
15. #7 Vince Keeler, Sebastion
16. #14x Mario Maresca, Ft. Lauderdale
17. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island
18. #92 Jeff Choquette, Loxahatchee
19. #14 Travis Towell, Sanford
20. #5 Dustin Skinner, Port Orange
21. #11 David Rogers, Orlando
22. #4x Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee
23. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood DQ'D
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