Powell Wins Second Race of the Florida Sunbelt Series

New Smyrna Speedway - It looked like the bottom was going to drop out at any minute before the second race of the Florida Sunbelt 125 Super Late Models finished but only a few short sprinkles interrupted the race. Early in the day the heat was definitely on at the track and everyone was enjoying short weather but by the end of the night, Old Man Winter was setting in fast as the cold front moved thru the area. From shorts to overcoats in a few short hours.

Thirty three cars made up the field for the second running of the Florida Sunbelt Super Late Model 125 race. Jack Cook was on the pole in his black and green no. 96 Super Late Model with Jacob Warren on the outside pole. Also in the field amoung the thirty three was l999 Defending Florida Sunbelt 125 Champion David Rogers, Wayne Anderson in the Racecar Engineering car, James Powell, Shane Sawyer, Eric Black (an up and coming young driver from Vero Beach), Ronnie Roach, Rob Underwood, Barry Willoughby, Justin Drawdy, Travis Kittleson, Young Shelby Howard from Indiana in his new Super Late Model, B. J. McLeod, Billy Pratt (1999 Super Late Model Champion at Orlando SpeedWorld),Jimmy Cope, Michael Williams, Jim McCoy, Brian Finney, RonCicanido, Robbie Smith, Wayne Jefferson, Joe Fito, Bob Hicks, Boaty Boatwright, Bruce Lawrence, Sr., Mike Good, BruceCowland, Ricky Thorpe, Jimbo Bjordland and Chad Pierce.

The cars took a few laps around the track before coming to a stop at the front stretch for driver introduction. Then it was time to buckle up, put window nets up and get to business.As the green flag was dropped, Jacob Warren jumped out into the early lead. Warren held that lead thru the first few cautions of the race and thru the red flag caution when Ronnie Roach ended up upside down on the front stretch and a pile up occured in that incident. Out were the No. 14, 27, 74, 84, 96 and the 11 of David Rogers was seriously damaged.

The race was restarted and on lap 54, Jacob Warren and Jimmy Cope turned each other around while fighting for the lead and both were sent to the rear of the field. A few laps later, Jimmy Cope hit the back wall and was out of the race. By this time, we were on lap 60 and the new leader of the race was James Powell with Shane Sawyer, Michael Williams, Jim McCoy and B.J. McLeod in the top five. Then on lap 79, B.J. passed the 64 of Jim McCoy to take fourth.

On Lap 115 the caution flag was waived for rain but the sprinkles were short and the race restarted with Powell still in the lead but we had lost the 64 of Jim McCoy and the 38 of Shane Sawyer due to mechanical problems. Now it was the 32 of Michael Williams in second, B.J. McLeod, Travis Kittleson and Justin Drawdy taking the five top slots.

Defending Champion David Rogers finished the race but with only half a car as the whole front end of the T.M. Ranch machin ewas missing. But Rogers should get the Sportsmanship Award showing all the kids in the stands that you never give up until the car won't run anymore no matter how much is missing.

Other winners at New Smyrna Speedway this night were Tim Clark in the no. 25 Mini-Stock; Tank Tucker in the Open Wheel Modifieds; the No. 27 of Mike Good's son in the Sportsman division; and the no. 13 of Jim Winterstein in the Super Stock division.

by Jane Smith

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