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| Tucker Wins Ed Meridith Memorial at New Smyrna Speedway | Twenty three open wheel modifieds came to New Smyrna Speedway and the Ed Meridith Memorial. This is one of the favorite l00 lap modified races of the open wheel drivers and Saturday proved to be no different. Mike Fritts in the #52 set fast time with a 19.091 followed by Doug Moff with a 19.135. Tank Tucker with a 19.254, Aric Almirola with a 19.286 and Rob Underwood with a 19.319.
After the famous pill drawing, it was Jerry Symons and his #66 on the pole for what was one of the best modified races in a long time. The fans in the stands were on their feet as the twenty three got ready to rumble for 100 laps of open wheel racing. The green flag was dropped and we were off but the #01 turned around between turns 3 and 4 which put a total restart on the race. This was caution one.
I am doing this race by cautions since New Smyrna is getting a whole new look. The scoreboard was not working but then again, the middle section of stands were missing along with the press box. Needless to say, this did not stop the stands from being quite full inspite of the Bristol Nascar race being run also that night.
On the restart, it was Symons #66 to the lead with Rob Underwood's #09 right on his tail. By the time the second caution came, Underwood had taken the lead with Symons, Almirola, Tucker and Moff completing the top five. The second caution of the race was also caused by the #0l which had gone around.
Caution 3 saw the #14 of Almiorola and #99 of Moff go around in turn 4 and the #0l return to the track once again. During this time, Symons had retaken the lead from Underwood. The race restarted with Symons in the lead, Underwood, Tucker, Fritts, and Winks as the top five and Almirola and Moff to the end of the lead lap cars.
Little by little, Tucker was moving up on Symons and by mid-race, it was Tank Tucker in the #15 leading the pack. Caution 4 came out when the #721 went around between turns 1 and 2 but was able to continue and the #34 of Frank Polly went in and out of the pits for alittle adjusting. The race was restarted with Tucker, Fritts, Symons, Winks and Underwood in the top five positions.
Caution 6 came out when the #22 of Dyson went around on the front stretch and just slightly touched the front stretch pit wall. Dyson was able to continue on his own without any help Caution 7 was brought out when the #16 of Justin Henderson and #14 of Amirola went around in turn 1 and 2. Both drivers were able to drive off and were sent to the end of the lead lap. Then Caution 7 came out when the #16 of Henderson did a little go around on turn 3.
The race was restarted with Tucker still leading the way and Fritts not far behind. Caution 8 came out for the #71 of Larry Osteen when he hit the back wall and we lost the #l of Mike Fitch during this time as he went back into the pits. Caution 9 came out as "Hoot' Flynn #57 and Jason Boyd #2x were fighting for position and turned themselves around in turns l and 2. This sent both to the back with Boyd's #2x alittle under the weather. It never really ran quite as fast after that spin. At that point, we lost the #09 of Underwood who had to take his car to the pits.
Around lap 89, the l0th and last caution of the race was caused by the #75 when he went around in turns 1 and 2. The last ten laps saw Fritts trying to take the lead from Tucker without much luck The top 10 were as follows:
l. #15 - Tank Tucker
2. #52 - Mike Fritts
3. #66 - Jerry Symons
4. #57h - Jimmy Winks
5. #99 - Doug Moff
6. #14 - Aric Almirola
7. #00 -
8. #1 - Andy Siffioti
9. #57 - Jim "Hoot" Flynn
l0. #16 - Justin Henderson
In the other feature races of the night:
Sportsman:
1. #47 - David Gibbs
2. #04 - Doug Samion
3. #30 - Dale Clouser
4. #2 - Bill Love
5. #07 - Ron Lufcy
Super Lates:
1. #11 - David Rogers
2. #78 - B.J. McLeod
3. #27 - Mike Good
4. #7 - Mark Vandevender
5. #40 - Michael Williams
Mini-Stock
1. #7 - Tim "Missileman" McPhail - this was his second win of the weekend
2. #8 - Jamie McCague - a great run for Jamie
3. #0l - Conrad Grenier
4. #8 - Trish Gray
5. #v3 - Rex Christenson
Strictly Stocks:
#11 won
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