Night 2 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
by Jane Smith Samsula, Florida - There may have been no stars above in the sky, but the stars were shining brightly on the track for night 2 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway. The fans were not disappointed.
With Mini Stock drivers from Florida, North Carolina, New Hampshire, and Virgina joining in night two for the Mini Stock feature, it was Adam Murray who sat on the pole but not for long.
On the drop of the green, Rex "Boneman" Hollinger did a perfect 360 coming off turn 4 for the start but was able to correct the car and continue in the right direction without a caution being thrown. Robbie Yoakan, 2002 Mini Stock Track Champion at Citrus County Speedway in Inverness, FL passed Murray and took the lead and never looked back. The caution free race saw Yoakam take the checkered followed by Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulipus, Richard Kelley, Rick Sirmans, and Scott Reeves, the winner of Night 1, in the top five.
Mini Stock runs for three more nights of racing action.
D.J. Hoelzle held the point for the FL/IMCA Open Wheel Modified feature but seemed to miss a shift on the start causing the yellow to come out. On the second restart, Wayne Parker brought out the caution when he spun in turns 3 and 4. The third restart saw Jerry Symons, winner of Night 1, take the lead and the win for night 2. As Symons walked away from the pack, it was the race between Jason Boyd, Brad May, Mark Vandevender, and D.J. Hoelzle that was hot and heavy. On lap 10, Vandevender had to pit with mechanical problems turning the fifth place spot over to Jerry Artuso.
May and Boyd put on a show for the crowd as they fight nose to tail over the second place spot. But on lap 15, Boyd breaks and is out of the race. Symons took the checkers followed by Jerry Artuso, D.J. Hoelzle, Chad Pierce and Steve Johanack.
It was George Bech on the pole for the NASCAR Tour Type/SK Mods but before lap 1 could go down in the books, the yellow was thrown for Jim Willis who made contact with the frontstretch wall. A total restart was in order. On the restart, sparks are flying off the Tim Arre machine and before the yellow was thrown, sparks were also coming from J.R. Bertuccio's machine. Both machines made their way to the pits for repairs if possible.
The race restarts for only 1 short lap as Steve Whitt hit the turns 1 and 2 wall. Bech has the point followed by George Kent, Rob Summers, Mike Fitch, and Ed Flemke, Jr.
Bech holds his lead on the restart with Robbie Summers hold on his tail. But on lap 10, the yellow comes out for Kevin Goodale who spun with Summers's machine pitting for mechanical problems. On the restart, it is the winner of night 1, Ted Christopher, who took the point and that was all she wrote. A few more cautions were thrown for minor spins but nothing shook the hold Christopher had on the lead.
Following Christopher to the checkered was George Kent, Tim Arre, George Bech, and Mike Fitch. In Victory Lane, Christopher noted "I had a hole in my radiator from some debris on the track and I was lucky to even finish the race. We are having a great time here in Florida at the World Series."
A number of new Super Lates joined the field for the second night at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Jr. Hanley sat on the pole after setting a new track record at New Smyrna Speedway in qualifying. But before a lap was down, a total restart was in order as David Browning brought out the yellow.
James Powell III took the lead on the restart but Hanley was not having that and retook the lead from Powell. The two battled nose to tail and on lap 5, Powell pushed just alittle too hard and turned Hanely sending both cars to the rear of the field for the caution. This was all Wayne Anderson was waiting for as he took over the number 1 spot and the win for night Freddie Query gave it all he had but could not come up with enough steam to pass Anderson for the lead. Terry Shoppenhart and Louie Mechalides brought out the yellow and lap 27 as Shoppenhart was running fourth and Mechalides sixth. Somehow they tangled going down the frontstretch with Mechalides pushing Shoppenhart into the frontstretch wall. Shoppenhart looked to have severe damage to his machine.
The race was restarted with Anderson, Query, B.J. McLeod, Donald Chisolm and Aric Almirola but before the checkered was thorwn, Randy Gentry passed Almirola and took over the fifth place spot.
Anderson told the crowd in Victory Lane, "this is the greatest."
John Crumbine lead the Late Models to the green flag for Night 1 but it was Larry Osteen who took the point on the green. Randy Dye spun in turns 1 and 2 with Ken Hayward taking a little trip avoiding the spunout car of Dye. A complete restart was in order with Crumbine taking the lead on the green.
Lap 2, Jonathan Smith brought out the yellow as he sat high up in turns 3 and 4 against the wall. Paul Broucker gave the crowd some entertainment as he spun coming down the frontstretch on the same caution.
On the restart Osteen took the point followed by Crumbine, Tim Russell, Danny Maddox and Kirk Hooker. Russell began putting on the moves first by taking over the second spot of Crumbine and by lap 13, Russell had the lead followed by Osteen, Crumbine, Jason Boyd, and Rich Clouser.
Lap 16 Clouser brought out the yellow as he spun down in the bottom of turn 4 with rear-end damage. The race was restarted for the last time with Russell taking his first win in the Late Model division at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing followed by Larry Osteen, Jason Boyd, John Crumbine and Tim Clark.
A very happy and excited Russell told the crowd, "this is my first win at the World Series, I would first like to thank my dad and all the people who have backed me and gotten me here. Thanks."
David Gould sat on the pole for the Super Stocks and took the point on the green followed by Charlie Collins. But if the fans thought they were seeing double, they were as the two almost identical cars of Rob Watford were funning third and fourth with Rich Clouser in the second car. Watford spun but was able to get the car going without the yellow being thrown.
After a few minor cautions, Gould found his hands were full of Rich Clouser on his rear with Clouser making the pass and taking over the number one spot. Ron Whaley tucked in on Clouser's coat tail and made the move with him taking over the second place spot with Bobby Simcox in third. Simcox and Collins duke it out with Collins coming back and retaking third putting Simcox fourth.
Clouser held tight and took the win with Ron Whaley, Charlie Collins, Bobby Simcox and David Gould in the top five.
Night 3 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing will see the TBARA Winged Sprints on the program.
