Louie Mechalides Wins IceBuster 2003 at New Smyrna Speedway
by Jane Smith Samsula, Fla - On a sunny Sunday afternoon, perfect weather, Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro, MA lead the 2003 IceBuster 50 lap event at New Smyrna Speedway from flag to flag going home $5,000 richer.
Mechalides, who ran the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway, sat on the outside pole with Mike Good on the pole. But with the wave of the green, Mechalides quickly took the point and never looked back.
On the first lap of the race, Michael Williams behind the wheel of the South 40 Super Late, had a problem with his brakes which caused him to go sideways. Williams was able to straighten the car without damaging his car or any other car, one of the best saves of the day.
Mark Vandevender brought out the first caution when he spun on the back stretch. On the restart, Mechalides held the point followed by Mike Good, David Rogers, Michael Williams and Wayne Anderson.
One the best shows in the 50 lap event was Rich Pratt giving Wayne Anderson a real run for the money. Pratt had more power in the corners but Anderson had the speed on the straightaway. Lap after lap, Pratt stayed right with Anderson showing great promise in the 2003 Sunbelt Super Late Model Series which he intends to run.
Mike Good brought out the second caution when he spun on the backstretch while running in the top five. This moved Rich Pratt into the fifth place position behind Anderson who was now fourth.
Eric Black of Vero Beach showed his muscle as he began moving towards the front passing Barry Willoughby and Chet Morrison taking over the sixth place spot.
Anderson and Pratt were still going side by side as Black sneaks in and takes fifth from Pratt putting Pratt sixth. Mike Good spun bringing out the caution and the field realigned for the restart.
Mechalides took the checkered followed by David Rogers, Michael Williams, Wayne Anderson and Eric Black.
Jeff Colburn sat on the pole for the Super Stock feature but before a lap was down, Bob Riley and Henry Rader brought out the caution on the backstretch. Riley had to retire to the pits with front-end damage amd Rader was able to continue.
On the restart, Colburn took the point followed by Charlie Collins, Ron Whaley, Josh Wronkowski and Ted Head. Whaley takes over second putting Colburn to third. Coming off turn 4, Colburn get squirelly and spins bringing out the yellow. Whaley and Colburn are sent to the rear of the lead lap cars..
On the restart, Collins holds the point. Whaley and Colburn move up fast from the rear of the lead cars towards the front once again. Whaley gets all the way up to second when he has a slight tap and knocks his toe out causing him to fall back a few spots.
Collins takes the checkered followed by Josh Wronkowski, Ted Head, Ron Whaley, and Jeff Colburn.
Steve Santopietro sat on the pole for the Strictly Stock feature and lead half the race but it was Kerry Payne coming from the fourth place position who took the checkered over James Smith, Sr., Steve Santopietro. Nick Balsy, and Jeremy Hovencamp.
New Smyrna Speedway will open the 2003 race season on March 15.with the first time appearance of the FAST Sprints along with the FASTRUCKS and Late Models, Sportsman, Modifieds, Mini Stocks, Super Stocks, and Strictly Stocks. Super Late Models will be off due to the Sunbelt Super Late Model race at Bronson Motor Speedway.
RESULTS
ICEBUSTER SUPER LATE MODELS - 50 Laps
1. #47 Louie Mechalides 2. #11 David Rogers 3. #40 Michael Williams 4. #84 Wayne Anderson 5. #10 Eric Black 6. #0 Rich Pratt 7. #77 Jonny Kay 8. #7 Mark Vandevender 9. #27 Mike Good 10. #86 Chet Morrison 11. #6 Mike Finn 12. #8 Mark Dominique 13. #16 Bruce Lawrence 14. #74 Barry Willoughby 15. #57 Chad Pierce
SUPER STOCKS - 20 Laps
1. #23 Charlie Collins 2. #21 Josh Wronkowski 3. #92 Ted Head 4. #2 Ron Whaley 5. #3 Jeff Colburn 6. #17 Lee Wagner 7. #57 James Smith 8. #31 9. #28 Henry Rader 10. #34 Pat Buckley 11. #72 Adam Bultemeier 12. #5 Bob Riley
STRICTLY STOCKS
1. #11X Kerry Payne 2. #65 James Smith Sr. 3. #58 Steve Santopietro 4. #88 Nick Balsy 5. #39 Jeremy Hovencamp
