Ball Bounces Classic Car Foes at Orlando and New Smyrna
by Dave Westerman
For the second consecutive year a Tennessee "outsider" has come to Florida and cleaned house as the Classic Auto Racing Series wrapped up its 2003 racing season Thanksgiving weekend at Orlando Speedworld and New Smyrna Speedway.
Brian Ball of Cosby, TN, driving Steve Harrison's 1940 Ford coupe, won the 30 lap event Friday night at Speedworld, then promptly came out and took the victory in the season-ending 50 lap championship race Saturday night at New Smyrna, duplicating Gary Kelley's feat of 2002.
Kelley, of Knoxville, TN, was not expected to compete, but showed up and paid the $300 fine imposed on him for refusing to sell his engine after an apparent win during the Summer at DeSoto Speedway. Kelley still had the engine in the car and expected it to be claimed again, and was ready to sell this time. However, that engine blew up in a Friday afternoon practice session. Kelley and his crew borrowed an engine from fellow Tennessee competitor Fred MacArthur and had the car ready for qualifications.
That engine was just as good as Kelley topped the 25 car field in time trials with a clocking of 15.817 seconds, while Ball was also in the 15's at 15.903. Ben Booth was third quick at 16.032 seconds. Kelley drew a four pill after qualifying, meaning the top four would be inverted placing MacArthur on the pole and Booth outside pole with Ball and Kelley making up row two.
The field took the green under very windy conditions with a light mist in the air and falling temperatures due to an approaching cold front. MacArthur grabbed the early lead as Ball worked his way up to second trailed by Booth while Kelley got trapped in the outside groove and lost two spots.
Ball took the top spot away from MacArthur on lap seven bringing Booth with him while MacArthur began to slip back with a very loose race car.
Ball was working the right rear tire of his car to the max and he began to get loose in the corners allowing Booth to close up on his bumper. Action was slowed on lap 11 as Chip Green looped his car in turn three.
Ball pulled away as the green flag was unfurled but after a few laps his car began to swap ends allowing Booth the opportunity he needed. Booth dove under Ball to take the lead only to see the caution flag come out as Frank Conrad had spun his "Jolly Roger" machine in turn one, the victim of a broken axle.
Ball was still the leader as the race went back green and this time he played things a bit "cooler" and began to build up a good advantage over Booth. Kelley, meanwhile, had worked back up to third and got around Booth although he was well behind Ball.
Kelley got the opportunity he needed when Ed Yates spun on the front stretch to bring out the caution on lap 28.
The two lap dash to the checker saw Kelley try every trick in his arsenal, but Ball was up to the task and claimed the win. Kelley was second while Booth was the best of the "locals" in third. The top three drivers were met in victory lane by State Senator Daniel Webster, who'll sponsor the Classic Auto Racing Series in 2004 as he runs for U.S. Senate.
Defending CARS champion Jim Rahman took the checker in fourth spot followed by another Tennessee driver, Rocket Robbie Sands in fifth. MacArthur, Bill Posey, Hampstead, MD visitor Allen Cullum, Joey Strehle, and Bud Spencer rounded out the top ten.
Sunday evening was cold and windy at New Smyrna Speedway, not much fun for people, but just right for racing engines, especially the one being used by Gary Kelley as he again set quick time at 21.314, destroying his old track record by over three-tenths of a second and earning him an extra $50 bonus for doing so. "Maybe I ought to put my back-up engine in my car and give him mine," joked Fred MacArthur. Ball again had second quick time at 15.682 seconds while Robbie Sands was third quick at 21.871. Booth again was the quickest of the Florida contingent timing in fourth at 21.932 seconds.
Kelley was not too good on the luck of the draw again, this time pulling the pill to invert the top eight qualifiers putting Jim Rahman on the pole for the 50 lapper, good news for the driver who had already won both events contested at the high-banked half-mile this year.
Rahman couldn't take advantage though as third-starting Fred MacArthur slipped by him for the lead on the opening lap and quickly began to build an advantage.
Ball and Bill Posey also dispatched Rahman and set off after MacArthur, whose car bagan to get loose on him just as it had the night before.
Ball made the move into the lead on lap eight leaving MacArthur and Posey to now fight with Kelley and Sands for second. Daryl Grief had a wheel break and spun in turn two to bring out the first of only two cautions in the race on lap ten.
The restart saw Kelley and Posey going at it tooth and nail for second with Sands and MacArthur in the hunt as Booth began to make his presence felt. as the green flag laps continued, it appeared Posey had the only car that would really hook up in the bottom lane and he was just biding his time waiting for the mid-race fuel stop at lap 25.
Following the restart after the fuel stop, Posey's car began to fade back into the field and he eventually pitted with a faulty transmission.
Ball continued to lead but it was wild action behind him as Kelley, Booth, Sands and Allen Cullum were in a wild battle for second. Kelley eventually asserted himself in the second spot and was able to close somewhat on Ball before caution flew on lap 27 for Al Hagan's spin in turn three.
From that point the race ran green to the finish with Kelley unable to muster the speed needed to get by Ball who claimed his second win of the weekend and a $300 bonus for doing so making his overall weekend payoff a cool $1800.
Kelley held on for second while Maryland driver Cullum, a dirt track specialist, turned in a great effort in the "Skipmobile" for third. Rocket Robbie Sands was fourth while Ben Booth was again the top Florida car in fifth. Booth is the 2003 Classic Auto Racing series Champion and is also the first driver in Series history to win both the overall championship and the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Year title as well.
Rahman held on for sixth at the finish followed by MacArthur, Joey Strehle, Al Hagan (with a good run after having to go to the rear of the field after his spin), and Upperco, MD driver Mark Jago. The Classic Auto Racing series holds its 2003 awards banquet on Saturday evening December 13th at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Orlando. Racing action begins in February 2004 as the Classics will run five consecutive nights at Orlando Speedworld Feb. 10-14 during Speedweeks.
TURKEY DAY CLASSIC OFFICIAL FINISHES:
ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - 11/28/03 (30 Laps):
1) Brian Ball, Cosby, TN #33 2) Gary Kelley, Knoxville, TN #18 3) Ben Booth, Deland #12 4) Jim Rahman, Clermont #5 5) Robbie Sands, Knoxville, TN #17 6) Fred MacArthur, Maryville, TN #28 7) Bill Posey, Rockledge #00 8) Allen Cullum, Hampstead, MD #12X 9) Joey Strehle, Deland #X11 10) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 11) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 12) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 13) Bill Brown, Sr., Woodbine, MD #88X 14) Jackie Kelley, Knoxville, TN #31 15) Steve Smith, Groveland #2 16) Ed Yates, Orlando #74 17) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 18) Randy Doty, Hanover, PA #20 19) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88 20) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 21) David Nunes, Orlando #21 22) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #X 23) Mark Jago, Upperco, MD #95 24) Chip Green, Ft. Pierce #47 25) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6
NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - 11/29/03 (50 Laps):
1) Ball 2) G. Kelley 3) Cullum 4) Sands 5) Booth 6) Rahman 7) MacArthur 8) Strehle 9) Hagan 10) Jago 11) Brown, Sr. 12) Sanders 13) Spencer 14) Tim Stem, Fawn Grove, PA #20 15) Hall III 16) Eddie Ward, Ft. Pierce #45 17) Wayne Ashton, Ft. Pierce #78 18) Posey 19) Hall, Jr. 20) D. Grief (#31)
