BRUCE EVERETT MEMORIAL BECOMES PATRICK CONRAD'S FIRST SLM WIN AT OSW
By Dave Westerman
Patrick Conrad was a dominant force in Bandeleros and Legends Cars at Orlando Speedworld for several years, but the move last year to the ultra-fast Super Late Models proved a tough learning curve for the young Clermont driver.
Friday night, Conrad's rough road smoothed out considerably as he took his very first SLM win in the First Annual 50 lap Bruce Everett Memorial.
The field was a bit short but very competitive as Eric Deffendall set quick time of 13.913 with Jason Boyd second quick at 13.980.
Luck of the draw put Conrad on the pole for the big race with 2005 Speedworld Super Late champion Jared Allison on the outside. Bruce Everett's old race car, "Chocolate Thunder" was at the track for pre-race ceremonies and Bruce's daughter Debbie was also here for the race paying tribute to her late father.
Allison snared the early lead from the outside pole slot as Conrad and Boyd tucked in behind him. The race ran under green for the first 18 laps before Bobby Owens spun in turn one to bring out the first caution.
Allison, Conrad and Boyd continued to run nose to tail slowed only by a debris caution on lap 25, a Gary Bierlein spin on lap 31 and Chris Staggs' spin on lap 33 which was the last caution period.
Conrad continued to put the pressure on Allison and was finally able to get by on lap 41. From that point, Conrad set sail and pulled well out front. Boyd passed Allison for second on lap 45 but had nothing for Conrad who raced to an easy win. Boyd was second ahead of Allison, Rick Bates and Deffendall. Matthew Stichman, Staggs, Bierline and Owens rounded out the top ten.
When leaders Hoot Flynn and Corey Freed tangled while fighting for the lead on lap 15, Mark Emberson took over the top spot and raced to the win in the Modifieds.
Matt Wheeler had a strong run for second with Shane Held getting third after leading early on. Alan Bruns was fourth with Brian Vickers fifth. Completing the top ten were Terri Bryant, Freed, Gary Fountain, Randy Froelich and Wayne Sorg. Heats for Modifieds were won by Emberson and Freed.
In Mini Stocks it was the "Missleman" topping the "Boneman" at the end of the 20 lap feature. Rex "Boneman" Hollinger led the opening eight laps before Tim "Missleman" McPhail snared the top position and raced to his first win here in two years. John Cook had a great run for third over Dick Laszlo and Bob "Mitsubishi" Miller. Opening week winner Pedie Allison had a rough night, spinning twice but recovering for an eighth place finish. Mini Stock heats were won by Laszlo and Josh Hermann.
Billy Cuddy led all the way to take the Sportsman win, his first in the class. Rookie Brent Woodley came from last on the starting grid to take second after Richard Hight spun out of the position on the final lap. Dale Clouser came home third but thought he was fourth and got DQ'd when he failed to go to tech. That moved Timmy Todd, Jr. up to the show spot with Hight recovering for fourth and Paul Hudson fifth. The Sportsman heat was won by Hight.
Roger Benton recovered from his big wreck the week before to dominate the Super Stock finale. Benton finished well in front of Johnny Brown, Bobby Byars, Vince Keeler, and Bobby Riley. Super Stock heats were won by Benton and James Frisbee.
John Stinely drove his immaculate Chevy Monte Carlo to victory in both the Strictly Stock heat and feature race. Robert Remus came home second in the main event ahead of Brian Lynch, Bill Spence and Bob Heina.
The Junior Stock Junior Division saw a new winner in Wes Railing Jr. as he out ran Luke Burke and Jeff Cuddy. Railing also won the heat race.
Devon Cuddy won the Junior Stock Senior Division feature race over Cody Pierson, Jessie Cuddy and Alex Fortune. Devon Cuddy took the heat race as well.
OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD - MARCH 24
BRUCE EVERETT MEMORIAL SUPER LATE MODEL 50
1. #2 Patrick Conrad 2. #15 Jason Boyd 3. #18 Jared Allison 4. #4 Rick Bates 5. #26 Eric Defendall 6. #52 Matthew Stichmann 7. #56 Chris Staggs 8. #11 Gary Bierlein 9. #08 Bobby Owens 10. #22 Dusty Cornelius
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED
1. #30 Mark Emberson 2. #97 Matt Wheeler 3. #55 Shane Held 4. #4b Alan Bruns 5. #86 Brian Vickers 6. #08 Terri Bryant 7. #12 Corey Freed 8. #33 Gary Fountain Sr. 9. #8 Randy Froehlich 10. #64 Wayne Sorg 11. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn 12. #5 Jon Compagnone Jr. 13. #84 Jack Arnold III
SPORTSMAN
1. #64 Billy Cuddy 2. #99 Brett Woodley 3. #25 Timmy Todd Jr. 4. #23 Richard Hight 5. #08 Paul Hudson 6. #44 Bryan Silas 7. #55 Tom Vento 8. #30 Dale Clouser DQ'D FOR NOT GOING TO TECH
SUPER STOCK
1. #14 Roger Benton 2. #86 Johnny Brown 3. #12 Bobby Byars 4. #7 Vince Keeler 5. #52 Bobby Riley 6. #3 James Frisbie 7. #07 Daniel Laszlo 8. #00 Jason Foster 9. #06 Roy Ayers 10. #4 Ray Brown 11. #2 Ron Whaley 12. #9 Matthew Jarrett 13. #69 Sparky Wilson
MINI STOCK
1. #7 Tim "Missleman" McPhail 2. #85 Rex "Boneman" Hollinger 3. #24 John Cook 4. #07 Dick Laszlo 5. #02 Bob Miller 6. #77 Randy Blakeslee 7. #97 Kelly Jarrett 8. #92 Pedie Allison 9. #98 Josh Hermann 10. #10 Michael Seay 11. #09 Bob Kelchner 12. #13 Darrell Jacobs 13. #06 Heather Suggs
JR. STOCK (8-11)
1. #51 Wes Railing 2. #68 Luke Burke 3. #64 Jeff Cuddy
1. #4B John Stinly 2. #16 Robert Remus 3. #54x Brian Lynch 4. #52 Bill Spence 5. #4x Bob Heina 6. #80 Steven Streight 7. #22 8. #20x 9. #8 Jared Mullinax
Patrick Conrad was a dominant force in Bandeleros and Legends Cars at Orlando Speedworld for several years, but the move last year to the ultra-fast Super Late Models proved a tough learning curve for the young Clermont driver. 
