Scotty Nolan and Michael Havard Win at North Florida Speedway
by Jon Harney
LAKE CITY, FL (8/12) - Round four of the Brown Motorsports Hobby Stock Summer Spectacular presented by E.H. Construction squared off in the ring at North Florida Speedway. Scotty Nolan dashed past polesitter Scott Booth for the lead at the opening green flag. The drivers managed only two laps before rain forced a thirty minute delay in the program.
When the skies dried and the track was prepped for racing Nolan resumed pacing the event despite occasional challenges from John Ward. The rest of the field spread out quickly and the only driver on the move was Sammy Hatcher, who picked through the pack from the rear and began to challenge Heath Walker for third at midway. Hatcher eventually did overcome Walker, but it was too little too late in terms of challenging the leaders. Nolan successfully defended the top spot against Ward and after 25 laps of work took the checkers. The top five finishers were Nolan, Ward, Hatcher, Walker, and Booth.
Pure Stocks also raced for an extra fistful of dollars courtesy of Doctor Digital Incorporated. Dean Jarvis raced from third to first into the first turn and was the car/driver combination to beat. Michael Havard struggled in the pack as Shawn Creech, Gerald Lewis, and Robby Disbrow went to war with Havard and with each other during much of the event.
Jarvis benefited from the decimation going on behind him and as he padded his lead it appeared that the only real threats he had were either driver error or mechanical failure. On lap twelve a caution slowed the field and suddenly Jarvis' invincibility was stripped away when he suddenly turned his #37 into the darkness of the pits never to emerge again. With mechanical problems taking Jarvis out of the event, the lead fell into the hands of Havard, who had made a critical pass of Disbrow one lap earlier.
Havard was able to successfully run the table and take the win. Billy Brock crossed the line in second but his #3 did not survive the post-race tech inspection. Rick Reed was awarded second with Gene Osteen third, Jesse Sullivan fourth, and Dean Mathison fifth.
A strong field of Modifieds returned to the 3/8-mile clay oval and were led in the early stages by John Bradley. As with the Hobby Stocks, a rain shower delayed the feature for several minutes. Bradley continued to lead when the race was restarted and appeared to have found a cushion in the high groove.
Carlton Allen emerged as a contender to the throne near midway and both cars demonstrated to the other racers and the fans that there were two fast grooves at NFS. Allen executed a slide pass on Bradley in the third turn to take the lead on lap 12. Allen stretched his lead while Bradley's car encountered problems and fell out of the chase. Allen earned a solid win and was trailed by Ronnie Chance, Mark Padgett, Kenny Blair, and Jerry Campbell.
Marvin Hassell took the initial lead in the Street Stock feature and did his best to hold off Dean Sands, but Sands proved to be too much dog to deny and made his race-winning pass on the fourth lap. A few laps later Dewey Hall would challenge and pass Hassell for second. A late caution allowed Hall one more opportunity to catch and pass the leader, but Sands had enough in his tank at the end and claimed his tenth feature win of 2006. The top five read Sands, Hall, Hassell, Nick Reid, and Cliff Crawford.
Modifieds return to NFS next week and will race along with the Mini Sprints, Street Stocks, Hobby Stocks, and Pure Stocks. For more information, visit www.northfloridaspeedway.com.
