IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

January 27, 2008 Choquette wins NOS Energy Drink 200 presented by Goodyear at Speedfest 2008 by Jane Smith Jeff Choquette slides by Ryan Lawler and drives away to a huge super late model win Lakeland, FL (January 27, 2008) Although the morning was dark, gloomy, windy and cold, by race time the sun had come out and it warmed up nicely. Thirty three Super Lates took the green and put on one heck of a show for the fans. On the pole for the 200 lap event was Ryan Lawke, winner of Friday's night North 100. But it was the outside pole sitter who took the lead on the green, Jeff Choquette, winner of the South 100. PHOTO GALLERY - CLICK HERE! But before the third lap was in, the caution came out for Scotty Crockett who cut a tire and slowed bringing out the yellow. The field went back green on lap 7 as Choquette led the way over Jay Middleton, Ryan Lawler, Kyle Busch, and David Rogers. Middleton puts the pressure on Choquette and takes the point on lap 9 as Kyle Busch passes Lawler on lap 11 for third. Lap 13 sees Travis Cope pass Rogers for fifth. In the meantime rawBrian Finney passes Justin Drawdy for ninth. The caution comes out for Jeff Fultz who finds himself against the turn 2 wall. The race goes back green on lap 29 as Middleton leads over Choquette, Busch, Lawler, Cope, Rogers, Hunter Robbins, Scott Hantz, Brian Finney, and Justin Drawdy. But two laps later, David Rogers brings out the yellow and he and Robbins get together with Rogers spinning on the frontstretch. Robbins joins the field in the rear along with Rogers for the restart. Middleton maintains the point on the restart followed again by Choquette, Busch, Lawler and Cope. Finney moves up to seventh as Drawdy goes to eighth, Wayne Anderson ninth, and Fultz tenth. On lap 57, Fultz retires to the pits. In the meantime, Middleton finds his mirror full of Choquette who takes the lead back on lap 62. The caution comes out again for Aaron Pierce. During the caution, a number of cars come in for a pit stop. On the restart, it is Choquette, Hantz, Finney, Anderson, Shane Sieg, Larson, Sawyer, Rogers, Drawdy and Lawler. Lap 79 sees Blake Lehr retire from the race with engine problems. By lap 80, it is Choquette, Hantz, Finney, Shane Sieg, and Eddie Hoffman in the top five. By lap 92, Sieg and Hoffman are closing in on Finney. Sieg takes third, Hoffman fourth as Finney settles in fifth. Drawdy is back on the move as he closes in on Finney but Finney holds although he is obviously fighting a very lose racecar. Finney tries to hold his position but fighting a sliding racecar is no fun. Drawdy takes over fifth as Finney slides back to seventh. On lap 109, Finney spins in turn 4 bringing out the caution. On the restart, a pile-up is seen in turn 1 collecting Justin Larson, Wayne Anderson, Jeff Scofield, Scotty Crockett, Scott Hantz, Cassius Clark, and Eddie Hoffman. The red comes out as the cars are taken off the track one by one. Luckily, no drivers were hurt. On the restart on lap 117, 19 cars are left in the field as Justin Drawdy leads the way over Lawler, Jeremy Colangelo, Shane Sawyer, and David Rogers. A few laps later, Lawler takes the lead as Drawdy goes to second followed by Colangelo, Choquette and Busch. Choquette passes Colangelo for third then Drawdy for second looking to take back the lead from Lawler. Busch is on the move now as he passes Colangelo for fourth then Drawdy for third. By lap 143, Choquette has once again taken back the point followed by Lawler, Busch, Colangelo and Rogers. By lap 153 it is Choquette, Lawler, Busch, Sawer, Colangelo, Rogers, Finney, Cope, Drawdy and Middleton. Cope passes Finney taking over seventh. Lap 159 sees Finney spin off turn 4 bringing out the caution. Choquette holds the point on the restart followed by Lawler, Busch, Sawyer and Colangelo. Rogers puts the heat on Colangelo and takes over fifth. By lap 179, there are ten South Super Lates and seven North Super Lates left in the field. Lap 185 sees Sawyer close in on Busch for third and takes it. Coming to the checkers, Rogers puts the heat on Busch also and takes over fourth as Choquette crosses the checkered for his second win in Speedfest 2008. Choquette is followed by Ryan Lawler, Shane Sawyer, David Rogers, and Kyle Busch. OFFICIAL RESULTS SPEEDFEST 2008 NOS ENERGY DRINK 200 presented by GOODYEAR 1. #70 Jeff Choquette 2. #31 Ryan Lawler 3. #38 Shane Sawyer 4. #11 David Rogers 5. #51 Kyle Busch 6. #05 Jeremy Colangelo 7. #22 Perry Brown 8. #12 Justin Drawdy 9. #26 Travis Cope 10. #80 Brian Finney 11. #18 Hunter Robbins 12. #60 D.J. Shaw 13. #74 Jay Middleton 14. #39 Ryan Sieg 15. #5 Joe Boyd 16. #10 Jack Landis 17. #170 Jeremy Gerstner 18. #35 David Stremme 19. #6 Mac Johnson 20. #8 Eddie Hoffman 21. #72 Scott Hantz 22. #88 Justin Larson 23. #07 Jeff Scofield 24. #84 Wayne Anderson 25. #89 Shane Sieg 26. #78 Cassius Clark 27. #1 Aaron Pierce 28. #28 Scotty Crockett 29. #188 David Pollen, Jr. 30. #09 John Wes Townley 31. #14 Blake Lehr 32. #2 Patrick Conrad 33. #67 Jeff Fultz 2008 Crate Late Model Challenge 100 1. #32 Sean Murphy 2. #5 Kris Stump 3. #86 Jimmy Lang 4. #62 Travis Wilson 5. #60 D.J. Shaw 6. #19 Kevin Macy 7. #56 Wayne Morris 8. #8 Eddie Hoffman 9. #24 Michael Pilla 10. #97 Patrick Staropoli 11. #76 Logan Ruffin 12. #16 Austin Siebert 13. #70 Jeremy Gerstner 14. #25 Steve Smith 15. #47 Chris Fontaine 16. #127 Kyle Maynard 17. #93 Rob Partelo 18. #26 Travis Cope 19. #08 Beau Slocumb 20. #07 George Crenshaw Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!