"I'm
noticing a turn of the tide on racing Web sites like Florida's
Karnac.com, the gathering place for the most dedicated race
fans in the state." -Orlando Sentinel
Ocala, Fl. (06/19/09) Although the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series has not run a race since early May at North Florida Speedway with three rainouts it was obvious that it has not lost it’s appeal to fans and race teams alike as over three thousand fans and forty one teams turned out for one of the biggest events in Florida stock car racing, the fourteenth annual Powell Memorial.
Heavy rains that moved through the area the night before had Ocala Speedway owner Mike Peters and his crew scrambling to get the track prepared for a long night of ground pounding action.
As temperatures hovered in the mid 90’s with a heat index of well over 100 degrees the forty-one drivers rolled out to take time in the historic race being run for only the second time on dirt.
The early top runs were in the mid to low sixteen second range but the track started to come in for the second group with Russell Brown Jr. running a 15.802. Nine drivers later it was Jackie Nosbisch who would smoke the field with a 15.796 run to take home the Zeigler Racing Engines fast time award.
Four drivers from four Heat races would move on to the seventy five lap $5,000 to Powell Memorial. Jimmy Waldrop who had a strong qualifying run would take the win in heat one over ’08 UDLMCS Champion and defending Powell Memorial winner “The Locomotive” Johnny Collins. Wallace Peacock and Matt Hartley would finish third and fourth.
“The Magic Man” Mark Whitener who has three wins in ’09 one of which was the opener at Ocala came into the race trailing Jason Fitzgerald by just ten points would take the checkers in heat two. “Showtime” Shan Smith would follow in second, third was Russell Brown Jr. and fourth, fast qualifier Jackie Nosbisch.
Points leader Jason Fitzgerald in the Bobby Labonte Foundation ride would win heat three followed by Adam Bedenbaugh. Jeff Mathews who won the Modified race here a week before would take third and fourth would be Steven Roberts.
“The Professor” Ivedent Lloyd who has a win this year with the UDLMCS at Golden Isles Speedway would pilot the David Clegg machine to the win in heat race four. Keith Nosbisch finished in the second spot, third was Dillon Wood with Devon Dixon the final driver to move on from the heats in fourth.
Two B-mains would move six more on to the big dance. “The Tallahassee Terror” Tyler Ivey would win the first B followed by two former asphalt pilots Rich Pratt and Mike Bresnahan. Phillip Cobb took the checkers in the second B-main followed by Brandon Dewitt and Darrell Padgett.
Provisional starts were given to Clay Bedenbaugh (UDLMCS) and Billy Costello (Ocala Speedway) to make up the twenty four-car field. (Kevin Durden would replace Shan Smith who had mechanical problems and could not make the call for the feature).
Lloyd who grew up with James Powell and Keith Nosbisch would roll off from the front row of the seventy five-lap feature event. The three thousand strong fans were on their feet as the field took the green flag.
Lloyd would use the high line while Nosbisch stuck down low as they ran side by side for three laps before Nosbisch would take the lead. Lloyd settle into the second spot followed by Jimmy Waldrop.
Lap thirteen would see the first of ten caution flags this one being for Russell Brown Jr. who was running in the top ten. Brown would battle back for an eighth place finish on the night.
One the restart Lloyd would take lead back from Nosbisch but all eyes were on Whitener as he slowed on the backstretch. Whitener who would later say, “I got body slammed by somebody” had to take his car into the pits for quick repairs and a tire change. Whitener would make it back out just in time for green, starting from the rear of the field. Jeff Mathews also had his problems and had to retire for the night.
On the restart once again Lloyd and Nosbisch would go at it again going side by side battling for the lead for several laps until Brandon Dewitt would spin on lap sixteen bringing out the yellow. As the field slowed for the caution Nosbisch would take his car into the infield. Mechanical problems would end evening for the early leader leaving him with a nineteenth place finish after a strong start.
Collins would move up to the second spot behind the leader Lloyd with Waldrop in the third position. Adam Bedenbaugh and Dillon Wood would round out the top five. They would remain until just past the half way point in the race when Whitener would bust his way back into the top five.
Lloyd would pull away with Collins all alone in second. It would be Waldrop, Wood and Whitener putting on a show for the packed house for the third spot.
The longest green flag run of the evening would see Collins mount a charge on Lloyd. Just as it seemed the Locomotive was going to make the move on the Professor the third place car of Waldrop misjudged the tricky turn four of Ocala and as many before him slammed hard into the wall bringing out the yellow flag on lap fifty five. Waldrop would limp his car off the track and finish a disappointing fourteenth after a strong run.
Whitener was able get around Wood to take the third spot but up front Lloyd was able to hold off Collins to take the win in the 14th annual Powell Memorial.
In an emotional winners circle a tearful James Powell embraced long time friend Ivedent Lloyd. “I’ve know and raced with this guy for over thirty years” said Lloyd. “This is biggest win of my career.”
“This is so cool for a great friend like Ivedent to win this, I can’t even describe it” said Powell.
“ I sure didn’t wanna see that caution at the end because the longer we ran the better we got” said second place Collins. “But hey that’s racing, we didn’t tear the car up we’re happy with what we done and we’ll go out next week and have some more fun.”
Whiteners third place run would take over the point’s lead 1750 to 1730 for Jason Fitzgerald.
The next race for the United Dirt Late Model Challenge Series will be June 27th for the third annual Scott Thompson Memorial at big half mile of Volusia Speedway Park. Once again Real Racin’USA will bring you the race LIVE! Over the Internet on www.realracinusa.com
www.uniteddirtlatemodels.com
OFFICIAL FINISHING ORDER
1- 07 Ivedent Lloyd 2- 5C Johnny Collins 3- 5W Mark Whitener 4- 26W Dillon Wood 5- 26 Adam Bedenbaugh 6- 7F Jason Fitzgerald 7- 33D Devin Dixon 8- 00B Russell Brown 9- 66H Matt Hartley 10- 12 Jack Nosbisch 11- 47 Tyler Ivey 12- 0 Rich Pratt 13- 2 Brandon Dewitt 14- 9W Jimmy Waldrop 15- 11X Steven Roberts 16- 56 Kevin Durden 17- 6 Clay Bedenbaugh 18- P1 Wallace Peacock 19- 101 Keith Nosbisch 20- 32 Phillip Cobb 21- 33M Jeff Mathews 22- 00C Billy Costello 23- 46P Darrell Padgett 24- 66B Mike Bresnahan
HEATS Heat One 1. 9W Jimmy Waldrop 2. 5C Johnny Collins 3. P1 Wallace Peacock 4. 66H Matt Hartley
Heat Two 1. 5W Mark Whitener 2. 17ss Shan Smith 3. 00B Russell Brown 4. 12 Jack Nosbisch
Heat Three 1. 7F Jason Fitzgerald 2. 26B Adam Bedenbaugh 3. 33M Jeff Mathews 4. 11X Steven Roberts
Heat Four 1. 07 Ivedent Lloyd 2. 101 Keith Nosbisch 3. 26W Dillon Wood 4. 33D Devin Dixon
B-Main One 1. 47 Tyler Ivey 2. 0 Rich Pratt 3. 66B Mike Bresnahan
