By Matt Prieur
 The first race of the 2008 racing season overall for the entire ASA Late Model Series Presented by GM Performance Parts and more specifically, the ASALMS Southern Division is now complete!
The Flagship RV’s 100, the 2008 ASALMS Southern Division Season Opener is now in the record books as the fast 0.333 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval of the Bronson (FL) Motor Speedway, located West of Gainesville in Bronson, Florida served as gracious hosts of the Flagship RV’s 100.
In a exciting, thrilling, and just plain wild 100-lap Feature that ended up going into overtime to 101 laps, 19-year-old Jimmy Lang passed David Odell just after the final restart on Lap 99 and held off a late charge from Rookie of the Year title contender, Chad Pierce to win his first career ASALMS Southern Division Feature!
The Bluffton, South Carolina driver also takes the early points lead in the chase for the 2008 ASALMS Southern Division Championship title chase heading into the second South event on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at the New Senoia (GA) Raceway, located Southwest of Atlanta in Senoia, Georgia for the running of the Georgia Showdown 100.
Lang, who earlier in the evening broke the track record in ARP Bodies / Aluminum Racing Products Qualifying, took the lead for the first time on Lap 80 after race long leader, 17-year-old Blake Lehr, who led the first 79 laps, and home track favorite, Travis Cope collided in Turns 1-2 battling for the lead.
Both Lehr and Cope were sent to the rear of the field giving Lang the lead. Another Rookie title contender, David Odell grabbed the lead from Lang on Lap 99 only to see the last caution of the night fly. Odell led Lang to the green for the green-white-checkered finish and Lang would redeem himself by passing Odell back to take the lead and win!
As Odell tried to regroup, he blew a right front tire and limped across the start finish line in 10th. Pierce and several others cars all got by Odell and Pierce even mustered up a late charge at Lang, but in the end settled for second and takes the early lead in the chase for the 2008 ASALMS Southern Division Rookie of the Year title.
Wesley Chapel, Florida sophomore, Jeremy Gerstner finished a career high third while Buda, Texas native, Colt James came from the rear of the field on three different occasions to finish a solid fourth. 17-year-old Dustin Dunn rounded out the Top Five with a career high fifth place showing.
Lehr, who led the first 79 laps before going to the rear of the field, recovered to finish sixth as 14-year-old Casey Caudill earned the nights’ Hard-Charger Award after starting 17th to finish an impressive seventh. 17-year-old Kyle Eastham was eighth as 16-year-old Michael Pilla and Odell completed the Top 10.
More Details and a Complete Recap of the Flagship RV’s 100 will be available beginning on Monday, March 31, 2008.
Flagship RV’s 100 UNOFFICIAL Results
Pos.,,Start,,Car #/Driver,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Laps,,Status
1,,,,,,,6,,,,,,,,86 Jimmy Lang,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
2,,,,,,,11,,,,,,57 Chad Pierce-R,,,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
3,,,,,,,10,,,,,,70 Jeremy Gerstner,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
4,,,,,,,8,,,,,,,,15 Colt James,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
5,,,,,,,7,,,,,,,,59 Dustin Dunn-R,,,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
6,,,,,,,1,,,,,,,,3 Blake Lehr-R,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
7,,,,,,,17,,,,,,133 Casey Caudill-R,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
8,,,,,,,15,,,,,,20 Kyle Eastham-R,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
9,,,,,,,12,,,,,,24 Michael Pila-R,,,,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
10,,,,,3,,,,,,,,75 David Odell-R,,,,,,,,,,,,,,101,,,,Running
11,,,,,4,,,,,,,,88 Justin Larson-R,,,,,,,,,,,99,,,,,,Accident
12,,,,,14,,,,,,93 Rob Partelo,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,98,,,,,,Overheating
13,,,,,5,,,,,,,,26 Travis Cope,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,95,,,,,,Accident
14,,,,,13,,,,,,188 Will Hannah-R,,,,,,,,,,,80,,,,,,Accident
15,,,,,9,,,,,,,,62 Travis Wilson,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,54,,,,,,Mechanical
16,,,,,2,,,,,,,,97 Patrick Staropoli-R,,,,,,29,,,,,,Transmission
17,,,,,19,,,,,,19 Chris Gillespie-R,,,,,,,,,23,,,,,,Mechanical
18,,,,,16,,,,,,78 John Gerstner-R,,,,,,,,,15,,,,,,Mechanical
19,,,,,18,,,,,,08 Jason Taghikhani,,,,,,,,9,,,,,,,,Mechanical
Lap Leaders: 3 Blake Lehr-R Pole-79, 86 Jimmy Lang 80-98, 75 David Odell-R 99, 86 Jimmy Lang 100-101.
Cautions: 15 Cautions for 0 Laps.
Time of Race: 1 Hour, 04 Minutes, 15.831 Seconds.
Earlier in the afternoon in ARP Bodies / Aluminum Racing Products Qualifying, 19-year-old Jimmy Lang, whose 2008 Schedule calls for the Bluffton, South Carolina driver to run the full schedules in both the ASALMS Challenge and Southern Divisions, broke the track record!
Lang toured the Bronson, Florida speed plant at a 13.280 which measures out to 90.271 MPH. The ASALMS Track Record was originally set by Ryan Carlson back on March 4, 2006 when Northern invader turned a 13.285.
The next race for the ASALMS Southern Division is set for Saturday, April 19, 2008 as the Second Race of the 2008 season for the Southern contingent will be hosted by the New Senoia (GA) Raceway, located Southwest of Atlanta in Senoia, Georgia as the 0.375 Mile High-Banked Paved Oval will host the running of the Georgia Showdown 100.
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