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KEENE WINS 50-LAP PRO LATE MODEL RACE AS 2014 CHAMPIONS ARE CROWNED AT NEW
SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
American Auto Tires & Service night at New Smyrna Speedway was clear and
chilly but the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series action was hot and
heavy as point champions were crowned in six classes.
The highlight of the evening was the 50-lap Pro Late Model season finale.
Fourteen cars signed in to do battle but hot laps weren't kind to a pair of
drivers as both Michael Atwell of Naples and Gord Vipond of Toronto, ON,
Canada were headed home early after developing mechanical problems during
practice.
Brandon Morris, in just his second outing in a Pro Late Model, set quick time
at 17.856 seconds topping the 17.909 lap of Anthony Cataldi and Tyler Thomas'
lap of 17.937. Five-time Pro Late winner Rich Clouser lost control of his car
coming to take the green flag and smacked the wall but his crew made repairs
and got him out for the feature.
Morris drew a four for the inversion placing fourth-quick Daniel Keene, Jr. on
the pole flanked by Oklahoma driver Thomas. Keene got the early advantage but
before the field could complete the first lap Morris and Cataldi tangled
coming off turn four sending Cataldi hard into the wall right at the base of
the flag stand. As the two cars slid across the track they collected the
machines of Will Carroll, Ricky Anderson and Ricardo Flores. Cataldi's car
was destroyed while Carroll's machine needed a hook back to the pits. Morris,
Anderson and Flores drove to pit road but only Anderson was able to continue
in the event although he would drop out early. Carroll's crew went to work
and got his car repaired, minus most of the right side sheet metal, and back
out before the restart.
Thomas assumed the lead on the second start with Keene in tow. Rookie driver
Thomas, driving the Tim Russell Driver Development entry, was looking good but
Keene continued to apply the pressure and finally gained the point on lap 11.
Michael Lira would be the driver on the move later as he passed Michael
Williams for third on lap 27 then drove by Thomas easily for the second spot
on lap 40 before slowing with mechanical problems a lap later as he dejectedly
brought his car to the pits.
The entire 50 circuits were run under green and Keene maintained his advantage
to the end to score his third win of the year, all 50-lappers. Thomas took
the checker in second trailed by Michael Williams who would ultimately lose
his podium finish due to an infraction found in post-race tech. Clouser, who
tagged the back of the field for the start, steadily drove his way to the
front and ended up with a third place finish after Williams' DQ. Zach Jarrell
was fourth while Carroll rounded out the top five in his wounded machine, good
enough to claim the 2014 Pro Late Model track title for the 19-year-old from
Warrambool, Victoria, Australia.
Noah Corman was sixth and the only other car still running at the end as the
rest of the field were DNF's with Lira credited with seventh ahead of
Anderson, Cataldi, Morris, Flores and Williams.
Ron Gustafson started on the pole for the 25-lap Sportsman run and led the
opening nine circuits before a high-flying Todd Allen breezed past for the top
spot. Allen, who started tenth in the 14 car field, zipped to an easy
victory, his second of the year, as the race ran green to checker without a
caution flag. A last lap altercation between Gustafson and Garrett Hill saw
Hill's car hard into the turn two wall as the field raced to the checker with
Daniel Conlin, Jr. taking second behind Allen.
Gustafson recovered to place third trailed by Derrick Wood and Donny Williams
who claimed his third consecutive points championship and the eighth of his
career at New Smyrna Speedway. Chris Brannon was sixth while Scott Bramlett,
Hunter Gustafson, Mike Soukup and Jason Foster rounded out the top ten.
Completing the finishers were Jim Rahman, Hill, George Alexander and D. J.
Farr.
The E-Modified 25-lap feature also ran from the green flag to the checkered
flag with no slow-downs. Junior Beckner grabbed the lead from his outside
pole starting spot and led the first 12 laps before Jarrett Korpi made his was
to the front and drove away to score his 12th win of the year, the most of any
driver at the track in 2014. To go with is dozen victories, Korpi easily
topped the point chase for the second straight year.
Beckner came home with the runner-up spot while the show position went to
14-year-old Matthew Green who would finish second to Korpi in points and
finish the year with four wins. Fourth and fifth went to Roger Benton and
John Hodge while Jim Higginbotham, Jon Compagnone, Gino Tuminello, Mike Dahm,
Mike Soukup and George Dahm completed the finishing field.
Caution flags were few and far between on this night as the Super Stock
feature also ran green to checker despite a 16 car starting grid. Preston
Hunt came off the pole to lead the first eight laps as the action behind him
was nothing short of crazy. Bobby Holley put his car out front on lap nine
and never looked back as he scored his first win of the year putting a season
of frustration behind him. Shannon Kelly made a late charge but had to settle
for second while wrapping up his second consecutive points championship in the
class.
Third went to Matt Reynolds followed by Cody Blair (driving Robert Pence's
sharp-looking car) and Ernie Tuminello. Hunt ended up sixth at the finish
with Mike Amato, J. T. Tippins, Adam Soukup and Dale Sorenson completing the
top ten spots. Rounding out the finishers were Mike Dahm, Warren Schurr, Joe
Girard, Ed Barber, Becca Samsoe and Gino Tuminello.
The only point championship still up in the air on the final night of the
season was in the Mini Stock Division as Pat Wells led David Russell by just
six markers going into the evening's action. Things looked good for Wells as
only six cars showed up to race meaning that all Wells would have to do was
keep Russell in sight to claim his first track title.
Russell looked strong early as he led the opening seven laps, slowed only by a
lap two spin by Brad Blanton off the bumper of Tyler Simpson who went to the
rear for the restart. Ted Vulpius took the point on lap eight only to see
Blanton go for a spin on his own just a circuit later for the second and final
caution of the 25-lap contest.
Vulpius led the remaining distance as "Mr. Mini Stock" claimed his fourth win
of the year in just seven starts. Simpson came back to take a distant second
trailed by Blanton, who also made a late charge. Wells came home fourth as
Russell faded to fifth ahead of sixth place Mark Broat. Thus Wells claimed
the Mini Stock championship over Russell and Blanton.
Darren Jackson led the first four laps of the Strictly Stock feature before
Zachary Curtis grabbed the lead and looked poised to claim his sixth-straight
win and 11th on the year. But after a caution for a blown engine in Greg
Bruce's car, Curtis' Saturn failed to come up to speed on the restart and he
slowed to a stop to bring out the yellow flag again. Curtis got his machine
back in gear and he restarted from the tail of the pack as William Hindman
took over the point and led the rest of the way for his first win of the
season driving his spotless E&H Car Crushing Chevy Monte Carlo out of
Orlando.
Curtis blazed a trail back to second at the finish but could not track down
Hindman. Shane Sutorus was third ahead of Warren Howie and Jimmy "Spaceman"
Barron who claimed the 2014 Strictly Stock points title. Sixth through tenth
were Mark Shukwit, Dan Webb, Aaron Overman, Jackson and Bruce.
Rich Clouser out-dueled Jerry "The Hammer" Symons to win the special
three-wheel bicycle race presented by American Auto Tires & Service of New
Smyrna Beach. Late Model drivers Tim Russell, Anthony Sergi and Zach Jarrell
also competed in the event but did not fare too well.
New Smyrna Speedway will return to action November 21-23 for the 49th Annual
Florida Governor's Cup Weekend. An open practice will be held on Friday
evening November 21 from 5-9 pm followed by a BBQ at 9 pm on the grandstand
side in front of the "Throttle to Bottle" Pub. Saturday, November 22, will
feature qualifying for the Governor's Cup Super Late Models followed by a big
night of racing action. Featured will be a 100-lap contest for the Open
Modifieds and 50-lap races for the Pro Late Models and Mini Stocks. The Super
Stocks will also be in action racing for 25 laps and the Strictly Stocks will
go for 20 laps.
The Florida Governor's Cup 200-lap event returns to its Sunday afternoon roots
on November 23rd starting at 2 pm with a 50-lap affair for the Sportsman cars
followed by the big race to see what driver will have his name placed on the
Governor's Cup trophy, first contested for at Tampa's Golden Gate Speedway in
1965. Augie Grill of Hayden, AL will be going for his third straight win in
the prestigious event over a stellar field going for a posted top prize of
$15,000.
Photos: 1) Pro Late winner Daniel Keene, Jr.
2) Super Stock winner Bobby Holley
3) E-Modified winner and track champion Jarrett Korpi
all photos by Jim Jones...
SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
American Auto Tires & Service night at New Smyrna Speedway was clear and
chilly but the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series action was hot and
heavy as point champions were crowned in six classes.
The highlight of the evening was the 50-lap Pro Late Model season finale.
Fourteen cars signed in to do battle but hot laps weren't kind to a pair of
drivers as both Michael Atwell of Naples and Gord Vipond of Toronto, ON,
Canada were headed home early after developing mechanical problems during
practice.
Brandon Morris, in just his second outing in a Pro Late Model, set quick time
at 17.856 seconds topping the 17.909 lap of Anthony Cataldi and Tyler Thomas'
lap of 17.937. Five-time Pro Late winner Rich Clouser lost control of his car
coming to take the green flag and smacked the wall but his crew made repairs
and got him out for the feature.
Morris drew a four for the inversion placing fourth-quick Daniel Keene, Jr. on
the pole flanked by Oklahoma driver Thomas. Keene got the early advantage but
before the field could complete the first lap Morris and Cataldi tangled
coming off turn four sending Cataldi hard into the wall right at the base of
the flag stand. As the two cars slid across the track they collected the
machines of Will Carroll, Ricky Anderson and Ricardo Flores. Cataldi's car
was destroyed while Carroll's machine needed a hook back to the pits. Morris,
Anderson and Flores drove to pit road but only Anderson was able to continue
in the event although he would drop out early. Carroll's crew went to work
and got his car repaired, minus most of the right side sheet metal, and back
out before the restart.
Thomas assumed the lead on the second start with Keene in tow. Rookie driver
Thomas, driving the Tim Russell Driver Development entry, was looking good but
Keene continued to apply the pressure and finally gained the point on lap 11.
Michael Lira would be the driver on the move later as he passed Michael
Williams for third on lap 27 then drove by Thomas easily for the second spot
on lap 40 before slowing with mechanical problems a lap later as he dejectedly
brought his car to the pits.
The entire 50 circuits were run under green and Keene maintained his advantage
to the end to score his third win of the year, all 50-lappers. Thomas took
the checker in second trailed by Michael Williams who would ultimately lose
his podium finish due to an infraction found in post-race tech. Clouser, who
tagged the back of the field for the start, steadily drove his way to the
front and ended up with a third place finish after Williams' DQ. Zach Jarrell
was fourth while Carroll rounded out the top five in his wounded machine, good
enough to claim the 2014 Pro Late Model track title for the 19-year-old from
Warrambool, Victoria, Australia.
Noah Corman was sixth and the only other car still running at the end as the
rest of the field were DNF's with Lira credited with seventh ahead of
Anderson, Cataldi, Morris, Flores and Williams.
Ron Gustafson started on the pole for the 25-lap Sportsman run and led the
opening nine circuits before a high-flying Todd Allen breezed past for the top
spot. Allen, who started tenth in the 14 car field, zipped to an easy
victory, his second of the year, as the race ran green to checker without a
caution flag. A last lap altercation between Gustafson and Garrett Hill saw
Hill's car hard into the turn two wall as the field raced to the checker with
Daniel Conlin, Jr. taking second behind Allen.
Gustafson recovered to place third trailed by Derrick Wood and Donny Williams
who claimed his third consecutive points championship and the eighth of his
career at New Smyrna Speedway. Chris Brannon was sixth while Scott Bramlett,
Hunter Gustafson, Mike Soukup and Jason Foster rounded out the top ten.
Completing the finishers were Jim Rahman, Hill, George Alexander and D. J.
Farr.
The E-Modified 25-lap feature also ran from the green flag to the checkered
flag with no slow-downs. Junior Beckner grabbed the lead from his outside
pole starting spot and led the first 12 laps before Jarrett Korpi made his was
to the front and drove away to score his 12th win of the year, the most of any
driver at the track in 2014. To go with is dozen victories, Korpi easily
topped the point chase for the second straight year.
Beckner came home with the runner-up spot while the show position went to
14-year-old Matthew Green who would finish second to Korpi in points and
finish the year with four wins. Fourth and fifth went to Roger Benton and
John Hodge while Jim Higginbotham, Jon Compagnone, Gino Tuminello, Mike Dahm,
Mike Soukup and George Dahm completed the finishing field.
Caution flags were few and far between on this night as the Super Stock
feature also ran green to checker despite a 16 car starting grid. Preston
Hunt came off the pole to lead the first eight laps as the action behind him
was nothing short of crazy. Bobby Holley put his car out front on lap nine
and never looked back as he scored his first win of the year putting a season
of frustration behind him. Shannon Kelly made a late charge but had to settle
for second while wrapping up his second consecutive points championship in the
class.
Third went to Matt Reynolds followed by Cody Blair (driving Robert Pence's
sharp-looking car) and Ernie Tuminello. Hunt ended up sixth at the finish
with Mike Amato, J. T. Tippins, Adam Soukup and Dale Sorenson completing the
top ten spots. Rounding out the finishers were Mike Dahm, Warren Schurr, Joe
Girard, Ed Barber, Becca Samsoe and Gino Tuminello.
The only point championship still up in the air on the final night of the
season was in the Mini Stock Division as Pat Wells led David Russell by just
six markers going into the evening's action. Things looked good for Wells as
only six cars showed up to race meaning that all Wells would have to do was
keep Russell in sight to claim his first track title.
Russell looked strong early as he led the opening seven laps, slowed only by a
lap two spin by Brad Blanton off the bumper of Tyler Simpson who went to the
rear for the restart. Ted Vulpius took the point on lap eight only to see
Blanton go for a spin on his own just a circuit later for the second and final
caution of the 25-lap contest.
Vulpius led the remaining distance as "Mr. Mini Stock" claimed his fourth win
of the year in just seven starts. Simpson came back to take a distant second
trailed by Blanton, who also made a late charge. Wells came home fourth as
Russell faded to fifth ahead of sixth place Mark Broat. Thus Wells claimed
the Mini Stock championship over Russell and Blanton.
Darren Jackson led the first four laps of the Strictly Stock feature before
Zachary Curtis grabbed the lead and looked poised to claim his sixth-straight
win and 11th on the year. But after a caution for a blown engine in Greg
Bruce's car, Curtis' Saturn failed to come up to speed on the restart and he
slowed to a stop to bring out the yellow flag again. Curtis got his machine
back in gear and he restarted from the tail of the pack as William Hindman
took over the point and led the rest of the way for his first win of the
season driving his spotless E&H Car Crushing Chevy Monte Carlo out of
Orlando.
Curtis blazed a trail back to second at the finish but could not track down
Hindman. Shane Sutorus was third ahead of Warren Howie and Jimmy "Spaceman"
Barron who claimed the 2014 Strictly Stock points title. Sixth through tenth
were Mark Shukwit, Dan Webb, Aaron Overman, Jackson and Bruce.
Rich Clouser out-dueled Jerry "The Hammer" Symons to win the special
three-wheel bicycle race presented by American Auto Tires & Service of New
Smyrna Beach. Late Model drivers Tim Russell, Anthony Sergi and Zach Jarrell
also competed in the event but did not fare too well.
New Smyrna Speedway will return to action November 21-23 for the 49th Annual
Florida Governor's Cup Weekend. An open practice will be held on Friday
evening November 21 from 5-9 pm followed by a BBQ at 9 pm on the grandstand
side in front of the "Throttle to Bottle" Pub. Saturday, November 22, will
feature qualifying for the Governor's Cup Super Late Models followed by a big
night of racing action. Featured will be a 100-lap contest for the Open
Modifieds and 50-lap races for the Pro Late Models and Mini Stocks. The Super
Stocks will also be in action racing for 25 laps and the Strictly Stocks will
go for 20 laps.
The Florida Governor's Cup 200-lap event returns to its Sunday afternoon roots
on November 23rd starting at 2 pm with a 50-lap affair for the Sportsman cars
followed by the big race to see what driver will have his name placed on the
Governor's Cup trophy, first contested for at Tampa's Golden Gate Speedway in
1965. Augie Grill of Hayden, AL will be going for his third straight win in
the prestigious event over a stellar field going for a posted top prize of
$15,000.
Photos: 1) Pro Late winner Daniel Keene, Jr.
2) Super Stock winner Bobby Holley
3) E-Modified winner and track champion Jarrett Korpi
all photos by Jim Jones...
Attached Files