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DILLON WOOD TOPS MODIFIED 50 - TECH SHED BUSY AFTER SPORTSMAN AND BOMBER
FEATURES AT NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
While parts of Central Florida south of New Smyrna Speedway were being pounded
by rain and hail and enduring power outages Saturday night, all was clear for
night number 18 of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series. After teams
unloaded their cars and practiced in sweltering conditions, the night remained
warm and muggy while the racing was as hot as it could be.
The big event of the night was a 50-lap contest for the Modifieds and it was
New Smyrna's Jerry "The Hammer" Symons turning a lap of 19.762 seconds to set
fast time, not a bad lap considering the track temperature was still well over
110 degrees during time trials. Qualifying second quick was Robert Deal of
Titusville at 18.880 followed by Randy Anderson, Tank Tucker and Alan Bruns.
Symons pulled the five pill placing Bruns on the pole for the feature flanked
by Tucker who jumped out to a quick lead at the drop of the green flag.
Tucker's car was very "loose" in the corners and Bruns took advantage to slip
past and into the lead on lap three. Shain Held's car suffered an engine
problem and he came to a halt along the front stretch wall to bring out the
caution on lap five.
On the restart, Deal blew by Bruns, took over the point and began to pull away
from the field. Cameron Ray's engine let go going into turn one on lap eight
while Bruce Packer, Bob Glover and Matt Wheeler all collected each other after
spinning in the oil. Only Packer had to pit, to replace a flat tire while Ray
was done for the night.
Deal continued to set the pace on the restart while Symons drove by both
Dillon Wood and Bruns to move into second place. Lap ten saw Symons dust off
Deal and take over the lead as it definitely looked like the defending track
champion was back on track after struggling for several weeks. Wood zipped by
Bruns for third on lap 14 and was closing on Deal for second when something
went wrong with Randy Anderson's car causing him to spin in turn one for the
third yellow flag of the race. Anderson was pushed to his pit stall and out
of action.
Symons continued to easily set the pace as things settled down to some green
flag racing. It took awhile for his car to "come in" but Wood Wood moved by
Deal for second on lap 30 just before Symons dropped off the pace and headed
to the pits with an overheating engine. Wood now owned a big lead with Deal
trailing several car lengths behind. Chad Pierce, who started the event from
the back of the field, took third place from Bruns on lap 34.
The race was slowed a final time on lap 45 for Matt Jarret's spin in turn two.
Jarrett did not hit anything and he continued. That set up a five lap dash
to the checker and Wood was up to the task claiming his first career victory
here after racing primarily on dirt most of his career to this point. Wood
was driving the same Sanford Auto Dealers Exchange-sponsored Funk-powered Joe
Harris chassis that Jason Boyd had driven to a win earlier in the season.
Deal held on for a strong second place finish while Pierce (whose "day job" is
as a stunt driver at Disney's Hollywood Studios) did the passing job of the
night to claim the show position in the David Debelius-owned "Orange Crate"
wrenched by Ross Eldridge. Tucker rebounded late in the race to grab fourth
while Bruns held on for fifth.
Sixth went to Wheeler ahead of newcomer Dalton Nelson, Jarrett, Glover,
Packer, Symons, Anderson, Ray, Held and Mike Dahm.
A huge field of 28 Sportsman cars signed in to do battle with 27 of them
starting the feature trying to claim a $300 bounty placed on point leader
Patrick Thomas of Oviedo by American Auto, Tires & Service of New Smyrna. A
pair of heats were held to determine the starting line-up for the 25-lap
feature With Lake Hamilton's Sean Bass taking heat one in his new AMF Chassis
creation while Derrick Wood of Orlando, driving one of eight cars entered by
the Jim Daley/Sheppard Racing Enterprises team headquartered in Deland, came
home first in heat two. Ron Gustafson, currently fourth in points, had a
major engine problem in his heat and switched to teammate Sandy Lee's back-up
car that he started from the rear of the grid.
Daniel Conlin, Jr. started from the pole position for the feature with Junior
Beckner to his outside while Wood started sixth and Bass 13th. Thomas started
the event from seventh spot. At the drop of the green the action was wild to
say the least. Bass got turned around in turn one to abort the initial start.
There was no damage to his car and he restarted back in his original starting
spot.
The second start was much better as Beckner grabbed the early advantage while
the action behind him was as wild as could be. During the second lap Aaron
Williamson went for a spin in turn four scattering the field. Austin Howell
received damage during the ensuing melee and was forced out of the running.
Beckner continued to set the pace but things were slowed again on lap four as
the engine blew in Richard Goodrich's car and he spun in his own fluid going
into turn three. The cars behind him managed to avoid getting involved but
Goodrich was done for the night.
Beckner continued to hold strong up front until Bobby Mobley slowed with a
flat tire at the top of turn four on the 12th lap. On the restart John
Emerson put his Bucked Up Apparel-sponsored car into the lead only to see the
yellow wave again for Mobley who cut down another tire and spun in turn one.
Bass was now up to second and began pressing Emerson for the top spot. As
Bass worked hard on the outside lane Emerson lost control and spun on lap 15.
Rather than restart from the tail, Emerson retired from the race. After
driving back up to sixth following his earlier spin, Williamson had to come
down pit road with a cut left front tire and restart a second time from the
rear of the field. Bass now had the lead but had Thomas on his inside for the
race restart. The two raced side-by-side with Thomas edging in front to lead
lap 16 but Bass had the stronger car and he forged his way back out front and
led the remaining nine circuits to the checker and an apparent win.
Unfortunately for Bass his car was unable to pass tech and the win was awarded
to Thomas, his seventh of the season as the "bounty" went unclaimed for a
second time. Beckner came home with a second place finish while Wood took
third ahead of Roger Blevins and Conlin. R. J. Glaser had another strong run
taking sixth while Gustafson raced from the back of the starting grid to take
seventh in the Sandy Lee back-up car, one position ahead of Lee himself.
despite missing both front fenders and the nose of his car, Austin Carr still
got ninth spot while Mobley rebounded from his earlier problems to round out
the top ten. Completing the finishers were Mike Bruno, Williamson, Brandon
Christian, Mike Pletka, George Alexander, Butch Carr, Mike Dahm, D. J. Farr,
Mike Soukup, Emerson, Phillip Bessette, Goodrich, Matt Jarrett, Howell, George
Dahm, Warren Howie and Bass.
The Bomber 20-lap feature saw four different leaders before Greg Bruce, Jr.
crossed the line for what would have been his third win of the season.
However the tech inspectors took a careful look at the top finishers and,
after the race, the top three of Bruce, Joseph Rock and Charlie King were all
set down for a variety of issues.
Although he crossed the line in fourth place, Shane Sutorus was awarded the
victory, his second of the year driving his Saturn station wagon. Aaron
Overman was second followed by James Skinner, Keith Wylie, Adam Soukup, Bruce,
Rock and King.
This coming Saturday night, July 18, will be week number 19 of the NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series at New Smyrna Speedway with a 50-lap contest slated
for the Sunshine Seamless Gutters Mini Stocks. The class has only been
averaging 5-6 cars per night this year but the chance at a bigger purse and
the extra laps should bring a few drivers out of the "woodwork" so to speak.
Ted Vulpius has a seven point lead over Brad Blanton in the Mini Stock
standings as the pair are the only two to visit Hampton Inn victory lane so
far this year.
Along with the Mini Stocks, the Pro Late Models, Super Stocks and Bombers will
also be in action. Zach Jarrell tops the Pro Late Model points by nine
markers over both Blaise Hetznecker and Noah Cornman who are tied for second.
Justin Reynolds has a healthy 38 point edge on Bobby Holley in the Super
Stocks with defending champion Shannon Kelly 44 points behind Reynolds in
third. James Skinner holds a 15 point advantage in the Bomber standings
trailed by Aaron Overman with Shane Sutorus 27 markers in arrears of Skinner.
The pit gate will open Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm with practice slated from
4:30-6 pm. Grandstand gates open at 6 pm with all fans invited to come out
early for the weekly pre-race party featuring live music at the Throttle to
Bottle Pub courtesy of Pub 44 in New Smyrna along with $1.00 beers and
half-off the bar food menu. Mini Stock time trials are slated for 6:30 pm
with racing getting under way at 7:30 pm with heat races for the Super Stocks
and Bombers. After intermission the Pro Late Models are up first for their
25-lap feature followed by the 50-lapper for the Mini Stocks. The Super
Stocks will be third on the card going for 25 laps and the Bombers wrap up the
evening with a 20 lap run.
Adult admission is $15 with all seniors (65+) and military with valid ID being
admitted for $13. All kids aged 11 and under are admitted free.
A note from New Smyrna Speedway General Manager Kim Brown:
Many of you are aware that track owner Robert Hart has had some mobility
issues lately. He has been in the hospital being assessed by some of the best
surgeons and doctors in the area. They believe that through a delicate spinal
surgery and rehabilitation his issues can be improved. He will have surgery
on Wednesday, July 15. Jane Hart, Andrew Hart and all of us at New Smyrna
Speedway ask for and appreciate everyone's prayers at this time. The Hart
family asks for privacy at this time. If anyone would like updates on Robert
please contact Kim Brown at (386) 547-2879.
Photos (Courtesy jimJonesPhoto.com):
1) Modified winner Dillon Wood
2) Sportsman winner Patrick Thomas
3) Bomber winner Shane Sutorus
FEATURES AT NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
While parts of Central Florida south of New Smyrna Speedway were being pounded
by rain and hail and enduring power outages Saturday night, all was clear for
night number 18 of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series. After teams
unloaded their cars and practiced in sweltering conditions, the night remained
warm and muggy while the racing was as hot as it could be.
The big event of the night was a 50-lap contest for the Modifieds and it was
New Smyrna's Jerry "The Hammer" Symons turning a lap of 19.762 seconds to set
fast time, not a bad lap considering the track temperature was still well over
110 degrees during time trials. Qualifying second quick was Robert Deal of
Titusville at 18.880 followed by Randy Anderson, Tank Tucker and Alan Bruns.
Symons pulled the five pill placing Bruns on the pole for the feature flanked
by Tucker who jumped out to a quick lead at the drop of the green flag.
Tucker's car was very "loose" in the corners and Bruns took advantage to slip
past and into the lead on lap three. Shain Held's car suffered an engine
problem and he came to a halt along the front stretch wall to bring out the
caution on lap five.
On the restart, Deal blew by Bruns, took over the point and began to pull away
from the field. Cameron Ray's engine let go going into turn one on lap eight
while Bruce Packer, Bob Glover and Matt Wheeler all collected each other after
spinning in the oil. Only Packer had to pit, to replace a flat tire while Ray
was done for the night.
Deal continued to set the pace on the restart while Symons drove by both
Dillon Wood and Bruns to move into second place. Lap ten saw Symons dust off
Deal and take over the lead as it definitely looked like the defending track
champion was back on track after struggling for several weeks. Wood zipped by
Bruns for third on lap 14 and was closing on Deal for second when something
went wrong with Randy Anderson's car causing him to spin in turn one for the
third yellow flag of the race. Anderson was pushed to his pit stall and out
of action.
Symons continued to easily set the pace as things settled down to some green
flag racing. It took awhile for his car to "come in" but Wood Wood moved by
Deal for second on lap 30 just before Symons dropped off the pace and headed
to the pits with an overheating engine. Wood now owned a big lead with Deal
trailing several car lengths behind. Chad Pierce, who started the event from
the back of the field, took third place from Bruns on lap 34.
The race was slowed a final time on lap 45 for Matt Jarret's spin in turn two.
Jarrett did not hit anything and he continued. That set up a five lap dash
to the checker and Wood was up to the task claiming his first career victory
here after racing primarily on dirt most of his career to this point. Wood
was driving the same Sanford Auto Dealers Exchange-sponsored Funk-powered Joe
Harris chassis that Jason Boyd had driven to a win earlier in the season.
Deal held on for a strong second place finish while Pierce (whose "day job" is
as a stunt driver at Disney's Hollywood Studios) did the passing job of the
night to claim the show position in the David Debelius-owned "Orange Crate"
wrenched by Ross Eldridge. Tucker rebounded late in the race to grab fourth
while Bruns held on for fifth.
Sixth went to Wheeler ahead of newcomer Dalton Nelson, Jarrett, Glover,
Packer, Symons, Anderson, Ray, Held and Mike Dahm.
A huge field of 28 Sportsman cars signed in to do battle with 27 of them
starting the feature trying to claim a $300 bounty placed on point leader
Patrick Thomas of Oviedo by American Auto, Tires & Service of New Smyrna. A
pair of heats were held to determine the starting line-up for the 25-lap
feature With Lake Hamilton's Sean Bass taking heat one in his new AMF Chassis
creation while Derrick Wood of Orlando, driving one of eight cars entered by
the Jim Daley/Sheppard Racing Enterprises team headquartered in Deland, came
home first in heat two. Ron Gustafson, currently fourth in points, had a
major engine problem in his heat and switched to teammate Sandy Lee's back-up
car that he started from the rear of the grid.
Daniel Conlin, Jr. started from the pole position for the feature with Junior
Beckner to his outside while Wood started sixth and Bass 13th. Thomas started
the event from seventh spot. At the drop of the green the action was wild to
say the least. Bass got turned around in turn one to abort the initial start.
There was no damage to his car and he restarted back in his original starting
spot.
The second start was much better as Beckner grabbed the early advantage while
the action behind him was as wild as could be. During the second lap Aaron
Williamson went for a spin in turn four scattering the field. Austin Howell
received damage during the ensuing melee and was forced out of the running.
Beckner continued to set the pace but things were slowed again on lap four as
the engine blew in Richard Goodrich's car and he spun in his own fluid going
into turn three. The cars behind him managed to avoid getting involved but
Goodrich was done for the night.
Beckner continued to hold strong up front until Bobby Mobley slowed with a
flat tire at the top of turn four on the 12th lap. On the restart John
Emerson put his Bucked Up Apparel-sponsored car into the lead only to see the
yellow wave again for Mobley who cut down another tire and spun in turn one.
Bass was now up to second and began pressing Emerson for the top spot. As
Bass worked hard on the outside lane Emerson lost control and spun on lap 15.
Rather than restart from the tail, Emerson retired from the race. After
driving back up to sixth following his earlier spin, Williamson had to come
down pit road with a cut left front tire and restart a second time from the
rear of the field. Bass now had the lead but had Thomas on his inside for the
race restart. The two raced side-by-side with Thomas edging in front to lead
lap 16 but Bass had the stronger car and he forged his way back out front and
led the remaining nine circuits to the checker and an apparent win.
Unfortunately for Bass his car was unable to pass tech and the win was awarded
to Thomas, his seventh of the season as the "bounty" went unclaimed for a
second time. Beckner came home with a second place finish while Wood took
third ahead of Roger Blevins and Conlin. R. J. Glaser had another strong run
taking sixth while Gustafson raced from the back of the starting grid to take
seventh in the Sandy Lee back-up car, one position ahead of Lee himself.
despite missing both front fenders and the nose of his car, Austin Carr still
got ninth spot while Mobley rebounded from his earlier problems to round out
the top ten. Completing the finishers were Mike Bruno, Williamson, Brandon
Christian, Mike Pletka, George Alexander, Butch Carr, Mike Dahm, D. J. Farr,
Mike Soukup, Emerson, Phillip Bessette, Goodrich, Matt Jarrett, Howell, George
Dahm, Warren Howie and Bass.
The Bomber 20-lap feature saw four different leaders before Greg Bruce, Jr.
crossed the line for what would have been his third win of the season.
However the tech inspectors took a careful look at the top finishers and,
after the race, the top three of Bruce, Joseph Rock and Charlie King were all
set down for a variety of issues.
Although he crossed the line in fourth place, Shane Sutorus was awarded the
victory, his second of the year driving his Saturn station wagon. Aaron
Overman was second followed by James Skinner, Keith Wylie, Adam Soukup, Bruce,
Rock and King.
This coming Saturday night, July 18, will be week number 19 of the NASCAR
Whelen All-American Series at New Smyrna Speedway with a 50-lap contest slated
for the Sunshine Seamless Gutters Mini Stocks. The class has only been
averaging 5-6 cars per night this year but the chance at a bigger purse and
the extra laps should bring a few drivers out of the "woodwork" so to speak.
Ted Vulpius has a seven point lead over Brad Blanton in the Mini Stock
standings as the pair are the only two to visit Hampton Inn victory lane so
far this year.
Along with the Mini Stocks, the Pro Late Models, Super Stocks and Bombers will
also be in action. Zach Jarrell tops the Pro Late Model points by nine
markers over both Blaise Hetznecker and Noah Cornman who are tied for second.
Justin Reynolds has a healthy 38 point edge on Bobby Holley in the Super
Stocks with defending champion Shannon Kelly 44 points behind Reynolds in
third. James Skinner holds a 15 point advantage in the Bomber standings
trailed by Aaron Overman with Shane Sutorus 27 markers in arrears of Skinner.
The pit gate will open Saturday afternoon at 3:30 pm with practice slated from
4:30-6 pm. Grandstand gates open at 6 pm with all fans invited to come out
early for the weekly pre-race party featuring live music at the Throttle to
Bottle Pub courtesy of Pub 44 in New Smyrna along with $1.00 beers and
half-off the bar food menu. Mini Stock time trials are slated for 6:30 pm
with racing getting under way at 7:30 pm with heat races for the Super Stocks
and Bombers. After intermission the Pro Late Models are up first for their
25-lap feature followed by the 50-lapper for the Mini Stocks. The Super
Stocks will be third on the card going for 25 laps and the Bombers wrap up the
evening with a 20 lap run.
Adult admission is $15 with all seniors (65+) and military with valid ID being
admitted for $13. All kids aged 11 and under are admitted free.
A note from New Smyrna Speedway General Manager Kim Brown:
Many of you are aware that track owner Robert Hart has had some mobility
issues lately. He has been in the hospital being assessed by some of the best
surgeons and doctors in the area. They believe that through a delicate spinal
surgery and rehabilitation his issues can be improved. He will have surgery
on Wednesday, July 15. Jane Hart, Andrew Hart and all of us at New Smyrna
Speedway ask for and appreciate everyone's prayers at this time. The Hart
family asks for privacy at this time. If anyone would like updates on Robert
please contact Kim Brown at (386) 547-2879.
Photos (Courtesy jimJonesPhoto.com):
1) Modified winner Dillon Wood
2) Sportsman winner Patrick Thomas
3) Bomber winner Shane Sutorus
Attached Files