20 Late Models so far Singed in at OSW...

[Mark Keeler]

Tonight's Marion Edwards Memorial at Orlando Speedworld... Already 20 cars signed in including...

Wayne Anderson
Tim Russell
Joe Winchell
AJ Curelli
Alan Bruns
Jessica Murphy
Jeff Choquette
Brandon Johnson
Steven Nasse
Jason Vail
Michael Williams

and MORE!!!

Grandstands Open at 6:00pm - Racing starts at 8:00pm!

[Mark Keeler]

Jeff Choquette #33 started 7th and won the Marion Edwards Memorial 100 at Orlando Speedworld.

[ams311]

wtg

WTG ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD LAST NIGHT WAS ONE ONE THE BEST LATE MODEL SHOWS I HAVE SEEN ALL YEAR

[Andy S]

Some good races last night and one of the most efficiently run meetings I've been to all year - with 6 divisions including a 100-lapper the racing started at 8pm and was all done by 10.30pm, with plenty of excitement inbetween.

The Sportsman race started the night off well - you know it's going to be a good night when the first race sees the cars going into the first turn 3 wide! 5 or 6 cars up at the front made all the running, but Justin Reynolds never looked back once he got in front and had his car totally dialled in for the track. But a great race where at least two cars were alongside each other throughout the whole 25 laps and the first half saw plenty of action. Our own Edm qualified near the back and was never in danger of losing places despite having obvious handling and power issues, and got involved in a good scrap for position with Ron DiCandio midway through before dropping back to finish the race with no problems.

Small field for the Modifieds that saw some aggressive driving from Alan Bruns early on and a couple of cautions late on grouping the field back together towards the end. On the last one Bruns seemed to shoot off for the green flag somewhere between the 3rd and 4th turns and had already streaked ahead by the start line, so won comfortably.

The Legends race was naturally won by #99 Alex Kempf, his 10th of the year apparently, who again started from the back and pushed and prodded his way through the field. He took the lead on a daring move when he and the leader #54 came up on traffic, #54 opting to go around on the highside, and Kempf shot under both of them coming off turn 4 to get the drop into turn 1 and never look back.

The 100 lapper Marion Edwards Memorial was first up after the interval and showed that you can have an exciting race that doesn't need cars spinning out all over the track. The race only drew 3 cautions and seemed to only take the time of a regular superstock 25 lapper, and was ultimately decided by how well the drivers handled traffic as the difference in power between the classes competing showed somewhat on the track. A lead group of 9 or 10 cars shot out in front early with the first caution coming out for a back-marker getting squeezed between two overtaking leaders, losing a body panel in the process. The turning point came in this section of the race, with the #51 getting out to a big lead but making a huge error of judgement when coming into traffic. Staying low behind a lapped car going into turn 3 he got blocked by the car in 2nd, had nowhere to go behind the much slower car, and had to sit helpless while cars shot past him to relegate him down to 9th by the time they hit turn 1.

A late caution for contact at the front sent two of the fastest cars to the back, meaning the last 10 laps was a straight sprint for the finish. After being up with the contenders for the whole race #33 Jeff Choquette crossed the line first, with #51 spinning out on the last corner to end the race backwards and 5yd away from the finish line! Not the best of nights for him. Apart from the big races at the front there was also a good battle in the midfield between Alan Bruns, Jessica Murphy and the #407. A good clean race and a deserved winner.

The Superstocks were their usual banging and crashing selves, with David Gould in the #16D making a good pass early on in the race (again using a back-marker to block the leader so he could shoot underneath both) to get out in front and never look back. Some good scraps behind him though, and you could tell it was getting late in the season and points are becoming important by the way Billy Cuddy, in an obviously very sick car, stayed out on the Bandolero track to finish the last 6 or 7 laps of the race knowing more retirements would push him higher into the points.

Finally the strictly stocks provided all the excitement they're known for. The usual front runners of William Hindman, Tim Walters and Neil Kirby were all up at the front and took the top three spots, but the thrills in the race came from the legendary green 4Q of Ron McReary. Starting right at the back he carved his way through the field and shot into the lead about halfway through only to see his car give up in a big plume of smoke, dropping fluids all over turns 3 and 4! The restart saw William Hindman get in front and cruise to another win, with Tim following him home despite only having one working brake!

Good night, good weather, good racing. And two people who made the show run well - Mark the announcer did a great job with the on-track interviews being short and sweet so they didn't take too much time, and Ralph Miller, the flagman, who did a great job of keeping order in the 100-lapper. The field got stretched out early on with some very obviously under-powered cars coming up to be lapped within 5 or 6 laps, but he managed the cars well so the only time the lapped cars got involved was when the leaders made bad decisions when overtaking them.

Great to see SS29, Edm, Flraceguy and MSeay_10, and very nice to meet Mike 'Racnphotos68'! No Boneman this week - they ran the two Bandolero classes as one race to save time, and the word in the pits was that he stayed at home this week as a protest.

[Boneman]

I think this is the first night at OSW that I missed all year. We are really busy at our church fair which runs through the rest of the weekend. I hated to miss a race night there, but the fair is a blast too. Thanks for the race report Andy!

Hopefully I can get away and make it to New Smyrna tonight: it depends how busy we are.

[carolwicks]

Andy...

That is one of the best race reports ive read in ages. i felt like i was there while reading ... You should travel to different tracks and report things the way they REALLY are...lol ;-) good job...your posts are also fun to read....
carolwicks aka OZ

[Andy S]

Rex, I think you have a valid excuse! More a shame that you missed it because it was a good night's racing, especially the 4Q tearing through the field at the end before the car giving up in a spectacular plume of smoke! We'll hopefully be at NSS tonight if you're down there. I think I have some apologizing to do...

Carol, thanks for the kind words. I know I enjoy reading the reports on races people go to on here, so am trying to repay them if I can. I just wish I could remember the numbers or knew the names better to make them a bit more accurate! More than anything I wanted to keep people up to date with how the drivers who use the forum are doing. A few out last night, all with some repairs to do if they want to race at NSS tonight!

[carolwicks]

Andy

Please email me...
carolwicks@comcast.net or call 941-380-4180
carol aka OZ

[M.F.ER]

20 BUCKS TO GET IN THE STANDS WAS A LITTLE MUCH THEY TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIMES. THE RACING WAS GOOD GOOD CAR COUNTS. GLAD I BROUGHT MY COOLER FULL OF COLDIES THAT MADE UP FOR THE MONEY WE HAD TO SPEND TO GET IN.

[Andy S]

I was glad we got a bigger car count for the $20 entry. I'd not have been too happy if it had cost that to get in and it had been the same usual cars racing, even if it was for 100 laps. But thankfully they seemed to bring a lot of new cars in this week and all the fields were a good size other than the OWMs. Lots of new cars in the Strictly Stocks this week too, I noticed.

[Edm]

[QUOTE=M.F.ER;36286]20 BUCKS TO GET IN THE STANDS WAS A LITTLE MUCH THEY TRYING TO MAKE UP FOR LOST TIMES. /QUOTE]

That is a little steep, I guess being able to bring in coolers offsets it a little bit. Lots of single file racing in the late models. Had a few decent races going on though. What is Tim Russells deal? Dive bombed the 93, 93 came down, both sent to the back then spun out by himself and pulled in. It SEEMS like if he can't win, he just pulls in. I saw it earlier in the year too.

[Andy S]

Thankfully in that main long run of the 100 lapper when the #51 was way out in front there was a nice race in the middle going on between Jason Vail, Alan Bruns and Jessica Murphy. Totally agree about Tim Russell too, as it just seemed that he had no interest in going to the back and finishing the race once the caution came out with 12 to go.

[Hired Gun]

Andy S.

I Enjoy reading your versions of the race reports, I remember when the website used to do the same thing. keep up the great writing

[M.F.ER]

What happend to double file restarts for the late models would have made a better show for the fans. It should be mandatory in all FASCAR events.

[Andy S]

Thanks, HG - I enjoy watching you race too, so we're even! If you're at NSS tonight then I'll come over and say hello if I get a chance. I'm the guy with the British accent - or 'the Australian' if you're Edm...