Late Models at NSS...

[Mark Keeler]

At last count there were 25 Late Models in the Pits including almost everyone from last night at OSW...

Winchell
Russell
Murphy
Anderson
Johnson
Choquette
Williams...

and a whole lot more!!!

[racnphotos68]

packing the gear now...

and getting ready to leave. Hear ya soon...

[Andy S]

25 late models eventually took the green flag in a wild night of racing at NSS, and one that started late apparently due to a couple of crashes during practice for the 100 lapper.

The night started off with a wild Ministock race. A good field for this class, and after some early pushing and shoving it looked like #81 Cody Blair, back in his main blue car after winning last week in his back-up, was cruising to another easy win to cement his lead in the points standing. With about 10 laps to go he was so far ahead it was going to take something unexpected to stop him.

It came as he headed out of turn 4 and came onto the start/finish straight. With no-one around him he obviously lost a fluid-carrying line in the engine and blew into a ball of flames. He managed to steer across to the grass in front of the pit lane wall and the fire quickly went out as the excess fuel burned itself out, but a lengthy clean up was needed to get the car away and the track dried out. The remaining cars patiently took the caution laps but with the white flag out and the cars passing the start line amazingly a second car burst into flames, this time getting off the track down by the pit lane exit! Another lengthy caution period ensued before the racing started again.

The rest of the race saw the #09 of Todd Haught get ahead and stay there to the chequered flag, but even that wasn't the end of the mayhem - on the final turn and chasing down one last move the #24 overcooked his exit from turn 4, careered into the front wall, and managed to perfectly hit one of the water-filled barrels behind the wall, shooting a plume of water up into the air and across the track and pit lane! Quite a race, and one that took about 50 minutes to cover the 25 laps.

After another lengthy clean up the Pro Trucks came out for 25 laps. Some early contact across the field in establishing position but a generally clean race with a couple of battles in the midfield making for a decent race. The young #20 driver Anthony Sergi got out to a big lead early on and never looked back, and with no mid- or late-race caution to bunch the cars back up again it was left to #96 Ben Kennedy to battle through traffic from the back and try to hunt him down. Another 5 laps would have given him a chance to get up to the front, but #20 had the race well under control and took the chequered flag with ease.

The interval wing-eating contest passed quickly (the winner downing 18 wings in 90 seconds) and onto the main event of the night - the Solar First Late Model 100, following the same format as the Marion Edwards 100 the previous night at Orlando.A slightly enlarged field saw most of the cars from the previous night joined by some of the NSS regular like Davey Gibbs, and the race got off to a fast and furious start before the first caution of the night when ironically the #55 of Todd Allen - sponsored by the main sponsors of the race - became the latest car to get too close a view of the front-stretch pit lane wall.

The race followed a similar story to the previous night at Orlando, although thankfully the lapped cars played much less of a role in the overtaking as the obvious cream of the class rose to the top. Again the top 9 or 10 cars made a break to the front in a close bunch and were dicing for position with each other for long periods. As at Orlando the #51 of Stephen Nasse got out into the early lead and held his position for a long period before getting hunted down and dropping back into the middle of the lead pack, leaving #36 Tim Russell, #93 Brandon Johnson and #33 Jeff Choquette battling out at the front, with #84 Wayne Anderson close behind. A long green flag period saw this group fighting hard at the front, swapping positions and pulling away from the field until a crash in turn 2 involving the #124 car saw the red flag pulled out for the ambulance to come on-track to check on the driver.

The format of the race guaranteed the chance of a 10 lap shoot-out to end the race, and this duly produced the excitement of the night. On the (single-file) restart the same 4 drivers pulled away with Russell and Johnson racing bumper to bumper, both knowing Choquette was perfectly placed to shoot past if they made any mistake. With 4 laps to go Johnson started to nudge down the inside of Russell, showing him his front quarter on turn 2, but Russell responded by getting back in front and closing the door into turn 3, with Choquette positioning himself to pounce if they got out of shape. With two to go the leaders were door to door down the front stretch but with Russell still holding the advantage. As they came around turn 4 with the chequered flag waving Johnson made one last dive around Russell for the line, but the #36 held him off by barely a wheel's width on the line to claim a popular win. So 100 laps down and the race won by less than a foot - this makes the possibilities of next year's series being run along similar lines look like a mouth-watering prospect, especially if it can attract similar or bigger fields.

The last two races of the night were something of an anti-climax after the main event. A spirited Superstock race was comfortably won by #211 Jarret Korpi, and a small field of Strictly Stocks saw #59 Chris Brannon having just too much speed for our own 'Hired Gun' William Hindman in his usual NSS-ready 89x car with Tim SS29 coming in 4th with little trouble to pick up some handy points.

A long but fun night's racing, with a 25 lap ministocks feature that took longer than the previous night's Marion Edwards 100 lapper, and featured more than enough excitement for one evening. Add to that a main feature that saw the lead drivers separated by inches over the space of a 50 mile race and it makes you look forward with real interest to the upcoming Governor's Cup.

[Mark Keeler]

Andy... Great writing again! Did you by chance meet Kim Brown (FASCAR GM) last night? I know she was looking forward to meeting and speaking with you.

To clarify the #81 Mini-Stock issue... My understanding is that the Oil Filter came off the car thus causing the Fire and fluid down on the track... Other than that, you are right on the money as usual!

Thanks for being a fan and supporting both tracks... it is very appreciated!

[Andy S]

Hi Mark - keep meaning to say hello to you at the track but you're always working so I never want to disturb you!

That makes sense about the oil filter as the blow-up was short and over very quickly. Pretty spectacular though, especially as it came from absolutely nowhere. And what are the chances of another car going up in flames just as they get ready to restart after clearing the track from the last one? And then the #24 plowing exactly into that water barrel on the last lap! Quite a way to start the evening.

We'll be at Orlando on Friday night and there are a few people there now who can pick me out if Kim wants to chat. I hope it's not about copyright infringement...

I'm fairly easy to spot in the pits after the races - I'm the one hanging out with the KARNAC regulars and looking nervous because my English Grammar School upbringing means I'm convinced someone is going to come up to me at any moment, tell me I'm not allowed back there and throw me out!

[Rick Anges]

That was GREAT race report!!! FASCAR should put you on the payroll!!!

[Andy S]

That was GREAT race report!!! FASCAR should put you on the payroll!!!

But then I'd need to take notes, be accurate, and not be opinionated!

I'd also say that I haven't really set out to write reports, just that I wanted to share the things I enjoyed at the races each night and for some reason it tends to be easier for me to write like that. I wrote soccer match reports for the media for years back in the UK and that way of writing really stuck with me. Ahh, the good old days before cell-phones of being stuck in a back cupboard with the one phone at the stadium, desperately trying to get my copy typed in at half-time to get it included in the early editions!

[Edm]

I'm fairly easy to spot in the pits after the races - !

Hes the only one that looks like a tourist.

[Todd McCreary]

and not be opinionated!

clearly, you haven't read much of the sports reporting here in the states.

[ocalasp76]

Watching the Cup race right now. They said Mark Martin is driving a new car the team tested at NSS last week..............Kool.
I guess those are unannounced test and closed track as well.
Would liked to have watched that.
-JIM-

[Andy S]

clearly, you haven't read much of the sports reporting here in the states.

I tend to find that the fact they're so ill informed takes away from their opinions so far. I was lucky to live up near NYC for a long time and got to hear some great sports shows and see some good writing, but that means that coming down here, reading the Sentinel and having no choice other than to listen to the dross that is the local ESPN affiliate has been something of a shock.

And of course I won't be at Orlando on Friday night as there's no racing. I'll make sure I'm at NSS on Saturday though.

Hes the only one that looks like a tourist.

Can't argue with that - sadly I stand out like a sore thumb. I even bought a camo Chevy Racing hat to wear (complete with camo flames down the side) but I just can't carry it off. I'll have to bite the bullet one of these weeks and wear it...

[Jane]

Ok Mr. Todd, are you saying my race reporting stinks???? Just kidding sweetie. And Andy S., you do a nice job of writing a race. If you ever go dirt racing and would like to write something, please let me know or if you would just like to write a story on racing and why you love it, I would love to post it on my website www.floridadirttracknews.com.

[Frasson118]

Andy... once again, a great report. I also completely agree with your comment about 'having to take notes, be accurate, and not being opinionated'. I like to tell the story the way I see it, not the way the tracks would like it to be said.

A few years ago, I was allowed into NSS under a free press pass, and I wrote some things that track GM Terry Roberts didn't like. I was pulled off of the press list, and his people were told I was not to be let in for free anymore. Funny thing is, I went back the following week, paid my own way in, and had nothing but nice things to say. He sure didn't appreciate the nice thibgs said, but sure wasn't happy when I wasn't so complimentary!

My opinions can't be bought or swayed by whether I got in free or paid my own way in. I found out I just can't do it any other way. If a show sucks, I'll say it sucked. You can't take a turd and polish it into a diamond.

Luckily, most of the shows I've seen this year have been at least average, with quite a few being above average. It's easy not to piss people off, when there's nothing bad to say about their racing programs. As a 'press person' though, you HAVE to write that things were exciting... even if all 20 people in the stands are complaining, dozing off, or packing up to go home. You don't have the luxury of telling the TRUTH.

Anyhow, I really look forward to meeting you soon. In spotting me, look for a guy with a racing shirt on, left hand wrapped around a Budweiser, and usually puffing on a Newport (I know, it sounds like 300 other people on any given night).

Keep up the great reports, don't worry about accuracy, and for heavens sake, never give up being opinionated!!!!

[Andy S]

Thanks! I still remember one of my earliest experiences writing soccer match reports and the argument that followed one report where I described a player as being just 'ineffective' before he was substituted. He was livid and really laid into me, and being a teenager at the time and being an avid supporter of the team it was quite a learning experience. If it happened to me now I'd probably be more honest and say that what I wanted to write was that he had been awful, should have been pulled out of the game 20 minutes earlier and that I wasn't really sure why he was playing for us at all! Hard to do that when the club has appointed you to write the reports though...

In spotting me, look for a guy with a racing shirt on, left hand wrapped around a Budweiser, and usually puffing on a Newport (I know, it sounds like 300 other people on any given night).

It's funny you say that - most weeks I spot about 10 guys at OSW I suspect could be you, but not knowing if you're there or not I err on the side of discretion to not embarrass myself. Next time you're there I'll make sure Rex, Ed, Duane or someone introduces us properly. I'm pretty easy to spot, as Ed points out. Look for the person who looks the most out of place in the whole stadium, and it's probably me...

[Todd McCreary]

Ok Mr. Todd, are you saying my race reporting stinks?

"sucks", Jane, "sucks". if you're going to quote me, the least you can do is get it right.



I was lucky to live up near NYC for a long time and got to hear some great sports shows and see some good writing

yeah, but quite often they're still opinionated.

they like to think they're pretty good around Washington, DC. i think production values are better in DC, but the overall quality level of reporting is still abysmal.

i mean, Kornheiser and Wilbon have a TV show for crying out loud. and they really do SUCK.