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2001
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| Sunday, November 11, 2001 | |
| David Rogers Wins Second Leg of the Triple Crown at Orlando SpeedWorld | by Jane Smith
 Twenty four cars came to try their luck and skill on this high banked 3/8's mile track. Travis Kittleson in the Bob Steele Chevy took the pole with a 13.448 lap. Mario Gosselin, Jason Boyd, David Rogers and James Powell rounded out the top five in qualifying.
With Kittleson drawing the number 2 pill, Jason Boyd became the pole sitter since Mario Gosselin, #10x, had to go to the rear because of some mechanical problems. With Boyd on the pole, Kittleson on the outside this put David Rogers and James Powell on their bumpers, everyone knew it would be all out for the lead.
With breaths held, the green was waved with Kittleson taking the early lead, but not for long with Boyd right beside him. They stayed neck in neck for most of the race until the first caution came out. Barry Willoughby's hood came up and he had to retreat to the inner pits to have it removed. Before that caution, the racing between B.J. McLeod, #78, and James Powell, #37, also gave you a quick heartbeat as McLeod slightly bumped Powell and took over the third spot putting Powell in fifth.
Once again the race was restarted and Boyd and Kittleson were going at it and hard. Then caution 2 came out for the #74x of Simmons who had spun around in turn 4. After a quick yellow, the race restarted with Powell claiming his spot and McLeod being shuffled back to eighth place. Boyd was still lead the way with Kittleson, Rogers, Powell and Drawdy now close behind. But caution 3 gave us all room to take a breath from the tension when George Murphy in the #40 South Forty car kissed the wall just slightly between turns 1 and 2.
Once again, the restart saw Kittleson and Boyd fighting hard for the lead. Coming out of turn 2, Boyd slightly turned Kittleson which caused caution 4. Kittleson was sent to the rear and Boyd remained in the lead. Behind Boyd now was Rogers, Powell, Drawdy and Kay. But Drawdy and Kay were fighting for the fourth position when they tangled on the front stretch. Kay had a smashed front end and had to retire from the race. Drawdy continued but it was shortlived as he also ended up retiring from the race.
On the restart, Boyd lead but not for long as Rogers put the Rogers's move on and took over the lead position. This left Boyd and Gosselin side by side, Boyd getting shuffled back to fourth, then sixth, and then eighth. With Rogers leading, Powell found himself a hard charging Dick Anderson on his tail with Mario Gosselin, Mike Franklin, and B. J. McLeod close behind. Just before the sixth caution flew, the #40 of George Murphy retired to the pits. Bruce Lawrence in the #16 Sunbelt car had spun around on the front stretch with the #5x of Daniel Keene, Sr. leaving the field.
Rogers took the lead once again on the restart with the #47 of Rusty Ebersole retiring and the #22 of Perry Brown. In the meantine, Kittleson was working his way back to the front from the rear where he was sent. McLeod and Boyd were fighting for the sixth position and as they did so, Kittleson saw an opportunity to slip down and pass them both. Once again, Kittleson had Boyd behind him. With Kittleson's smooth move done, caution seven came out as Mike Franklin spun out in the infield grass. Franklin was sent to the rear and the race was restarted with Rogers still in the lead.
Caution 8 came out as Powell and Rogers were fighting hard for the lead postion. Powell had tried everything to shake Rogers lose but could not. Then coming down the front stretch, Powell tried once again to get Rogers lose and ends up turning around himself. Anderson and Kittleson spin out trying not to hit Powell who was right in the middle of the track. With only a few laps to go, Powell was sent to the rear and Anderson and Kittleson were given back their spots.
But it was David Rogers who took the checkered flag for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Results:
1. #11 - David Rogers
2. #00 - Dick Anderson
3. #10x - Mario Gosselin
4. #88 - Travis Kittleson
5. #115 - Jason Boyd
6. #78 - B. J. McLeod
7. #89 - Lee Collins
8. #10 - Eric Black
9. #6 - Mac Johnson
10. #5 - Mike Franklin, Jr.
11. #43 - Billy Pratt
12. #37 - James Powell
13. #3 - Mike Bresnehan
14. #74 - Barry Willoughby
15. .#74x - Hubert Simmons
16. #16 - Bruce Lawrence
17. #7 - Matt Griffin
18. #22 - Perry Brown
19. #47 - Rusty Ebersole
20. #5x - Daniel Keene, Sr.
21. #40 - George Murphy
22. #30rr - Justin Drawdy
23. #7x - Jonny Kay
Top Three in Points for the Triple Crown Championship
1. #11 - David Rogers 200
2. #88 - Travis Kittleson 191
3. #37 - James Powell 162
Top Three in Racecar Engineering Sunbelt Super Late Model Series as of Friday, November 9
1. #00/92 - Dick Anderson 1170
2. #11 - David Rogers 1085
3. #37 - James Powell 1074
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