| Rogers Captures RedEye 100 | Bitter cold did not stop the running of the Red Eye 100, the first race of the new year, for fans at New Smyrna Speedway Saturday night. The temperature dropped a little more than expected leaving the fans to drink gallons of hot chocolate and hot coffee. Gloves, heavy coats, blankets, and ear muffs were worn by the majority of fans and drivers with propane heaters glowing in the pits.
Twenty three cars qualified for the Red Eye with Travis Kittleson in the #88 Bob Steele Chevrolet setting fast time. But after pills were drawn, it was Michael Williams in the #40 South Forty green and black almost look alike Bobby Labonte car on the pole with Bruce Lawrence in the #l6 Sun Belt car on the outside pole.
Drivers were introduced to the fans and taken around the very cold track surface to help warm up the track and the tires. But it was not to be. The green flag came out and just as fast as it was thrown, the yellow came out for the first of 11 cautions.
Between turns 3 and 4, there was a pile-up when the #12E got loose and took out the #40 car of Michael Williams with the #74 of Barry Willoughby doing a dance on the #40's roof and taking out part of the back fence. Also damaged was the #12 of Justin Drawdy which was damaged too far to continue with the #78 of B.J. McLeod damaged but continuing and the #5 of Daniel Keene also damaged but continuing and the #12E of Jeff Emery. All drivers were fine but the cars were a different story.
The other ten cautions of the race were minor turn arounds with no major accidents. Wayne Anderson had tire problems with his newly painted #84, Mack Hamby in the #45 had to pull out with overheating problems.
Bruce Lawrence lead most of the race with David Rogers behind him. Daniel Keene was put to the rear of the field and he worked his way back up to the front to take over second spot when Rogers got the lead from Lawrence. Scott Bramlett stayed in the top five most of the race in Mike Murphy's #26 Super Late and Dennis Demers in his famous #86 made a good showing. David Russell had a great race in the #7 but fell out right before the final lap. All in all, except for the first lap which took out some really good guys, the race was very good and very clean and the drivers had a number of fans there to watch them race.
The top five were David Rogers, Daniel Keene, Bruce Lawrence, Dennis Demers and B.J. McLeod who finished with half a car since he lost the front end to damage. All passed tech fine.
The next race for 2001 will be the Orange Blossom 100 scheduled for January 27 with feature races in all other divisions as well.. Also the Race for Kids Sake will be January 16 with some of the Dodge boys on hand to race in Late Models and also racing in Modifieds, Mini- Stocks and Super Stocks that night. Should be a fun night for fans.
-Jane Smith
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