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2001
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| Monday, February 25, 2002 | |
| Boyd tops 31 car field in Good-Year Challenge Series Opener | by John Barker
LAKELAND, FLORIDA - A history setting Jason Boyd rocketed to his 13th straight special events Late Model race by winning the Goodyear Challenge Series 100 Sunday night Feb. 24 at USA International Speedway.
Boyd of Orlando, FL started his race-winning streak at USA Int'l Speedway winning three-straight Late Model features in week one of February. Boyd then turned his attentions to New Smyrna Speedway in Samsula, FL winning nine straight 36th Annual World Series of Asphalt Racing Late Model races during February Speedweek.
The nine victories in a row at New Smyrna broke the record held by the late Modified star Richie Evans. Boyd was also crowned 2002 World Series Late Model Champion and it also placed his name in New Smyrna Speedway racing record books.
Sunday was no different for the 31-car Goodyear Challenge Series Late Model field, giving the best of the rest race finishers an up close look at a speedy Boyd on the move. Boyd set fast time, driving his Classic Corvette's Chevrolet, turning the three-quarter mile USA oval with a second lap time of 21.378 seconds or a speed of 126.30 mph.
Boyd worked Jerry Symons of New Smyrna, FL, who drove hard in his Kelly Roofing Chevrolet after beating Boyd into the lead from the outside pole, but a quick moving Symons hung in tough eluding the winner's early attempted passes. "Jerry (Symons) was going real good," said Boyd. Boyd took the point after working Symons on the inside for several laps, but the winner finally took the lead in lap-45. Symons would finish third.
"Jerry started pushing up a little bit and I had to time it (pass) just right," said Boyd. "He got a little loose coming off turn four and I came up under him." "I think I could've outrun him with a Modified," said a chuckling Symons, 2002 World Series Florida Modified Champion at New Smyrna with eight wins. "Running on the outside during Speedfest here at USA helped me on the start tonight. I was running without brakes all night long and I pumped it all the way down the straightaway just so I could slow down in the turns."
Budweiser Chevrolet driver Mike Hovis of Ft. Myers, FL passed Symons in the final circuit. Symons wasn't pleased with what he considered a rough pass. Hovis would finish second. "Some people drive a little rough, but we'll remember that," Symons said.
Second-place finishing Hovis still wants a victory over Boyd, but is prepared to get his car right. "We'll go back to the shop and start all over, and come back after him again," said Hovis. Rounding out the top-five were Larry Osteen of Clermont, FL and Mike Greenwell of Alva, FL.
The Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series will run next at Orlando Speedworld in Florida on Friday, March 22, 2002.
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