Wednesday, February 12, 2003 Boyd Takes Late Model Win on Night 3 of World Series by John Barker SAMSULA, FLORIDA – Jason Boyd of Orlando, FL, driving the Donnely Plumbing Chevrolet, won his first Late Model race in the 37th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing on Monday night at New Smyrna Speedway. Boyd took the point in the --- car field in lap 29 on the inside out of turn four of the 50 lap Late Model feature and negotiated late lapped traffic perfectly for his win. Boyd was the World Series Late Model Champion last year with nine wins in nine nights. Larry Osteen of Clermont, FL took the early lead from the outside pole in his Florida Auto Express Chevrolet. Running second was Mike Murphy of Clermont, FL in his South Lake Trucking and third was Joey Miller of Farmington, MN. John Crumrine of Akron, Ohio and Rich Clouser touched hitting the inside retaining wall on the front straightaway brining out a caution. There were no injuries. Osteen held the point on the restart followed by Murphy and Tim Russell of Apopka, FL. Rounding out the top five were Miller and Jerry Symons of New Smyrna Beach, FL. The caution would unfurl again in lap five as Russell and Miller touched sending an already loose Russell hard into the inside retaining wall on the front straightaway. Russell was finished for the night. The order on the lap five restart was Osteen, Murphy, Miller, Symons and Boyd. In lap 17, Boyd was a fast running third and by lap 20 he was ready to challenge for the lead. Boyd was moving in on Osteen for the top spot in lap 25 and the quick duo moved to an eight car advantage over Murphy and Miller. Boyd took the lead in lap 29 as finally dialed in Osteen. Osteen then had another battle on his hands for second as Symons was advancing quickly. By lap 35, Boyd had a 10 car lead over Osteen and Symons, who was still trying to dial in Osteen. In lap 37, it was Boyd, Osteen, Symons, Murphy and Miller and in the following lap Boyd opened a 20 car lead. Boyd worker lapped traffic swiftly during lap 43 and maintained a strong lead and there was no catching him. Boyd crossed the stripe followed by Osteen, Symons, Murphy and Miller. SUPER LATE MODELS James Powell III of Astor, FL in his A Natural Difference Chevrolet put his 2002 World Series win in the books on Monday night with some quick driving from the outside pole position. Once Powell shot by pole sitter Don Thompson Jr. of Cambridge, Ontario it was a clean track for the winner following an accordion type green flag start in turn one. Wayne Anderson of Wildwood, FL in his Carolina Printing Chevrolet was second and David Rogers of Orlando, FL was third in his TM Ranch Dodge. Junior Hanley of Campbellville, Ontario was fourth in his Big Rigs Chevrolet as the top four also passed Thompson for position. Freddie Query of Mooresville, NC moved passes Thompson as well to secure fifth, but his strong running Chevrolet lasted there for just few laps as he ended up with Rogers in the outside wall between turns three and four in lap nine. Powell headed the field on the restart. He was followed by Anderson, Thompson and Hanley. It was Hanley dropping ever so slightly back to survey the top runners waiting to make his move. Anderson pressed the leading Powell during lap 11 and 2002 FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Michael Williams in his South 40 Motorsports machine sustained some nose damage in lap 12. The restart was now Powell, Anderson, Hanley, Thompson and Scott Hantz of Pleasant Lake, IN. By lap 15, Powell, Anderson and Hanley broke to a 20 car lead over the fourth place running Thompson. Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro, Mass. was on the move going to fifth having gained 23 positions by lap 19. He then advanced to fourth by Thompson in lap 25. Powell crossed the stripe followed by Hanley. Anderson was third. The third place finishing Anderson now has three top five finishes including a win. Rounding out the top five were Mechalides and Thompson. IMCA/FLORIDA MODIFIEDS Jerry Artuso of Soo, Ontario posted his first Modified win on Monday night with some quick and slick driving in Modified racing in World Series action. Jerry Symons of New Smyrna Beach, FL, driving his Gene Kelly Roofing Modified jumped quickly to the lead and it looked like another day at the office for the World Series 2002 Champion, but it wasn’t to be. Symons held the lead in lap five with a quick Artuso following. D.J. Hoelzle, Steve Johanneck of Litchfield, Minn. and Jason Boyd of Orlando, FL followed at a distance. Artuso grabbed the point in lap 10 in slow traffic. Symons followed bringing Hoelzle, Johanneck and Boyd with him. Symons put some pressure on Artuso in lap 13, but it wasn’t enough as Artuso held the track well. Artuso had Symons in close company again in lap 15, but again held off what many thought would be a pass for Symons. Boyd also worked Hoelzle hard for third. Artuso crossed the stripe and he was followed by Symons, Hoelzle and Boyd. Brad May of Orlando, Fl followed picking up several positions in the waning laps. TAMPA BAY AREA RACING ASSOCIATION Keith Butler of Riverview, FL winning the Tampa Bay Area Racing Association Open Wheel Winged Sprint 25 lap feature in World Series racing Monday night on New Smyrna Speedway. Butler snaked his way through the quick 24 car field taking the lead in lap 22 with precision driving. Scott Adema of Ft. Myers FL took the early lead followed closely by David Siawiak of Land O’ Lakes, FL and Kevin Feeney of Holly, MI. A lap three caution slowed things down for a couple of seconds with Adema on the point being pressured hard by Feeney. Gary Gimmler of Palm Beach Gardens, FL was third Dude Teate of Leesburg, FL was fourth and Hank Lower of Angola, IN fifth. During lap five Feeney took the point in turn two on the outside with Gimmler, Teate and Lower in the hunt. Butler moved into third in lap 10 with Feeney still in the lead as things tightened up in the top five. At halfway, Feeney was still in the lead followed by Gimmler, Butler, David Steele of Indianapolis, IN and Adema fifth. Things remained the same until lap 22 when Butler went by Teete going into turn four. Butler was too quick the remaining three laps and crossed the stripe followed by Feeney, Gimmler, Steele and Adema. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!