Sunday, September 14, 2003 Mini Stock Win Dedicated to Ray Crews, Sheriff Ben Johnson wins Charity Bus Race by Jane Smith Samsula, Fla. (September 13, 2003)- A star filled night with no clouds greeted fans and drivers alike at New Smyrna Speedway Saturday night. With no threat of rain, a nice cool breeze, and plenty of hot racing action, everyone enjoyed themselves and went home happy. The Volusia County Sherriff's Department had their second annual Charity School Bus Race for the Florida Youth Ranches which was a great crowd pleaser. The Mustang Club of Daytona brought their vintage and newer Mustangs for a few laps around the speedway. As the fans picked and chose which one they liked best, the drivers began their drawing for which bus number they were to drive. When all was said and done and the race was over, no damage had been suffered by any bus or driver except for maybe a little pride. Sheriff Ben Johnson took the win with the owner of Jolly Roger's Resturant/Blackie's Saloon bringing home a well deserved second place. But it was Buddy Pittman from Channel 2 Sports that just could never get his bus going and finished DEAD last. Fans also got treated to some really hot racing in all FASCAR divisions with plenty of cars in all classes to make the action even hotter. Because of the school bus race and the program during the intermission, only features were run. The Mini Stocks were the first feature of the night with Ben Hutto on the pole. But before a lap was down, Hutto and Chris Jones got together going down the backstretch. Jones had to be double hooked, not how he wanted his night to go, for the long ride back to the upper pits. On the second restart, it was Ron Dubeau who took the point over Rex "Boneman" Hollinger, Tim "Missileman" McPhail, Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulpius, and Rex Christensen. But suddenly while leading, Dubeau began to slow and had to withdraw from the race giving the lead over to Tim "Missileman" McPhail. On lap 10, Hutto comes off four slightly loose and taps the frontstretch wall. He is able to drive out of the grass but unable to continue racing. McPhail holds the point on the restart followed by Vulpius, Hollinger, Christensen, and Jamie Dixon. On lap 16, Vulpius shows problems as he slows suddenly. Unable to make it around to the pit entrance, the yellow comes out on lap 17 for the crippled car. McPhail holds the point on the restart and takes the checkered followed by Rex Christensen, Jamie Dixon, Rex "Boneman" Hollinger, and Ted Vulpius. In Victory Lane, there was a wild celebration of hugging and kissing. This race meant alot to Tim "Missileman" McPhail as it was dedicated to his good friend Ray Crews. Crews, who has been the gas man at both Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway for many years, has been sick and this win was for him. Said McPhail, "if you noticed, I won in the "Crews" Missile and Ray Crews is why we named our new car the "Crews" Missile. Ray has been a good friend to my wife and me and we love him dearly. He loves racing and tonight was for him." And for those who know and love Ray Crews, there was not a dry eye among us. Brian Bellaw, who is sponsored by Jolly Roger's/Blackies Saloon, had the pole for the Late Model feature but it was Tim Clark who took the early point and never looked back and I do mean NEVER looked back. Clark ran from green to checkered with no cautions at all in the 20 lap feature. Following Clark to the checkered was Brian Bellaw, Bobby Orr, Don Hess and Mark Smith. Said Bellaw after the race, "looks like Roger and I both come home in second this week since Roger took second in the school bus race. Not bad!!!!" Bellaw leads the points in the Late Model division. David Castello had the pole for the Open Wheel Modified feature but it was Jim "Hoot" Flynn and his "Jimmy Spencer" colored mod who jumped to the point followed by Jerry Symons, Castello, Bobby Blake and Mark Vandevender. By lap 4, Symons had taken the lead with Flynn, Castello, Blake and Vandevender in the top five. Blake works his way around Castello and takes over third putting Castello fourth. On lap 12, Vandevender spun on the backstretch after sitting in the fifth place position. The field was realigned for the restart with Symons on the point followed by Flynn, Blake, Castello, and Brad May. It is now when the racing got hot and heavy as May tries for fourth. Somehow May and Castello get into each other and both get loose and must let off giving Larry Osteen and Michael Williams just enough to take over fourth and fifth. Symons takes the checkered followed by Jim "Hoot" Flynn, Bobby Blake, Larry Osteen, and Michael Williams. Joe Fitos had the pole for the Super Late Model feature and jumped to the early lead on the green and was looking really strong. Following Fitos on the green was David Rogers, Guy Thomas, B.J. McLeod, and Robert Jenkins. On lap 3 while leading the race, Fitos slows to the disappointment of the crowd and withdraws to the pits. Taking over the point is David Rogers who is followed by B.J. McLeod, Guy Thomas, Bobby Fleckinger and Robert Jenkins. George Murphy, debuting his new South Forty Graphix machine, passes Jenkins and takes over fifth. Mike Finn brought out the only yellow on lap 23 when he spun coming off turn 4. The field is realigned with Rogers on the point and taking the checkered followed by B.J. McLeod, Guy Thomas, Bobby Fleckinger, and George Murphy. Dale Clouser had the pole for the Sportsman feature and lead from green to checkered for the win. Following Clouser on the green was Bill Spade, Jim Snyder, Cory Kaiser, and Rich Clouser. Lap 3, Patrick "Trick" Thomas hits the frontstretch wall and the caution comes out. Clouser holds the point for the restart followed by Spade, Redditt, Beckner, and Trocki. Beckner takes over third with Trocki fourth and Redditt fifth. Lap 6, Ron Lufcy, Cory Kaiser, and Mitch Dougherty are at the bottom of turns 3 and 4 as Kaiser goes sideways with Dougherty trying to avoid the sideways car but clips Kaiser and Lufcy spinning to avoid both Kaiser and Dougherty. A three return to racing but restart in the rear of the field. Clouser holds the point on the restart followed by Spade, Beckner, Redditt and Trocki but as the top five go into turn 1 and 2, Beckner's motor blows putting oil down on the track and Redditt and Trocki take wild rides in oil. Both cars are done along with the blown engine in Beckner's car. The field once again realigns for the restart with Clouser, Rich Clouser, Spade, Nusbaum, and Synder in the top five. Spade takes over second putting Clouser third. The caution is thrown once again for Ron Lufcy and Kory Kaiser who have tangled in the backstretch. Kaiser got loose and Lufcy just slightly touched him sending them both in a spin. Lufcy is black flagged and not very happy believing that he had no where to go and was not trying to intentionally turn Kaiser. Clouser holds the point on the restart and takes the win followed by Bill Spade, John Nusbaum, Jim Snyder, and Rich Clouser. Justin Reynolds had the pole for the Super Stock feature but it was Charlie Collins who jumped to the early lead over Robert Skinner, Reynolds, John Castro, and Butch Pierce. The caution then came out on lap 1 for debris on the track. Collins holds the point on the restart with Skinner, Castro, Pierce and Ron Whaley in the top five. Whaley then begins to move up first passing Pierce then Castro and takes over third. Skinner now has his hands full of Whaley and eventually Whaley takes over second and set his sails on Collins. Lap 10, Whaley passes Collins and takes over the lead but on lap 11, Rich Linder Collins, Castro, Pierce and Skinner. Lap 12 sees Castro get really squirrelly coming off 4 but does a great job of saving his car. Also taking a little joy ride on the frontstretch was Bob Bailey who quickly got his car turned around and going in the right direction to not bring out the caution. But lap 13 was not so lucky. Lap 13, Kevin Auger took a very wild ride as he climbed the backstretch wall flipping on his roof and going halfway down the backstretch upside down. The crowd held their breath as Auger's car finally came to rest. Auger quickly jumped out and was fine but not the way he planned to run his first race as a Super Stock. Auger came from the Strictly Stock division. The car was righted and with alittle minor roof repairs and a new windshield, he should be back in action for the 50 lap Super Stock race next weekend. Whaley holds the point on the restart followed by Collins, Pierce, Castro and Skinner. Ted Head now moves into fifth and sets his sight on Castro in fourth. Castro falls back to sixth with Skinner coming back into fifth. Whaley takes the checkered followed by Charlie Collins, Butch Pierce, Ted Head and Robert Skinner. Ralph Jones had the pole for the 15 lap Strictly Stock feature but it was Jason Charette who jumped to the lead on the green followed by Jeremy Hovencamp, Curtis Smith, Jones and Roger Ladieu. Jones slides backwards with Ladieu moving into fourth and Mark Broat fifth. The caution comes out for Jones, Crews and Boley in turn 4. On the restart, Hovencamp takes over the lead and as they say, never looked back. Hovencamp took the checkered followed by Mark Broat, Roger Ladieu, Gordon Houck, and Theresa Trombley. Next Saturday night, the TBARA Winged Sprints will run at New Smyrna Speedway plus a 50 lap Super Stock race. OFFICIAL RESULTS SUPER LATE MODELS 1. #11 David Rogers 2. #78 B.J. McLeod 3. #2 Guy Thomas 4. #34 Bobby Fleckinger 5. #42 George Murphy 6. #17 Robert Jenkins 7. #96 Dick Ruckh 8. #6 Mike Finn 9. #1 Bob Trombley 10. #63 Joe Fitos LATE MODEL 1. #8 Tim Clark 2. #77 Brian Bellaw 3. #30 Bobby Orr 4. #64 Don Hess 5. #48 Mark Smith 6. #00 Scott Seither 7. #6 Rodney Eary OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED 1. #66 Jerry Symons 2. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn 3. #75 Bobby Blake 4. #22 Larry Osteen 5. #40 Michael Williams 6. #00 Brad May 7. #2x David Castello 8. #55 Shane Held 9. #97 Matt Wheeler 10. #16 Dave Labeau 11. #4b Alan Bruns 12. #7 Mark Vandevender 13. #09 Rob Underwood SPORTSMAN 1. #30 Dale Clouser 2. #15x Bill Spade 3. #70 John Nusbaum 4. #55 Jim Snyder 5. #8 Rich Clouser 6. #9 Marty Wolf 7. #19 Mitch Dougherty 8. #6 Bruce McGonigall 9. #5 Lonnie Cole 10. #07 Ron Lufcy 11. #48 Cory Kaiser 12. #83 Earl Beckner 13. #1 Steve Redditt 14. #46 Mike Trocki 15. #2 Bill Love 16. #55x Patrick Thomas SUPER STOCK 1. #2 Ron Whaley 2. #23 Charlie Collins 3. #57x Butch Pierce 4. #92 Ted Heaqd 5. #50 Robert Skinner 6. #5 John Castro 7. #57b Brent Brown 8. #38 Randy Jones 9. #91 Todd Driscoll 10. #3 Jeff Colburn 11. #R01 Robbie Gauthier 12. #01 Chuck Smith 13. #10P Bob Bailey 14. #91x Alan Dillon 15. #20 Justin Reynolds 16. #21 Josh Wronkowski 17. #07 Kevin Auger 18. #31 Rich Lindner 19. #6 Ron Catterson 20. #37 Steve Metts 21. #46 Bobby Riley 22. #17 Sean Bass MINI STOCKS 1. #7 Tim "Missileman" McPhail dedicated to Ray Crews 2. #v3 Rex Christensen 3. #6 Jamie Dixon 4. #7x Rex "Boneman" Hollinger 5. #71 Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulpius 6. #38 Ben Hutto 7. #11 Pug Puglisi 8. #4 Ron Debeau 9. #20 Chris Jones STRICTLY STOCK 1. #39 Jeremy Hovencamp 2. #6 Mark Broat 3. #10 Roger Ladieu 4. #99 Gordon Houck 5. #8 Theresa Trombley 6. #x Chris Grelry 7. #8x Farris Crews 8. #22 Bruce McGonigall, Jr. 9. #32 Jason Charette 10. #73 Scott Sherrill 11. #92 Curtis Smith 12. #13 Ralph Jones 13. #88 Nick Boley Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!