Dorer Wins GoodYear Challenge 100 with Bump-and-Run | By John Barker
PUNTA GORDA, FL - Steve Dorer won a bump-and-run "Bristol Motor Speedway" type race in the FASCAR Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 on Saturday night at Charlotte County Speedway.
It was Dorer's first Goodyear Late Model Challenge Series win and his third 100-lap feature event victory on Charlotte County Speedway.
"I want to thank Gagels Auto Parts, Checkered Flag Race Car Parts and Graphics and all my people," said Dorer.
Dorer wasn't able to completely claim victory until Sunday when a motor inspection item was cleared by technical inspectors. His winning trophy was delivered by FASCAR officials.
Wayne Morris in his Smith Drywall ride did the most running out front after his bump of Dorer in lap one that sprung him to the front for the first 91 circuits. Morris lost the point in the waning laps after Dorer finally succeeded in breaking Morris loose in turn two.
Morris was bumped a dozen or more times by lap 65 by Dorer, but couldn't be moved off his low line of running. The winning Dorer felt he deserved to take his course of action, because of the lap one pass by Morris.
"Well, he passed me on lap one the same way," said Dorer. "He hit me, turned me sideways and got under me. So I made up my mind if I couldn't pass him clean that I was going to hit him in turn one and two the same way he did me, and pass him in the same fashion so he understood what's okay for him is okay for me."
Morris was not very happy with the race outcome and expressed this to FASCAR officials on the front straightaway in "Victory Lane" and continued his thoughts vocally in the pit area. Morris was left hung out to dry and finally finished fourth in his Smith Dry Wall car.
"He (Dorer) just kept getting into me every turn," said Morris. "He left me alone a little while and I started getting away from him."
"We had a restart with 12 to go and every turn he kept drawing up on me and I couldn't get my rhythm going to get away from him. He finally got me up far enough to get by me and I couldn't get back in line," Morris said.
Dorer appeared to have the quicker car, but it was Morris running the smarter race while in the lead. Morris slowed the field in turn two and four while leading and forced the 19-car field to follow his pace on what appeared to be a one-groove track this night.
Rich Clouser set fast time in his South 40 Graphics car turning the three-eighths mile Charlotte County track in his second lap at 15.260 seconds or 88.47 mph. Clouser drew number three for inversion.
Clouser finished second following just enough back to keep in the hunt as Morris and Dorer did their thing as they battled for the lead.
"I was just waiting for them to get together then I'd take over the lead, but when they did get together I just followed the #10 through and got up into second and that's where we ended up," said Clouser.
Steve Arnold in the Marty Motor car checked in third after looking to the outside a couple of times earlier in the race.
"Yeah I had a fast car, but we got into the train deal and there was nowhere to go," said Arnold. "I tried the outside a couple of times, but the track was dirty and I just didn't have the confidence. The #56 (Morris) was holding us up a bit, but that's racing, you do what you gotta do."
Dorer crossed the stripe followed by Clouser, Arnold and Morris. Finishing fifth after a smart ride was Sean Murphy.
The top five remained the same through 91 laps The important issue here was to remember an auto racing accident is much like a traffic accident opinions vary depending on which car you're in.
The next Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series race will be at New Smyrna Speedway on Nov. 15.
Charlotte/Goodyear Challenge 100 Laps: 1. 10 Steve Dorer 2. 9 Rich Clouser 3. 19 Steve Arnold 4. 56 Wayne Morris 5. 32 Sean Murphy 6. 60 Brent O'Neil 7. 5 Jerry Artuso 8. 64 Chris Libak 9. 96 Frank Welch 10. 62 Buzz Martin 11. 100 Glenn Morris 12. 94 Scott Klieber 13. 926 Dan Crowe 14. 22 Larry Osteen 15. 36x Al Fradette 16. 95 Richie Anderson 17. 8 Keith Lilly 18. 28 Steve Smith 19. 2 Kevin Murphy 20. 12 Joe Sumasky-DNS 21. 88 Jimmy Castleberry-DNS Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!
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