Monday, November 17, 2003 Murphy Wins Race, Artuso Wins Championship at New Smyrna Speedway Goodyear Challenge Late Model Finale by Jane Smith Sean Murphy (above) during a post race interview at USA International where he came in second. This night he took the First Place Prize. Samsula, Fla. (November 15, 2003) Perfect weather greeted the racers and fans at New Smyrna Speedway for the final nights of points and the final race in 2003 for the Goodyear Challenge Late Models. Seventeen of Florida's best Late Models qualified for the 100 lap event with Jason Boyd of Orlando setting fast time at 18.653. Jerry Artuso of Ontario Canada came in second quick with a 18.682 followed by Larry Osteen of Clermont with a 18.782. Fourth fastest was Brent O'Neill of Hollywood with a 18.817 and Rich Clouser of Palm Bay was fifth fastest qualifier with a 18.846. Boyd pulled the number 5 pill inverting the field putting Rich Clouser on the pole. Clouser quickly took the point on the green followed by Brent O'Neill, Larry Osteen, Jerry Artuso, and Jason Boyd. Boyd put the pedal down and passes Artuso taking fourth with Artuso to fifth. Sean Murphy, who was running sixth, passed Artuso taking over fifth as Artuso slide back to sixth. On lap 7, the race was red flagged when Jimmy Casselberry lost his engine coming down the backstretch going into turns 3 and 4. Before the yellow could be thrown, the lead cars hit the oil with cars spinning and hitting each other in turns 3 and 4. Involved was Rich Clouser, Jason Boyd, Jerry Symons, Brent O'Neill, Martin Pierce, Larry Osteen and Tim Clark. Boyd's and Clark's machine were basically total with severe damage. Clark was assisted off the track as his bell was rung pretty good. All the cars were removed with Rich Clouser and Jerry Artuso working feverishly on their severe damagted vehicles to get back into the field since they were only 20 points apart for the Goodyear Championship. Seventeen cars had started, only nine were remaining on the track. The race restarted with Sean Murphy as the new leader since he somehow missed the big wreck. Brad May was second followed by Chad Pierce, Steve Smith, and Charles Kopach. By lap 13, the damaged car of Larry Osteen who was able to get back into the race, had worked his way to sixth. On lap 17, Rich Clouser returned to the field but was black flagged on lap 21 for going too slow. Clouser went onto pit road and explained they he needed to make sure the rear end would hold since it had been replaced from the wreck. Clouser returned to the field. Lap 22, Steve Smith and Charles Kopach brought out the caution as they spun coming off turn 4. The race restarted on lap 27 and saw the return of the No. 5 Late Model of Jerry Artuso. Not the car he wanted but it was running. Murphy held the point followed by Bay, Richard Parks, Mark Stevenson, and Dan Crowe. Kopach passed Crowe and took fifth back over but on lap 53, Smith spun in turn 3 as his tire when down. Smith pitted for a new tire and returned to the field. Murphy held the point on the restart followed by May, Parks, Stevenson, and Kopach. Chad Pierce took fifth from Kopach with Kopach sliding to sixth. On lap 79, Smith spins again and is black flagged for bringing out the caution three times. May is sent into the pits as his car is leaking. But May is able to stop the leak and return to the race. Murphy holds the point for the restart followed by Stevenson, Parks, Pierce and Kopach. Murphy takes the checkered for the final race in 2003 for the Goodyear Challenge Late Models followed by Mark Stevenson, Chad Pierce, Charles Kopach, and Richard Parks. Murphy won the final race and Jerry Artuso won the Championship by a few points over second place Rich Clouser. Jerry Artuso, early in 2003 at Charlotte County Speedway. Both Artuso and Clouser should be proud of themselves and their pit crews and helpers for even being able to return to the racing field. Richard Clouser A fantastic job done by all. Click here for 2003 GoodYear Challenge Series PHOTO GALLERY The Super Lates ran for double points on their last night of points with Jim "Hoot" Flynn on the pole for the 25 lap feature. Flynn jumped to the lead on the green followed by Joe Fitos, Guy Thomas, Mike Good, and David Rogers. On lap 2, Mike Good and Wayne Parker get together on the backstretch with Good walking the backstretch wall and almost rolling over. A number of cars ended up in the mess taking out Morgan Hoover, who just returned to racing after a 2 year absence, Mike Finn, and Brent Hobbs. A few unfriendly words were exchanged between Parker and Good but officials quickly got the upper hand. The cars were towed off the track and racing resumed with Flynn on the point. Rogers moved into fourth since Good was out and Wayne McCall moved into fifth. By lap 6, Rogers had moved into the second place putting Fitos to third, Guy fourth and Flynn fifth. On lap 14, Joey Rowe brought out the caution when he spun on the backstretch. Rowe retired to the pits. On the restart, Rogers passed Fitos and took over the lead followed by Fitos, Thomas, Flynn and Matt Griffin. By lap 18, Thomas passed Fitos and took over second. Rogers took the final checkered flag for the 2003 Points season winning the Championship followed by Guy Thomas, Joe Fitos, Jim "Hoot" Flynn, and Matt Griffin. David Rogers and Mike Good took the heat wins for the Super Lates. Ted Head had the pole for the Super Stock feature but it was Jack Lenzen who quickly took the point on the green followed by Charlie Collins, Ron Whaley, Sean Bass, and Ted Head. Kevin Auger worked his way to fourth with Bass sliding back and Robert Skinner taking over fifth from Head. Whaley puts the pedal down and passes Collins with Collins falling back to fourth and Jeff Colburn in fifth. Ken Auger ran fourth. On lap 4, Rob Watford breaks going down the frontstretch and the yellow comes out to assist Watford into the pits. Lenzen holds the point on the restart followed by Whaley, Auger, Colburn, and Skinner. Colburn passes Whaley taking over second as Whaley slides back to third followed by Auger and Collins. On lap 13, Whaley and Collins are doing some serious side-by-side action with Whaley spinning. Both drivers are sent to the rear for the restart. Colburn puts the pedal to the metal and takes over the lead from Lenzen with Lenzen sliding to second. Colburn takes the win followed by Jack Lenzen, Ken Auger, Ted Head and Pat Buckley. Charlie Collins takes the 2003 Super Stock Championship by 16 points over Ron Whaley. Ted Head, Jack Lenzen, and Charlie Collins took the heat wins. Aaron Williamson had the pole for the 20 lap Sportsman feature but it was Dale Clouser who jumped to the lead on the green followed by Aaron Williamson, Chris Peludat, Ron Lufcy and Cory Kaiser. Lap 1 sees the yellow for Ken Lawton and Cory Kaiser who spun on the frontstretch. Clouser holds the point on the restart but it is short lived as the yellow comes out for Bill Love who has lost an engine it seems and Ken Lawton who spun avoiding Love. Clouser holds the point and takes the checkered followed by Aaron Williamson, Ron Lufcy, Chris Peludat, and David Williamson. Bill Spade won the 2003 Sportsman Championship. Dale Closuer took the heat win. The Strictly Stock division ran the only caution free feature of the night with Bruce McGonigal on the pole for their 12 lap feature. Tim Edmundson jumped to the lead on the green and lead from green to checkered. Following Edmundson on the green was Farris Crews, Roger Benton, Bruce McGonigal, and Joe Rivera. Rivera passes McGonigal for fourth with McGonigal sliding backwards and Roger Ladieu taking over fifth. Ladieu is able to pass Rivera taking over fourth with Theresa Trombley coming into the fifth place spot. On lap 10, when running second, Crews blows a tire but is able to get off the track without causing a caution. Edmundson takes the checkered followed by Roger Benton, Theresa Trombley, John Poltz, and Jose Rivera. Roger Benton took the heat win. Next Saturday, November 22nd, the 38th Annual Governor's Cup Sunbelt Super Late Model 200 will be run. Pit gates will open at 12:00. Along with the 200 lap Governor's Cup will be the final race and Championship for the Florida Mini Stock Challenge. This will be a 100 lap event. Qualifying will begin at 6 p.m. with racing action at 7:30 p.m. State Senator Daniel Webster will be the Grand Marshall. OFFICIAL RESULTS GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL - 100 LAPS 1. #32 Sean Murphy, Ft, Lauderdale 2. #21 Mark Stevenson, DeLand 3. #57 Chad Pierce, Orlando 4. #01 Charles Kopach, Astatulo 5. #46 Richard Parks, Cornelus, NC 6. #926 Dan Crowe, Lantana 7. #10 Brad May, Orlando 8. #9 Rich Clouser, Palm Bay 9. #5 Jerry Artuso, Ontario, Canada 10. #38 Steve Smith, Lakeland 11. #22 Larry Osteen, Clermont 12. #60 Brent O'Neill, Hollywood 13. #15 Jason Boyd, Orlando 14. #66 Jerry Symons, New Smyrna 15. #8 Tim Clark, Cocoa 16. #75 Martin Pierce, Sanford 17. #2 Jimmy Castleberry, Connersville SUPER LATE MODELS 1. #11 David Rogers 2. #2 Guy Thomas 3. #63 Joe Fitos 4. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn 5. #7 Matt Griffin 6. #3 Wayne Parker 7. #2x Wayne McCall 8. #34 Bobby Fleckinger 9. #96 Dick Ruckh 10. #16 David Sasley 11. #9 Joey Rowe 12. #8 Brent Hobbs 13. #27 Mike Good 14. #39 Morgan Hoover 15. #6 Mike Finn SPORTSMAN 1. #30 Dale Clouser 2. #13 Aaron Williamson 3. #07 Ron Lufcy 4. #28 Chris Peludat 5. #12 David Williamson 6. #48 Cory Kaiser 7. #18 Ken Lawton 8. #5 Lonnie Cole 9. #2 Bill Love SUPER STOCK 1. #3 Jeff Colburn 2. #211 Jack Lenzen 3. #07 Kevin Auger 4. #92 Ted Head 5. #34 Pat Buckley 6. #17x Sean Bass 7. #38 Randy Jones 8. #2 Ron Whaley 9. #34y Jimmy Rix 10. #23 Charlie Collins 11. #09 Aaron Williamson 12. #20 Robert Ward 13. #45 Mike Soukup 14. #21y Jim Dyson 15. #50 Robert Skinner 16. #21 Josh Wronkowski 17. #49 Jason Foster 18. #17 Rob Watford STRICTLY STOCKS 1. #66 Tim Edmundson 2. #14 Roger Benton 3. #8 Theresa Trombley 4. #28 John Poltz 5. #73 Jose Rivera 6. #22 Bruce McGonigal 7. #0 8. #29 Scott Cecil 9. #8x Farris Crews 10. #10 Roger Ladeau Have an opinion on this story? 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