March 14, 2004 New Smyrna Speedway Welcome 2004 Season with a Bang by Jane Smith -KARNAC.COM Samsula, Fla. (March 13, 2004) New Smyrna Speedway fans welcomed in the 2004 season with one rip-roaring good night of racing. Not only were the Super Lates, Lates, Modifieds, Sportsman, Super Stock, Mini Stock and Strictly Stocks in action but also the Mini Cups and the new Mean Miata's. A perfect delightful Saturday night greeted fans as they made their way back to the one-half mile speedway for another season of racing action. With new divisions running heats and features, there was no dull time to be had. The Mean Miata's made their first appearance on a oval track as they mostly race road course tracks. With working highlights and tail lights, they added to the thrill of the race. Winning the heat and feature race was Paul Sheppard in the No. 8 Miata. Although Peter Keane had the pole for the feature race, it was Joe Evans who took the early lead over Keane, Sheppard, Paul Hensel and John Wielding. Keane puts the pedal down and takes over the lead with Sheppard taking over second followed by Chris Mason, Joe Evans, and John Wielding. But Sheppard was not to be denied as he took the lead away from Keane and sailed to the checkered followed by Pete Keane, Chris Mason, Joe Evans, and John Wielding. Michael Williams temporarily took over the wheel of Mike Murphy's Late Model while Murphy was out of town to shake down the car. Obviously Williams worked the bugs out for Murphy as he not only won the heat race but also the feature race. Williams drew a 0 for the feature race and started on the pole but with only one lap in, Phillip Bessette brought out the yellow as he spun coming off 4 and hit the wall. Bessette was fine but the car will need some work before he can return. The race went back green with Williams on the point followed by Randy Dye, Tim Clark, Troy Atkins, and Donald Hess. Hess, who had problems smoking in the heat race, was black flagged for the same problem. Hess retired to the pits. Williams leads the way and takes the checkered followed by Randy Dye, Tim Clark, Troy Atkins, and Charlie Merz. Completing the top ten were Mark Smith, Josh Schmidt, Hank Baker, Allen Davis and Don Hess. Ben Cutler Jr. had the pole for the Mini Stock feature. Before a lap was down, the red flag came out for Chris Jones and Mark Broat who tangled on the backstretch. Jones spun and looked to be clear but Broat had no place to go and hit Jones spinning the car around. Both drivers were fine but not happy. Brian Bellaw, returning to the Mini Stock class and in the #1 Mini Stock, took the lead on the restart. But once again the yellow comes out as Allie Owens has problems and is stopped dead still in turns 1 and 2. Owens was pushed to the pits and done for the night. The race went back green with Bellaw in the lead but finding his hands full of Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulpius in the rear-view mirror. Vulpius and Bellaw put on one heck of a show for the lead but Bellaw holds on. Bellaw takes the checkered only inches in front of Vulpius followed by Ron Debeau, Chad Carpenter, and Ben Cutler Jr. In Victory Lane Bellaw told the crowd, "I was glad it was Ted behind me because he is one good and fair driver. I knew he would not take me out. But this Mini Stock has worn me one, it is alot different than my old Late Model. I am very happy for Tom and George and bringing their car to Victory Lane." Ted Vulpius and Ron Debeau won the heat races. The Super Late Model feature saw Joe Fitos on the pole but before a lap was down in it, B.J. McLeod brought out the yellow when his trailing arm broke on the start and he slowly made his way to the pit road exit and stopped. The race goes back green with Eric Black, David Rogers, Chet Morrison, Joe Fitos and Bobby Coyle in the top five. Rogers powers his way pass Black as Black slips back to third and Morrison comes into second. Rogers holds on and takes the checkered followed by Chet Morrison, Eric Black, Joe Fitos, and Bobby Coyle. David Rogers won the heat race. Mini Cups saw Wendy Kash on the pole but something happened on the start and Wendy had to pull out of the race leaving Rick Rreemma in the lead followed by Larry Folino, Mark Ross, Terry Tullis and David Taylor. After a few lead changes, Mark Ross finds himself in the number one spot and holds on for the checkered followed by Terry Tullis, David Taylor, Larry Folino, and Rick Blair. Mark Ross took the heat win. Joe Gerard had the pole for the Sportsman feature but it did not take Donnie Williams long in the #111 machine to take over the lead from Gerard. Williams, who took 2003 off to serve overseas, came back with one thing in mind, TO WIN. The caution came out for Mike Soukup who hit the backstretch wall and Ron Lufcy, who suffered rear-end damage. Lufcy was able to return racing, Soukup was done for the night. Williams held the point for the restart with Gerard in second but it was Lufcy who made his way back to second shuffling Gerard to third. Williams takes the checkered followed by Ron Lufcy, Joe Gerard, Ken Lewton, and Bruce McGonigal. In Victory Lane, Williams told the crowd "I was gone all last year and I am going back in 2005 but this year, I am racing New Smyrna Speedway. Sure is great to be back to New Smyrna and back in Victory Lane." Donnie Williams won the heat race. Tank Tucker had the pole and won from the pole in the Open Wheel Modifieds. Only one caution came during the feature race when Dave Savicki spun in turns 1 and 2 but was able to continue racing. Tucker held the point with a very hard charging Brad May in second. May tried but could not take the lead with Tucker taking the checkered flag followed by Brad May, Bobby Blake, Chad Pierce, and Dave Savicki. Bobby Blake won the heat race. Rick Johns had the pole for the Super Stock feature but found he could not keep Jeff Colburn from taking over the point. Ron Whaley was able to pass Johns and move into second with Johns third followed by Jack Lenzen and Jason Foster. Colburn found his hands full of Whaley who had Johns right on his rear as they went nose to tail. But on lap 11, Whaley brings out the caution as he spins and ends up in the pits ending his good run for the night. Colburn holds strong on the restart although Johns is trying anything and everything to take away that lead. Colburn holds tight and takes the checkered followed by Rick Johns, Jack Lenzen, Jason Foster and Mike Hendrix. Jeff Colburn and Jack Lenzen won the heat races. Strictly Stocks saw a number of new drivers with Jose Rivera on the pole for their 15 lap feature. But Rivera found he was not quite strong enough to hold off Jeremy Hovencamp who took the lead. Kerry Payne moved into second pushing Rivera to third. Mike Dohm brought out the caution when he spun off turn 4. Hovencamp holds the lead on the restart followed by Kerry Payne, Derek Slade, Theresa Trombley and Travis Scott. The yellow is thrown for Derek Slade as he spun on the backstretch. Hovencamp holds the point on the restart and takes the checkered followed by Travis Scott, Kerry Payne, Jose Rivera, and Mike Wafford. Jose Rivera and Jeremy Hovencamp won the heat races. Next week the FASCAR divisions will have the weekend off as the USAR Hooter's ProCup come to New Smyrna Speedway. Regular racing returns on March 27th. OFFICIAL RESULTS MINI CUPS 1. #17 Mark Ross 2. #8 Terry Tillis 3. #15 David Taylor 4. #43 Larry Folins 5. #31 Rick Blair 6. #2 Matt Oravets 7. #12 Rick Rreema 8. #47 Wes Thompson 9. #29 Dan Suggs 10. #24 Mike Holt 11. #33 Sonny Saxon 12. #88 Manea Pinto 13. #66 Frank Pfister 14. #83 Eric Cunningham 15. #5 Mark Blain 16. #48 Heather Suggs 17. #05 Wendy Cash MEAN MIATA'S 1. #8 Paul Sheppard 2. #02 Peter Kerns 3. #71 Chris Mason 4. #75 Joe Evans 5. #26 John Wielding 6. #2 Roy Parks 7. #76 Paul Hensel SUPER LATE MODEL 1. #11 David Rogers 2. #86 Chet Morrison 3. #10 Eric Black 4. #63 Joe Fitos 5. #64 Bobby Coyle 6. #34 Bobby Fleckinger 7. #8 Brent Hobbs 8. #78 B.J. McLeod LATE MODEL 1. #26 Michael Williams 2. #43 Randy Dye 3. #8 Tim Clark 4. #14 Troy Atkins 5. #7 Charlie Merz 6. #48 Mark Smith 7. #119 Josh Schmidt 8. #52 Hank Baker 9. #82 Allen Davis 10. #64 Don Hess 11. #17 Phillip Bessette MINI STOCK 1. #1 Borian Bellaw 2. #72 Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulpius 3. #4 Ron Dubeau 4. #31 Chad Carpenter 5. #83 Ben Cutler Jr. 6. #2 Ronald Karto Jr. 7. #60 Ray Martin 8. #v3 Rex Christensen 9. #84 Don Strosahl 10. #11 Pug Puglisi 11. #23 Wayne Wells 12. #22 Alli Owens 13. #20 Chris Jones 14. #6 Mark Broat OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED 1. #15 Tank Tucker 2. #00 Brad May 3. #75 Bobby Blake 4. #51 Chad Pierce 5. #70 Dave Savicki SPORTSMAN 1. #111 Donnie Williams 2. #07 Ron Lufcy 3. #330 Joe Gerard 4. #18 Ken Lewton 5. #6 Bruce McGonigal 6. #7 Tom Gamache 7. #28 Mike Soukup SUPER STOCK 1. #3 Jeff Colburn 2. #66x Rick Johns 3. #211 Jack Lenzen 4. #49 Jason Foster 5. #71 Mike Hendrix 6. #27 Barry Parks 7. #74 Jason Dreyer 8. #21 Josh Wronkowski 9. #2 Ron Whaley 10. #82 Dennis Carroll 11. #8x Faris Crews 12. #77 Jim Edmundson STRICTLY STOCKS 1. #39 Jeremy Hovencamp 2. Travis Scott 3. #11x Kerry Payne 4. #13 Jose Rivera 5. #15 Mike Wafforde 6. #99 Gordon Houck 7. #21x Mike Dohn 8. #75 Tim Logue 9. #3 Steve Scarlock 10. #126 Derek Slade 11. #18 Jason Mullis 12. #8 Teresa Trombley 13. #26 Michelle Dyal 14. #73x Scott Sherrill 15. #X Richard Renze 16. #08 Matt Conway Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!