Russell Nabs Goodyear LM win at SpeedWorld, Clouser takes Title
by Dave Westerman
Longwood's Tim Russell won the final battle while Palm Bay's Rich Clouser won the war as the FASCAR Goodyear Challenge Series concluded the 2005 campaign Friday night at Orlando Speedworld.
A.J. Currelli opened up the evening by setting quick time of 13.870 seconds, just a bit faster than Jason Boyd's 13.985. There was no inversion and the field started the 100 lap finale straight-up.
Currelli led the opening lap but Boyd kept his car glued to the outside lane and had a fender in front at the end of lap two, eventually pulling out to a healthy lead as Sam Watts passed Currelli for second on lap nine.
The race continued to run under green as Watts and Tim Russell began to reel in the leader. Their momentum would be halted on lap 40 as the pair spun trying to avoid Amanda Gogel's spinning car in turn three. Both Watts and Russell were given their spots back for the restart.
Boyd, Watts and Russell continued to run in that order as caution was out again on lap 46 for a tangle between Alabama driver Cliff White and Jerry Artuso. The field re-took the green at the half-way mark with Boyd leading Watts, Russell, Currelli, Rich Clouser, Chuck Burkhalter, Kevin Ingram, White, Gogel and Artuso at the completion of fifty laps. Russell zipped past Watts for second on lap 54 as Ingram was black-flagged for his smoking car on the same lap.
Russell began to hound Boyd for the front spot but Boyd was fending off every move. The drivers had a chance to catch their breath on lap 79 as Don'l Burkhalter, Jr. slid into the turn three wall to bring out the caution.
Russell began to put heavy pressure on Boyd following the restart and finally dove underneath for the lead going into turn one on lap 88. Boyd tried to pinch Russell low in the corner but got sideways and spun with Sam Watts also getting involved. Gogel and Artuso also tangled trying to avoid the wreck in front of them.
Once the track was cleared, Russell set sail and took a relatively easy win.
Rich Clouser had been driving a heads-up race as the Series points leader coming into the event and took advantage of the other driver's mistakes to net a solid second place finish. That earned the young driver the 2005 Goodyear Challenge Series title for himself and car owner Bobby Sears.
Currelli held on for a good third place finish while Boyd raced from the back to take fourth on the final lap from Chuck Burkhalter. Rounding out the finishers were White, Gogel, Joey Strehle, Watts, Artuso, Steve Smith, Don'l Burkhalter, Jr., Ingram and Dean Ferri.
The FASCAR Pro Trucks were also on the slate and the fans would get a special treat in this one as 13 year old "Quick Kid" Chad Akins would lead the entire distance for his first ever Pro Truck win. Akins drove like a veteran holding off his "older" rival Dalton Zehr, who is the ripe-old age of 15. Because of his Quick Kid status, Akins was not eligible for the first place prize money as that transfered to Zehr, but the young man from Daytona was ecstatic with his big trophy.
Brandon Johnson claimed third spot in the truck race with Ron Gill fourth and Dennis Gardner fifth. Completing the finishers were David Hartin, Danny Foster, Jason Vail, Tommy King, Joe Hardin and Jamie Skinner.
Charlie Vest finally turned around a spate of bad luck to lead every lap and score a big win in the Sportsman class. Vest took an easy victory slowed by just two cautions for minor spins. John Hodge took a solid second over Spencer Lemmerman Timmy Todd, Jr. and Doug Samion. Gary Bierlein, Steve Elder, Joe Adams, Leanard Hearndon and Jeff Wright rounded out the top ten.
Paul Cornelius led the opening four laps of the Super Stock feature until passed by Robert Ward. Ward led two laps before he spun out handing the lead and eventual win to Roger Benton, his second of the year. 2005 Super Stock champion Jason Foster chased Benton to the checker while Sean Bass crossed the stripe third but was DQ'd in tech for weight. Kelly Jarrett moved up to third spot followed by Ron Whaley and Bobby Riley who both drove back through the field after early spins. Rounding out the top ten were Cornelius, Johnny Brown, Shain Held, Hoot Flynn, and Ward while Daniel Laszlo, Ted Head, John Guinn, James Frisbie and Ray Mullis completed the finishers.
The Mini Stock race was a weird affair. Only seven cars started and two of those were out before a lap could be completed as Bob Miller and Bob Kelchner tangled in turn one after taking the green.
Josh Hermann led every lap until the final one as he spun by himself coming off turn four. Second running Michael Seay got by Hermann and took the checker but third running Tim McPhail, driving Rex "Boneman" Hollinger's car, drilled Hermann in the driver's door. John Cook got by the two stalled cars and took second as the only other car still running. Both Hermann and McPhail were OK and scored third and fourth with Pedie Allison (who had dropped out with an engine problem) taking fifth. It was Seay's third win of the yea.
Carl Peters, Jr. and his Ford LTD led the way in Strictly Stock action, holding off Billy Hinson for the win. Anthony Robinson was third with Bill Spence and Billy Wright rounding out the top five.
