Mike Fritts Breezes To Sunbelt Bright House 125 Win At Lakeland
by Jane Smith
The only time anyone was close to the #127 of Mike Fritts was on restarts.
Lakeland, Fla. (April 29, 2006) On a cloudy but warm afternoon, twenty six Super Late Models qualified for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Bright House 125. But it was Mike Fritts of Debary who topped the field and luckily pulled the 0 pill starting the field straight up.
Fritts, who recently lost his uncle and his father, raced with a heavy heart but with two special angels in his car for his first race back after his family losses. Those two angels were definitely watching over Mike Fritts as he walked away from the field to take the win for his uncle and his dad.
After an on-track autograph session and opening ceremonies, it was time to race. And that is exactly what they did, race. On the green Fritts took off like lightning with Jeff Scofield, Jason Boyd, Jeff Choquette and Wayne Jefferson in tow. Fritts and Scofield quickly pulled away from the pack racing just the two of them up front.
On lap 9, we lost the first racer, Fain Skinner, to a bent valve. Skinner, who won the 200 lap Florida Late Model Championship was not prepared for his new motor to suffer a bent valve but when that happens, all you can do is retire to the pits. On lap 18, it was James Glover retiring to the pits leaving twenty four cars in the field.
The first caution came out for a spin on the frontstretch on lap 21 with the field going back green on lap 25 as Fritts led the way for Scofield, Boyd, Choquette, and Joe Boyd. On lap 25, Jared Allison left the field for a flat tire but decided he lost too many laps on pit road and retired his car for the night. By lap 27, it was Fritts, Scofield, Boyd, Choquette, Boyd, B.J. McLeod, Tim Russell, Mike Good, Wayne Anderson and Mac Johnson leading the way.
Lap 30 was not good for Mike Bresnahan as he and Preson Peiltier got together on the backstretch. Peiltier was able to drive away and continue racing, Bresnahan was not so lucky being towed into the pits and done for the night. The race goes back green on lap 34 with twenty two cars in the field. Tim Russell takes over fifth from Joe Boyd and now enters the top five.
Sean Murphy brings out the next caution on lap 40 as he goes around sideways in turn 4 as Bobby Owens and Mike Good spin avoiding Murphy. All cars are fine and restart the race in the rear of the field. Lap 45 sees the restart as Fritts shows the way for Scofield, Choquette, Russell and Jason Boyd. Russell is on the move and passes Choquette taking over third as Choquette settles into fourth. Just as things are getting tight, the caution comes out for Scott Millar who makes contact with another car spinning himself out. Millar is fine and rejoins the rear of the field for the restart.
Jason Boyd takes advantage of the caution and takes a quick ride down pit road for some crew attention as his car seems to be slipping backwards. Boyd rejoins the field on the green on lap 50. The new top five are Fritts, Scofield, Russell, Choquette and B.J. McLeod. By lap 52, McLeod has passed Choquette and takes over fourth as Choquette goes to fifth. But just as McLeod is on the move, the caution comes out for three cars who have spun in turns 1 and 2. The race sees green again on lap 62.
Fritts basically by now has just pulled away from everyone seemingly like he is on a Sunday drive around the park. In the meantime David Rogers is on the move looking high and low around Brian Finney. Finney, who is running ninth, tries but cannot hold back Rogers as Rogers takes over ninth and Finney goes to tenth. After qualifying in the top five and overcoming a broken rear-end before qualifying, Wayne Jefferson is forced to retire to the pits with mechanical problems. A good run for Jefferson has ended.
With no more cautions, it is now a race to see if anyone can catch Mike Fritts. Scofield develops problems and must retire from the race as Tim Russell goes to second, B.J. McLeod to third, Choquette fourth and Joe Boyd fifth. On the move from the rear of the field is Jason Boyd who is charging like a tiger.
After running in the top five and looking to have a very good finish, B.J. McLeod retires to the pits with a dead battery. B.J. was on the move but no one can do anything when a battery dies. Choquette takes over third as McLeod is out followed by David Rogers and Joe Boyd.
David Rogers is now on his mission as he moves into second and sets his sight on Fritts. Choquette takes over third from Russell but watch out boys, here comes Jason Boyd. It does not take Boyd long before he is right behind Choquette in fourth and right in front of Russell in fifth. Russell seems to have run out of some steam and cannot repass Boyd for fourth.
Fritts takes the checkered followed by David Rogers, Jeff Choquette, Jason Boyd, and Tim Russell. All cars pass tech and Mike Fritts wins the race for his uncle and dad.
The next race for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series is May 19 at Orlando SpeedWorld for the City Beverage/Budweiser Sunbelt 125. For more information about the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series go to www.fascar.org.
Sunbelt Super Late Model 125: 1. #127 Mike Fritts, Debary 2. #11 David Rogers, Orlando 3. #70 Jeff Choquette, Loxatchee 4. #15 Jason Boyd, Orlando 5. #35 Tim Russell, Longwood 6. #51 Joe Boyd, Riverview 7. #5x Prestono Peiltier, Concord, NC 8. #5 Jerry Artuso, Sault Saint Marie,.CA 9. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 10. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont 11. #47 Chris Fontaine, Auburndale 12. #20 Scott Millar, Ocala 13. #27 Mike Good, Lake Mary 14. #0 Rich Pratt, Anthony 15. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 16. #6 Mac Johnson, Newberry 17. #07x Troy McNabb, Naples 18. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 19. #78 B.J. McLeod, Watchula 20. #32 Sean Murphy, Ft. Lauderdale 21. #94 Wayne Jefferson, St. Petesburg 22. #08 Bobby Owens, Olrando 23. #3 Mike Bresnahan, Lecanto 24. #18 Jared Allison, Cocoa 25. #70x James Glover, Pinellas Park 26. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oak
FAST QUALIFIER: #127 Mike Fritts TOP ROOKIE: #36 Tim Russell HARD CHARGER: #5 Jerry Artuso
