Tim Russell Gets First Super Late Model Win to Cap Big Weekend
by Jack Smith
FASCAR owner Robert Hart with Tim Russell in Winners Cirle
Tim Russell made his ARCA debut Saturday in Kansas City driving the Hagans Racing #9 Dodge sponsored by Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters. Russell started 20th in the 40 car field and finished a solid 15th at the 1.5 mile Kansas Speedway.
To complete his racing weekend, Tim immediately got on a plane to get to New Smyrna Speedway to compete in the Clyde Hart Memorial 200.
Russell qualified in the third spot which left him starting behind pole sitter Mike Fritts and number two qualifier Jeff Scofield with seventeen more super late models behind him. The twenty car field had at least 15-16 drivers capable of winning at New Smyrna, especially in what promised to be a 200 lap slugfest for $10,000 to the winner and $100 per lap lead.
Russell explained his strategy before the race, "We only had a total of about 15 laps on the track today, and wasn't quite sure what the rain was going to do for a while. I'm very happy we got our car into the third qualifying spot and Mike (Fritts) is going to be tough for the race, and Scofield and Boyd are tough so we will have to settle in and ride for a little bit. It's a long race and we need to save our stuff for the end of the race."
He did indeed save his "stuff" for the end of the race. With 30 laps left and running in second Tim Russell got by Jeff Choquette for the lead and held off very tough challenges by both Wayne Anderson and Mike Fritts for his first Super Late Model win.
After taking a victory lap around the 1/2 mile at New Smyrna the popular Russell was mobbed in the Winners Circle by his many fans, friends and crew. FASCAR Sunbelt announcer John Berti interviewed Russell with the driver surrounded by television cameras, media and supporters, "This just tops off the weekend, we had an awesome run out there in Kansas and to come here and win and to know we beat a lot of really good guys here tonight, and had fun doing it. It was my first super late model win and it's a blast. We'll be celebrating all night long.
Runner up Mike Fritts led the first 102 laps and just didn't the car in the end to get by Russell, saying after the race "he ran a heck of a race and he deserved to win it". Fritts noted that he wished he hadn't changed tires, as the second set did not work well. Fritts was just not as quick off the corners during the second half of the race.
Travis Kittleson , another popular veteran of FASCAR racing brought home the Steele Chevrolet number 88 third. "We had a little tough time with the car at the beginning of the night, Kittleson said, "it was really loose and then we made a pit stop and went to the other side and got a little too tight". He concluded, "I'm just happy to finish third and we got it here somewhat in one piece".
One driver who didn't get his machine home in one piece was FASCAR veteran David Rogers. Rogers took a wicked ride into the turn three wall late in the race. Rogers was shaken but not injured in a very scared collision with concrete.
Photo gallery for the Clyde Hart Memorial 200 is available at this link: Photo Gallery. For more on the Sunbelt Series be sure to visit the FASCAR web site at www.fascar.org
Tim Russell has two more ARCA races this year and is working on a full time race deal with ARCA for 2007. He will be running the FASCAR Sunbelt Series as much as he can work it in during the remainder of 2006.
OFFICIAL RESULTS CLYDE HART MEMORIAL 200
1. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood 2. #27 Mike Fritts, Debary 3. #88 Travis Kittleson, Merritt Island 4. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 5. #3 Mike Bresnahan, Lecanto 6. #5 Jerry Artuso, Sault Saint Marie, CA 7. #0 Rich Pratt, Anthony 8. #70 Jeff Choquette, Loxatchee 9. #11 David Rogers, Longwood 10. #4 Blake Lehr, Orlando 11. #78 B.J. McLeod, Wachula 12. #1 Fain Skinner, Like Oak 13. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont 14. #20 Scott Millar, Ocala 15. #47 Chris Fontaine, Auburndale 16. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 17. #12 Justin Drawdy, Fort Pierce 18. #57 Chad Pierce, Orlando 19. #15 Jason Boyd, Orlando 20. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City DQ'D
FAST QUALIFIER: #27 Mike Fritts TOP ROOKIE: #36 Tim Russell HARD CHARGER: #84 Wayne Anderson
