| Can May do it AGAIN at USA and win the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 on Saturday, September 2nd | by Jane Smith
 With Ernesto slowly leaving Florida, things are looking up for this weekend's Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 at USA International Speedway. For the second time this year, the Goodyear Late Model Series will run second to the USAR Hooter's Pro Cup race on Saturday.
June 3 saw the last Goodyear race at USA with Brad May of Orlando topping the twenty nine car field. May, who knows USA well from his Hooter Cup days, will defend his win this Saturday. Coming in second to May was Jacob Warren driving for Cocoa owner Wayne and Tim Clark. Jacob, who also wheels a Super Late, won the Florida State Late Model Championship a few years back at Lakeland and knows the track well also.
Joe Winchell finished third and is the present points leader for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model series. Winchell is looking forward to Saturday and has high hopes for another good finish. Rookie Jeremy Colangelo finished fourth and will be at Lakeland on Saturday. Rich Clouser of Palm Bay drove to a fifth place finish in Bobby Sears's Late Model.
Finishing in the top ten also were Mike Franklin of High Springs, Dustin Deschamps (a rookie also) from Brooksville, Travis Cope, another rookie, from Bronson, Chuck Abell from Apopka and Red Van of Wesley Chapel. Also expected on Saturday are Steve Gill, Dean Ferri, Jeremy Goddard, Chuck Burkhalter, Troy Hall, Justin Larson, Sam Watts, Charles Kopach, A.J. Curreli, and probably a few surprise drivers along the way.
Points are tight in the Goodyear Challenge Series and with only a few races left, each lap finished means alot to the racers. Joe Winchell has taken over the lead but by only 12 points over rookie Dustin Deschamps. 2005 Champion Rich Clouser is not far behind Winchell or Deschamps with Winchell only 31 points ahead of Clouser. Points this tight will make for a thrilling end of the season.
Rookie Travis Cope, who has more wins than any other driver this year in the Goodyear Challenge, is fourth in points with 612 points. Veteran Troy Hall stands fifth and is tied for fifth with Chuck Burkhalter with both at 571 points. Completing the top ten are Justin Larson, A.J. Curreli, Greg Kaouk, and Sam Watts.
"The one thing you need at Lakeland is a good engine," said previous winner Brad May. "You need horsepower and a good handling car and we were lucky enough to have both on June 3. Lakeland is one of my favorite tracks and I am looking forward to Saturday and running."
Dr. Ali Zargaran of Pompano hopefully will have better luck this time at Lakeland. On June 3 the doctor had cleared his schedule and handled all his patients to go racing for the day. But during hot laps a bad thing happened and Zargaran was done before he began. "Racing is my relief from being a doctor and helps take away all the stress from my job. The team worked hard on the car for June 3 and it was very disappointing to us all that we could not compete."
Lakeland's USA International Speedway is the dream of every Super Late and Late Model driver in Florida. It is the biggest track in the state and definitely a challenge. Are the guys up to it, yes they are.
Qualifying for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 is at 4 pm with racing to follow the Hooter's ProCup race. For admission prices go to www.usaspeedway.com and for further information on the number one Late Model Series in the state go to www.fascar.org.
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