ARCA Awesome For Fans at USA International Speedway
By Jack Smith
In the first ever ARCA race at USA International Speedway, the only thing better for Florida fans would have been a local winner and they almost got that too. One of the largest crowds at USA in recent years witnessed some great racing by veteran and future national stars, stellar performances by some familiar faces and some not so familiar local racers.
Afternoon qualifying for the Construct Corps 250 got underway at 4:40 PM and left many fans a more than a few competitors scratching their heads after Bobby Santos III ran nearly 3/10s faster than the second fast time set by James Buescher.
Once the pre-race autographs session was concluded and the race was underway, it was clear the Bill Davis Racing Toyota under Santos was the real deal. Santos quickly pulled away from the field and set a pace no one in this field of cars could match.
Florida's Mario Gosselin and Wayne Anderson both started near the front of the 40 car field, Gosselin 4th, Anderson 6th. Behind Santos was James Buescher and Bryan Clauson, each running their first race in the ARCA series, Clauson his first stock car race period.
After the leaders pitted 87 laps into the 250 lap event, Ellenton, Florida's John Jackson found himself leading the field to the green on the lap 92 restart. Jackson had qualified 16th and was having a great run and sporting the sponsorship of Attorney James Carter for race. Jackson led several laps but by lap 100 Santos was back in command of the race and no one had a car that could outrun him.
The whole complexion of the race changed near 123 when, as the cars rounded turn two on a restart, Santos collided with Indiantown, Florida racer Patrick Sheltra's #60, ending the night for the Bill Davis entry, and opening up the field for a fight to the finish. Sheltra had been fighting to stay on the lead lap and managed to stay there all night.
Michigan driver Brian Keselowski and James Buescher out of Plano Texas took turns leading the field while Mario Gosselin put on a show, coming from the rear of the field with his #12 showing rear end damage. Damaged car or not, the popular Florida driver, who undoubtably had more laps at Lakeland than any driver in the field, flew through the field. Breaking in to the top five by lap 172 by getting by Wayne Anderson , he then passed Tim Russell, Justin South and Buescher to grab the second spot.
Gosselin was quickly catching leader Bryan Clauson when the left front tire gave out on lap 212 and even though he was able to keep the Guaranteed Concrete / James Carter Attorney #12 Chevrolet off the turn one wall, he lost a lap in the pits under the caution. Gosselin eventually finished 12th, one lap down, but he had put on a great show and made an outstanding drive to the front before the mishap with the tire. "I really hate that we didn't get a chance to battle for the lead and the win tonight in front of all our family, friends and supporters here in central Florida. I was trying to give it my best shot here at home." Gosselin said after the race.
In the remaining 38 laps the fans saw Buescher and Clauson, two seventeen year old youngster battle for the lead but sprint car standout Clauson was no match for Buescher as they came down to the last 20 laps.
Florida fans could hold out hope as the #32 and #40 battled, as veteran Wayne Anderson had his #8 McDowell Construction / Airframe International Dodge poised to grab the lead if the young guns missed a beat.
All the Florida racers finished the race except for Bill Baird of Sarasota, a former ARCA Champion driving a Dodge owned by Ken Schrader, had car problems and was out of the race after 57 laps.
Tim Russell came home 6th, a big improvement over the first race at Daytona where he suffered a horrific wreck late in the race running in the top ten. John Jackson was ecstatic over the 8th place run. Bryan Silas, Stuart, Florida finished 10th in his Nortrax / Holland Pump Chevrolet. Patrick Sheltra finished 11th ahead of Mario Gosselin, the Premiere Motorsports Chevrolet being the last car on the lead lap.
One of the most popular drivers again was Michelle Theriault, well known to USA fans from her three years on the Hooters ProCup tour, qualified 8th and suffered just enough damage to her radiator to put her out of the race. She was running 9th in her Glock sponsored Chevy at the time, 58 laps into the race. AUDIO:POST RACE INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE THERIAULT(2min)
Florida fans saw one of the best races in a long time at USA and many of them we spoke with are already talking about next year. During the drivers meeting Friday, ARCA Officials made it clear they want to make Lakeland a stop after Daytona next year, as it fits so well into their schedule.
The series is extremely attentive to detail, even taking the haulers out of the infield during the race, to give fans the best possible viewing on the 3/4 mile speedway.
Florida fans can certainly be very proud of the way the Florida drivers performed, taking four of the top ten spots and 6 of the top 12 and missed a winner by a right front tire.
For complete finishing order visit www.arcaracing.com
Gosselin was quickly catching leader Bryan Clauson when the left front tire gave out on lap 212 and even though he was able to keep the Guaranteed Concrete / James Carter Attorney #12 Chevrolet off the turn one wall, he lost a lap in the pits under the caution. Gosselin eventually finished 12th, one lap down, but he had put on a great show and made an outstanding drive to the front before the mishap with the tire. "I really hate that we didn't get a chance to battle for the lead and the win tonight in front of all our family, friends and supporters here in central Florida. I was trying to give it my best shot here at home." Gosselin said after the race.
In the remaining 38 laps the fans saw Buescher and Clauson, two seventeen year old youngster battle for the lead but sprint car standout Clauson was no match for Buescher as they came down to the last 20 laps. 
Florida fans saw one of the best races in a long time at USA and many of them we spoke with are already talking about next year. During the drivers meeting Friday, ARCA Officials made it clear they want to make Lakeland a stop after Daytona next year, as it fits so well into their schedule. 