Tim Russell of Longwood wins 2nd Leg of Triple Crown and Florida State Late Model Championship at USA International
by Jane Smith
Murphy's Law was in full operation Saturday night. Justin Drawdy's dream run came down to a puddle in the pits.
It was hot, very hot, at USA International on Saturday. Hot enough that you felt the heat coming up thru your shoes. But that did not stop the twenty seven Super Late Models who came to run the Second Leg of the Triple Crown Michael Holley Chevrolet 200 and Florida State Late Model Championship race.
Twenty six car qualified during the hottest part of the day with Tim Russell of Longwood setting fast time with a 20.849. David Rogers of Longwood followed with a 20.052. Completing the top five were Jeff Scofield of Plant City with a 20.861, Justin Larson of Safety Harbor with a 20.870, and Justin Drawdy of Ft. Pierce with a 20.897. Only B.J. McLeod of Watchula was unable to qualify or race due to rear-end problems. B.J. had been one of the fastest cars in the last practice and was not happy but knows these things happen and it was better during practice than in qualifying or the race.
In all 200 laps races, the field starts straight up with Russell and Rogers on the front row.
An on-track autograph session was held followed by opening ceremonies and it was time to race.
When the green flag was shown, it was David Rogers to the point followed by Tim Russell, Jeff Scofield, Justin Larson and Wayne Anderson.
But it was a short green as the first caution of the race came out for Dwayne Dempsey of St. Petersburg who spun going down the frontstretch. Dempsey was fine but done before he even had a chance to begin.
The restart comes on lap 8 with Rogers, Russell, Scofield, Larson, Anderson, Justin Drawdy, Scotty Crockett, Ryan Sieg, and Wayne Jefferson leading the way. Scofield is looking for second but Russell holds strong keeping Scofield in third. On lap 15 Chad Pierce of Orlando gets a thrill as he goes high on the turns 1 and 2 wall but keeps the car off the wall and continues racing.
The second caution comes on lap 19 when Brock Burns and Chris Staggs get together with Burns spinning and hitting the frontstretch inside wall. Burns goes in for repairs and Staggs is sent to the rear for the restart. During the caution on lap 20, Kurt Jett must call it a night and goes into the pits with mechanical problems.
Rogers continues to lead the way over Russell, Scofield, Larson, and Anderson; Russell looks but Rogers holds and maintains the point. But it is Justin Drawdy who now is on a move to the front as he passes Anderson for 5th, Larson for fourth, and Scofield for third. Top five are now Rogers, Russell, Drawdy, Scofield and Larson. By lap 48, Drawdy is running second to Rogers.
Lap 50 sees David Pollen, Jr. go in with mechanical problems and Drawdy takes the point on lap 51. Running order now is Drawdy, Rogers, Russell, Scofield, Larson, Anderson, Sieg, Crockett, Dustin Skinner, and Travis Cope. Cope and Skinner are doing some hard side-by-side action on lap 61 when they get together on the frontstretch with Skinner spinning. Both cars are sent to the rear for the restart.
After having a great run, Scotty Crockett is seen slowing on lap 28 and the caution comes out. Crockett pits for crew attention. Drawdy continues to lead the way on the restart as Scofield tries Russell for third but Russell holds his position. Sieg and Larson are now side-by-side for fifth with Sieg taking the position and Larson settling into sixth.
At the halfway points, 100 laps, Drawdy has a good 40 car lead over the field and is sailing away. Lap 102 sees the caution come out for Dusty Cornelius who has been black flagged for leaking on the track. At this point, all but Joe Boyd and Dustin Skinner pit for gas and tires on lap 105. Lap 106 Skinner and Boyd pit also.
Lap 114 sees the restart with Drawdy on the point followed by Rogers, Russell, Cope and Larson. Larson puts the heat on Cope for fourth but Cope holds strong and keeps his position. Once again Dusty Cornelius sees the black flagged and goes in with Scotty Crockett returning for one lap before retiring his car for good on lap 129.
By lap 130 it is Drawdy, Rogers, Russell, Larson, Scofield, Cope and Brian Finney leading the way. Lap 146 sees the caution come out for Travis Towell. Drawdy holds the point on the restart on lap 150 but sees his engine blow on lap 152 ending his great night.
Lap 158 sees the restart with 13 out of 26 cars left. Rogers takes the point once again followed by Russell, Scofield, Larson and Cope. On lap 161 Scofield passes Russell and Rogers and takes over the lead. Rogers, who wants the point back, passes Russell for second and looks at Scofield.
The caution comes out on lap 195 when Dusty Skinner breaks and axle in turn 2 with his wheel flying down the track. Skinner is fine but done five laps short of the checkered flag.
On the restart, Scofield spins his tires and goes sideways bringing out the caution again. Scofield goes to the rear and David Rogers retires his car to the pits with engine problems giving the lead to Tim Russell.
Russell holds the point on the restart followed by Anderson, Cope, Scofield, Finney and Larson. Scofield passes Cope for third as Cope goes to fourth followed by Finney.
Finney puts the pressure on Cope and takes over fourth as Tim Russell takes the checkered winning the second leg of the Triple Crown and the Florida State Late Model Championship followed by Wayne Anderson, Jeff Scofield, Brian Finney and Travis Cope.
In Victory Lane, Russell celebrates his win adding his name to the list of Florida State Late Model Champions and receiving the Championship ring.
Tim Russell reaches for a drink after the grueling 200 lap race.
The third and final leg of the Triple Crown will run September 1 at USA International. For more information on the Sunoco Sunbelt Super Late Model Series go to www.fascartours.com. For more information on USA International go to www.usaspeedway.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS SECOND LEG OF TRIPLE CROWN AUGUST 4 - USA INTERNATIONAL
1. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood 2. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 3. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 4. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island, 5. #26 Travis Cope, Bronson 6. #88 Justin Larson, Safety Harbor 7. #57 Chad Pierce, Orlando 8. #94 Wayne Jefferson, Pineallas Park 9. #0 J.R. Garcia, Wimauma 10. #14 Travis Towell, Sanford 11. #00 Robert Yoho, Pinellas Park 12. #11 David Rogers, Orlando 13. #5x Dustin Skinner, Port Orange 14. #12x Justin Drawdy, Fort Pierce 15. #5 Joe Boyd, Riverview 16, #56 Chris Staggs, Clermont 17. #12 Corey Freed, Orlando 18. #22 Dusty Cornelius, Cocoa 19. #93 Ryan Sieg, Tucker, GA. 20. #28 Scotty Crockett, Land O'Lakes 21. #88x David Pollen, Jr., Tampa 22. #14x Mario Maresca, Ft. Launderdale 23. #40 Brock Burns, Winter Haven 24. #9 Kurt Jett, Orange Park 25. #4 Blake Lehr, Orlando 26. #59 Dwayne Dempsey, St. Petersburg 27. #78 B.J. McLeod, Watchula DNS
But it was a short green as the first caution of the race came out for Dwayne Dempsey of St. Petersburg who spun going down the frontstretch. Dempsey was fine but done before he even had a chance to begin.
The second caution comes on lap 19 when Brock Burns and Chris Staggs get together with Burns spinning and hitting the frontstretch inside wall. Burns goes in for repairs and Staggs is sent to the rear for the restart. During the caution on lap 20, Kurt Jett must call it a night and goes into the pits with mechanical problems.
On the restart, Scofield spins his tires and goes sideways bringing out the caution again. Scofield goes to the rear and David Rogers retires his car to the pits with engine problems giving the lead to Tim Russell.
Finney puts the pressure on Cope and takes over fourth as Tim Russell takes the checkered winning the second leg of the Triple Crown and the Florida State Late Model Championship followed by Wayne Anderson, Jeff Scofield, Brian Finney and Travis Cope.
