Cope wins 3rd Leg of Triple Crown, Russell Crowned Champion at USA International
by Jane Smith
Lakeland, Fla. - It was the third and final leg of the Triple Crown and skies were gray. Rain showers came through, the track was dried, rain showers came through again, the track was dried, and finally with dark clouds above, the cars were given one round of practice before qualifying.
After qualifying 23 Super Late Models, it was Justin Larson of Safety Harbor who topped the charts with a 20.704. The top ten were all in the 20 second bracket with Wayne Anderson, Travis Cope, Jeff Choquette, B.J. McLeod, Jay Middleton, Tim Russell, Jeff Scofield, Perry Brown, and Kurt Jett completing the top ten. With no inversion, the field was set, Larson on the pole and Anderson on the outside.
Larson quickly took the point on the green followed by Anderson, Cope, Choquette, and McLeod but by lap 5, Russell had taken over fifth with Scofield in sixth and McLeod in seventh. Anderson was on the move and although Larson tried to hold the point, he could not with Anderson taking over on lap 7.
Chad Pierce of Orlando and Scotty Crockett of Land O'Lakes had high hopes at USA but their night ended early. Pierce was forced to go in on lap 4 with Crockett on Lap 9. Way too early for a 200 lap race.
By lap 14 it was Anderson, Cope, Choquette, Larson and Scofield leading the way for the field. Scofield put pressure on Larson taking over fourth as Russell took fifth and Larson sixth. Scofield was still on the move as he passed Choquette for third. By lap 45, it was Anderson, Cope, Scofield, Russell, and Choquette.
Travis Towell and Blake Lehr at USA International Speedway
The yellow came out for the first time on lap 46 as the track was checked on track condition. The 22 of Dusty Cornelius was checked for a possible rear-end leak. Cornelius was checked, went out for a few more laps and retired on lap 52.
On the restart Anderson led the way as Cope and Scofield fought for second with Cope maintaining his position and Scofield third. Russell and Larson complete the top five followed by Kurt Jett, Brian Finney, Dwayne Dempsey, David Rogers and Justin Drawdy.
James Glover brought out the second caution as he spun going into turns 1 and 2. Glover was fine and joined the field in the rear for the restart. Anderson once again held the point on the restart followed by Cope, Scofield, Russell and Larson. Returning to the field was Blake Lehr who had gone out early with a overheating problem.
Justin Drawdy, who had traveled all night to get to USA from the rained out Blizzard race at Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, was on fire. Drawdy was making his way towards the front in fast fashion. Meanwhile Scofield passed Cope for second when the third caution came out for Jeff Choquette who spun in turns 3 and 4.
Since it was almost halfway, a number of drivers took this opportunity to pit. Larson, McLeod, Choquette, Finney, Travis Towell, Dwayne Dempsey, and Perry Brown all pit. On the restart, Anderson once again led the way over Scofield, Cope, Drawdy, and Russell. It was David Rogers who began his way to the front as he challenged Russell for fifth and took it. Meanwhile Drawdy took over third with Cope in fourth.
Lap 100 saw the yellow as Russell spun in turns 1 and 2. Seen on pit road for their pit stops were Anderson, Scofield, Russell, Rogers, Cope and Jett. Drawdy led the pack on the restart followed by Larson, Middleton, Dempsey, and Finney. Drawdy held the point until lap 114 when he found a hard charging Anderson on his tail. Anderson made the pass taking over the lead with Choquette in second, Cope in third, Drawdy in fourth and Larson in fifth.
Lehr, who had overheating problems and came back into the race, was forced to retire for the night with an overheating problem. Anderson continued to lead the way over Cope, Choquette, Larson and "Iron Man" Dwayne Dempsey. Russell and Scofield were doing some close side-by-side action as Russell took over seventh and Scofield eighth. Cope chassed Anderson for the point as B.J. MeLeod retired behind the pit wall.
By lap 133 Cope took the lead followed by Anderson, Choquette, Larson and Dempsey. Lap 140 Cope went sideways off 4 but did a great job of saving it and continued his lead. Lap 145 saw the caution for track conditions. Choquette, who also traveled all night from Five Flags Speedway in Pensacola, was pushed behind the pit wall on lap 147.
On the restart Cope continued to lead the way followed by Dempsey, Russell, Larson and Rogers. Anderson, who had been the point leader for most of the race, retired behind the pit wall on lap 152. Russell passed Dempsey for second with Larson on his coattails for third and Dempsey settled in fourth followed by Rogers. Rogers went side-by-side with Dempsey taking fourth as Dempsey slid to fifth.
With no further cautions, it was a race for the checkered. Travis Cope held on to take the win for the third and final leg of the Triple Crown followed by Tim Russell, David Rogers, Kurt Jett, and Dwayne Dempsey. Tim Russell won the Triple Crown Championship for 2007.
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The next event for the Sunoco Sunbelt Super Late Models will be September 29 at New Smyrna Speedway and the Clyde Hart Memorial 125. For more information on the Sunoco Sunbelt Super Late Model Series go to www.fascartours.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS 3RD LEG OF TRIPLE CROWN USA INTERNATIONAL - SEPT. 1, 2007
1. #26 Travis Cope, Bronson 2. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPION 3. #11 David Rogers, Orlando 4. #9 Kurt Jett, Orange Park 5. #59 Dwayne Dempsey, St. Pete 6. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 7. #12x Justin Drawdy, Ft. Pierce 8. #74 Jay Middleton, Gainesville 9. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 10. #14 Travis Towell, Sanford 11. #22x Perry Brown, Riverview 12. #88 Justin Larson, Safety Harbor 13. #12 Corey Freed, Orlando 14. #5 Joe Boyd, Riverview 15. #58 John Coffman, Live Oak 16. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 17. #70 Jeff Choquette, Loxahatchee 18. #78 B.J. McLeod, Wachula 19. #70x James Glover, Pinellas Park 20. #4 Blake Lehr, Orlando 21. #22 Dusty Cornelius, Cocoa 22. #28 Scotty Crockett, Land O' Lakes 23. #57 Chad Pierce, Orlando
Since it was almost halfway, a number of drivers took this opportunity to pit. Larson, McLeod, Choquette, Finney, Travis Towell, Dwayne Dempsey, and Perry Brown all pit. On the restart, Anderson once again led the way over Scofield, Cope, Drawdy, and Russell. It was David Rogers who began his way to the front as he challenged Russell for fifth and took it. Meanwhile Drawdy took over third with Cope in fourth.
