IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

November 6, 2007 Patrick Conrad Gets Solid Run In Sunbelt by Dave Westerman (all photos courtesy Jim Jones Photography) Blake Lehr and Ricky Charmichael race side by side After over a week of persistent rains that left the grounds soaking wet, Friday evening turned out to be dry, breezy and cool as Orlando Speedworld welcomed the Sunoco Sunbelt Super Series Super Late Models for the Orlando Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep 125. Eighteen Super Late Models signed in to do battle but just 16 were around for time trials as both Daniel Webster and Sam Watts found their cars already back in the trailer after hot laps. Blake Lehr in his Orlando Predators Arena Football League team sponsored car blistered the track with quick time at 14.010 seconds. Current Sunbelt Series point leader Tim Russell was second quick at 14.054 and Patrick Conrad tripped the clocks third quick at 14.078. The re-draw saw the top three from qualifying inverted for the start of the main event. With the track having some seepage problems, it was decided to start the cars in single-file order. That put Conrad on the pole and he made the most of it by zipping off to a comfortable lead with Russell a few car lengths back. The field continued to circulate under green until Ronnie Roach spun his mount off the back stretch on lap 26. Four laps after the green reappeared, Brock Burns spun his car coming off turn four and was hit by Travis Towell. Both cars were forced to retire. Following the restart, Conrad again pulled away as the field settled into a long green flag period that saw Lehr move in and pass Russell near mid-race. The next caution flag period didn't occur until lap 77 as Roach spun a second time on the back stretch. The caution would prove Lehr's undoing as his car suddenly began to slow and he began dropping back through the field. Conrad continued to lead easily as the next caution period (for debris on the front stretch) would not take place until there were five laps to go. Patrick Conrad Held off Tim Russell To pick up big Sunbelt Win Conrad had no trouble holding off the field during the final quintet of laps for a wire to wire victory and his first career Sunbelt Series win. Russell claimed the second position while Dusty Cornelius was third for a career best Sunbelt finish. James Powell III ran fifth Brian Finney drove home in fourth with James Powell III in fifth. Completing the top ten were Ricky Carmichael, Joe Winchell, Chad Pierce, Corey Freed and Lehr. Rounding out the finishers were Ricky Moxley, Roach, Towell, Burns, Vince Keeler and Russ Shaw. 2007 point champion Shain Held lapped all but second place Mark Emberson in winning the Modified feature. Held drove away from the drop of the green to top Emberson, Art Kunzeman, Chris Smyth, Randy Froelich, Terri Bryant and Andy Saffiotti. Andy Nicholls had a good sized lead in the Sportsman feature but lost a right front wheel going into turn one on lap five and pounded the wall. Nicholls wasn't injured but his car was a mess. Henry Shepherd took over the lead at that point and raced to his first win of the year holding off a late charge by both Jason Foster and Jeff Wright who settled for second and third. Timmy Todd, Jr. came home fourth trailed by Jessie Cuddy, Pete Starr, Brett Woodley, Nicholls, Mike Santana and Whitney Poole. --Advertisement-- When John Hodge's car stalled while leading during a caution period, Bobby Riley took over and sped to the Super Stock feature win. Lee Wagner held off Justin Reynolds for second while Mike Mattarazzo was fourth and Chad Pierce fifth in a "guest" run in Greg Froelich's new car. The rest of the top ten consisted of Jeff Parrish, Dennis Snyder, Nathan Haystead, Alaine Grogan and Austin Carr. Twenty-two cars started. --Advertisement-- Pedie Allison jumped out to the lead at the drop of the green and never looked back as he claimed yet another Mini Stock feature win. R.J. Arnone finished a distant second ahead of Bob Miller, John Cook, Emily Cottrell, David Russell and Dick Laszlo. Todd McCreary started near the rear of the grid but had no problem driving to the front to claim the Action Gator Tire Strictly Stock win. David Leeper II grabbed the second spot ahead of Glenn Rhodes, Neal Kirby and Billy Rouse. Shane Sutorus, Mike Dresch, Devon Cuddy, Richard Barrenechea and Ian Rhodes rounded out the top ten. Jeff Cuddy won his third straight Palm tree Computers Junior Stock feature coming back from an early race spin to do so. second spot went to Dylan Curtis in front of Wes Railing, Jr., Brandon Henault, Carl Kwasny, Jr. and Derek Binda. OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD NOVEMBER 2, 2007 Orlando Dodge Sunbelt 125 1. #2 Patrick Conrad, Clermont 2. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood 3. #22 Dusty Cornelius, Cocoa 4. #22 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 5. #77 James Powell, III., Astor 6. #4X Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee 7. #64 Joe Winchell, Dade City 8. #57 Chad Pierce, Orlando 9. #12 Corey Freed, Orlando 10. #4 Blake Lehr, Orlando 11. #30 Ricky Moxley, West Palm Beach 12. #14x Ronnie Roach, Orlando 13. #7 Vince Keeler, Sebastian 14. #68 Russ Shaw, Lakeland 15. #40 Brock Burns, Auburndale 16. #16 Travis Towell, Sanford FAST QUALIFIER: #4 Blake Lehr, Orlando TOP ROOKIE: #22 Dusty Cornelius STRICTLY STOCK 1. #77 Todd McCreary 2. #D2 David Leeper 3. #63 Glen Rhodes 4. #8 Neal Kirby 5. #18 Billy Rouse 6. #3-15 Shane Sotorus 7. #54 Mike Dresch 8. #4 Devon Cuddy 9. #20x Richard Barrenches 10. #7 Blaize Fisher 11. #6 Mark Walls 12. #36 Ian Rhodes 13. #24 Brenda Taylor 14. #4U Greg Bruce 15. #76 Gary Thomas 16. #A1 Rob Reynolds 17. #8B Greg Bruce Jr. SPORTSMAN 1. #11 Henry Shephard 2. #49 Jason Foster 3. #50 Jeff Wright 4. #25 Timmy Todd, Jr. 5. #64 Jessie Cuddy 6. #95 Pete Starr 7. #66 Andy Nicholls 8. #99 Brett Woodley 9. #151 Mike Santana 10. #00 Whitney Poole MINI STOCK 1. #92 Pedie Allison 2. #30 R.J. Arnone 3. #02 Bob Miller 4 #24 John Cook 5. #19 Emily Cottrell 6,. #31 David Russell 7. #07 Dick Laszlo 8. #07 Steve Wagner DNS JR. STOCK 12-15 1. #64 Jeff Cuddy 2. #51 Wes Railing 3. #88x Brandon Henault 4. #88 Carl Kwasny JR. STOCK 8 - 11 1. #6 Dylan Curtis 2. #27 Derek Binda SUPER STOCK 1. #52 Bobby Riley 2. #74 Lee Wagner 3. #77 Justin Reynolds 4. #845 Michael Matarazzo 5. #1 Chad Pierce 6. #05 Jeff Parrish 7. #11 Dennis Snyder 8. #72 Nathan Haystead 9. #29 Alain Grogan 10. #25 Austin Carr 11. #3 James Frisbie 12. #78 Robert Geyer 13. #721 John Bennett 14. #14 Roger Benton 15. #55 Denny Johns 16. #00 John Hodge 17. #40 Bob Starr 18. #16 Darren Gould 19. #316 Ray Mullis OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED 1. #55 Shain Held 2. #30 Mark Emberson 3. #9x Art Kunzeman 4. #07 Chris Smith 5. #8 Randy Froehlich 6. #08 Terri Bryant 7. #1 Andy Saffotti Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on The Real Racin USA Florida Fan Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!