"I'm
noticing a turn of the tide on racing Web sites like Florida's
Karnac.com, the gathering place for the most dedicated race
fans in the state."
-Orlando Sentinel
David Rogers takes FINAL Checkered Flag at USA International
by Jane Smith
Lakeland, FL (August 3, 2008) Some came because they love Lakeland, others came because they wanted to race Lakeland one last time, and a few just wanted to say they had raced at USA International on it's closing night.
Saturday was a typical day at USA International for late summer - HOT. A few dark clouds brought a short cool breeze but no rain as fans and racers faced the heat one last time at USA International. It was a good day and a sad day for everyone.
Thirty two Super Late Models qualified for the last time at USA. Tim Russell of Longwood set fast time with a 20.931 lap followed by Jeff Scofeld of Plant City with a 21.073, Travis Cope of Hernando Beach with a 21.075, Matt Bowers of Mt. Dora with a 21.085 and Jeremy Colangelo of Deland with a 21.125. All five cars passed tech with Russell drawing the number 3 pill for the inversion putting Travis Cope on the pole for the 125 lap event.
Fans came down from the grandstands one last time as the Noritz/Tempaco Sunbelt Super Late Model drivers and Advance Auto Parts Pro Trucks signed autographs for the final race at USA. After opening ceremonies, it was time to go racing.
As the green flag waved, it was Jeff Scofield to the point followed by Travis Cope, Tim Russell, Matt Bowers, Jeremy Colangelo, B.J. McLeod, Wayne Anderson, Justin Drawdy, Billy Mowery, and Jay Middleton. On lap 5, the first yellow comes out for Dusty Cornelius who spins in turns 1 and 2. Cornelius goes down pit road for some crew attention along with the car of John Jackson. Cornelius rejoins the group in the rear for the restart.
The race goes back green on lap 9 as Scofield once again leads the way over Cope, Russell, Bowers and Colangelo. But it is a very short two laps before the yellow comes out again for Doug Elliott who spins on the backstretch. Cornelius takes this opportunity to go back to pit road as John Jackson returns to the race from lap 5. Elliott retires to the pits as Jackson and Cornelius rejoin the field in the rear for the restart on lap 15.
Scofield once again leads the field followed by Cope, Russell, Colangelo, and Bowers. Russell puts the heat on Cope and takes over second as Cope goes to third. Russell now sets his eyes on Scofield and by lap 22, Russell takes over the lead. By lap 25, Bowers and Colangelo are going hard and heavy as they use to do in their old Legend cars when they began their racing careers. Bowers holds on to his spot as Colangelo slides backwards to tenth. It is now Russell, Scofield, Cope, Bowers, McLeod, Anderson, Drawdy, Middleton, Mowery and Colangelo leading the pack.
Just as it is getting really hot, the caution comes out on lap 28 for Koot Sapp who spins down the frontstretch hitting the wall hard with his rear-end. Sapps takes the car to pit road where his crew goes to work on fixing the rear-end. Colangelo also takes his car to pit road for some crew attention. Both cars return to the race in the rear.
On the restart on lap 31, Scofield's car just does not go as he watches the race continue on with Russell, Cope, Bowers, McLeod, and Anderson in the top five. Scofield takes the car to pit road and sees his night end on lap 32. Lap 33 sees the caution come out for John Coffman who spins in turns 1 and 2. On the restart, it is Russell, Cope, Bowers, McLeod, Anderson, Drawdy, Middleton, Mowery, Dempsey, and Finney in the top ten. James Carter is off the pace and slowly takes his car back into the pits also done for the night.
Finney puts the heat on Dempsey on lap 41 and takes over ninth as Dempsey slides to tenth. Lap 42 sees B.J. McLeod in trouble as he takes his car to pit road also done for the night after running in the top five. Leaders now are Russell, Cope, Bowers, Anderson, Drawdy, Middleton, Mowery, Finney, Dempsey and David Rogers. Middleton and Drawdy are now giving the fans some very intense side-by-side action as Chet Morrison goes up in smoke on lap 46. The yellow comes out to check the track for oil as John Coffman has problems and is pushed into the pits on the caution also done for the night.
The green is shown again on lap 51 as Russell leads the way over Cope, Bowers, Anderson and Drawdy. Jeremy Colangelo has now made it apparent that his car is fixed from his early pit stop and is working his way back towards the front. Drawdy passes Anderson for fourth as Finney passes Mowery for seventh.
Lap 60 sees Kevin Finney take his ride into the pits, done for the night. Kevin is Brian Finney's younger brother and big brother Brian gave his his backup car to him so he could always say he ran at USA International although Brian decided not to put Kevin's name on the car until he saw how younger brother did in it. Personally, Kevin did a fantastic job for his first time and deserves to have his name on the car if he should ever drive the back-up car again.
Middleton now puts pressure on Anderson and takes over fifth. Running order is now Russell, Cope, Bowers, Drawdy and Middleton. Drawdy puts the heat on Bowers and by lap 64, Drawdy is third. Lap 65 Bowers spins on the backstetch and the caution comes out. Bowers rejoins the field in the rear for the restart.
Lap 68 sees the green once again as Russell leads the way over Cope, Drawdy, Middleton, Anderson, Finney, Mowery, Rogers, David Wilson, Jeremy Colangelo and Dwayne Dempsey. Middleton puts the pressure on Drawdy and takes over third as Drawdy settles into fourth. Brad Bischoff now has problems and retires to the pits, done for the night. Lap 81 finds Finney and Anderson side-by-side as Anderson holds his position. Colangelo passes Rogers and takes over 8th. The caution comes out on lap 84 for Corey Freed who spun all by himself in turns 1 and 2. Freed rejoins the field in the rear.
Russell leads the way on lap 88 for the restart followed by Cope, Middleton, Drawdy, Anderson, Finney, Mowery, Colangelo, Rogers, Wilson, Dempsey and David Pollen, Jr. Middleton takes over second as Cope goes to third. Lap 93 it is Russell, Middleton, Cope, Drawdy, Anderson, Rogers, Mowery, Colangelo, Finney and Wilson. David Pollen, Jr. pulls off on lap 94 also done for the night. Lap 99, the yellow comes out for debris on the track . On lap 100, there are 20 cars left out of the 32 car field.
102 sees the restart as Russell leads the way over Middleton, Cope, Drawdy, and Rogers. Drawdy and Rogers are doing some great side-by-side action as Middleton and Russell go side-by-side for the lead. Lap 106, Russell and Middleton are doing some hard racing as they touch on the backstretch with Russell going into the backstretch wall and Middleton being sent to the rear. Middleton does not believe he is at fault and choses to take his ride in for the night. Tempers flare alittle in the pits but are shortly cooled down as Russell's car is towed into the pits.
On the restart on lap 112, Drawdy's luck is gone as his car breaks down and he is out of the race. Eighteen cars are left with new leader David Rogers leading the way over Cope, Mowery, Colangelo, Anderson, Finney, Wilson, Dempsey, Daniel Webster, and Travis Towell. Colangelo passes Mowery for third as Mowery goes to fourth. The caution comes out on lap 119 for Dusty Cornelius, Chris Staggs, and Corey Freed who have all tangled on the backstretch. Twelve cars are left for the restart.
Rogers leads the way on the restart followed by Cope, Colangelo, Anderson, Mowery, and Finney.
Colangelo makes one final move passing Cope for second as the checkered flag is in site. On the white flag lap, Daniel Webster spins coming down the frontstretch hitting the inside retaining wall. Rogers takes the checkered for his first and final win at USA International followed by Jeremy Colangelo, Travis Cope, Billy Mowery, and Wayne Anderson. Completing the top ten are Brian Finney, David Wilson, Dwayne Dempsey, Travis Towell, and Tuffy Hester.
Beginnings are always happy, endings are sad. Rogers was happy and sad as he and his pit crew bent down and kissed the finishing line at USA International and said goodbye for the last time.
OFFICIAL RESULTS NORITZ/TEMPACO SUNBELT 125 USA INTERNATIONAL - AUGUST 2, 2008
1. #11 David Rogers, Orlando 2. #05 Jeremy Colangelo, Deland 3. #26 Travis Cope, Hernando Beach 4. #55 Billy Mowery, Clearwater 5 #92 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 6. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 7. #83 David Wilson, Sarasota 8. #39 Dwayne Dempsey, St. Pete 9. #14 Travis Towell, Sanford 10. #77 Tuffy Hester, Lakeland 11. #84x Matt Bowers, Mt. Dora 12. #1x Daniel Webster, Brooksville 13. #22 Dusty Cornelius, Cocoa 14. #56 Chris Staggs, Clermont 15. #12 Corey Freed, Orlando 16. #158 Kevin Bayless 17. #1 John Jackson, Ellenton 18. #36 Tim Russell, Longwood 19. #74 Jay Middleton, Lake City 20. #12x Justin Drawdy, Ft. Pierce 21. #88x David Pollen, Jr., Tampa 22. #44 Koot Sapp, Plant City 23. #53 Brad Bischoff, Myakka 24. #180 Kevin Finney, Concord, NC 25. #86 Chet Morrison, Homa, LA 26. #58 John Coffman, Live Oak 27. #78 B.J. McLeod, Wachula 28. #21 James Carter, Bradneton 29. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 30. #56X Mike Staggs, Clermont 31. #24 Doug Elliott, Port Orange 32. #81 Anthony Campi, Sarasota DNS
On the restart on lap 112, Drawdy's luck is gone as his car breaks down and he is out of the race. Eighteen cars are left with new leader David Rogers leading the way over Cope, Mowery, Colangelo, Anderson, Finney, Wilson, Dempsey, Daniel Webster, and Travis Towell. Colangelo passes Mowery for third as Mowery goes to fourth. The caution comes out on lap 119 for Dusty Cornelius, Chris Staggs, and Corey Freed who have all tangled on the backstretch. Twelve cars are left for the restart.
