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| Kittleson Grabs Third Sunbelt Late Model Win | By John Barker
BITHLO, FLORIDA - Travis Kittleson had just too much when it counted and won the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Series 125 Friday night at Orlando Speedworld with room to spare, picking up his third 2002 series victory.
“Justin (Drawdy) is a real good friend and I wanted to race him as clean as possible,” said Kittleson about Drawdy, who led for the first 97 circuits as Kittleson worked on many race chances to pass.
Kittleson of Merritt Island, FL, driving the Bob Steele Chevrolet ride took the point in lap 97 on the outside when race leader Justin Drawdy of Ft. Pierce, FL in the Drawdy Brothers Construction car appeared to slow on the front straightaway and never came to full power.
“I think he (Drawdy) missed a shift coming out of four and I just passed him and we put our car in cruise control,” continued Kittleson, also an ASA driver.
“It’s too bad Dick Anderson broke. It would have been fun to get racing with him. I think we had the car to beat,” Kittleson went on to say.
FASCAR rookie driver Aric Almirola of Tampa, FL set fast time in a 28 car qualifying field of drivers in his R&S Auto car, turning the three-eighths mile Orlando track with a second lap qualifying time of 13.689 seconds or a speed of 98.62 mph. Almirola finished 21st.
Almirola drew number five for inversion putting Drawdy on the pole. The pole sitter held the lead for 97 circuits, but would finish 16th after slamming into the turn three wall with an apparent tire going down in lap 108 while running third.
FASCAR point leader Dick Anderson of Wildwood, FL was able to only complete 12 laps before succumbing to rear end problems in the Jimmy Harris #00 owned ride.
Drawdy was quick enough, but looked as though he was having problems in turn two, but was still able to control the lead with a hard pressuring Kittleson in hot pursuit beginning in lap 13.
A tough second place finishing Michael Williams of Mims, FL, driving the South 40 Motorsports machine raced under some obvious pain in what appeared to be a broken hand suffered during a race caution.
“The car picked up a push in the center and then it started getting loose,” said Williams. “Then I started driving harder to keep in front of Rogers. We had a good car and I’m glad to finish second with the car pretty much in one piece.”
In post race tech Williams hand was wrapped in an ice pack following the steering wheel ripping from his hand during the caution incident.
David Rogers of Orlando, FL failed to turn a qualifying lap after his TM Ranch Dodge had a battery explode prior to qualifying. Rogers started in the rear and rocketed to a strong third place finish.
“We just kind of picked our way through,” said Rogers. “I knew there would be a lot of cautions and I had to miss them to finish. When we got up with the cars we should have been racing to start with we had a car to compete.”
Williams moved to second in lap 114 following the departure of Drawdy, but his racing work was cut out for him as Rogers hounded him toughly for the second spot, but Williams never wavered even as right side sheet metal on his car flapped in the breeze.
Kittleson crossed the stripe followed by Williams and Rogers.
Rounding out the top five were Jacob Warren of Orlando, FL and Jimmy Cope of Pinellas Park, FL.
The next FASCAR Sunbelt Super Series will be at Sebring International Raceway Sept. 28 and 29. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION
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