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| Darren Gould and Richard HIght First Time Winners at Orlando SpeedWorld | by Jane Smith
Bithlo, Fla - With only one more night of regular
racing in the 2002 point season at Orlando SpeedWorld,
the action is getting hotter and hotter. A little
more bumping, a little more grinding, who will win
the championships??
Bandoleros saw Troy Atkins win not only the heat race
but the feature race. Atkins sat on the pole an led
every lap in spite of several cautions that tightened
the field.
Before the first lap was down in the books, Derrick
Wood and Chris Staggs got together in turn 2. Staggs
was able to continue but Wood was done for the night
walking off the track with a very disappointed and
disgusted look on his face shaking his hands at
Skaggs.
But only a few short laps later, it was Staggs being
towed off the track as he tangled with Dalton Zehr.
Staggs night was done. Atkins went on to take the
checkers followed by Jessica Murphy, Chad Atkins,
Ryan Russ, Brandon Thomson, Dalton Zehr, and Jarrett.
In one of the tightest point races, Bobby Orr is
leading 2001 Champion Tim "Missileman" McPhail. Orr,
who had problems with his car during practice, seemed
to have worked out his difficulties as he won not
only the heat but the feature race.
Orr, who sat on the pole, jumped to the lead on the
green. McPhail followed in pursuit but his car
seemed to slow as Dick Laszlo took away McPhail's
second place spot. Last week's winner Sean Bass saw
that McPhail was having problems and he also took
advantage of the ill running car taking third and
putting McPhail fourth.
Orr took the checkers followed by Dick Laszlo, Sean
Bass, Tim "Missileman" McPhail, Pedie Allison (in his
return to the Mini Stock class) and Bo Davis.
Wes Haigh sat on the pole for the Open Wheel Modifieds
feature race but it was Darren Gould who jumped to
the lead and never looked back. Gould has worked
long and hard to get his modified where it could win
and Friday night at Orlando SpeedWorld, it was
finally Gould's night.
Before one lap was down in the books, Skip Honaker
and Frank Polly tangled in turn 4. Both drivers were
fine but their cars wee done for the night. The
race was red flagged for track clean-up. A complete
restart was in order.
On the restart, Gould once again took the point. With
only one more caution, for Wes Haigh's spin, Gould kept
his cool in spite of John Foreg on his tail.
Jason Boyd returned to Orlando SpeedWorld last weekend
from his successful run in the ASA series to his Open
Wheel Modified. Boyd tried everything but could
not catch Gould.
Following Gould across the checkers for his first
Modified win was John Foreg, Rob Underwood, Jason Boyd,
Dave Debelius, Bobby Blake, Shane Held, Wes Haigh,
Glenn Bradley and Dink Sullivan.
Frank Polly and John Foerg were the heat winners for
the Open Wheel Modifieds.
Richard Hight sat on the pole for the Sportsman feature
race and lead from green to checkers taking his first
win of the season. Scott Stone, Danny Shearer, and
Dave Denyer got together coming off turn one with
Denyer hard into the wall. Luckily none of the three
drivers were hurt but their cars were done for the
night.
On the restart, Hight held the point with his brother
Roberg Hight behind him. But it was not Robert
Hight's night as he had to retire to the pits.
Paul Colgan made some very good moves and worked his
way into second over point leader Kelly Jarrett.
Following Hight to his first win was Paul Colgan,
Rick Johns, Kelly Jarrett, Earl Beckner, Bruce Gayton,
and Bill Hall.
Mike Murphy sat on the pole for the Super Late Model
feature event and never looked back. Rick Wood
followed Murphy in second but it was point leader
Jared Allison who was able to pass Wood and take over
the second spot.
Ronnie Roach brought out the only caution of the
race when he spun out. Roach is running a close second
in points to Allison. Roach was sent to the rear and
the race was restarted.
On the restart, Murphy stretched his lead over Allison
and took the checkers. Following Murphy was Jared
Allison, Ricky Wood, Eric Deffendal, Mack Hanbury,
Ronnie Roach, Mark Emberson, Russ Thomson, Greg Brooks,
and Bobby Fleckenger.
Jared Allison won the heat race.
Jeff Wright, second in points in the Super Stock
division, lost his car in hot laps. Duane Freed, not
running for points gave his #11 Super Stock to Wright
for the night. On the pole for the feature event was
Bob Beiler who was able to grab the lead over Bobby
Simcox, Cory Freed, Billy Cuddy, and Doug Gould.
Simcox brought out the caution as he spun in turns l
and 1. John Hodge spun avoiding Simcox. Simcox
throught his rear end had broken but pulled into the
pits, ehecked his car, and saw that his rear end was
fine but the track had oil or water on it. Simcox
went to the rear of the field for the restart.
On the restart Beiler still held the lead but coming
up was Rich Clouser, last week's winner. Clouser and
Beiler went side-by-side, door-to-door until Clouser
inched his way in front of Beiler.
On the last lap coming to the checkers, Beiler was
tapped from behind losing his second place spot
with alot of banging and bumping behind him.
Clouser took the checkers followed by Cory Freed,
Bob Beiler, Doug Gould, Jeff Wright, Bobby Simcox,
Bill Loomis and John Hodge.
Cory Freed won the heat race.
Williams Hindman sat on the pole for the 25 lap
feature event for the Strictly Stocks. But it was
Jim Leslie who led the way to the checkers. Follow-
ing Leslie across the stripe was Jim Messenger,
Robert Ward, #2, Roger Benton, Tim Edmundson, Faris
Crews and William Hindman.
Next Friday night 11/08, Orlando SpeedWorld will be
closed due to the Governor's Cup 200 at New Smyrna
Speedway. On Friday, November 15th, Orlando Speed-
World will end the 2002 Points Season with plenty
of last minute action for the fans with heats and
features in all divisions.
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