Jerry Symons Wins Pro Modified at New Smyrna Speedway
by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla (August 2, 2003) Rain seemed to be all around the track but only a few light sprinkles fell on New Smyrna Speedway. But with the threatening weather, heat races were dropped for the night and features only were run.
Thirteen mods qualified for the Joe Middleton Memorial Pro Mod race. Due to the end of summer and school beginning shortly, alot of the regular Pro Mod drivers were on vacation thus the small field. But the ones who came, put on a great show. D. J. Hoelzle of Dunedin, Florida set fast time with a 18.724 followed by Jerry Symons with a 18.856. But it was Larry Osteen who sat on the pole for the 50 lap event.
Before the race could even begin good, the yellow was flown for Alan McCafferty and Mark Vandevender and Larry Osteen who had all tangled in turns 1 and 2. Both McCafferty and Vandevender were done for the night with both being taken in on the hook. Osteen was able to make repairs and return to the track. Jim "Hoot" Flynn also had problems with his No. 57 mod but was also able to return to racing.
On the restart, it was Jerry Symons, Tank Tucker, Jason Boyd, D.J. Hoelzle, and Skip Honaker in the top five. By lap 2, Hoelzle had moved into third putting Boyd fourth.
Lap 9 saw Brad May off the track as Symons lead the way, Hoelzle had worked his way to second followed by Boyd, Tucker and Honaker.
On lap 12, Hoelzle was going down the backstretch when a lap car suddenly jumped into his path. With no where to go, Hoelzle hit the wall. Hoelzle was fine but his No. 8 was done for the night and his hopes for taking over the points lead in the Pro Mod series.
On the restart, it was Symons, Boyd, Tucker, Osteen, and Honaker. On lap 31, Osteen suddenly slows on the backstretch coming over turns 1 and 2 and goes into the back pit entrance, also done for the night.
No more cautions it was Jason Boyd trying to pass Jerry Symons but just could not get up the steam. Symons took the checkered followed by Jason Boyd, Tank Tucker, Skip Honaker, and Jim "Hoot" Flynn.
The Super Late Models ran twenty five caution free laps with B.J. McLeod leading from green to checkered. This was B.J.'s second win at New Smyrna Speedway in the 2003 season.
David Rogers and Wayne Parker did some great side-by-side action as they battled for the third place with Rogers finally getting third. David Frohlich returned to New Smyrna and ran second to McLeod until lap 19 when Rogers took over second.
B.J. McLeod took the checkered followed by David Rogers, David Frohlich, Wayne Parker and Chet Morrison.
Rex Christensen sat on the pole for the Mini Stock feature but it was the No. 1 of David Castello who lead from green to checkered. Another caution free race with plenty of side-by-side action.
The Florida Mini Stock Challenge race was rained out at Columbia Motorsports Park and a few of the cars made their way to New Smyrna Speedway just to race. Joining in the fun was Robbie Storer and the No. 0.
Storer, who leads the points in the Florida Mini Stock Challenge, made his way from the rear to finish third. Castello took the checkered followed by Tim "Missileman" McPhail, Robbie Storer, Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulpius, and Rex Christensen.
Chad Pierce sat on the pole for the Late Model event but it was Travis Wilson who jumped to the point on the green over Pierce, Tim Clark, Bobby Orr, and Brian Bellaw. On lap 2 going into turn 1, Wilson and Clark get together fighting for the lead with both spinning and Brian Bellaw spinning to avoid hitting Clark. Bellaw did not touch Clark but it was close. Bellaw and Wilson are able to continue racing but Clark is towed in. Wade Lynn also finds his night done.
On the restart, Chad Pierce takes the point followed by Bobby Orr, Mike Murphy, Brian Bellaw and Nolan Wilson. On lap 11, Joey Pletka spun at the bottom of turn 2. One of the cars is leaking and the cars are checked with Mike Murphy being found to be the leaky car.
The race restarts with Pierce, Orr, Bellaw, Nolan Wilson and Travis Wilson in the top five. On lap 18, Orr passes Pierce for the lead. Pierce begins to slow and falls out of the race with one lap to go.
Orr takes the checkered followed by Nolan Wilson, Brian Bellaw, Travis Wilson and Joey Pletka.
Brett Bueltemeier has the pole for the Sportsman event and takes the early lead on the green. On lap 3, Bill Spade blows his engine putting down oil from each end of the track to another. The race goes under caution for track clean-up. On the rstart, it is Bueltemeier, Dale Clouser, Mike Trocki, John Nusbaum and Ron Lufcy in the top five.
With one lap to go, Bueltemeier breaks after leading the entire race turning over the point to Dale Clouser who takes the checkered followed by Mike Trocki, John Nusbaum, Ron Lufcy, and Bill Love.
The Strictly Stocks saw Ralph Jones on the pole for their feature event but it was Jeremy Hovencamp who lead the entire race almost being one half lap ahead of the field at the end. Hovencamp was dq'd giving the win to Richard Renzi. Following Renzi was Ralph Jones, Gordon Houck and Mark Broat.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
JOE MIDDLETON PRO MODIFIED 50 LAPS
1. #66 Jerry Symons, New Smyrna, Fla. 2. #2x Jason Boyd, Orlando, Fla 3. #15 Tank Tucker, Melbourne, Fl 4. #2 Skip Honaker, Titusville, Fla 5. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn, Orlando, Fla. 6. #00 Brad May, Orlando, Fla. 7. #16 David Lebeu, Daytona, Fla 8. #91 Donald Slappey, Ocoee, Fla 9. #4b Alan Bruins, Clermont, Fla 10. #34 Larry Osteen, Clermont, Fla 11. #8 D.J. Hoelzle, Dunedin, Fla 12. #32x Alan McCafferty, Clermont, Fla. 13. #7 Mark Vandevender, Ormond Beach, Fla.
SUPER LATES
1. #78 B.J. McLeod 2. #11 David Rogers 3. #22 David Froehlich 4. #3 Wayne Parker 5. #86 Chet Morrison 6. #1 Fain Skinner 7. #6 Mike Finn
LATE MODEL
1. #30 Bobby Orr 2. #18 Nolan Wilson 3. #77 Brian Bellaw 4. #62 Travis Wilson 5. #23 Joey Pletka 6. #48 Mark Smith 7. #57 Chad Pierce 8. #26 Mike Murphy 9. #8 Tim Clark 10. #28 Wade Lynn
SPORTSMAN
1. #30 Dale Clouser 2. #46 Mike Trocki 3. #70 John Nusbaum 4. #07 Ron Lufcy 5. #2x Bill Love 6. #55 Jim Snyder 7. #75 Scott Stone 8. #6 Bruce McGonigal 9. #19 Mitch Dougherty 10. #2 Brett Builtemeier 11. #15 Bill Spade
MINI STOCKS
1. #1 David Castello 2. #7 Tim "Missileman" McPhail 3. #9 Robbie Storer 4. #71 Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulpius 5. #v3 Rex Christensen 6. #31 Donny Hall 7. #11 Pug Puglisi 8. #0 9. #38 Ben Hutto
STRICTLY STOCKS
1. #X Richard Renzi 2. #13 Ralph Jones 3. #99 Gordon Houck 4. #6 Mark Broat
