SAMSULA, FLORIDA - Jason Boyd coasted to victory in the FASCAR Goodyear Challenge Series Daytona Dodge 100 on Saturday night at New Smyrna Speedway having just too much car for the 24 car starting field to keep pace with him on the one-half mile high banked oval.
For Boyd in his Tom Donnely Plumbing car it was his second 2003 Challenge victory at New Smyrna and he will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
"My car was running really well tonight," said Boyd. "I just had the luck going my way tonight."
"We came out here and tested Monday and got it pretty close and when we came back here tonight we were ready for the game."
The race had eight cautions and one red flag stoppage with nine cars finishing on the lead lap with Boyd finishing with a 12-car length margin of victory.
Jerry Symons in his Gene Kelly Roofing car finished second and Larry Osteen in the Florida Auto Express car was third.
Symons, who is usually pretty much hooked up well for New Smyrna races just didn't have his car quite ready.
"I contribute much of my problems tonight to tires," said Symons. "The tires just didn't match up with my car tonight, but were good enough for a second place finish."
"The track was all right tonight, but we missed our setup started eighth and charged to third after making some drastic changes," said Osteen.
Rich Clouser, the top FASCAR rookie brought home the South 40 Graphics ride fourth and even-handed Joe Sumasky was fifth in the Gary Wilkes machine.
Goodyear Challenge Series point leader Jerry Artuso of Canada finished 11th.
Boyd started out the evening posting quick time turning the track in 18.667 seconds for a speed of 96.43 mph in his second lap.
Boyd, Symons, Sean Murphy, Clouser and Sumasky held down the early top five spots and a lap nine caution, the second of the night unfurled when Bobby Orr lost an engine.
By lap 23, Osteen worked his way to fifth with Sumasky dropping to sixth. On lap 29, Paul Schrien Jr. gave Jimmy Castleberry a nudge on the front straightaway, but the Late Model veteran Castleberry saved his car.
In lap 30, Tim Russell went high in turn one in an effort to pass Nolan Wilson, but Russell spun along with David Green. Green had to be towed into the pit area and Russell rejoined the race from the rear.
The race restarts on lap 35 with Boyd, Symons, Murphy, Clouser and Osteen in the top five. In lap 37 Castleberry had a tire blow in turn one and slapped the wall. Castleberry drove his car to the pits and ends his night as his right front brake caught fire.
During lap 42, Travis Wilson son of former Winston Cup driver Rick Wilson, slammed the wall hard between turns one and two. The race was red flagged to check for fluid on the track. This was Travis Wilson's first entry in a 100-lap event.
In lap 43 restart, it was Boyd, Symons, Murphy, Clouser and Osteen.
During lap 45, Russell and Nolan Wilson bring out the yellow as they both spin their cars in turn two trying to pass. Richard Parks also spun in an effort to avoiding the duo of cars. The race resumed in lap 46 with Russell, Wilson and Parks starting in the rear.
At 50 laps, Boyd leads the field followed by Symons, Murphy, Clouser and Osteen.
In lap 52, Chris Lawrence slams the front straightaway wall hard bringing out the red flag. Lawrence appeared to be okay, but later is transported by family to the hospital with back pain. Lawrence suffered a back injury at New Smyrna in an earlier race this season.
By lap 57, Boyd opened a 10 lead over Symons showing his muscle cruising around the one-half mile track very quickly.
During lap 60, Clouser passed a loose Murphy for third. Osteen also moved by Murphy for fourth with Murphy settling down in fifth.
On lap 62, Brad May brings out the caution after spinning on the front straightaway. May went to the pits for a quick repair, but has to finish his evening in lap 70 the result of a broken trailing arm.
During lap 72, Osteen took third place from Clouser dropping him to fourth. Nolan Wilson went high coming off turn four, but made a big saving effort and continues to race.
Murphy continued his backward tumble as Sumasky moves to fifth as Murphy slid all the way back to seventh.
Symons tries to catch Boyd, but lacks the power on the final restart to do so.
Boyd crosses the stripe followed by Symons, Osteen, Clouser and Sumasky.
