Lee Collins takes 50 Lap Pro Modified Race at Orlando SpeedWorld
by Jane Smith
Bithlo, Fla (September 12, 2003) No rain, no rain clouds, a perfect night for racing. Sixteen of Florida's finest Open Wheel Modified qualified under early evening light with Lee Collins of Felda, Fl. getting fast time with a 14.149 lap or 95.41 mph.
Jim "Hoot" Flynn of Orlando set second fastest time with a 14.187 lap or 95.16 mph followed by Brad May, Larry Osteen, and Alan McCafferty. The field started straight up with Collins on the pole.
Collins quickly jumped to the point on the green and never faltered. Following Collins was Jim "Hoot" Flynn, Brad May, Larry Osteen, and Jason Boyd. Boyd quickly put the No. 2x in high gear and made his way towards the front landing in the second spot behind Collins.
Brad May, Jim "Hoot" Flynn and Joe Federico brought out the only caution of the race when May attempted to pass Flynn touching Flynn slightly which sent both spinning and May collected Federico in his spin. Both Federico and May retired from the race.
On the restart, Collins held the point with Boyd, Osteen, Symons and Red Vann in the top five. Flynn retires the No. 57 to the pits and Collins maintains the point in spite of Boyd trying everything to pass Collins but Collins was not to be denied his win.
Van moves into fourth as Symons slides backwards with Bryan Campbell taking over fifth. Campbell does his best to shake Vann but Vann holds strong and retains fourth place. Boyd gets right on the rear of Collins slightly tapping him but Collins maintains the car and holds on for the checkered followed by Jason Boyd, Larry Osteen, Bryan Campbell, and Jerry Symons.
Chad Akins not only had the pole for the Bandolero Bandits but lead from green to checkered. Following Akins to the checkered was Josh Williams, Derrick Wood, Matthew Jarrett and Spencer Tayler.
Chaed Akins won the heat race.
Kevin Henry took yet another win in the Bandolero Young Guns. Henry had the pole for their feature race and won from green to checkered. Following Henry across the checkered was Brandon Thompson, Chelsea Schilling, Scott Jarrett, and Troy Atkins.
Kevin Henry took the heat win.
Brian Anderson sat on the pole for the Super Stock feature and jumped to the point on the green but a second restart was in order due to the bad start and this time it was Cory Freed taking the point on the green followed by Justin Reynolds, John Castro, Brian Anderson and Ron Edwards. Edwards slips backwards with Ron Whaley coming into fourth place putting Anderson fifth.
The yellow comes out when Bob Wines decided to do some spinning action to celebrate his return to racing. On the restart, it is Freed, Castrol, Reynolds, Whaley and Anderson in the top five. Anderson slips backwards and Wines has now worked his way into the top five as Whaley takes over third putting Reynolds fourth.
Robert Ward and Andy Nichols bring out the caution as they tangle in turn 4. Nichols, who had a fast car, said his car just kept getting faster and faster and was hitting everything on the track. Freed holds the point on the restart followed by Whaley, Wines, Reynolds and Bob Beiler, our first time winner from our last feature.
Whaley spins coming off turn 2 but continues racing with no caution. Freed takes the checkered followed by Bob Wines, Bob Beiler, Justin Reynolds and Bobby Woodley.
John Castrol and Cory Freed took the heat wins.
Richard Hight not only had the pole for the feature Sportsman race but also won from the pole. Following Hight on the green was Tony Wilson, Justin Hall, Dale Clouser, and Robert Hight. Clouser quickly went to work and took over third putting Hall fourth. Clouser normally races at New Smyrna Speedway but was practicing for the 50 lap Sportsman event at SpeedWorld in a few weeks.
Donnie Smith and Danny Shearer bring out the yellow when they touch coming off turn 3. Both were fine and able to continue racing. Hight holds the point on the green followed by Clouser, Wilson, Hall and Hight. Suddenly Hall spins coming off 4 and the yellow is out once again.
Hall rejoins the field in the rear and the race is restarted with Hight leading the way followed by Clouser, Wilson, Hight, and Cory Kaiser. Hight takes the checkered followed by Dale Clouser, Robert Hight, Cory Kaiser, and Danny Shearer.
Donnie Smith and Richard Hight take the heat wins.
Sean "Weasel" Bass had the pole for the Mini Stock feature but it was Tim "Missileman" McPhail who jumped to the early lead. But before a lap was down in the books, Dick Laszlo spins with Randy Blakeslee spinning to avoid Laszlo who is able to get going before the yellow comes out. Blakeslee refires his car and the field is realigned for the restart.
On the restart, McPhail's throttle cable breaks leaving him without power. McPhail limps the "Missile" into the pits with his good run done for the night. Terry Westcott resumes the lead from McPhail followed by David Tullis, Sean Bass, Mike Williams, Jr., and Michael Seay.
Westcott takes the checkered for his first win at Orlando SpeedWorld followed by David Tullis, Sean Bass, Michael Seay and Mike Williams, Jr. whose motor has blown right before the start/finish line. Williams is able to limp his car across the checkered for fifth.
Sean Bass and Tim "Missileman" McPhail took the heat wins.
Ronnie Roach returned to the Super Late Model division and had the pole for their feature event. But it was B.J. McLeod who jumped to the lead on the green followed by Roach, Chris Fontaine, Rusty Ebersole and Ricky Wood.
Fontaine puts the pedal to the medal and takes over second passing Roach and sets aim on McLeod. But McLeod was having none of that and maintained his lead. Greg Brooks, Rick Bates, and Dick Ruckh spin coming into turn 4 bringing out the yellow.
On the restart, McLeod holds the point but Fontaine is doing everything to pass McLeod. Suddenly the two touch going into turn 1 with both spinning. McLeod is fine but Fontaine has suffered a broken rear-end and must be towed to the pits. The field is realigned with McLeod to the rear and Ronnie Roach as the new leader.
Roach maintains the point and takes the checkered followed by Rusty Ebersole, Ricky Wood, Jared Allison and Morris Hernandez.
Ronnie Roach and B.J. McLeod took the heat wins.
Roger Benton had the pole for the Strictly Stock feature and lead up until the last lap when he and Richie Laszlo touched coming into turn 3 with Benton going into the water barrell at the entrance of pit road. Benton was fine but his good run was done.
Jerry Springer took the checkered followed by Eric Hodge, Richie Laszlo, Roger Benton and David Murphy.
Roger Benton took the heat win.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
Pro Mod 50 Laps
1. #89 Lee Collins, Felda, Fla. 2. #2x Jason Boyd, Orlando, Fla. 3. #22 Larry Osteen, Clermont, Fla. 4. #5 Bryan Campbell, Clermont, Fla. 5. #66 Jerry Symons, New Smyrna, Fla. 6. #32 Red Vann, Lutz, Fla. 7. #32x Alan McCafferty, Clermont, Fla. 8. #2 Skip Honaker, Titusville, Fla. 9. #55 Shane Held, Orlando, Fla. 10. #97 Matt Wheeler, New Smyrna, Fla. 11. #98 Johnny Allen, Lehigh Acres, Fla. 12. #17 William Sulliovan, Orlando, Fla. 13. #4b Alan Bruns, Clermont, Fla. 14. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn, Orlando, Fla. 15. #00 Brad May, Orlando, Fla. 16. #26 Joe Federico, Lakeland, Fla.
BANDELERO BANDITS
1. #60 Chad Akins 2. #6 Josh Williams 3. #33 Derrick Wood 4. #9 Matthew Jarrett 5. #15 Spencer Tayler 6. #38 Gerald White, Jr. 7. #74 Eric Salversen 8. #17 Blake Eden
BANDELERO YOUNG GUNS
1. #9 Kevin Henry 2. #54 Brandon Thompson 3. #75 Chelsea Schilling 4. #97 Scott Jarrett 5. #27 Troy Atkins 6. #40 Jessica Murphy
SUPER LATE MODEL
1. #14 Ronnie Roach 2. #47 Rusty Ebersole 3. #33 Ricky Wood 4. #18 Jared Allison 5. #5 Morris Hernandez 6. #78 B.J. McLeod 7. #45 Mack Hanbury 8. #34 Bobby Fleckenger 9. #96 Richard Ruckh 10. #17 Robert Jenkins 11. #47x Chris Fontaine 12. #4 Rick Bates 13. #44 Greg Brooks
SPORTSMAN
1. #23 Richard Hight 2. #30 Dale Clouser 3. #13 Robert Hight 4. #48x Cory Kaiser 5. #77 Danny Shearer 6. #6 Spencer Lemmerman 7. #71 Tony Wilson 8. #48 Donnie Smith 9. #50 Justin Hall 10. #26 Charlie Vest
SUPER STOCK
1. #12 Cory Freed 2. #7b Bob Wines 3. #44 Bob Beiler 4. #20 Justin Reynolds 5. #98 Bobby Woodley 6. #28 Ron Edwards 7. #28x Robert Ward 8. #2 Ron Whaley 9. #05 Bob Starr 10. #71 Brian Anderson 11. #49 Jason Foster 12. #5 John Castro 13. #46R Bobby Riley 14. #66 Andy Nichols 15. #47 Shane Held
MINI STOCK
1. #12 Terry Westcott 2. #56 David Tullie 3. #28 Sean Bass 4. #10 Michael Seay 5. #32 Mike Williams, Jr. 6. #07 Dick Laszlo 7. #33 Bob Delmastro 8. #77 Randy Blakeslee 9. #55 Dwayne Yeomans 10. #7 Tim McPhail 11. #88 R.J. Arnone DNS 12. #72 Bobby Owens DNS
STRICTLY STOCK
1. #66 Donald Springer 2. #00 Eric Hodge 3. #07 Richie Laszlo 4. #14 Roger Benton 5. #1 David Murphy
