IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 9, 2004 FSCR Artuso Wins Mod Feature at New Smyrna by Jane Smith Samsula, Fla. (May 8, 2004) Four divisions supported the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 Saturday night at New Smyrna. Joining in the program were the Super Late Models, Open Wheel Modifieds, Super Stock and Strictly Stock. Jerry Artuso, who flew in from Canada to race in the Goodyear Challenge, brought out his No. 5 Open Wheel Modified and sat on the pole for their 15 lap feature. Artuso quickly jumped to the lead on the green as Bobby Blake challenged Artuso on the outside. Artuso held strong as Blake found his hands full of Chad Pierce. Pierce was able to pass Blake and take over second as Blake slide to third. With no cautions, it was all out green flag racing as on lap 9, Pierce challenge Artuso for the lead but Artuso held strong and kept the point. Jim "Hoot" Flynn was able to pass Matt Wheeler for fourth with Wheeler sliding back to fifth. Artuso took the checkered followed by Chad Pierce, Bobby Blake, Jim "Hoot" Flynn, and Matt Wheeler. Matt Wheeler took the heat win. Morgan Hoover had the pole for the Super Late Model feature quickly jumped to the point on the green. Hoover and Guy Thomas do some side-by-side dancing for first but Hoover is able to hold his position. By lap 5, Guy takes over first with David Rogers, Morgan Hoover, Brent Hobbs, and Wayne McCall in the top five. On lap 9, Hoover retires to the pits changing the top five to Guy, Rogers, Hobbs, McCall and Dick Ruckh. Thomas and Rogers go side-by-side as Thomas does a great job of protecting the points but slips up just enough for Rogers to duck under and take over the lead. By lap 13 it is Rogers, Thomas, Hobbs, McCall, and Ruckh. Lap 17 sees the yellow for Brent Hobbs as he and McCall get together fighting for the third place spot. Both are fine but must go to the rear. Rogers takes the checkered followed by Guy Thomas, Wayne McCall, Dick Ruckh and Brent Hobbs. David Rogers took the heat win. Super Stocks saw Stephen Dembinsky on the pole for their 15 lap event but it was Kevin Auger who took the lead on the green followed by Ron Whaley, Dembinsky, Josh Wronkowski and Barry Parks. Parks passes Wronkowski taking over fourth as Charlie Collins put the pressure on Wronkowski and takes over fifth with Wronkowski to sixth. Collins then sets sail on Parks taking over fourth as Parks slides backwards and Wronkowski goes back in fifth. Lap 7 sees Dembinsky and Collins get together on the backstretch and both are sent to the rear for the restart. Auger holds the point followed by Whaley, Wronkowski, Jeff Colburn, and Dembinsky. Colburn passes Wronkowski and takes over third as Collins takes over fifth from Dembinsky. Lap 13 James Adams spins in turn 2 but is able to get the car gathered back in and continues racing. Auger crosses the checkered followed by Ron Whaley, Jeff Colburn, Charlie Collins, and Steven Dembinsky. Ron Whaley took the heat win. Derek Slade had the pole for the Strictly Stock feature but it was James Smith who took the point on the green followed by Bruce McGonigal Jr., Jose Rivera, Derek Slade and Gordon Houck. Mike Wofford passes Houck for fifth as Houck slides to sixth. Derek Slade and Jose Rivera bring out the caution on lap 3 as they get together and spin. Both are sent to the rear of the field for the restart. Smith goes into the pits with McGonigal taking over the point followed by Wofford, Houck, Rivera, and Slade. Suddenly Wofford slows sliding backwards as Houck takes over second followed by Slade, Rivera and then Wofford. McGonigal holds the points and takes the checkered followed by Gordon Houck, Derek Slade, Jose Rivera, and Mike Wofford. Bruce McGonigal Jr. won the heat race. OFFICIAL RESULTS NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY, MAY 8 SUPER LATE MODELS 1. #11 David Rogers 2. #2 Guy Thomas 3. #2x Wayne McCall 4. #96 Dick Ruckh 5. #8 Brent Hobbs 6. #4 Rick Bates 7. #39 Morgan Hoover OPEN WHEEL MODIFIED 1. #5 Jerry Artuso 2. #51 Chad Pierce 3. #75 Bobby Blake 4. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn 5. #96 Matt Wheeler 6. #20 Ed Kuhel SUPER STOCK 1. #07 Kevin Auger 2. #2 Ron Whaley 3. #3 Jeff Colburn 4. #23 Charlie Collins 5. #50x Steven Dembinsky 6. #21 Josh Wronkowski 7. #27 Barry Parks 8. #29 James Adams 9. #45 Mike Soukup STRICTLY STOCK 1. #22 Bruce McGonigal Jr. 2. #99 Gordon Houck 3. #126 Derek Slade 4. #73 Jose Rivera 5. #15 Mike Wofford 6. #21 Mike Dohm 7. #65 James Smith 8. #151 Rick Langdon Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!