IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

July 2, 2004 FSCR Wayne Anderson wins Clyde Hart Memorial, Yoakam Tops FMSC at New Smyrna by Jane Smith Samsula, Fla. (July 1, 2004) A perfect day, only a few short sprinkles, plenty of cars, plenty of fans was July 1 at New Smyrna Speedway. Thirty two Super Late Models went thru tech for one of the most important races on their Sunbelt Super Late Model schedule. Before the races began, a very special ceremony was held for the dedication of the "Clyde Hart Highway" with State Senator Bill Posey, State Senator Evelyn Lynn, State Representative Pat Patterson and Volusia County Commissioner Joey Alexander. As Robert and Andrew Hart listened to each of the guest speakers talk about Clyde Hart, the crowd was silent. Robert Hart is the current owner of both Orlando SpeedWorld and New Smyrna Speedway and the only child of Clyde Hart. Andrew Hart, Robert Hart's only child, will someday take over what Clyde and his father built for the racers and fans of local short track stock car racing. An emotional Robert Hart thanked each and every speaker for their kind words about his father and cut the yellow ribbon for the grand opening of the "Clyde Hart Highway" which will run from State Road 415 to Deland, approximately a ten mile stretch. State Senator Evelyn Lynn gave the command "Gentlemen, start your engines", and Andrew Hart threw the green flag. Wayne Anderson of Wildwood set fast time with a 17.991, the only driver to hit the 17 second bracket. But after the pill draw, it was Brian Finney of Merritt Island on the pole for the 125 lap Clyde Hart Memorial. On the green, it was Finney and Mike Fritts of Debary going side-by-side for the lead with Fritts taking the point followed by Justin Drawdy, Brian Finney, Mario Gosselin and Wayne Anderson. By lap 1, Gosselin and Anderson had passed Finney taking over third and fourth with Finney settling down in fifth. Lap 2 saw the first caution for Bruce Lawrence II who spun at the bottom of turns 3 and 4. The field was realigned and the green was out as Fritts led the way. It took Wayne Anderson approximately four laps to pass Drawdy for the second spot and set his eyes on Fritts for the lead. By lap 12, it was Mike Fritts and Wayne Anderson doing some close side-by-side action. But on lap 13, Drawdy, Finney, and Dick Anderson get tangled up at the top of turns 3 and 4. Drawdy lost his rear-end with Finney having no where to go and hitting Drawdy. Anderson received little damage and was able to continue. Drawdy and Finney were both taken in on the hook and done for the night. Anderson took the point on the restart on lap 18 followed by Mike Fritts, Mario Gosselin, Dick Anderson and David Rogers, Scotty Crockett, Mike Good, Barry Willoughby, Fain Skinner and Jay Middleton. On lap 26, while running second, Mike Fritts slows and is off the pace. Fritts pulls down on pit road and is done for the night. Lap 29 sees Michael Williams with the South Forty Motorsports Super Late also go in, done for the night. New running order is Anderson, Gosselin, Dick Anderson, David Rogers and Scotty Crockett. Whether it was the heat or full moon, cars dropped out of the race one by one. Lap 35 Daniel Keene Jr. was off, lap 40 Sean Murphy was off. Anderson continued to lead the way followed by Gosselin, Dick Anderson, David Rogers, Scotty Crockett, Mike Good, Barry Willoughby, Fain Skinner, Jay Middleton, Jeff Scofield, and Chris Fontaine. On lap 49, Scofield brings out the yellow as he hits the backstretch wall coming off turn 2. Anderson holds the point on the restart with Mario Gosselin close on Anderson's tail. Jay Middleton begins his drive to the front as he passes Fain Skinner and takes over eighth with Skinner sliding to ninth. A new face comes into the top ten as Ryan Foster takes over tenth. By lap 68, Middleton has seventh, Chris Fontaine takes over eighth with Willoughby in ninth and Skinner in tenth. The caution comes out on lap 76 for Chet Morrison who has spun on the bottom of turns 1 and 2. Morrison gets the car going and rejoins the field in the rear. Anderson holds the point for the restart followed by Gosselin, Dick Anderson, Scotty Crockett, David Rogers, Mike Good, Jay Middleton, Chris Fontaine, Barry Willoughby, and Fain Skinner. Debris on the track brings out the yellow on lap 84. Anderson leads the way. But current point leader Fain Skinner has problems as his hood is pushed up and to the point where Skinner cannot see. Skinner tries to continue for several laps but on lap 98, the yellow comes out for Skinner who pits to have the hood removed. Lap 102 sees the restart with Anderson, Gosselin, Dick Anderson, Crockett and Rogers in the top five. After having one good run, young Ryan Foster of Arkansas brings out the yellow on lap 103 as he has spun in turns 1 and 2. This was the last caution of the race as it was balls to the wall for the rest of the 20 laps. Anderson holds strong and takes the checkered followed by Mario Gosselin, Dick Anderson, Scotty Crockett, David Rogers, Jay Middleton, Mike Good, Chris Fontaine, Barry Willoughby and Jonny Kay. Robbie Yoakam of Hernando set fast time for the 50 lap Florida Mini Stock Challenge race but it was Scott Reeves of Royal Palm Beach on the pole for the event. Taking the lead on the green was Tim "Missileman" McPhail followed by Scott Reeves, Robbie Yoakam, Ronnie Larson, and Josh Hermann. But it is a short green as Alli Owens, Chris Hooker and Rick Gamache get together on the frontstretch with Owens being towed into the pits and not very happy. Eddie Lowery hits the frontstretch wall also and gives the crowd a wave as he walks back into the pits with his car on the hook. Not how Owens or Lowery wanted the night to go. McPhail holds the point on the restart followed by Yoakam, Reeves, Larson and Hermann. By lap 3, Clint Foley takes over fifth as Hermann slips backwards. Lap 5, Yoakam takes the lead but it is not over as McPhail comes back and challenges for the point and by lap 7, it is McPhail leading. The caution comes out for Rick Gamache who has spun on the backstretch. McPhail holds the point on the restart followed by Yoakam who is going side-by-side with Larson, Foley and Reeves. By lap 15, Yoakam has once again taken over the point with McPhail in second. Rick Sirmans and Robbie Storer are doing some close racing as they touch but neither spin out. Lap 21 Scott Reeves slows and is off the pace and down for the night followed by Ronnie Larson on lap 23 who is done and into the pits. After leading and running second, Tim "Missileman" McPhail slows and goes into the pits on lap 30 with the new top five - Yoakam Foley, Storer, Sirmans, and DesChamps. By lap 44, DesChamps has passed Sirmans and taken over fourth with Sirmans to fifth. The yellow comes out for Gary Roebuck on lap 45 when he spins coming down the frontstretch. Yoakam holds the point on the restart as Robbie Storer passes Clint Foley for second but just cannot catch Yoakam to challenge for the lead. Yoakam takes the checkered followed by Robbie Storer, Clint Foley, Dustin DesChamps and Rick Sirmans. Mike Soukup had the pole for the Sportsman feature and took the point on the green followed by Ron Lufcy, Dale Clouser, John Nusbaum and Donny Williams. Clouser puts the pedal down and takes over the point as Williams moves into second and on the hunt for Clouser. On lap 6, Williams breaks with the yellow coming out. Williams retires to the pits and the race goes back green. Clouser holds the point followed by Nusbaum, Paul Hudson, Patrick Mennenga of Ocala Speedway, and Tom Gamache. Mennenga passes Hudson and takes over third with Hudson in fourth. Hudson then brings out the yellow as he hits the wall after having a tire go down. Hudson retires to the pits. Clouser holds the point and takes the checkered followed by John Nusbaum, Patrick Mennega, Tom Gamache and Paul Hudson. Josh Wronkowski has the pole for the Super Stock feature and quickly takes the point over Ron Whaley, Charlie Collins, James Adams and Jeff Colburn. Collins puts the muscle on Whaley and takes over second as Whaley slides to third. Jack Lenzen takes over fifth as Adams goes to sixth. Colburn is now on the move and passes Whaley for third. Lap 12, while racing hard for the point, Wronkowski and Collins get together with both rejoining the field in the rear. This is just what Colburn wanted as he takes over the point and takes the checkered followed by Ron Whaley, Jack Lenzen, Charlie Collins and Chad Pierce. Bruce McGonigal Jr. had the pole for the Strictly Stock feature and quickly took the lead on the green followed by John Poltz, Mike Dohm, Mike Wofford, and Richie Laszlo. Wofford passes Dohm for third then Poltz for second and sets aim on McGonigal. Wofford is able to pass McGonigal and take over the point followed by McGonigal, Poltz, Dohm, and Laszlo. Laszlo is now on the move as he passes Dohm for fourth, then Poltz for third. The caution comes out for Mike Dohm who has spun. Wofford holds the point on the restart but Laszlo is on the move and coming up fast. Laszlo is able to pass Wofford and take the checkered for his third win at New Smyrna Speedway. Laszlo is followed by Mike Wofford, Bruce McGonigal Jr., Richard Renzi and Mike Dohm. OFFICIAL RESULTS NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - JULY 1 CLYDE HART MEMORIAL SUNBELT 125 1. #84 Wayne Anderson, Wildwood 2. #59 Mario Gosselin, Lake Whales 3. #92 Dick Anderson, Wildwood 4. #28 Scotty Crockett, Land O'Lakes 5. #11 David Rogers, Orlando 6. #74j Jay Middleton, Lake City 7. #27 Mike Good, Lake Mary 8. #47 Chris Fontaine, Lakeland 9. #74 Barry Willoughby, Port St. Lucie 10. #48 Jonny Kay, Deerfield Beach 11. #86 Chet Morrison, Houma, LA. 12. #16 Bruce Lawrence, Sorento 13. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oaks 14. #20 Kevin Gillum, West Palm 15. #116 Bruce Lawrence, Jr., Sorento 16. #10 Ryan Foster, Lowell, Arkansas 17. #00 Melvin Cooper, Albany, Ga 18. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn, Orlando 19. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City 20. #32 Sean Murphy, Ft. Lauderdale 21. #5 Daniel Keene Jr., Weekiwachee 22. #40 Michael Williams, Mims 23. #88 Brock Oglesby, Ocala 24. #27x Mike Fritts, Debary 25. #12 Justin Drawdy, Ft. Pierce 26. #80 Brian Finney, Merritt Island 27. #61 Jimmy Cope, St. Pete 28. #7 Jamie Skinner, New Smyrna. 29. #7x Mark Vandevender, New Smyrna DNS 30. #22 David Froehlich Jr., Loxahatchee DNS 31. #2X Wayne McCall, Jacksonville DNS 32. #78 B.J. McLeod, Wauchula DNS FLORIDA MINI STOCK CHALLENGE 50 1. #8 Robbie Yoakam, Hernando 2. #9 Robbie Storer, Zephyrhills 3. #7 Clint Foley, Dunnelton 4. #51 Dustin DesChamps, Tampa 5. #05 Rick Sirmans, Pinellas Park 6. #24 Chris Turner, Clearwater 7. #19 Kevin Macy, Lakeland 8. #lx Chris Hooker, Inverness 9. #98 Josh Hermann, St. Cloud 10. #96 Gary Roebuck, Lakeland 11. #40 Dennis Valdez, Tampa 12. #22x Mark Eldridge, Daytona 13. #20 Keith Roggen, Winter Heaven 14. #5 Alan Buker, Belleview 15. #81 Billy Chancy, Kathleen, GA. 16. #17 Tim "Missileman" McPhail, Pinellas Park 17. #v3 Rex Christensen, Port Orange 18. #70 Marty Neikens, Clearwater 19. #88 Ronnie Larson, Clearwater 20. #21 Scott Reeves, Royal Palm Beach 21. #96x Darren Jackson, Lakeland 22. #41 Mark Moniz, Land O'Lakes 23. #61 Rick Gamache, Titusville 24. #43 Eddie Lowery, Leesburg 25. #22 Alli Owens, South Daytona 26. #6 Mark Broat, Sanford SPORTSMAN 1. #30 Dale Clouser 2. #70 John Nusbaum 3. #16 Patrick Mennenga 4. #7 Tom Gamache 5. #08 Paul Hudson 6. #6 Bruce McGonigal 7. #07 Ron Lufcy 8. #111 Donny Williams 9. #45 Mike Soukup SUPER STOCK 1. #3 Jeff Colburn 2. #2 Ron Whaley 3. #211 Jack Lenzen 4. #23 Charlie Collins 5. #57 Chad Pierce 6. #21 Josh Wronkowski 7. #29 James Adams 8. #27 Barry Parks 9. #03 Christopher Heany 10. #69 Danny Lester STRICTLY STOCK 1. #07 Richie Laszlo 2. #15 Mike Wofford 3. #22 Bruce McGonigal 4. #X Richard Renzi 5. #21 Mike Dohm 6. #28 John Poltz 7. #126 Derrick Slade 8. #14 Adam Soukup. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!