John Smith becomes 6th Different Florida Cracker Classics Winner
By Dave Westerman
Six races - six faces... that's the continuing story of the 2006 Florida Cracker Classics racing season as John Smith of Orlando drove his "World's Oldest Chevelle" to the win Saturday night at Orlando Speedworld. In six races this season, there have now been six different winners.
Smith got things off to a good start by taking the heat race and led lap one of the scheduled 20 lap feature before pole sitter Danny Shearer, making just his second start of the year, got back out front. Caution flew on lap four as rookie driver Brad Norburg spun in turn four and was clipped by Greg Helton. Norburg continued while Helton drove to the infield for a lap before re-entering the race.
Norburg had problems again two laps later as he spun in his own oil going into turn one after something broke in the engine. The red flag was displayed as track crews cleaned up the bottom groove of turn one and Norburg's car was towed to the pits.
Shearer continued to lead on the restart but Smith was working the high groove and forged ahead going into turn three. Shearer was trying to hang on, but got loose and spun in turn four starting a wild crash. 2005 FCC Champion Jim Rahman hit the turn four wall very hard trying to avoid things and was out of the race along with the cars of Norm Agostinho and Rodney Eary.
At this point there were only five cars left on the track and Speedworld officials decided to cut the race to ten laps. Smith had no trouble leading the final three circuits as he took an easy win over Ron Gustafson and Shearer. For Gustafson, it was his best career finish. Dee Napier, back in a race car after several years, drove Simeon Spagnuolo's car to fourth spot while Helton rounded out the top five. Agostinho, Rahman, Norburg, Jeff Wright and Eary were credited with sixth through tenth.
The Florida Cracker Classics will now take a planned two month "Summer vacation," returning to action on September 2nd at Orlando Speedworld.
