Jason Garver wins Joslin Memorial Modified 50 at SpeedWorld
By Dave Westerman After three consecutive Friday night rain outs, the dark clouds finally gave Orlando Speedworld a break this week for the 2007 edition of the Joslin Memorial, a 50 lap event for the Modifieds that honors the memory of racer/promoter Dick Joslin who was the first racer from Central Florida to win a major NASCAR race (1954 on the old Daytona beach course) and his son Jerry Joslin, a long time sponsor and supporter of local racing. Both passed away from heart problems, ironically both at the young age of 42.
A fine field of 18 Modifieds showed up to lay claim to the $1000 top prize but three drivers never made it past hot laps as Jimmy Crowe, Jr., Chris Smyth, and Jim Wilkins,Jr. were all on the trailer before qualifying started.
The "Immokalee Flash," Lee Collins, was the fastest in time trials clicking off a lap of 14.150 seconds followed by Jason Garver (14.381) and David Baxley (14.412) who was making his first-ever start at the Orlando oval. Baxley started from the rear of the field and made just two laps in the feature before pulling in having sold his car and trailer prior to race time. The person making the purchase was one David Rogers. Rogers, who was in attendance with his Super Late Model, appears poised to race quite a bit more at Speedworld this year.
Collins drew the seven pill for the inversion placing current Speedworld Modified point leader Shain Held on the pole. Held outran outside pole man Gary Fountain, Sr. into turn one on the initial start only to see that start negated by third starter Alan Bruns who spun going into turn two. Bruns took his machine to the pits but returned just as the green flag flew.
Again Held gained the early advantage, but caution were out just after lap one was completed when Jimmy Wilkins III spun in turn one. Collins applyed pressure on Held once the race resumed with Alan McCafferty and Garver right behind him.
Terri Bryant spun on the back stretch bringing out the second caution on lap six as Held contined to maintain the top spot. The next yellow came out on lap eleven as third-running McCafferty spun in turn two. An upset McCafferty restarted from the tail of the field but felt he'd gotten "turned."
Held looked poised to take a huge win as he continued to hold a hard-charging Garver at bay through two more caution periods. However Held slaped the back stretch wall on lap 32 and came to a halt in turn four, done for the evening. At the same time, McCafferty went for another spin and he too retired from the race.
From that point, no one could touch the 2006 Columbia Motorsports Park Modified champion as Garver sped off to a big win. Collins held on for second with Bobby Joe Woodley driving a smooth mistake-free race to claim the show spot. Jim "Hoot" Flynn was fourth ahead of Mark Emberson. Rounding out the top ten were Jimmy Wilkins III, Alan Bruns, Art Kunzeman, Gary Fountain, Sr. and Ricky Moxley.
Completing the finishing field were Terri Bryant, Randy Froelich, Held, McCafferty and Baxley.
Jared Allison powered by Jimmy Crowe, Jr. on lap three and led the rest of the way to win the Super Late Model feature. The race was halted on lap two when Richard Douglas and David Pollen, Jr. got together going into turn three with Douglas backing hard into the wall. The impact actually split the fuel cell on Douglas' car, but it worked as advertised and did not catch fire.
Douglas was not hurt but the entire back end of his car was sheared off.
The remainder of the race ran off without incident as Allison raced well in front of runner-up David Rogers and third place Dusty Cornelius. Blake Lehr and Chad Pierce were fourth and fifth while Pollen, Jr., Corey Freed, David Pollen, Sr., Earl Beckner and Russ Shaw completed the top ten. Joe Piazza, Crowe, Ronnie Roach and Douglas rounded out the finishers. Heat wins were taken by Cornelius and Piazza.
After a somewhat controversial run-in with Timmy Todd, Jr. while battling for the lead, Andy Nicholls claimed the Sportsman win. Nicholls built up a half lap lead before a late caution flag allowed the field to catch up to him, but he still pulled out to an easy win over Richard Hight and rookie Whitney Poole who took her best-ever finish. Derrick Wood was fourth while Todd recovered for fifth. Brett Woodley, Justin Reynolds, Pete Starr, Mike Santana, and Matt Towell completed the top ten. ARCA Series driver Bryan Silas was also in the field driving Gary Muglach's car but was involved in an early race incident that sent him to the pits. Nicholls and Todd won the Sportsman heats.
If the Mini Stock feature had been scheduled for 14 laps, Bob Kelchner would have taken his first career win. But Pedie Allison had other ideas as he slipped by Kelchner on the final lap to claim his ninth win of the year. R.J. Arnone also got by Kelchner to finish second. Rounding out the finishers were Richie Laszlo, David Russell and John Cook. Allison also won the heat race.
Bobby Riley drove his Billy Cuddy Painting Monte Carlo to the win over a nice field of Super Stocks. Roger Benton led the opening nine circuits before giving way to Riley and settling for second. Lee Wagner claimed third ahead of Jason Pick and James Frisbie with Barry Parks, Nathan Haystead, Alane Grogan, Paul Marguglio and Scott Edwards rounding out the top ten. Heat wins went to Riley and Ron McCreary.
The 25 lap special for the big Action Gator Tire Strictly Stock field was topped by the Acura of Jim Erb who held off the Ford Probe of David Leeper II for the win. Rob Reynolds' Mazda took third spot ahead of Steven Streight and Harold Erb. Completing the top ten were Brent Bruner, Denny Johns, Jimmy Scripter, John Davis and Glen Rhodes.
Wes Railing, Jr. came home with the win in the Palm Tree Computer Junior Stocks as he took the measure of Thomas Warnick, Dylan Curtis, Brandon Henault, Carl Kwasny, Jr. and Zachary Curtis.
Saturday nights scheduled race program was washed out.
OFFICIAL RESULTS ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD JULY 20, 2007
MINI STOCK
1. #92 Pedie Allison 2. #30 R.J. Arnone 3. #09 Bob Kelchner 4. #07 Richie Laszlo 5. #31 David Russell 6. #24 John Cook 7. #06 Heather Suggs DNS
SPORTSMAN
1. #66 Andy Nicholls 2. #23 Richard Hight 3. #00 Whitney Poole 4. #33 Derrick Wood 5. #25 Timmy Todd, Jr. 6. #99 Brett Woodley 7. #20 Justin Reynolds 8. #95 Pete Starr 9. #151 Mike Santana 10. #14 Matt Towell 11. #31 Bryan Silas
SUPER LATE MODEL
1. #18 Jared Allison 2. #11 David Rogers 3. #22 Dusty Cornelius 4. #4 Blake Lehr 5. #57 Chad Pierce 6. #88 David Pollen Jr. 7. #12 Corey Freed 8. #P1 David Pollen Sr. 9. #36 Earl Beckner 10. #68 Russ Shaw 11. #15 Joe Piazza 12. #89 Jimmy Crowe, Jr. 13. #14 Ronnie Roach 14. #60 Richard Douglas
JOSLIN MEMORIAL MODIFIED 50
1. #27 Jason Garver 2. #89 Lee Collines 3. #98 Bobby Joe Woodley 4. #57 Jim "Hoot" Flynn 5. #30 Mark Emberson 6. #11 James Wilkins III 7. #4b Alan Bruns 8. #9x Art Zunzeman 9. #33 Gary Fountain, Sr. 10. #38 Ricky Moxley 11. #08 Terri Bryant 12. #8 Randy Froehlich 13. #55 Shain Held 14. #32 Alan McClelland 15. #1 David Baxley 16. #89x Jimmy Crowe, Jr. DNS 17. #5 Jimmy Wilkins Jr. DNS
SUPER STOCK
1. #52 Bobby Riley 2. #14 Roger Benton 3. #74 Lee Wagner 4. #44 Jason Pick 5. #3 James Frisbie 6. #27 Barry Parks 7. #72 Nathan Haystead 8. #29 Alaine Grogran 9. #32 Vince Keeler, Jr. 10. #7i Scotty Edwards 11. #17 Rob Watford 12. #845 Michael Mataragg 13. #40 Bob Starr 14. #32x Paul Marguglio 15. #24pk Ron McCreary 16. #316 Ray Mullis 17. #4 John Guinn 18. #11 Dennis Snyder DNS
1. #1 Jim Erb 2. #D2 David Leeper Jr. 3. #A1 Rob Reynolds 4. #80 Steven Streight 5. #57 Harold Erb 6. #20 Brent Bruner 7. #55 Denny Johns 8. #7 Jimmy Scripter 9. #5 John Davis 10. #63 Glenn Rhodes 11. #66 Tom Stewart 12. #86 Shane Smith 13. #145 Chad Knoell 14. #14 Robert Betz 15. #22x Allen McClelland 16. #89 William Hindman 17. #11 Josh Phelps 18. #76 Gary Thomas 19. #20x Richard Barrenechea
