Curelli Takes Checkered In Goodyear Challenge Late Models
by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla. (August 18, 2007) Just when you think you are going to melt, a slight breeze is felt and things are better. That is how it was at New Smyrna Saturday. Hot, but not as hot as it could be. But in spite of the heat, twenty nine Late Models made their way to New Smyrna Speedway for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100.
Qualifying at 6 p.m., it was A.J. Curreli who topped the timing charts with his 18.383 lap. A.J. recently won at Desoto Super Speedway and was still high from that win. Second fastest was Chuck Burkhalter followed by Doug Moff, the points leader in the Goodyear Challenge, Rich Clouser, who runs second in points, and Darren Brown.
Our newest member to the world of stockcar racing, Ricky Carmichael, was sixth fastest followed by Earl Beckner, who was running his ASA car and just returned from the ASA race at Orange County Speedway in North Caroline. Chad Akins, John Ripley and Joe Winchell completed the top ten.
All five cars passed tech with Curreli pulling the nine pill for the inversion. But Earl Beckner decided not to run in his qualifying position and dropped to the rear putting Joe Winchell on the pole with John Ripley on the outside. Fans gathered around the Late Models for their on-track autograph session and to get up close to the cars and drivers. Then it was time to go with Ms. Katlyn Clouser, daughter of Rich Clouser, giving the command "daddy and drivers, START YOUR ENGINES."
Joe Winchell quickly jumped to the point but before a lap was down, there was a massive pile-up in turns 3 and 4 involving Chuck Abell, Greg Kaouk, Jeremy Goddard, Brandon Thomson, J.R. McMickel, Daniel Keene, Jr., and Richard Douglas. Abell, Keene, and Douglas had major damage and were out of the race. Kaouk had sheet metal damage and was able to return.
Since no lap was down, a complete restart was in order as Winchell took the point followed by Ripley, Chad Akins, Ricky Carmichael, and Darren Brown. But another short run as Chuck Burkhalter and Ricky Carmichel get together with Burkhalter spining in turns 3 and 4 breaking a control arm and finds himself out of the race. Carmichael is sent to the rear for the restart.
Winchell takes the point once again on lap 5 followed by Akins, Ripley, Brown and Curreli. Curreli wastes no time as he passes both Ripley and Akins and takes over third. Brown finds a mirror full of Moff who passes Brown and takes over fourth when the caution comes out once again for Earl Beckner who finds himself against the turn 1-2 wall. Beckner is fine but also done for the night.
On the restart Curreli takes over the lead from Winchell but once again the caution comes out one lap later for Greg Kaouk who spins in turns 1 and 2. Winchell is put back in the lead for the restart on lap 21 followed by Curreli, Akins, Moff, and Justin Larson. But once again as the racing gets hot, the caution comes out on lap 29 for Drew Brannon who has spun in turns 3 and 4.
On the restart Curreli proves he does have the fastest car as he passes Winchell for the lead followed by Winchell, Moff, Akins and Larson. Completing the top ten are Brown, Clouser, Thomson, Ripley and Steve Gill.
Dustin Deschamps brings out the next caution on lap 42 when he goes hard into the turn 2 wall. Deschamps is fine but done for the night. Twenty one of the twenty nine cars are left for the restart as Curreli leads the way over Winchell, Moff, Larson and Akins.
Brown, who is the top rookie in points in the Goodyear Challenge Series, now puts pressure on Akins for fifth but Akins holds. Moff looks high and low on Winchell for second but Winchell holds. Jeremy Colangelo retires his car on lap 68 as the crowd watches his crew slowly push the 05 back into the pits. Running order is Curreli, Winchell, Moff, Larson, and Brown.
Winchell, Moff, and Larson are running nose to tail as Curreli set sails in the front on lap 72. Moff goes to the outside, Winchell on the inside as Moff takes over second on lap 77. Suddenly the caution comes out for Larson as Drew Brannon goes into the pits. Brannon has gotten over-heated and finds he must exit the car before he passes out. Brannon was fine but need water and cooling off.
With Larson out of the top five, Curreli takes the point on the restart followed by Moff, Winchell, Clouser and Brown. With no further cautions, Curreli leads the way and takes the checkered followed by Doug Moff, Joe Winchell, Rich Clouser and Darren Brown.
The next event for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series will be at USA International in Lakeland on September 1. For more information on the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series go to www.fascartours.com.
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OFFICIAL RESULTS NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY AUGUST 18, 2007
GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100
1. #2 A. J. Curreli, Daytona Beach 2. #46 Doug Moff, Ft. Meyers 3. #57 Joe Winchell, Dade City 4. #9 Rich Clouser, Palm Bay 5. #53 Darren Brown, Ormond Beach 6. #60 Chad Akins, Port Orange 7. #54 Brandon Thomson, St. Cloud 8. #5 Steve Gill, Sarasota 9. #23 Cory Collum, Cape Coral 10. #00 John Ripley, Sanford 11. #40 Jeremy Goddard, Naples 12. #31 Greg Kaouk, Penbroke Pines 13. #4 Ray Black, Jr., Palm Coast 14. #07 Randy Beeken, Groveland 15. #4x Ricky Carmichael, Tallahassee 16. #88 Justin Larson, Safety Harbor 17, #08 Drew Brannon, Miami 18. #27 Brennan Palmiter, Ormond Beach 19. #05 Jeremy Colangelo, Deland 20. #119 JR McMickel, Davie 21. #25 Steve Smith, Lakeland 22. #07x Steven Simpson, New Smyrna 23. #51 Dustin Deschamps, Brooksville 24. #36 Earl Beckner, Orlando 25. #47 Davey Gibbs, Deltona 26. #1x Chuck Burkhalter, Clermont 27. #6 Richard Douglas, Christmas 28. #16 Daniel Keene, Jr., Weeekie Wachee 29. #19 Chuck Abell, Apopka
FAST QUALIFIER: #2 A. J. Curreli
TOP ROOKIE: #53 Darren Brown
Mini Stock - Features Pos Driver Car # 1 Ted Vulpius 71 2 Jeff Pittsley 20 3 Mark Broat 6 4 Joseph Gerard 5 5 Bo Davis 67 6 Benjamin Zell 10 7 Andy Wolfe 43
Sportsman - Features Pos Driver Car # 1 Donny Williams 111 2 Philip Luizzo 27 3 Dale Howard 63 4 Mike Pletka 23 5 Paul Colgan 31 6 Paul Kitner 911 7 Grant McAlister 48X
Strictly Stock - Features Pos Driver Car # 1 Sonny Pond 912 2 Doug Wolf 70 3 Jody Roberts 13 4 Brent Bruner 20 5 Gomez Alvarez 12 6 Kenneth Walker 61 7 Richard Goodrich 86 8 Arnold Parent 04 9 Eric Wolf 69 10 April McGowan 39 11 Chris Sclafani 00 12 Leandro Putelli 554 13 Dustin Higdon 4 14 Wiiliam Skip Wager 43 15 Eddie Rush 71
Super Stock - Features Pos Driver Car # 1 Bobby Holley 56 2 Geno Smith 25 3 Bruce McGonigal 22 4 Mike Dahm 21 5 Michael Wofford 15 6 Jeff Colburn 3 7 Tobi Smith 8 8 Steve Green 32 9 Billy Boggs 9
