KARNAC MEDIA

Samsula, FL (Jan. 2, 2010)  As the moon got higher in the sky, the night air seemed to get colder.  But that did not bother the brave souls who ventured out on January 2nd to New Smyrna Speedway for the first race of the new year – The Red Eye 100.
With twenty five cars in the field, fans were sure to see one good but cold race.  Rich Clouser topped the timing charts with a 17.36 followed by Tim Russell, David Rogers, Justin Larson and Chad Akins.  Clouser pulled the number 5 pill inverting the field with Chad Akins on the pole.
As the green flag waved, it was Justin Larson who jumped to the early lead followed by Chad Akins, Tim Russell, David Rogers and Mario Gosselin.  Russell wasted no time passing Akins for second with Gosselin right on his heels for third as Akins settled into fourth and Joe Boyd took over fifth.  Boyd puts the heat on Akins and takes over fourth as Akins finds his hands full of a very hard charging Clouser battling for fifth.
Clouser makes his move and takes over fifth as Larson continues to lead the way over Russell, Gosselin, and Boyd.   In sixth is David Rogers who is definitely keeping Boyd on his toes as Clouser has passed Boyd for fourth.  Boyd does a great job of protecting his position and holds Rogers in sixth.
The first caution comes out for Kevin Dicks and John Coffman who have gotten together in turn 4 on lap 14.  Both cars go into the pits, done for the night.  On the restart, Larson once again takes the point followed by Russell, Gosselin, Clouser, and Boyd.  Gosselin goes high in turn 4 and dusts the frontstretch wall as Clouser sees an advantage and takes over third.  Clouser then looks on Russell for second but Russell quickly shuts the door.  Rogers looks on Boyd for fourth but Boyd shuts the door.
As the top three pull away from the field having their own race, Gosselin, Boyd and Rogers are fighting hard for position.  Rogers looks again on Boyd but once again, Boyd shuts the door.    As Larson, Russell and Clouser pull away from the field, they seems to have about a ten car length spread between each of them.
Rogers once again looks on Boyd for fourth and this time makes his move and makes it work taking over fourth.  Rogers then looks on Gosselin in third and takes over third as Gosselin settles into fourth and Boyd fifth.  The second caution comes out on lap 42 for Bobby Good who has spun on the backstretch.
Lap 46 sees the restart as Larson once again leads the way over Russell, Clouser, Rogers and Gosselin.  Russell challenges Larson but Larson shuts the door.  Russell and Larson go side by side but Russell gets loose and must let off some as Clouser sees his advantage point and takes over second as Russell settles into third.  It is now Larson, Clouser, Russell, Rogers, and Gosselin leading the way over the rest of the field.
Clouser continues his hunt for the point and finally makes his move, makes it stick and takes over as Larson settles into second followed by Russell, Rogers, and Gosselin.  Once Clouser has the point, he begins to pull away from the field.
Russell now finds his hands full of a very determined Rogers who has gone side by side with Russell for third.  Rogers makes his move and takes over third as Russell is forced to settle into fourth followed by Gosselin in fifth.   Rogers next challenges Larson for second but Larson is able to hold on and keep his position.
By now, Clouser has built a twenty car lead over Larson.   Just as it looks like clear sailing for Clouser the caution comes out on lap 63 for Austin Pickens who has hit the turn 4 wall as he and Joe Boyd were racing hard for position.  Pickens is fine but done for the night.
Lap 68 sees the restart as Clouser leads the way over Rogers, Larson, Russell and Gosselin.  But it is a very short restart as the red flag comes out for Bobby Good and Chet Morrison.  Good spun on the frontstretch and with no place to go at all, Morrison hits Good hard on the frontstretch.  Both drivers were fine but their cars were done for the night.  Not how either driver intended to end their first race of the year.
With no more cautions, Clouser leads the way on the restart followed by Rogers, Russell, Gosselin, and Larson.  Clouser puts the pedal to the metal and begins to build a ten car lead over Rogers.  However Rogers, who is second, has a good twenty car lead over third place Russell.  However Russell finds his mirror full of Mario Gosselin who challenges Russell and takes over third.  It is now Clouser, Rogers, Gosselin, Russell and Larson.
With only 19 laps left to go, the heat is on for position.  Anthony Campi puts the heat on Boyd for sixth but Boyd closes that door fast keeping Campi in seventh.
Clouser continues to lead the way and takes the checkered for his first win in 2010 followed by David Rogers, Mario Gosselin, Tim Russell, and Justin Larson.
In Victory Circle Clouser told the cold but happy crowd that it was an awesome night for him and his team.  The car was great and he thanked his sponsor Sanford Auto Dealers for coming on board with him and car owner Bobby Sears for the year.
“It was our night from the get-go” said Clouser and obviously he was right.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
RED EYE 100 – NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
JANUARY 2, 2010
1.  #9 Rich Clouser
2.  #11 David Rogers
3.  #61 Mario Gosselin
4.  #36 Tim Russell
5.  #88 Justin Larson
6.  #5 Joe Boyd
7.  #81 Anthony Campi
8.  #22 Dusty Cornelius
9.  #07x Steven Simpson
10. #29 Mallory Harvey
11. #75 Don Keithley
12. #60 Chad Akins
13. #05X David Lebeau
14. #32 Joe Rankin
15. #27 Bobby Good
16. #86 Chet Morrison
17. #63 Austin Pickens
18. #78 B.J. McLeod
19. #5 Shane Snipes
20. #7 Vince Keeler
21. #38 Kevin Dicks
22. #58 John Coffman
23. #13 Bob Greene
24. #47 Davey Gibbs DNS
25. #34 Shaughn McCormick DNS
26. #21 James Carter DNS