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| Points Race Tightens Up at New Smyrna Speedway | by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fl (June 4, 2003) Points at New Smyrna Speedway are getting really tight with mid-season upon us and the rainy season here. With June 1 came Florida'a Hurricane season which means rainouts for the racers. So every point now counts alot to the racers.
David Rogers holds the points lead for the Super Late Models with a 92 point lead over second place Wayne Parker. But closing in on Parker is third place B.J. McLeod with one win this season and only a 4 point difference from Parker. Parker has done a very good job of fine tuning nis No. 3 Super Late but B.J. also has done a fine job coming back to the tracks where he started. Watch for these two to battle down to the wire. Add in Guy Thomas who sits fourth in points, only 4 points behind McLeod. A really tight points difference for the three. David Frohlich, who also has a win, sits fifth in points with 144 points.
Jerry Symons returned to racing last weekend with a win in his Late Model. Symons, who has been out with a broken hand, raced with a cast but as you can tell, did not interfer in any way with his win.
Brian Bellaw with the No. 77 Jolly Rogers/Blackies Saloon Chevy holds the lead in points for the Late Models with 280 points, 68 points more than second place Tim Clark. Clark, who was on his way to a win a few weeks ago, used his back-up car last weekend which did not work as well as the new one. Clark sits second with 212 points.
Mark Smith took over third in points with 188 points followed by Timmy Todd who dropped down to fourth in points with 172. Bobby Orr, who has missed the last two races due to damage to his car, holds fifth in points. But only 8 points behind Orr is Larry Osteen with 132 points.
We are still looking for some Late Models to join in our field at New Smyrna. If you have a Late Model but nowhere to go, please give us a try. You will find some really good folks at New Smyrna Speedway.
Due to the lack of OpenWheel Modifieds last weekend, the heat and feature race for that class was cancelled. But as they return to New Smyrna this weekend, it will be a battle between Mark Vandevender and Bobby Blake who are tied for the lead in points at 324 points each.
Both Vandevender and Blake have very strong cars at New Smyrna with both having feature wins this year. Watch these two battle each other down to the wire as each goes for the 2003 Open Wheel Modified Championship.
Matt Wheeler sits third in points with 140 points followed by Brad May in fourth with 116 points and Jim "Hoot" Flynn in fifth with 104 points. But there are a number of good racers behind Flynn who could easily move up once they return to racing. John Zidek, Skip Honaker, Chad Pierce, David Hite and Jim Coverdale fill out the remaining top ten.
Dale Clouser returned to Winner's Circle last weekend with his first win in 2003 for the Sportsman division. The week before Clouser came from the rear to finish second, last week there was no second for him but a win.
Leading the points in the Sportsman division is Bill Spade with 344 points, a good 104 points over second place Chris Pedulat. Pedulat took over the second spot this week with his third place finish last week. Pedulat sits at 240 points but only 4 points behind Pedulat is third place Ron Lufcy who is ready to rumble. Lufcy has gotten stronger and stronger and is due for a win anytime.
Jim Snyder in his No. 55 Sportsman moved into fourth this week. Snyder, who came from the Super Stocks, has gotten stronger and better as each race has gone by. It is not a question of if Snyder will win but when. Bill Love fills out the top five with 180 points.
The Mini Stocks are another field that will be down to the wire for the championship. Ted "Mr Mini Stock" Vulipus holds an 8 point lead over Tim "Missileman" McPhail. Both drivers have wins and expect more to come in the 2003 season.
Rex Christensen's v3 has come along way since Rex first started racing. Rex sits firmly in third with 316 points. Ben Hutto holds the fourth place spot in points with 172 and David Castello, the 2002 Mini Stock Champion, has moved into fifth since rejoining the class in the No. 1 Mini Stock. Watch for Vulipus, McPhail and Castello to put on a very good show for the fans each week.
Charlie Collins still holds the points lead for the Super Stocks with 388 points. Ron Whaley sits second with 372 points and still looking for the championship. Whaley, who lost his wife this year, hopes to win the Championships at both Orlando and New Smyrna for her. Jeff Colburn holds third with 292 points with Josh Wronkowski in fourth with 236 points and rounding out the top five is Mike Amato with 184. Butch Pierce, a late started in this season's action, has made his presence known already with a win at Orlando SpeedWorld. Pierce sits sixth in points with 132 points.
All divisions will be racing heats and feature this Saturday night. Grandstands open at 6 p.m. with racing action at 7:30 p.m.
There has been a change in the following schedule at New Smyrna Speedway. The Joe Middleton Pro Modified 50 lapper has been moved from August 9th to August 2nd. On August 9th, New Smyrna will present the Second Annual Volusia County Sheriff's Night. Sheriffs and other dignitaries to be annouced will race school buses for the Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches. Last year's event collected over $10,000 for the ranch. More details will be forthcoming.
New Smyrna Speedway is located between the intersection of SR44 and SR417 between I-4 and I-95 eight miles west of New Smyrna Beach in beautiful Samsula, Florida.
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