A nice crowd of fans on “Ladies Night” at New Smyrna Speedway were treated to
some awesome late April weather and a great racing program as the track hosted
week number seven of the NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series.
After taking a victory in the Super Late Model feature the week before, Brad
May’s Bobby Sears Racing Team dusted off their Pro Late Model for the first
time this season and the Orlando driver dominated the 25-lap headliner leading
from green to checker.
May drew the pole position for the start of the event and that was all she
wrote as he checked out on the field despite a pair of yellow flags that
slowed the action. Larry Blount was running third when his car suddenly
slowed on the front stretch and he was tagged by the machine of Daniel Miller.
Blount’s car spun into the inside wall and suffered only minor damage but he
was done for the evening while Miller continued with a bit of cosmetic damage
to the nose of his car. Zach Jarrell spun in traffic on lap 21 to set up a
four lap dash to the finish but May was easily up to the task as he pulled
away for the win.
Cody Blair made his first PLM start of the year and had a fast machine but was
unable to match the speed of May and settled for the runner-up spot ahead of
Miller, Jarrell and Blaise Hetznecker. Noah Cornman was sixth trailed by Rich
Clouser, Blount and newcomer Aaron Radar.
Justin Reynolds was in a class to himself in the all-green-flag Super Stock
feature. After Bobby Holley led the opening lap, Reynolds quickly moved to
the point in his Hot Colors Powder Coating Chevy and “put a hurting” on the
field. By the time the checkered flag flew, Reynolds was over half a lap
ahead of second place Shannon Kelly as he lapped up to fifth place.
For Merritt Island driver Reynolds, it was his third win in as many starts
this year. Kelly was a distant second followed by Holley, Preston Hunt and
the winner’s brother Matt Reynolds. Becca Samsoe took sixth followed by Joe
Gerard III, Mike Dahm, Dale Howard, Ronnie Hadden, Gino Tumminello and Robert
Pence. George Dahm was unable to start after a crash in the heat race that
was also won by Reynolds.
Ted Vulpius of Mims is also a perfect three-for-three after leading every lap
of the Mini Stock feature although he was driving a different car than the one
that found victory lane the first two times, a machine “Mr. Mini Stock”
described as “the oldest in our fleet.” Vulpius inherited the pole starting
spot after original pole-sitter Tyler Simpson elected to start scratch in his
brand-new mount that was not running up to snuff and that allowed Vulpius to
breeze away to a big early lead and he was never challenged as this race also
ran all the way under green.
Brad Blanton finished second for the third time in a row and had clearly the
second-fastest car on the track but it was no match for Vulpius’ hot rod.
Jamie Dixson claimed the show spot trailed by David Russell, Mark Broat, Bobby
Dooley, Randy Jaroszek and Simpson. Vulpius also won the heat race.
Charlie King brought out a new Chevy Monte Carlo for Bomber competition, drew
the pole for the 20-lap feature, then proceeded to lead every lap as this race
was the third of the night to run without benefit of a caution flag. King,
who built the car for his son Charlie, Jr. to drive and was “testing it out,”
pulled into Hampton Inn victory circle with a fire under the hood. King
calmly grabbed his fire extinguisher and put the flames out himself before
posing for pictures.
Warren Howie crossed the line in second but was disqualified in tech moving
James Skinner up to second at the finish. Third spot was claimed by Megan
Matheny followed by Aaron Overman, William Barrington, and heat winner Shane
Sutorus whose car had the rear brakes overheat and catch fire eliminating him
from the event. Neil Kirby was unable to start the feature race.
Next week the Super Late Models return along with another big field of
Sportsman cars. The Modifieds and Bombers will also be on the card for the
opening Saturday night in May, a month that will feature five Saturdays of
racing at New Smyrna culminating with the May 30 Bright House Challenge event
for the Super Late Models.
Super Stocks
1. #20 Justin Reynolds
2. #23 Shanon Kelly
3. #56 Bobby Holley
4. #6 Preston Hunt
5. #77 Matthew Reynolds
6. #80 Becca Samsoe
7. #51 Joe Gerard
8. #21D Mike Dahm
9. #63 Dale Howard
10. #18 Ronnie Hadden
11. #35 Gino Tumminello
12. #88 Robert L. Pence
13. #21x George Dahm DNS
Pro Late Models
1. #9 Brad May
2. #15 Cody Blair
3. #00 Daniel Miller
4. #18 Zack Jarrell
5. #17H Blaise Hetznecker
6. #30 Noah Cornman
7. #80 Rich Clouser
8. #21 Larry Blount
9. #95 Aaron Rader
Mini Stocks
1. #71 Ted Vulpius
2. #17 Brad Blanton
3. #8 Jamie Dixson
4. #31 David Russell
5. #6 Mark Broat
6. #35 Bobby Dooley
7. #5 Randy Jaroszek
8. #115 Tyler Simpson
Bombers
1. #37 Charles King
2. #58 James Skinner
3. #24 Megan Matheny
4. #03 Aaron Overman
5. #54 William Barrington
6. #3x Shane Sutorus
7. #8 Neil Kirby
8. #16 Warren Howie DQ