By John Berti
New Smyrna, FL -July 1, 2010. Austin Kirkpatrick dazzled a field of 29 Sunoco Florida All Star Tour Super Late Models in qualifying for the 12th Annual Clyde Hart Memorial 100 at New Smyrna Speedway, Thursday evening.
The 17 year old high school junior, at the wheel of the Sonny’s Bar-B-Q #85 Chevrolet, set fast time of the day with a lap around the ½ mile high banked, paved oval in 17.589 seconds.
Another surprise was the fine qualifying time turned in by track regular, Ben Kennedy, who set the second fastest time with a circuit at 17.643 seconds.
Super late model household names finished out the top five qualifiers as follows: B.J. McCleod, 17.664; Wayne Anderson, 17.719; and Jeff Scofield, 17.768.
The stage was set for promising battle between the new wave, young guns of Super Late Model racing and. the wily veterans later on in the evening. Too bad for all that Mother Nature had to step in with rain and in the end it was drizzle that beat out dazzle with the ultimate cancellation of the Clyde Hart Memorial 100 until Saturday, September 4, 2010.
The open wheel modifieds had taken to the track for their 50 lap feature when it began to sprinkle. The sprinkle quickly turned to steady rain which pelted the track forcing a determined track management to end the night’s competition.