It was Christmas in August at New Smyrna Speedway Saturday night as three of the five winning drivers had their victories “gift wrapped” for them. Zach Jarrell had the pole position for the Pro Late Model feature and he used that to his advantage as he built up a huge lead while a wholesale battle took place behind him. Ricky Anderson did his best to hold off an onslaught of other drivers for second spot but eventually Rich Clouser, Brad May and point leader Will Carroll were able to slip by but found themselves with considerable ground to make up to leader Jarrell. Most fans figured that it would take little time for Clouser and May to catch the leader since the duo had won the last four PLM races contested here, but as the laps began to wind down it became apparent Jarrell had his car on rails and looked to be on his way to his second win of the year. Suddenly Jarrell’s car slowed heading into turn two on lap 16 victim of a broken distributor and
he dejectedly coasted to pit road. Clouser took over at that point and was looking strong but May closed quickly in the late laps to put the pressure on him. May’s charge fell just short at the checker as Clouser claimed his fourth win of the season over May and Carroll. Anderson held on for fourth trailed by Daniel Miller, Noah Cornman and Jarrell.
It was deja vu in the Sportsman feature. Ron Gustafson grabbed the early lead but had to contend with heat winner Patrick Thomas by lap five. One lap later the pair got together heading into turn one with Gustafson going for a spin. Thomas was said to be at fault so he restarted from the tail of the field while Gustafson retained his lead spot. On the restart Austin Carr blew by the leader and began to open up a big advantage and appeared easily headed to victory. But just like Jarrell in the Pro Lates, Carr had his car shut off on him coming off turn two on lap 13 and he too coasted to the pits. By that time Thomas had worked his way up to
second and he inherited the front position and eventual win as the race ran the rest of the distance under green. Thomas picked up his first win of the season after some recent tough luck. Point leader Donny Williams took the runner-up spot with Chris Brannon third over D. J. Farr and newcomer George Alexander, the only cars still running. Carr was credited with sixth and Gustafson, who also dropped out, seventh.
The result was the same in the Mini Stock feature only with different circumstances. As seems to be the case recently, the feature run for the four-cylinders would be crazy, yet entertaining for the fans. Reid Christiensen snared the early lead but saw caution fly for the first time as Jamie Dixson got loose coming off turn two collecting both Ted Vulpius and Todd Haught. Christiensen continued to run up front but one lap after the restart Wayne Wells and Mark Broat crashed coming off turn two eliminating both from competition. Hard luck Broat was OK but has car took a heavy hit into the wall, his third major wreck of the year. Christiensen pitted during the caution with a flat left front tire. On the restart it was David Russell surging to the point only to be passed by Tyler Simpson who led lap nine before Russell took over the lead again. Russell, driving his “short track” car, held the point but it was Dixson on the charge and the two raced hard for several laps. On the final circuit the leaders tangled coming off turn two and slid low on the track out of harms way. The race ran to completion with a surpised Tyler Simpson taking the checker in first place for his third win of the year. Point leader Pat Wells took second then was the first to congratulate the young driver in victory lane putting aside some recent “hard feelings” between the two teams. Christiensen rebounded for a third place effort followed by
Brad Blanton. Dixson and Russell got the cars restarted and crossed the stripe in fifth and sixth spots with Michael Hanna, Wayne Weels, Broat, Vulpius and Haught completing the finishers. Levi Hammond and Daniel Brown were unable to start.
Point leader Shannon Kelly grabbed the early lead in the Super Stock 25-lap headliner only to see a quick caution on lap three when the left front tire went down on Justin Spears’ car. His pit crew weren’t exactly the Wood Brothers but the got him back out for the restart. Kelly continued to set the pace but the yellow flag was back out on lap 13 as an axle broke on Preston Hunt’s car sending him spinning in a shower of sparks
in turn one. On the restart, heat winner Danny Frye got the jump on the field while Kelly and Mike Amato locked hornes and tangled sending Kelly’s car into the front stretch wall. With both Kelly and Amato out of the running, Frye had an easy run to the checker for his first win of the season. Joe Gerard was back after a bit of a layoff and posted his best finish of the year in second while Spears came back to nab third spot only to be set down in the tech shed for a weight infraction. That moved Becca Samsoe up to a third place finish and she was followed by Mike Dahm, Mack McDonald, Kelly, Amato and Hunt. Jeff Colburn did not start.een the two teams.
Zachary Curtis continued his domination of the Strictly Stocks taking both the heat race his fourth win in a row driving his potent Saturn after a good battle with Charles King who settled for second ahead of Shane Sutorus.
Warren Howie was fourth followed by Aaron Overman and Jimmy Barron. Point leader Barron had the transmission let go in his regular ride during practice but fellow competitor Sutorus went back to his house a brought his other car, a Saturn station wagon, for Barron to drive.
