BRANDON MORRIS TAKES SPORTSMAN 50 AT NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY
Saturday night racing action at New Smyrna Speedway featured the Sportsman cars and drivers racing for 50 laps and a nice $1,000 payday. Sixteen cars checked in for time trials and it was Lakeland-area driver Brandon Morris setting the quick lap at 19.680 seconds. Aaron Williamson of Palm Harbor was second fastest with a 19.788 lap while Garrett Hill was third with a lap of 19.932. Morris drew the eight pill for the line-up inversion placing Shelton Bowers and Richard Goodrich on the front row for the start of the big race. Bowers led the opening circuit before Earl Beckner powered by to take the lead. Bowers held strong in second until Morris made his move to the runner-up spot on lap 11. Caution flew for the first time on the 13th lap as Williamson looped his car while ducking low to make a pass in turn one. Williamson went to the rear for the restart as Beckner continued to hold tough to the lead before Morris was finally able to sneak by on lap 19. Collin Allman had a solo spin to bring out the yellow flag on lap 22 while Goodrich spun his mount on lap 27 in turn four for yet another caution. On the restart Williamson, who looked to have the fastest car on the speedway, took second from Beckner and began to chase down Morris, passing him on lap 30. Action behind the leaders was frantic at this point but the race remained under green until the 46th lap when Bowers and Hill tangled in turn four. There was an altercation during the caution laps between Beckner and Daniel Conlin, Jr. stemming from a run-in as the two battled a few laps earlier during the long green flag run. Both pitted with Beckner dropping out while Conlin took on a new left rear tire and returned to the fray. (more…)