TRAVIS COPE DESTROYS BRIGHT HOUSE CHALLENGE SLM FIELD AT ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
Week number two of NASCAR Whelan All American Series action saw some outstanding competition on a warm, muggy night as second-generation driver Travis Cope of Weeki Wachee proved dominant in the headline race of the night, the Bright House Challenge 100 for the Super Late Models.
A dozen Super Lates checked in for action with Orlando’s David Rogers, the defending and four-time Bright House Series champion, setting quick time at 13.765 seconds, just ahead of Daniel Keene, Jr.’s 13.782 lap. Rogers pulled the three pill placing third-fast qualifier Dusty Cornelius of Cocoa on the pole for the 100-lap feature race.
Cornelius shot out from his pole slot into a rather substantial early lead as Rogers slipped by Keene but was not able to match the speed of Cornelius. Meanwhile, Travis Cope had moved to third and was putting the pressure on Rogers, eventually getting by the veteran and now having his sights set on the leader. Cope quickly cut the deficit between himself and Cornelius in half, then seemed to back off a bit to save his tires as the race continued under green.
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