New Smyrna Tuesday race summary 2003-02-11

37th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
Night 5
Race 5 of 9

SAMSULA, FLORIDA - Jerry Symons of New Smyrna Beach, FL was back in victory lane once again Tuesday night winning the World Series Florida/IMCA Modified 50 on New Smyrna Speedway.

Symons took the lead in lap three opening as much as a 20 car lead by lap 40 and coasted home to victory on the one-half mile track driving his Gene Kelly Roofing Modified.

In lap six, Jason Boyd of Orlando, FL moved in behind Symons and he was being hotly pursued by D. J. Hoelzle. Rounding out the top five were Stephen Johanneck of Litchfield, NN, who led the opening two laps and Brad May of Orlando, FL.

By lap 20, Symons had a 10 car lead with Boyd still trying to keep Hoelzle behind him protecting his second place position.

At halfway, Symons still controlled the race tempo pretty much at his choosing with Boyd, Hoelzle, May and Johanneck following.

Hoelzle was slowed by lap traffic in lap 35 and dropped further behind Boyd.

Hoelzle was once again in a mix with Boyd in lap 43 and made an effort to go low on the track to try a pass in an effort to take over second place.

The field once again came together following a caution in lap 45 with Symons still completely in charge. Boyd, Hoelzle, May and Wayne Parker followed.

Boyd running a strong second in lap 47 became a little loose in turn two and Hoelzle seized the moment for a clean pass.

Two circuits later May moved into third by giving Boyd a push and go sending him to the pits with a damaged car.

Symons crossed the stripe followed by Hoelzle and May. Parker and Mark Glye rounded out the top- five.

SUPER LATE MODELS

James Powell III of Astor, FL, driving his A Natural Difference Chevrolet won his second straight World Series Super Late Model 30 Tuesday night on New Smyrna Speedway.

A fast moving Powell starting fifth moving to the point in lap four and held off a stubborn Wayne Anderson of Wildwood, FL, driving Carolina Printing Chevrolet after lap 19.

In lap 10, Powell was followed by Louie Mechalides of Tyngsboro, Mass., Donald Chisholm of Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Anderson and B. J. McLeod of Wauchula, FL.

Mechalides and Chisholm made contact in turn one when Chisholm looked to make a pass. Both then became non-contenders.

On the restart in lap 19 it was now Powell, Anderson, McLeod, Scott Hantz of Pleasant Lake, IN and Don Thompson Jr. of Cambridge, Ontario.

McLeod started to put some pressure on Anderson in lap 23, but it wasn't enough to shake the veteran driving Anderson as he kept his same line.

Powell had just too much for the remaining seven laps and coasted home to victory with Anderson settling for second and McLeod third.

Rounding out the top five were Hantz and Thompson, who were six cars apart from each other and well off the pace.

NASCAR TOUR TYPE AND SK MODIFIEDS

Tim Arre of Toms River, N.J. drove his Shark -- Major Motorsports Troyer 357 to a last lap victory following 10 cautions during laps 23 and 24 in a 26 lap NASCAR Tour Type and SK Modified "World Series" racing action on Tuesday night.

Frank Wainwright of Stanford, CT in his AJ Romono Wisk CO 355 ride won the SK Modified class.

Arre took the lead with a slick pass of race leader JR Bertuccio of Centereach, N.Y., during lap 26 to seal his victory.

Bertuccio, who had led from lap three made contact in lap 23 with Ted Christopher of Plainville, CT,, driving his Sherm's -- Sunoco Total Engines Concept Troyer 358.

Christopher had challenged throughout the race and finally made his pass for the lead following a seventh caution in lap 23, but Bertuccio then clipped a race leading Christopher's Modified in the left rear corner sending him sailing with a crunching ending.

There were a total of 10 cautions during laps 23 and 24 before the race was finally resolved and Bertuccio survived the lead in all but the final lap 26 circuit when Arre slipped by him in a classic Modified race-of-races.

With Bertuccio on the point Christopher was behind him in lap three and already to dial in the early leader, but it wasn't to be.

Bertuccio was still tough in lap 10 holding off Christopher, who was followed by Arre running third and George Kent of Horseheads, N.Y. was fourth.

At halfway, Bertuccio was still the leader followed by a stubborn Christopher and Arre.

Christopher again worked Bertuccio hard for the lead in lap 22, but again couldn't make a clean pass and dropped a little back in an apparent move to think further on a pass.

There was a five car spin on a lap 23 restart and there would be six more before the lap would be completed. The final three yellow flags would unfurl in lap 24.

Arre crossed the stripe followed by Bertuccio and George Bach of Franklin Square, N.Y.

Rounding out the top five were Kent and Kevin Goodale of Riverhead, N.Y.

LATE MODEL

Jason Boyd of Orlando, FL driving the Donnely Plumbing Chevrolet won the "World Series" Late Model 20 Tuesday night at New Smyrna Speedway when Joey Miller of Farmington, Minn. driving a Chevrolet was disqualified in post race technical inspection.

Miller scampered to the lead from the outside pole and led flag-to-flag in securing an apparent victory. Boyd would be the only driver to offer a challenge after lap 10.

>From lap five Miller held a five car lead over Mike Murphy of Clermont, FL and Kirk Hooker of Chatham, Ontario. Rounding out the top five were Larry Osteen of Clermont, FL and Boyd.

Boyd moved into second place in lap 10 and the hunt for the lead was on.

Miller built a 20 car length lead over Boyd after the race had run green for 14 circuits.

In lap 17, Miller still had the point with Boyd closing the gap. Murphy followed in third, Hooker fourth and Osteen fifth.

Miller beat Boyd to the stripe for what he thought was an apparent win, but Boyd claimed the checkered flag as Miller was disqualified.

The disqualification put Murphy second and Hooker third.

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