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Daytona results 2003-11-02

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Nov. 2, 2003) -- During his NASCAR Winston Cup career, Lake Speed never was able to capture a victory at historic Daytona International Speedway. But for the last two years, Speed has swept all four Historic Stock Car Racing ...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla., (Nov. 2, 2003) -- During his NASCAR Winston Cup career, Lake Speed never was able to capture a victory at historic Daytona International Speedway.

But for the last two years, Speed has swept all four Historic Stock Car Racing Association (HSCRA) races at the "World Center of Racing," which are part of the Grand American Champions Weekend presented by Brumos Porsche.

Speed, who retired from NASCAR Winston Cup Series racing in 1998 after 402 career starts, led every lap of both Saturday and Sunday's HSCRA races and earned two trips to the hallowed grounds of Gatorade Victory Lane at the "World Center of Racing."

"All the years of frustration and thinking you had a car that could win the Daytona 500 or the Pepsi 400, something would always happen," said Speed, who was driving his No. 83 Ford Thunderbird. "You lead a lot of laps and not win the race. To be able to put something away, even though it's a different series, it's still Daytona and that makes it special."

Speed posted his lone Winston Cup victory at Darlington (S.C.) Raceway in the 1988 spring race. He also finished second to Bill Elliott in the 1985 Daytona 500 - the "Great American Race."

Nowadays, the 55-year-old Speed is a regular competitor in the HSCRA and also stays busy with church and real estate work.

"I've got three teenagers in the house, that's my full time job right there," Speed said.

Racing his old stock car in the Historic Stock Car Racing Association is "fun" for Speed.

"There's no pressure," Speed said. "I don't have anybody to answer to next week. I can leave (the car) in the trailer or I can take it out and go work on it. It doesn't matter."

In other Historic Sportscar Racing on Sunday at the Speedway, the father-son team of Joe and Joe Sullivan Jr. captured the overall 90-minute Rolex Vintage Enduro victory and the GT5 class win in their No. 04 Porsche.

Rounding out the overall podium were Jim McCormick in the No. 33 Porsche and Terry Wolters and Bill Bryan in their No. 3 Porsche.

Joe Sullivan Jr. kept the car toward the front all day and put his father in good position to win the race when he took over driving duties. Pit stop strategy played in favor for the Sullivan family.

"We knew that the 99 car was the competition," said Joe Sullivan Sr. "We got a little bit of luck with a pit stop. (The No. 99) pitted earlier than we did and we stayed out longer. We had a little luck today, but you have to have some of that -- that's part of it. We had a good race. It was outstanding."

The next time sports cars race at Daytona International Speedway will be for the 42nd anniversary of the Rolex 24 at Daytona on Jan. 31-Feb. 1. Tickets are available online at http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com or by calling (386) 253-7223.

Race results:

Rolex Vintage Enduro: 1. Joe Sullivan, Sr., Joe Sullivan, Jr., 1970 Porsche; 2. Jim McCormick, 1969 Porsche; 3. Terry Wolters, Bill Bryan, 1970 Porsche.

Group 9/935 Reunion Race: 1. Toby Bean, Brian Goellnicht, 1989 Nissan GTO; 2. Donald Soenen, 1992 Mustang Trans-Am; 3. Bill Bachman, 1979 Porsche 935.

Group 10 Feature Race: 1. Brady Refenning, 2000 BMW M Coupe; 2. Joseph Toussaint, 1995 Porsche 993 RSR; 3. David Master, 2002 Porsche GT3.

Group 7/2-Litre Shootout: 1. Wayne Jackson, 1997 Panoz Esperante/LMP; 2. Craig Bennett, 1967 Lola T-70 Mk IIIB; 3. Bill Murray, 1966 Ford GT40.

Group C GTP Feature race: 1. Alec Hsu, 1987 Porsche 962; 2. Brian DeVries, 1990 Nissan GTP; 3. Aaron Hsu, 1988 Porsche 962.

Group 5 Feature Race: 1. Bill Murray, 1965 Cobra 427 S/C; 2. Jack Cowell, 1970 Camaro; 3. Catasby Jones, 1973 Porsche 911.

HSCRA Round 14: 1. Lake Speed, 1993 Thunderbird; 2. Donald Soenen, 1998 Taurus; 3. Wayne Otto, 1990 Lumina.

Group 3 Feature Race: 1. Peter Kitchek, 1969 Porsche 911; 2. Jack Refenning, 1966 Porsche 911; 3. Josh Vargo, 1965 Porsche 911.

Group 2 Feature Race: 1. Dave Bondon, 1964 Morgan; 2. Paul Swanson, 1958 Porsche 356; 3. Keith Denahan, 1964 Porsche 356.

-dis-

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