The PIT CONCESSIONS will be open for beverages at 5:00pm and begin food service at 6:00pm.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

* – REGISTRATION for Weekly Series Divisions Closes at 6:30PM.

* – ALL CARS MUST HAVE A FASCAR SAFETY STICKER BEFORE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE TRACK FOR PRACTICE – NO EXCEPTION.

* – ALL DIVISIONS - Please pay close attention to your Practice Time(s). There will be no extra practice laps or sessions. NO “I-Need-A’s”

Modifieds – 25 Laps

The PIT CONCESSIONS will be open for beverages at 4:00pm and begin food service at 5:00pm.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

* – REGISTRATION for Weekly Series Divisions Closes at 6:00PM.

* – ALL CARS MUST HAVE A FASCAR SAFETY STICKER BEFORE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE TRACK FOR PRACTICE – NO EXCEPTION.

* – ALL DIVISIONS - Please pay close attention to your Practice Time(s). There will be no extra practice laps or sessions. NO “I-Need-A’s”

by Mark Keeler – Announcer/PR New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Beach, Florida (5/5/12)

Grand Marshall & Stock Car Racing Legend Marvin Panch Congratulates David Rogers #11 in Victory Lane

In Qualifying, it was Race #2 winner Rich Clouser #9 who bested the field, with a fast-lap of 17.461 at an average speed of 103.087mph. Orlando veteran Brad May #10, who in recent years has spent more time away from the track than on it, has been a pleasant surprise in 2012 competing in two out of the three events and turned in the second fastest lap at 17.526 seconds.

Rogers was third quick with Dade City, Florida veteran Joe Winchell #64 fourth and the youngster that has been lurking just outside the winners circle this year, 17 year old Anthony Sergi #20 rounding out the top five qualifiers.

With the field pacing behind the Gary Yeoman’s Ford Pace Truck, Winchell visited Pit Road, giving up his fourth starting spot prior to the green flag. “I kinda over engineered this thing for time-trials so we had to go in and make some adjustments.” Winchell explained, “We were just too tight”. So Winchell would drop to the tail and start the race from the 10^th spot.

Clouser led the opening 36 laps and looked to be on his way to his second win in the three races, but Rogers had other ideas. May jumped out of line a few times to get alongside Clouser for the lead but was never able to hold momentum down the straight-aways. Rogers saw similar fate while pressuring May for the runner-up spot.

Less than a dozen laps in Winchell pulled into the top five after getting past Scott Heckert #72 in turns one and two. Heckert inherited the fourth starting spot when Winchell dropped to the tail and held on there for the opening few laps before Sergi made his way by.

After spending the opening dozen laps entrenched in a three car battle up front that saw Rogers all over the rear of May’s car, Rogers was able to pull into second on lap 16 and the hunt was on for the lead. Clouser had opened up about a 3 car-length advantage but it was short-lived as Rogers quickly reeled him in.

After dropping to third May quickly found himself in the clutches of Sergi to hang onto that spot. Sergi took the low line a few times trying to get by May and while they were battling for third, Winchell reeled them in and without hesitation jumped alongside Sergi for fourth and grabbed that spot with a quarter of the race complete. Winchell had a few car lengths to catch May while Sergi stayed with him.

Up front, Rogers looked high and low on Clouser for 20 laps before getting a great run down the backstretch and into turn three, completing the pass to lead lap 36.

After a handful of laps fighting to get alongside May, Winchell was able to take third and Sergi quickly jump out of line to battle side-by-side with May for fourth. Again May would put up a fight, staying door to door with Sergi for a few laps before dropping back to fifth.

Just shy of the half-way point, Winchell and Sergi began a battle for third that would last for the duration of the event.

The only caution of the event slowed the field on lap 60 as Caesar Bacarella #24, in his Bright House Challenge Series debut, spun coming off of turn four.

The restart allowed Sergi to get by Winchell for third. However just two laps later, Sergi got sideways out of turn four and had to chase his car down the track to save it, allowing Winchell to pull back by. Although no other positions changed hands over the final third of the race the action was heated as Clouser pressured Rogers for the lead and Sergi pressured Winchell for third.

Rogers hung on to take the win, his first Bright House Challenge Series victory of 2012. With consistent runs and now a win in the opening four races, Rogers extends his Points Lead to 11 points over Clouser. “That’s what Points are all about is just being consistent.” said Rogers, “Rich is gonna keep you honest.” he went on to say about Clouser who once again looks to be Rogers toughest competition in the hunt for the Championship once again in 2012. “Anytime we can finish between David Rogers and Joe Winchell… I feel like I’ve accomplished something.” said Clouser about his runner-up finish. On leading the opening laps, Clouser said he knew Rogers was coming for him, “He’s got a long run car… I knew he was coming.”

Winchell recovered from the pre-race Pit Stop and a late race pass from Sergi to take down a strong third place run but felt like Rogers and Clouser were just to strong out front, “When these two get out front you’re not gonna catch ‘em.” And although he was focused for 100 laps on winning the race, Winchell had another “competition” on his mind Saturday after the race, informing the fans about the “Brownie Cook-off” that was taking place in the Pit Area between himself and Jenn Clouser (wife of Rich) “Rich may have beat me out here, but I’m gonna win this thing.” And we are told that Winchell did indeed take that win.

The next race for the Bright House Challenge Series is set for June 16^th back at the New Smyrna Speedway.

Click Here for Complete Race Results from Saturday 5/5/12

Bright House Challenge Series
Super Late Models – 100 Laps

1. #11 David Rogers
2. #9 Rich Clouser
3. #64 Joe Winchell
4. #20 Anthony Sergi
5. #10 Brad May
6. #19 Ray Black Jr
7. #72 Scott Heckert
8. #24 Caesar Bacarella
9. #7 Amanda Ferguson
10. #21 James Carter

Sportsman – 15 Laps

1. #25 Patrick Thomas
2. #17 Blaise Hetznecker
3. #33 Michael Seay
4. #86 Richard Goodrich
5. #27 Phil Luizzo

Pro-Trucks – 15 Laps

1. #21 Scott Reeves
2. #11 Robert Strader Jr

Mini-Stocks – 25 Laps

1. #31 David Russell
2. #23 Wayne Wells
3. #27 Jeff Pittsley
4. #32 Jesse Powers
5. #6 Mark Broat
6. #8 Jamie Dixson
7. #09 Todd Haught

Strictly Stocks – 20 Laps

1. #9 Garrett Hill
2. #21 Maureen Dahm
3. #3 Dustin Higdon
4. #14 Firman Davis
5. #21x Mike Dahm
6. #66 Rick Gaither
7. #37 Steven Metts
DQ #88 Mark Shukwit

by Mark Keeler – Announcer/PR New Smyrna Speedway
New Smyrna Beach, Florida (4/28/12)

Port Orange’s Jamie Skinner #5, son of Camping World Truck Series and former Sprint Cup driver Mike Skinner, has seen his share of success on the Florida Short-Tracks but has been out of the spotlight for a few Years before Saturday night’s second race for the brand new PRO LATE MODEL CHALLENGE SERIES.

Skinner led the opening lap before Cody Blair #15 got by and led the next 41 circuits, at one point opening up as much as a third of a straight-away advantage. Skinner retook to lead on lap 42 following a restart when Daniel Keene Jr #5K, running second, slipped coming up to speed and Skinner went three-wide to get past Keene and pull alongside Blair. They stayed side-by-side for a lap before Skinner was able to secure the top spot. Skinner went on to lead the remaining 58 laps and take down the win in the American Auto Tire & Service sponsored car.

Fast-Qualifier Rich Clouser #9 started in the third spot and was holding on there until the restart on lap 30. Winner from the first Pro Late Model Challenge 100 (4/13 Orlando) Devin McLeod #36 got a great jump to the high-side pulling into P3 down the backstretch but heading into turn three did not quite have Clouser’s car cleared. The two came together sending McLeod spinning, bringing the yellow back out. Since he was to restart in the rear for the incident, Clouser took advantage of that opportunity to visit Pit Road.

A total of 9 cautions and 2 red-flags slowed the race. One of those cautions involved early race leader Blair and Keene as they were battling for P2 and tangled off of turn four. Keene’s car came to rest after making a fair amount of contact with the inside wall. With a good amount of cosmetic damage, he was able to continue but would bring out another caution on lap 75 as he got loose and spun in turn four. Blair would also make two pit stops during the 100 lap event for repairs and battled back to cross the start-finish line second, but was disqualified in post-race tech, turning second place over to former Track Champion Alan Bruns #4B.

Clouser had worked his way up to 2^nd before losing that spot to Ray Black Jr #19 after a good battle following the restart on lap 75. McLeod followed Black and soon took over third from Clouser which is where he would line up for a restart on lap 79 which would prove to be costly. With the field bunched up, Earl Beckner #11 got turned hard into the outside wall just shy of the start-finish line. Behind Beckner several cars sustained damage including Clouser, who  suffered a broken radiator on his Sanford Auto Dealers Exchange machine and would have to settle for an 8^th place finish.

Alan Bruns, who ran solidly inside the top-five all race long before bringing out the yellow on lap 79 after slapping the backstretch wall was able to make repairs during two consecutive pit stops under caution and would take home a runner-up finish after the DQ to Blair. Ray Black Jr would round out the top three.

Rich Clouser would bounce back from his disappointing Pro Late finish by dominating the SUPER LATE MODELS feature leading all 25 laps after starting on the outside of the front row. Michal Seay #10 and Mark Adams #28 had a good battle for the third spot before getting together on lap 17 and both spinning out in turns three and four bringing out the only yellow of the event. Dakotah Stephens #79 would take runner-up honors with Ray Black Jr #19 rounding out the top three.

 CLICK HERE for Complete Official Results from 4/28/12

The OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS went flag-to-flag with Jerry Symons #66 taking yet another win. Symons won 6 out of 7 starts in 2011 and with just two races complete in 2012 has back-to-back feature wins. Alan Bruns #4B took down his second runner-up finish on the night after finishing second in the Pro Late Models 100, while another former track champion rounded out the top three with Matthew Wheeler #96 taking that spot.

In the SPORTSMAN feature it was Timmy Todd Jr #25 who was making his first start of 2012 and became the fourth different Sportsman winner in the opening four races for them. Another first-timer on the season, Chris Harvey #51 took down second with Joey Brown #83 rounding out the top three.

Michael Burns #14 bested the PRO-TRUCKS field taking down the flag-to-flag win over current championship points leader Michael Lira #57 and winner from the previous night at Orlando Speedworld Jim Cowhey Jr #3.

The SUPER STOCKS led off the night as the first feature event and did not disappoint.  Donny Funk #29 edged out pole-sitter Charlie King #37 to lead the opening lap. Funk started on the outside of the front row and would hold down the top spot for the opening 3 laps. Funk has been a tough competitor throughout the early going of the season at both NSS and our sister-track Orlando Speedworld stringing together 4 top 5 finishes at Orlando and 2 top 5’s in just 3 races at New Smyrna.

Behind Funk, Gino Tumminello #60, who finished runner-up the previous two weeks and was coming off his second consecutive runner-up at Orlando the previous night, made quick work of King completing the pass for 2^nd on the outside. Funk opened up about a three car-length lead as Tumminello started reeling him in. It took Gino just a lap to pull alongside Funk into turn three and as they clicked off lap 4, Tumminello was the new leader. That would be the only lead change of the 25 lap event

Former Track Champion and week #1 feature winner Bobby Holley #56, in a team car to the leader, started working on Funk for the runner-up spot when the only caution of the race flew on lap 6 for Mike Dahm #21 who spun in turns three and four. Under the yellow Holley visited the Pits with what appeared to be a rear-end problem or possibly a bent wheel as the right rear was bouncing awkwardly off the pavement. Holley made the decision to return and it would be a good one as he took the ill-handling machine up to a second place finish behind Tumminello. Funk held on for a solid third place finish, his third straight top-five on the year.

With the second feature on the night the STRICTLY STOCKS provided one of the best battles for the lead that we’ve seen to date. The race would go yellow before a lap could be recorded as Mark Shukwit #88, winner of the previous two races, suffered mechanical problems in turn one as smoke and oil poured out from beneath his car.

After the track was cleaned up, it was Dustin Higdon #3 and Rick Gaither #66 that would lead the field to green. Gaither jumped out to the early lead while behind him Jonathan Murphy #10 went three-wide up high to take second from Higdon. Murphy jumped down to the inside groove to get alongside Gaither for the lead and the two went side-by-side for the lead in a dead-heat to cross the stripe for lap 2.

Gaither edged out Murphy at the line each time, eventually gaining about a two car-length lead until lap 7 when Murphy got a great run off of turn two diving to the inside of Gaither and it was scored as the leader. Gaither dropped back by a couple car lengths until the final lap when Gaither reeled Murphy in down the backstretch before trying the crossover move out of turn four but Murphy was just too strong.

After a bit of confusion trying to find Victory Lane, Murphy would make his first trip to collect the VP Racing Fuels Checkered Flag. Gaither would finish second ahead of Higdon.

The PIT CONCESSIONS will be open for beverages at 3:00pm and begin food service at 4:00pm.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

* – REGISTRATION for Weekly Series Divisions Closes at 6:00PM.

* – ALL CARS MUST HAVE A FASCAR SAFETY STICKER BEFORE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE TRACK FOR PRACTICE – NO EXCEPTION.

* – ALL DIVISIONS - Please pay close attention to your Practice Time(s). There will be no extra practice laps or sessions. NO “I-Need-A’s”

Sportsman – 20 Laps

1. #111 Donny Williams
2. #17 Blaise Hetznecker
3. #49 Jason Foster
4. #83 Joey Brown

Super Stocks – 25 Laps

1. #56 Bobby Holley
2. #60 Ernie Tumminello
3. #2x Mike Amato
4. #60T Gino Tumminello
5. #37 Charlie King
6. #72 Dale Sorensen
7. #21 Mike Dahm
8. #112 Jarrett Korpi
9. #29 Donny Funk

Remainder of Feature Races Canceled Due To Inclement Weather.

Pro Late Model Challenge Series
Pro Late Models – 100 Laps 

1. #5 Jamie Skinner
2. #4B Alan Bruns
3. #19 Ray Black Jr
4. #66 Jerry Symons
5. #21 Larry Blount
6. #36 Devon McLeod
7. #00 C.J. Castetter
8. #9 Rich Clouser (fast qual.)
9. #11 Earl Beckner
10. #17 A.J. Fulgenzi
11. #18 Zack Jarrell
12. #5K Daniel Keene Jr
13. #127 Kyle Maynard
14. #9z Zack Donatti
15. #00x Daniel Miller
DQ #15 Cody Blair
DNS #36x Gary Padula

Super Late Models – 25 Laps

1. #9 Rich Clouser
2. #79 Dakotah Stephens
3. #19 Ray Black Jr
4. #10 Michael Seay
5. #28 Mark Adams
6. #13 Bob Greene

Modifieds – 15 Laps

1. #66 Jerry Symons
2. #4B Alan Bruns
3. #96 Matthew Wheeler
4. #97 Dennis Wheeler
5. #21 Mike Dahm

Sportsman – 15 Laps

1. #25 Timmy Todd Jr
2. #51 Chris Harvey
3. #83 Joey Brown

Pro-Trucks – 15 Laps

1. #14 Michael Burns
2. #57 Michael Lira
3. #3 Jim Cowhey Jr
4. #22 Steve Markey

Super Stocks – 25 Laps

1. #60 Gino Tumminello
2. #56 Bobby Holley
3. #29 Donny Funk
4. #37 Charlie King
5. #31 J.T. Tippins
6. #21 Mike Dahm

Mini-Stocks – 15 Laps

1. #31 David Russell
2. #23 Wayne Wells
3. #6 Mark Broat
4. #8 Jamie Dixson

Strictly Stocks – 20 Laps

1. #10 Jonathan Murphy
2. #66 Rick Gaither
3. #3 Dustin Higdon
4. #141 Skip Geer
5. #11 Ralph Jones
6. #21 Maureen Dahm
7. #37 Jay Vinacco
8. #88 Mark Shukwit

The PIT CONCESSIONS will be open for beverages at 3:00pm and begin food service at 4:00pm.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

* – REGISTRATION for Weekly Series Divisions Closes at 6:00PM.

* – ALL CARS MUST HAVE A FASCAR SAFETY STICKER BEFORE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE TRACK FOR PRACTICE – NO EXCEPTION.

* – ALL DIVISIONS - Please pay close attention to your Practice Time(s). There will be no extra practice laps or sessions. NO “I-Need-A’s”