ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Speedworld opened for its 33rd year of competition at the three-eighths mile high-banked oval with a huge field of racers including 22 Super Late Models set to do battle in the first Brighthouse Challenge race of the 2007 season, the Bruce Everett Memorial. Tim Russell let it be known that he would be a force to be reckoned with as he zipped his Rinnai Tank-less Water Heaters Chevy around the track in 13.
548 seconds to set quick time over David Rogers in the TM Ranch Dodge who tripped the clocks at 13.614. Jeff Scofield was third quick at 13.
752 and sat on the pole for the 50 lap race after the top three were inverted on the re-draw. Rogers' race would start to turn bad on lap five as he spun coming off turn four while running third to bring out the first caution of the event. Despite massive pressure from Russell, Scofield continued to hold the lead although many laps by only a few inches.
It looked like Russell would be in big trouble on lap 12 when he got too high in turn three and spun out. However, the caution was already being displayed for problems in turn one involving Ronnie Roach, Rick Bates and Rogers. That allowed Russell to restart back in the second spot despite his miscue.
l Brandon Anderson spun on lap 16 to slow the pace as Russell settled in behind Scofield for the resumption of racing. Action was again slowed four laps later by a pair of spins - Travis Towell on the back stretch and Anderson in turn one. Scofield continued to hold off Russell as the field circulated under green until lap 27 when Rogers got tangled up with Bates and Dusty Cornelius in turn four.
Rogers took his car to the pits as the damage was too bad to allow him to continue. Russell would provide only token opposition the rest of the way as Scofield set the pace to the checker despite two more slow downs for minor spins. Scofield, the defending FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Series champion, set himself up as the favorite for next weeks Sunbelt race here.
Scofield won one of the two Sunbelt Series events held at Speedworld last year. Russell settled for the runner-up spot while B.J.
McLeod ran third almost the entire distance but could never mount a challenge for the top two spots while Michael Williams had a good run for fourth with Pierce grabbing fifth despite the fact his car looked like it had been through a demolition derby. Jared Allison came home sixth with David Pollen, Jr., Corey Freed, Travis Towell and Dustin Skinner the remainder of the top ten.
Completing the finishers were Mark Emberson, Kurt Jett, Blake Lehr, Dusty Cornelius, Joe Piazza, Mario Maresca, Brandon Anderson, Russ Shaw, Gary Bierlein, Ronnie Roach, Rick Bates, David Rogers and Perry Lovelady. It took four tries just to get the first Open Wheel Modified race of the year under green and by that time Mickey Wright had already left the track on the hook. 2006 track champion Alan Bruns spun out on the fourth attempt at starting the race but kept going well behind the field.
The race itself would belong to Shane Held as he dominated the action from green to checker, slowed just one final time by a scary incident going into turn one. Bobby Joe Woodley, making his first Modified start since returning from North Carolina, had his engine explode in flames on lap ten. Fortunately Woodley scrambled out unhurt but his open wheel debut was a little more spectacular than he wanted.
Following Held to the checker were Jared Allison, Gary Fountain, Sr., Kelly Jarrett and Bruns as only the top five were still running at the finish. Woodley and Wright were credited with sixth and seventh while Mark Emberson and Michael Matarazzo did not start.
Held also won the heat. The Best Appearing Car award was taken by Fountain's beautiful #33. The Sportsman division saw several new faces and several more returning to action after lay-offs of several years.
First heat winner Henry Shepherd had the pole and sped off to a big lead as the field diced behind him until rookie driver Whitney Poole spun her mount off turn four on lap seven. Shepherd would see his chance at victory go south as he tangled with second running Matt Towell on lap ten. John Castro, who won Best Appearing Car honors earlier, had nowhere to go and slammed into Towell's stalled machine severely damaging his beautiful Fischer Chevrolet/Victorio's Restaurant machine.
Veteran Earl Beckner showed he hadn't lost a step as he assumed the lead and sped to his first win here in over two years. Rookie Derrick Wood chased Beckner home with Timmy Todd, Jr. third ahead of Justin Reynolds who made a last lap pass to take fourth spot away from Paul Colgan.
Rounding out the top ten were Richard Hight, Michael Carr, Joe Adams, Gary Maglach and Poole. Completing the finishers were Jeff Wright, Hudson, Kerry Belflower, Shepherd, Towell, Castro and Barbara Pierce who suffered mechanical ills spoiling her return to Speedworld action. 2006 Super Stock champion Jason Foster's move up to Sportsman was derailed by a blown engine in practice.
Popular James Frisbie snuck by Lee Wagner late in the going to take a well-earned victory and make himself the favorite to claim this year's points title. Wagner held off a hard-charging Ron McCreary for second while Dennis Snyder claimed fourth spot after a bit of a bump-and-run with fifth finisher Bomber Bill Loomis. Completing the top ten were Rick Taylor, rookie Glen Garceau (who took the Best Appearing Car Award), Ray Mullis, Michael Poole and Scott Keena.
Allison took the checker ahead of R.J. Arnone, Richie Laszlo, Cody Blair and Mickey Wright with the rest of the top ten consisting of Josh Hermann, Bob Kelchner, Bill Calder, Ellis and Perkins.
Allison and Ellis won the heat races. The Action Gator Tire Strictly Stocks put on a typical slam-bang affair as there was sponsorship cash put up by ownmytravel.com, City Moda Shoes, Rex Engineering, Sutter Irrigation, Doug's A-1 Locksmith, and Kiser Realty associate Kimberly Weeker.
When the dust settled, William Hindman crossed the line first in his Acura but was then penalized two spots for jumping a restart. That allowed Rob Reynolds to claim the win in his Mazda in front of his A-1 Shed Transport teammate Steve Anderson. Hindman was placed third at the finish ahead of early leader Brent Bruner and Dave Leeper II.
Rounding out the top ten were Tobi Smith, Jr., Gary Thomas, Amanda Carr, Joey White and Denny Johns. Heat wins went to Bruner and Hindman while the Best Appearing Car award was won by Steven Streight.
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