| Tuesday, October 19, 2004 | |
| Boyd Tops Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 | by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla. (October 16, 2004) In front of a packed house, Jason Boyd of Orlando drove his way to claim the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 at New Smyrna Speedway. Boyd, who set fast time, drew the three pill for inversion putting Rich Clouser of Palm Bay on the pole for the feature event.
Only one caution for an accident marred the almost cautionless 100 lapper making it almost all green laps which made for a very good race for the fans.
Clouser took the point on the green followed by Joe Winchell, Jason Boyd, Jerry Artuso and A.J. Curreli. The yellow came out in the early part of the race for Donald Roberts and Ali Zargaren who got together coming off turn 4 hitting the frontstretch wall. Neither driver was hurt but both were out of the race early.
Clouser held the point on the restart as Winchell and Boyd were having their own side-by-side action for second. Winchell was able to hold the position as Boyd settled back into third. Martin Pierce, running sixth, was making his charge on Curreli for fifth but Curreli was able to hold the position. Top ten were Rich Clouser, Joe Winchell, Jason Boyd, Jerry Artuso, A.J. Curreli, Martin Pierce, Sam Watts, Travis Wilson, Greg Kaouk, and Doug Samion.
The yellow came out strictly to check Joe Winchell's car which had begun to smoke. Boyd had reported to his spotter that he had oil on his windshield. Winchell was checked and found to have no leak so the race went back green on lap 28. Clouser still held the point but Winchell found his hands full once again with a hard charge from Boyd. This time Boyd was able to make the move and take over second with Winchell settling into third.
A.J. Curreli was now on the move going for fourth from Artuso. Artuso was not strong enough to hold off Curreli as he slide back to the fifth position. Clouser now had his hands full as Boyd was on the hunt for the point. Clouser did a great job of protecting the lead but Boyd proved that he had the stronger car and took over the point with Clouser in second. Top ten were Boyd, Clouser, Winchell, Curreli, Pierce, Arutso, Watts, Wilson, Kaouk, and Samion.
Winchell's car began to smoke again and seemed to lose some of it's power. Curreli took advantage of this passing Winchell and taking over the third place position as Winchell settled into fourth.
On lap 75, Sam Watts who was running seventh retired from the race after his pit crew determined that his car was no longer raceable. Boyd was now on his way to Victory Lane when Travis Wilson began to smoke while running eighth and he retired from the race.
Boyd found it clear sailing as he won the Goodyear Challenge 100 followed by Rich Clouser, A.J. Curreli, Joe Winchell, Jerry Artuso, Greg Kaouk, Martin Pierce, Doug Samion, Bill Ostriker, and Charles Kopach.
Tate Pierce, who has been in every Goodyear race this year, broke his rear-end in hot laps and was not able to make the race. The next Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 will be October 30, 2004 at Columbia Motorsports Park.
OFFICIAL RESULTS NEW SMYRNA SPEEDWAY - OCTOBER 16
GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100
1. #15 JASON BOYD
2. #9 RICH CLOUSER
3. #1 A.J. CURRELI
4. #57 JOE WINCHELL
5. #5 JERRY ARTUSO
6. #31 GREG KAOUK
7. #75 MARTIN PIERCE
8. #04 DOUG SAMION
9. #0 BILL OSTRIKER
10. #53 CHARLES KOPACH
11. #88 KENNY HANKINS
12. #98 BOBBY JOE WOODLEY
13. #62 TRAVIS WILSON
14. #73 SAM WATTS
15. #28 STEVE SMITH
16. #83 JOE STREHLE
17. #32 ALI ZARGAREN
18. #91 DONALD ROBERTS
19. #81 TATE PIERCE (DNS)
MINI CUPS - 20 LAPS
1. #43 Larry Folino
2. #17 Doug Smith
3. #05 Wendy Kash
4. #42 Doug Suggs
5. #12 Rick Auriemma
6. #15 David Taylor
7. #47 Paul Tyson
8. #8 Terry Tullis
9. #48 Heather Suggs
10. #88 Nando Pinto
11. #1 Daniel Zukowski
12. #3 Francois Rollister
13. #83 Eric Cunningham
14. #24 Mike Holt
15. #31 Rick Blair
16. #27 Brett Jameson
17. #66 Frank Pfister
BATTLE OF THE BADGES SCHOOL BUS RACE - 15 Laps
1. Sheriff Ben Johnson, Volusia
2. Steve Dembenski
3. Earlinger
4. Highland County
5. Lake County
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