| Boyd wins Season Opener 100 at New Smyrna Speedway | by Jane Smith
Samsula, Fla. (March 19, 2005) The first race for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series saw twenty three of the finest Late Model drivers in the state at New Smyrna on Saturday.
Jerry Artuso of Ontario set fast time for the field with a 18.238 lap. Following Artuso in the top five fast qualifiers were Jason Boyd of Orlando with a 18.294, Brad May of Orlando with a 18.336, A.J. Curreli of Daytona with a 18.415 and Chuck Burkhalter of Christmas with a 18.471.
The cars of Shawn Goruley of St. Cloud and Carl Goodwin Jr. Of Tallahassee failed to qualify although Goruley was able to join the feature but only made one lap before retiring his ride. Mike Murphy of Groveland qualified 11th but had electrical problems and was not able to make the feature which left a field of twenty one for the main event.
After 100 laps of some very close racing, it was Jason Boyd of Orlando who took the victory for the first Goodyear Challenge Late Model race for the 2005 season. But it was not a runaway victory as Jerry Artuso, Rich Clouser, A.J. Curreli and Joe Winchell all gave Boyd chase and really made him work for the victory.
Boyd, who also is racing in the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series in the No. 92 Super Late, said “This was a great race and I had a lot of competition. It feels good winning the first race of the new year and hopefully we will see Victory Lane more in 2005.”
The two female drivers in the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series did an outstanding job for the first race of the year. Amanda Gogel, of New Smyrna, who came from the FASTKIDS and Cynthia Strahley of Eustis. Strahley suffered a broken A-Arm and had to retire on lap 46. Gogel finished one lap down in 11th with Strahley in 19th.
The next event for the Goodyear Challenge Late Models will be April 9th at Bronson Motor Speedway.
GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100
OFFICIAL RESULTS
1. #15 Jason Boyd, Orlando
2. #5 Jerry Artuso, Ontario
3. #9 Rich Clouser, Palm Bay
4. #A.J. Curreli, Daytona
5. #57 Joe Winchell, Davie
6. #62 Rick Wilson, Bartow
7. #73 Sam Watts, Wintersprings
8. #0 Bill Ostriker, Ridge Manor
9. #53 Charles Kopach, Clermont
10. #31 Greg Kaouk, Penbroke Pines
11. #4k Amanda Gogel, New Smyrna
12. #96 Frank Welch, N. Ft. Meyers
13. #10 Brad May, Orlando
14. #81 Tate Pierce, Zephyrhills
15. #00 John Ripley, Sanford
16. #1x Chuck Burkhalter, Christmas
17. #7 Craig Brown, Ockeechobee
18. #83 Joe Strehle, Deland
19. #4 Cynthia Strahley, Eustis
20. #14 Troy Atkins, Orlando
21. #45 Shawn Gorurley, St. Cloud
22. #26 Mike Murphy, Groveland DNS
23. #29 Carl Goodwin, Jr., Tallahassee DNS
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