by Jane Smith

Samsula, Fla. (November 27) It was a cool, brisk evening that greeted the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Models for their final race in 2005 at Desoto Super Speedway. Not only was the Sunbelt Championship on the line but also the final leg of the Triple Crown. Twenty two journeyed the distance for this final race with twenty one starting after Jason Boyd broke before the official green flag.

Jeff Scofield of Plant City set fast time with a 14.610 followed by Martin Pierce of Sanford with a 14.660. Jeff Choquette, Jason Boyd and Chris Fontaine rounded out the top five. With 200 laps on the line, there was no inversion as the field started straight up.

After driver introduction, the field was set to go with Scofield on the pole. Scofield quickly took the lead on the green followed by Jeff Choquette, Martin Pierce, Ryan Foster and B.J. McLeod. On lap 16, the first caution of a few came out for Troy McNabb of Naples who spun on the frontstretch. The race goes back green on lap 20 as Scofield maintains the lead.

Lap 27 sees Daniel Webster of Brooksville and Billy Mowery of Clearwater get together in turn 2. The race goes back green on lap 33 with Scofield, Choquette, Pierce, Foster, McLeod, Dorer, Skinner, Walters and David Pollen Jr. in the top nine. But it is a short green as the caution comes out again on lap 35 when Andy Dyndal spins off turn 4.

Lap 39 sees the restart. Dorer puts some steam on it and passes McLeod for fifth with McLeod settling into sixth. It is not Scofield, Choquette, Pierce, Foster, and Dorer running in the top five. Chris Fontaine, who started from the rear of the field, has now worked his way to 12th by lap 46 and is moving quickly ahead.

On lap 47 Fain Skinner of Live Oaks challenges McLeod for sixth and makes the pass with Richie Anderson following Skinner for seventh as McLeod settles into eighth. It is now Scofield, Choquette, Pierce, Foster, Dorer, Skinner, Anderson, McLeod, Walters, and Sloan.

Caution comes out on lap 65 when the #lx of Webster and #55 of Mowery retire to the pits, done for the night. The green comes back out on lap 71 with Scofield, Choquette, Pierce, Foster, Dorer, Skinner, Anderson, McLeod, Walters, and Sloan in the top ten.

Ryan Foster of Lowell, Arkanasas brings out the yellow on lap 102 when he spins on the frontstretch. Some cars do pit but leader Scofield remains on the track along with Pierce. The race goes back green on lap 112 with Scofield, Pierce, Dorer, Skinner, Anderson, Sloan, Pollen, Yaho and Fontaine leading the way.l By lap 132 Dorer has pressured Pierce for second with Pierce going back to third. On lap 135 it is Scofield, Dorer, Pierce, Skinner and Fontaine.

The caution comes out on lap 143 as Skinner and Fontaine get together with Skinner going hard into the turn 2 wall. Skinner is fine but done for the night. Scofield choses this caution to make his pit stop turning the lead over to Chris Fontaine. Lap 152 sees the green with Fontaine the new leader. Caution comes out again on lap 155 . The race goes back green with Fontaine, Anderson, Choquette, Walters, Glover, Foster, Scofield, Pierce, Dorer, McLeod and Sloan in the top ten.

Lap 163 Choquette passes Richie Anderson for secnd and now is hot on the heels of Chris Fontaine. By lap 169, Choquette has taken the point followed by Fontaine and Scofield. By lap 170, Scofield has passed Fontaine for second and now aims for leader Choquette.

Lap 179 the yellow comes out for Martin Pierce when he spins in turn 2. At this time B.J. McLeod retires to his pit with yet another broken rear-end. The races goes back green on lap 184 with Choquette, Scofield, Fontaine, Anderson and Walters in the top five.

But it is a short lived green as the caution comes out on the next lap for John Spadavecchia who has spun in turn 2. The race goes back green on lap 189 with 15 of the 21 cars still in the race. Choquette leads the way followed by Scofield, Fontaine, Anderson, Walters, Dorer, Glover, Foster, Sloan and Pierce.

By lap 193 Choquette has his hands full of Scofield who is right on his rear bumper. Coming off two Choquette washes up and Scofield takes the point as Choquette proves that he still has dirt in him as he saves a very crooked and sliding racecar.

A very well done save. Scofield leads the way and takes the checkered winning the Triple Crown Championship followed by Jeff Choquette, Chris Fontaine, Richie Anderson, Steve Dorer, Scot Walters, James Glover, Ryan Foster, Jeff Sloan and Martin Pierce.

Jason Boyd of Orlando also took the FASCAR Sunbelt Super Late Model Championship as Scofield moved to second in points over Wayne Anderson.



OFFICIAL RESULTS
DESOTO SUPER SPEEDWAY - NOVEMBER 26

1. #07 Jeff Scofield, Plant City
2. #70 Jeff Choquette, West Palm Beach
3. #47 Chris Fontaine, Lakeland
4. #51 Richie Anderson, Mulberry
5. #10 Steve Dorer, Lakeland
6. #55 Scot Walters, Naples
7. #70 James Glover, Pinellas Park
8. #10x Ryan Foster, Lowell, Arkansas
9. #31 Jeff Sloan, Crystal River
10. #75 Martin Pierce, Sanford
11. #88 David Pollen Jr., Tampa
12. #00 Robert Yoho, Pinellas Park
13. #07x Troy McNabb, Naples
14. #78x Jeremy Gerstner, Tampa
15. #8x John Spadavecchia
16. #78 B.J. McLeod, Watchula
17. #69 Andy Dyndal, Ft. Meyers
18. #1 Fain Skinner, Live Oaks
19. #22 Perry Brown, Tampa
20. #55x Billy Mowery, Clearwater
21. #1x Daniel Webster, Brooksville
22. #92 Jason Boyd, Orlando DNS