by Jane Smith

Orlando, Fl (November 9, 2007) It was the last race for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series as they came to Orlando SpeedWorld Friday night. Points were close and racing was hot but in the end Doug Moff took home the 2007 Championship as Daneil Keene, Jr. won the race.

Daniel Keene, Jr. set fast time but pulled a 3 for the inversion putting Justin Larson on the pole. After an on-track autograph sessions, the drivers were buckled in for their last race of the year.

Larson quickly jumped to the point followed by Doug Moff, Daniel Keene, A.J. Curreli, and Rick Carmichael. Keene passed Moff and took over second as Rich Clouser, the 2005 and 2006 Champion, took over fifth. The top three Larson, Keene and Moff just set sail in their on little pack and racing hot and heavy when the caution came out for Ricky Carmichael, Chuck Abell and J.R. McMichael.

Carmichael suffered rear-end damage with McMichael and front-end damge. Both rejoined the field in the rear for the restart.

Larson quickly jumps to the point on the restart followeed by Keene, Moff, Curreli and Clouser. Second in points coming into the event Darren Brown, suddenly starts sliding backwards being passed by a number of cars. Running order is Larson, Keene, Moff, Curreli, Clouser, Winchell, Abell, Folwell, Kopach, Beckner, Kaouk, Brown, Silas and Black. Beckner puts the heat on Kopach and takes over ninth as Kopach settles into tenth. Keene takes advantage of Larson passing him for the lead when he gets alittle loose in the corner.

The caution comes out for Gary Muglach when he hits the backstretch wall with McMichael retiring his ride for the night. Keene takes the point on the restart followed by Larson, Moff, Curreli and Closuer. Keene then sets sail ahead of the second and third place cars when the caution comes out again for Ray Black Jr. who has spun. Black is fine and goes to the rear for the restart.

The race goes red on lap 59 when Larson gets loose coming down the backstretch involving both Doug Moff and A.J. Curreli. Moff takes a wild ride down the backstretch as he rolls. Luckily no one was hurt except for Moff and Larson who saw their cars done for the night. Curreli suffered damaged but was able to pit and come back to the field with a brand new modified.

Once the track is cleared, the race goes back green with Keene, Closuer, Winchell, Beckner and Kopach leading the way. But it is a short green as Joe Winchell finds himself against the turn 2 wall and done for the night. Keene once again leads the way on the restart followed by Clouser, Beckner, Kopach and Kaouk. Carmichael puts pressure on Kaouk for fifth but Kaouk holds.

Eventually Carmichael is able to take over fifth as Kaouk goes to sixth and then finds Abell right on his back door. Carmichael puts pressure on Kopach but Kopach has nothing to do with it. Kopach, who has been absent for awhile in the Goodyear Challenge, does a great job of protecting his position.

The caution comes out for Folwell and Abell. Abell has a flat and goes in for a quick tire change as Bryan Silas retires his 32 to pit road. Silas, who has been running ARCA and a few Craftsman Truck races, came home for the weekend and just wanted to have some fun with his old team mates.

Keene holds the point on the restart but it is a short green as Ricky Carmichael brings out the yellow for a spin on the frontstretch. The field is quickly realigned with only ten laps to go as Keene leads the way over Clouser, Beckner, Kopach and Kaouk. Keene takes the checkered for the win as Kaouk and Carmichael spin in turn 4 coming to the checkered.

Thus ended the 2007 Goodyear Challenge Late Model racing season with Doug Moff as the new champion and Darren Brown as Rookie-of-the-Year. Congratulation to both.



Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100

1 - 16 Daniel Keene Jr
2 - 9 Rich Clouser
3 - 36 Earl Beckner
4 - 01 Charles Kopach
5 - 03 Raymond Folwell
6 - 19 Charles Abell
7 - 4 Ray Black Jr.
8 - 31 Greg Kaouk
9 - 53 Darren Brown
10 - 32 Bryan Silas
11 - 2 A.J. Curreli
12 - 57 Joe Winchell
13 - 88 Justin Larson
14 - 46 Doug Moff
15 - 31X Gary Maglach
16 - 119 J.R. McMickle
17 - 4C Ricky Carmichael
18 - 6 Richard Douglas DNS