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Round And Around: Friday At Volusia Speedway Park

Over 100 cars answered the call Friday for the penultimate showdown at Volusia Speedway Park. The late model count was down to less than 70 machines for the first time in weeks, understandable for the they have been taking. Running full tilt night after night, the latest casualties were broken rear ends and suspensions. Shane Clanton was philosophical about his broken back equipment that caused his feature lead to end, knowing these things happen. Terry Casey knew his equipment broke because he was forced to run the center of the track where the corner was the roughest. George Scheffler said his equipment broke from the beating it took the previous night. Tire choices ended with many flats, yet during the feature teams were given two circuits under a yellow flag to change rubber. Most weekly warriors are not used to such generosity, and make different choices.

Temperatures were only in the 60?s when qualifying began, the quickest lap coming late in the order. Ryan Newman came with his own late model to join the fun, later being awarded a check for his pet (excuse the pun) foundation for animals. Newman is a partner of Steve Shaver nowadays, one of several NASCAR drivers who keep their short track roots alive.

Clint Bowyer used the spare car for Shannon Babb to run his events, part of the perks of being team owner. Bobby Labonte probably told them how much fun could be had, as he enjoyed being captain of the Earl Pearson Jr. effort. Even though Austin Dillon was competing in the late model field after enjoying the open wheel ranks, we haven?t seen his grandfather Richard Childress flying in and out lately. But things were busy at Daytona.

Heat races clipped along, again earning the top three finishers feature berths, the rest given one more chance in the B mains. Florida?s Ivedent Lloyd Jr. was handily leading his heat when suddenly making an exit halfway through the ten laps, which left Casey at the point and earned seats for Michael England and Jason McBride. Brian Shirley was running third in his event when abruptly leaving the track, that heat ending with Eddie Carrier Jr. trailed by Jimmy Owens and Don O?Neal. The B mains gathered another six to the main, then provisionals were given to Josh Richards, Chub Frank, Brian Dively, and Newman for a whopping feature field of 28 cars.

The Big Block modifieds were also fraught with misfortune in preliminaries. Jim Rasey had crossed the line in third place, but his car ended up on the hook after coasting across the line. Jimmy Horton was running in second place when making a hasty exit two laps shy of the checkers. The eight-lap heats took the top five finishers, then a pair of B mains earned spots for another six. There were no provisional berths for the other ten. Your scribe caught several of the drivers during the daily autograph session, with Brett Hearn and Dan Planck sitting at one table. When asked who was going to win this night, there was a long pause before Planck quietly said he would. Turns out he was right, becoming the third different face in victory circle in three events. It was too bad many people had left in the chill of the night by that point, as the mod main was the final event.

The 30-lap modified finale was slowed by three cautions in the first five laps, another pair of yellow banners by lap ten. Two more slowdowns regrouped the field before 20 laps were scored, and a final yellow came out with only six laps left. During all this, it was very noticeable to see former winners Hearn and Billy Pauch making their way to the front from deep in the field. Pat Ward and Mario Clair were also huge gainers at the end. Planck?s first win in Florida found him beginning with, ?Finally! Those last couple of cautions, I thought, ?Oh man?. I had trouble off the corners. We?ve been together a month, had about three and a half weeks to build the car and come down here. I couldn?t get through (corners) one and two for anything, but made up for it in three and four.?

The late model contest had fewer cautions in their 50-lap affair, which again found the six heat winners redrawn for their starting berths onstage by a group of youngsters. Michigan?s Jeep Van Wormer got the number one pick, Wisconsin?s Casey alongside. At the drop of the green flag, Van Wormer couldn?t keep up as Casey led the thundering pack until the first caution caused by O?Neal?s exit. Jimmy Owens came from the sixth row, sweeping along the high side to pull away from them all until Wayne Chinn?s car quit in a cloud of smoke before the first 20 laps were scored. Shannon Babb was challenging for the lead after the restart, then his mount erupted in a cloud three laps later. Shortly before lap 40 the final yellow came out when Jackie Boggs came to a halt, and three laps later Clint Smith took over the lead.

Meanwhile, many were watching Billy Moyer come from fourteenth to the front, gradually threading his way through traffic. Steve Francis started in the twelfth row and made up even more ground at the end to finish fourth, so perhaps he should also be called Mr. Smooth. A dozen retired before the end, but Newman hung in there despite getting lapped three times. The NASCAR star joined ?Cat Daddy? onstage to make Clint Smith?s first win in Florida even more memorable. Smith began with telling the crowd he just about tore the rear clip off the car a week before, adding, ?For a ?99 race car, it isn?t too bad.? Newman presented Smith with his award, then thanked the drivers for giving him respect as he learned the ropes. ?It was fun for me?, claimed Newman, adding, I?m still trying to learn.? We may have felt chilled to the bone tonight, but the thermometer said it was still in the 50?s. We have only one more show to go before heading back to the bitter cold of home. It was great to see DirtCar executive Tom Deery here, as well as brother Jack, both of whom grew up learning the ropes of race promoting from their late father. Once it?s in your blood, it?s hard to quit the addiction.

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