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Round And Around: Thursday At Volusia Speedway Park

The opening race for the World of Outlaws Late Model Series arrived Thursday at Volusia Speedway Park with over 70 drivers able to answer the call. It has been a grueling tour for many who have been competing on dirt tracks for the past weeks, but the $10,000 winner?s purse promises to make it worth while. The thermometer had reached 40 this morning, and would return there again Thursday night. Heated racing would warm us in between. The qualifying process ran much like the previous weeks, with packs of cars each sorted by time, and Steve Shaver the fastest of all. Florida?s Chuck Julien was first to time in, then crossed the scales too light, but his time was slow anyway.

The Big Block modifieds led off with four qualifying heats that placed the first 20 into the feature, followed by two B mains for the next six. Nine others were left on the sidelines. The simple progressive racing format lined up all the heat winners in the first four rows, second-place finishers behind, and so on. This put Brett Hearn and Billy Pauch on the front row, and good luck to anyone else. As expected, this pair put on quite a show, with dense traffic making things even more intense. Only one slowdown came with the slowing car of Andy Bachetti on lap eight, running the rest of the 30-lap contest at full speed to the end. Hearn was passed by Pauch on lap twelve, the delighted audience watching as the pair chose high lines, low lines, and weaving through lapped cars. Hearn got by again five laps later, but the duel was far from over. As the laps wound down the slower cars were running in a dense pack in front of the leaders, but Hearn was able to stay ahead at the checkered flag.

?That was a race!?, claimed Hearn from the winner?s stage. ?He raced me hard. When people come to Florida, they want to see the best of the best,? Hearn continued, hoping fans were satisfied with the show. Hearn was then urged to make his plea for fans to vote for him through the Alltel All Star contest that would award $12,500 to feature winner on the selected tour with the most votes. The previous night?s winner, Pauch, stated his case for the underfunded guy, Hearn made a plea for validation of the mods as a group. If there is a reason to hang in there, consider that Hearn has been coming to Florida?s Speed Weeks since 1998, while Pauch had a 20-year gap between wins. This may mean nothing to the 15-year old Larry Wight who?s been blessed to be using the mod Billy Decker made famous.

While the track was being groomed between eventsw, announcer Shane Andrew ventured into the audience. This being Valentine?s Day, he brought long-stemmed roses and awarded them to husbands who had neglected to present their wives with a gift on Thursday. Then on camera the men were prompted to say something loving to their spouses as the rose was presented. Quite entertaining, just as the couple who were representing their wedding anniversaries here. The Fan Zone was packed with activities and vendors as before, and people entering the gates were gifted with more merchandise that was truly appreciated. As before, those showing their Alltel phones were offered upgrades for pit passes, merchandise, food, or other treats.

Dirt fans aren?t used to being treated this well, nor are they used to having instant replays or super bright lighting. The aluminum bleachers are nothing like the old wooden knee-to-back seats with no aisles here, with one narrow board on which to balance when standing. The old speakers couldn?t compete with the roar of race engines, and the brightest lights were supplied by the race haulers in the infield. All that has been updated, and the massive haulers have expanded acres for pits behind the old pits off turn two. Even though there is still dust raised from time to time, it is nothing like being buried in dirt while the tornado of racing blows into your face. Such is progress, and hardy dirt fans deserve the treat.

The late model main would add two provisional starters by World of Outlaw points, another from the UMP ranks, since both series operated under the DirtCar banner. The B mains couldn?t transfer enough top runners, and there were not enough provisionals to put them all into the main. We watched Dennis Erb Jr. suddenly drop out with a flat tire while in a transfer position in the first B. After the top pair were Eddie Carrier Jr., Matt Miller, and Wendell Wallace, with Carrier having enough 2007 points for a feature berth at the back of the pack. Billy Decker, Clint Smith, and Scott James followed the pair who transferred in the second B, and only Smith was added to the rear of the feature by points. The return of Michael England to the fold after misfortune struck him two weeks earlier was not the way he wanted to start, missing the cut by two positions in the heat and the third B. The final entry into the 27-car field was Darren Miller by virtue of being the top UMP racer not making the field.

The six heat winners had their numbers redrawn on the stage in the front stretch for a change, this time paired with kids from the audience who got autographs of their drivers as well. The youngsters drew the numbers for their drivers, with an added bonus for one if his driver won the race. The draw put Shane Clanton on the pole, Jeff Fuller alongside. The 50-lap feature was watched intently by all, for ?Mr. Smooth?, Billy Moyer had already swept this field at Volusia and began in the fifth row. It took little time for the first caution when Earl Pearson Jr. made his exit, Fuller coming to a stop after the restart. A couple more rounds and it was Steve Shaver with a flat, one of several this night, and the track was scanned for debris while several pitted for tires during the event. Clanton held on for nearly twenty laps before Jimmy Owens wowed the crowd with a powerful pass, then Clanton took over again for three circuits before suddenly dropping out of the race. Josh Richards inherited the lead at this point, and never looked back as he charged along the last twenty times around.

Aboard the winner?s stage Richards stated, ?The car was a lot harder to handle than last year. I was nervous the whole race. It?s been a little hectic year so far.? Richards was followed by Moyer and a resurging Rick Eckert at the end, remarking, ?Moyer?s been hard to beat. I knew if I could stay ahead of him in the heat I?d have a chance in the feature.? There?s nothing like a shot of confidence to make things go better. Before 10:30 we were released to warmer places, the thermometer already in the mid-40?s when we left. Four layers of clothing was just enough. The weather, like the racing, will warm up for the end.

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