VULPIUS DOMINANT IN NEW SMYRNA MINI STOCK 50 LAP CHALLENGE
The Mini Stocks went for 50 laps Saturday night at New Smyrna Speedway and it
was “Mr. Mini Stock” himself, Ted Vulpius of Mims who had everything go his
way.
Vulpius set quick time over the 14 entrants at 20.686 seconds, quite a bit
quicker than second-fast James Ellis of Brooksville who timed in at 20.934.
Current point leader David Russell dropped a valve in practice and was forced
to change the head on his engine and had to start at the rear of the field
after missing qualifying.
Todd Haught, making his first start of the year, was third quick in time
trials and led the opening lap of the 50-lapper before Vulpuis blew by and
started to say so long to the rest of his competitors. Ellis took several
laps to get by Haught and he was well behind Vulpius before he could take over
second. With no caution flags, Ellis could never get up enough speed to close
on Vulpius as the entire 50 laps ran under green.
Vulpius ended up winning by almost a half-straightaway over Ellis while Haught
ran a solid third to the finish. Jason Reynolds was the real mover in this
one coming from his seventh stating spot to finish fourth ahead of Pat Wells.
Jeff White was sixth trailed by Russell, Tyler Simpson, Brad Blanton, Levi
Hammond, Daniel Brown, Mark Broat and Jamie Dixson, who was the only car to
drop out of the event. Reid Christensen had engine woes during qualifying and
did not start the feature.
Rich Clouser led early in the 25-lap feature for the Pro Late Models but he
could not hold off the challenge of Will Carroll, as the young driver from
Australia scored his first-ever win on the high banks. Carroll, a 19-year-old
who grew up running Karts, Midgets and Sprint Cars on dirt in his native
country, won in just his fifth start on asphalt. Clouser held on for second
at the checker over Cody Blair, Ricky Anderson and Jarrett Snowden. Rounding
out the top ten were Michael Lira, Anthony Cataldi, Daniel Miller, Zach
Jarrell and Michael Williams. All cars were still on the lead lap at the end
with Williams the only driver to fall out of the event as the engine went sour
on his car.
The Sportsman feature provided a great battle for the lead between Steve
Barnes and Earl Beckner that eventually would prove fruitless for both
parties. Barnes grabbed the early lead and held off continual advances from
Beckner until a late caution flew with three laps remaining for a spinning D.
J. Farr in turn one. Beckner drove around Barnes on the restart and led the
rest of the way for what he thought was his second win of the year. However,
both Beckner and Barnes were disqualified in tech for and issue with the
placement of the crossmembers on their cars. That gave the win to veteran
driver Donny Williams, his first of the season. Mike Pletka moved up to
second in the final rundown followed by Ron Gustafson and Farr.
Jarrett Korpi took win number four on the year leading every lap of the
E-Modified feature. Cody Blair brought out the only yellow flag of the race
when he spun out of second place on lap 14 but he rebounded to finish third
behind Korpi and Matthew Green. Fourth went to Roger Benton ahead of Jim
Higginbotham (who drove the entire race with a broken shock that went south
going into turn one on the first lap), Mike Dahm and Dennis Wheeler.
Jimmy Barron topped Aaron Overman to take the Strictly Stock Trophy.
