[SIZE=2] MOTHER NATURE INTERVENES DURING SPORTSMAN FEATURE - BECKNER DECLARED WINNER OF
SHORTENED RACE
The weather gods continue to frown on New Smyrna Speedway as only 15 laps of
the scheduled 50-lap Sportsman race could be completed during week 25 of the
NASCAR Whelen All-American Racing Series Saturday night before the rains came.
It looked like the track could be dried and the program completed, but by
9:45 pm severe weather that had been moving to the northwest took an abrupt
easterly turn and it was decided to call the program in order for everyone to
get loaded up before the heavy rain hit.
Although more cars were expected, 22 Sportsman machines were on hand to do
battle while rough weather to the south and west of Volusia County probably
kept several teams from leaving home. It was still a top-notch gathering of
Sportsman race cars from all over and it was a brand-new car that was the
fastest in time trials. Lake Mary’s Todd Allen debuted his new Pletcher-built
Discount Propane machine in style by setting quick time at 19.480 seconds,
nearly two-tenths faster than point leader Patrick Thomas of Oviedo who toured
the half-mile in 16.650 seconds. Brandon Morris of Mulberry made his first
start of the year here and was third quick at 19.803 ahead of John Emerson and
Junior Beckner.
With storm clouds on the horizon, the field was quickly introduced and the
race began with the top nine cars inverted for the start of the event. That
put Derrick Wood on the pole flanked by Garrett Hill as fast-timer Allen began
his quest for the $500 bounty placed on Thomas by American Auto, Tires &
Service from ninth starting spot.
Wood jumped out to an early lead as Hill began to backpedal through the field.
Beckner, who started fifth, reeled in Wood and passed him easily on lap five
as Wood’s machine began to fall off the pace as he eventually headed for the
pits. One lap later, Emerson was headed for pit road with a bad oil leak and
smoking car as oil from his racer was now on the windshields of many of the
cars that had been behind him.
Beckner zipped out to a half-straight lead as another top runner, Austin
Howell, slowed and took his car to the pits on lap eight. Meanwhile, Allen
broke free of the pack and settled into second ahead of a side-by-side battle
between Morris and Thomas. Several cars went spinning off turn two just after
lap 15 was completed as the expected rain began to fall. The race was
red-flagged and the cars brought to pit road to wait out what looked to be
just one small cell of precipitation. Unfortunately the weather took it’s
turn for the worse as the Sportsman drivers were called to the pit office.
Track General Manager Kim Brown met with the drivers and came to an agreement
that the event would be considered complete as a 25-lap race and the 25-lap
race purse was paid accordingly since the race had gone over half-way.
Beckner was thus declared the winner. As far as the bounty on Thomas, Brown
said “The bounty remains intact for the next race but we felt we had to do
something for Junior Beckner as there was no weather stipulation in place.
American Auto, Tires and Service and New Smyrna Speedway decided that at least
part of the bounty should be paid ($250) but that the bounty itself should
remain intact.”
So, Beckner was declared the victor with 15 laps completed followed by Allen,
Morris, Thomas and Hill. Allen picked up a $100 bonus for finishing second
put up by Jacalone & Sons Automotive of St. Augustine. Thomas said “The 09E
of John Emerson began smoking just after taking the green coating mine, and
the windshield of everyone behind me with oil. Nevertheless I could see very
little and knew it was going to be a struggle. If it would have quit raining,
with the help of a clean windshield and a small air pressure adjustment, the
car would have hopefully been able to challenge Beckner and Allen for the top
spot, but we’ll never know.”
Daniel Conlin, Jr. took the early checker in sixth with Aaron Williamson,
Sandy Lee, Timmy Todd, Jr. and D. J. Farr rounding out the top ten.
Completing the finishers were Scott Garrity, Richard Fiore, Jr., Ron
Gustafson, George Alexander, R. J. Glaser, Eric Kottwitz, Mike Dahm, Howell,
Emerson, Wood and Billy Barrington. Matt Jarrett was unable to start the
race.
During the meeting as the rain was falling it was agreed that the Sportsman
cars would be added to next week’s race program for a 25 lap feature. “The
reason for adding them to next week’s schedule was to make sure the Sportsman
division has enough races to stay eligible for NASCAR points,” said Kim Brown.
“It may not be the ideal solution, but it was the one agreed to by both the
drivers and the track.” she said.
The Modified and Bomber features fell victim to the rain.
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