March 18, 2006

Joe Winchell led the Goodyear Challenge LM race flag to flag.Orlando Speedworld kicked off the 2006 racing season with a great night of competition that offered a little bit of everything.

The big event of the evening was the season opener for the Goodyear Challenge Late Models which featured a mix of veterans and young rookies that would eventually lead to some wild racing.

A.J. Currelli topped the 28 car field in time trials with a lap of 13.900 seconds while 2005 Florida Mini Stock Challenge champion Dustin Deschamps was second quick in his first start with the Goodyear Late Models, stopping the clock at 13.964. Sam Watts was third quick at 14.000.

The race would get off to a rocky start as outside pole sitter Don Hess got loose and spun coming off turn four sliding down the track and collecting the car of 2005 Goodyear Challenge champion Rich Clouser. It was a tough start to 2006 for Clouser as his car was towed to the pits and he was credited with last place.

The second attempt was better as veteran Joe Winchell of Davie sped to the early lead from his pole position start, but before lap two could be completed a multi car mess took place in turns three and four that sent several cars to the pits for repairs and eliminated the machines of Charlie Vest and Phil Tapia.

Winchell continued to set a blistering pace until the field was slowed again as Travis Cope and Sam Watts tangled just past the flag stand sending Watts' car hard into the wall. Watts was out while Cope continued.

Winchell again pulled away as Derrick Kelley and fast timer Currelli began to make their presence felt. The two were fighting for fourth when Kelley made a low side move going into turn one, turning Currelli around. Charles Kopach spun to avoid and ended up getting into the wall. An unhappy Kelley went to the back of the pack while Currelli kept his spot.

Hess was still running strong despite damage from the opening lap incident, but running well behind leader Winchell. Third place Chuck Burkhalter was putting the pressure on Hess when Hess got loose going into turn three and spun. Travis Cope had nowhere to go and crashed into Hess' car with both racers being eliminated from the race.

Winchell set the pace through two more caution periods as Currelli moved up and got past Burkhalter for second. The red flag was displayed at lap 82 after Chris Huntoon blew an engine going into turn three and backed into the wall.

Following the restart, Currelli was able to put pressure on Winchell for a couple of laps, but Winchell had his car hooked up and pulled away, slowed only by a lap 94 caution when Deschamps spun out of fourth place.

Winchell raced untouched to the checkered flag with Currelli second and Burkhalter third. Derrick Kelley raced back to fourth at the finish taking advantage of Chuck Abell's last lap spin. Greg Kaouk drove a steady race to grab fifth spot. Rounding out the top ten were Troy Hall, Amanda Gogel, Jeremy Colangelo, Kopach, and Justin Larson. Colangelo earned the Rookie of the Race award as well as the Hard Charger award.


GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100

1. #57 Joe Winchell, Davie
2. #2 A.J. Curreli, Daytona Beach
3. #1x Chuck Burkhalter, Clermont
4. #21 Derrick Kelley, Auburndale
5. #31 Greg Kaouk, Southwest Ranches

by Jane Smith

Bronson, Fla. (April 1, 2006) A perfect spring day and night greeted the twenty five drivers who journeyed to Bronson Motor Speedway on April 1 for the second race of the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series. "Twenty five is the best car count we have ever had at Bronson," said Series Director Scott Jackman.

Qualifying caused a few hot moments before the race as Paul Barnhill's oil line came off as he was out making his lap. This caused a major cleanup effort and a slightly greasy track for the rest of the field to qualify on. But racers are racers and inspite of the "hot" moments, they were ready to race by feature time.

Steve Dorer of Lakeland set fast time for the twenty five car field with a 13.620 followed by Rookies Dustin Deschamps of Brooksville with a 13.674, Justin Larson of Safety Harbor with a 13.678, Rich Clouser of Palm Bay with a 13.708 and Sam Watts of Winter Springs with a 13.708. Dorer pulled the 7 pill which put Travis Cope, son of Bronson Motor Speedway owner Mike Cope, on the pole for the 100 lap event.

After an on-track autograph session for the fans and two feature races for the Thunderstocks and Limited Sportsman, it was time for the Goodyear Challenge race to start. But in the first 47 laps of the race, only 12 laps were under green as it was a wreckfest one lap after another. Going out first in the race was Derrick Kelley who ended up with a sway bar thru his radiator that ended his night on lap one which was not completed.

Next to go out was Paul Barnhill of Crestview and Ali Zargaran of Pompano on lap 9. Joe Strehle of Deland lsated a little longer to lap 20. Lap 38 saw Rookie Jeremy Colangelo out of the race. Chuck Abel was out next on lap 40 but was able to make repairs and come back in for just a few laps. Justin Larson was out on lap 41 even though he was able to come back but had to return to the pits with a broken spark plug.

Thru the first 48 laps, it was Travis Cope leading the way for Troy Hall, Rich Clouser, Sam Watts, and A.J. Curreli. The second half things seemed to settle down with Cope on the point followed by Hall, Clouser, Watts, Curreli, Mike Franklin, Joe Winchell, Jeremy Goddard, Dean Ferri, and Greg Kaouk.

On lap 57, Charles Kopach, driving only part of a car, spun for the third time sending him into the pits for the night. The race was restarted on lap 61 with Young Cope taking the lead on the green. The race remained green until lap 73 when the field checked up for a spin and Sam Watts getting the worst end of the deal as he spun avoiding the backend of Rich Clouser. Watts tried to remain in the field but by lap 78 he was done after his good run along with Chuck Burkhalter.

On the restart, Chuck Abel rejoined the field but only made a lap and had to retire into the infield with his damaged machine. Cope remained the leader with Troy Hall and Rich Clouser in second and third. A.J. Curreli was running fourth but found himself being pressured by Mike Franklin now in fifth. Franklin was able to pass Curreli taking over fourth with Joe Winchell following Franklin for fifth as Curreli settled into sixth. The race remained green until lap 95 when Jeremy Goddard spun coming off 4 and cars were going high and low to avoid him.

But on the restart in almost the same spot, Goddard brought out the yellow again as he spun in the same spot. Once more the green came out and it was young Travis Cope in his first feature win in the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series crossing the checkered followed by Troy Hall, Rich Clouser, Mike Franklin, and Joe Winchell.

In Victory Lane a more proud father and mother could not have been seen by the fans than Mike and Jane Cope. Tears of joy were plenty as they celebrated with their son and the Bronson fans.

1. #26 Travis Cope, Bronson
2. #30 Troy Hall, Coral Springs
3. #9 Rich Clouser, Palm Bay
4. #12 Mike Franklin, High Springs
5. #57 Joe Winchell, Davie

(Lake City, Fla. July 9, 2006) - When Travis Cope got up yesterday, it was just a Saturday morning when it was time to go racing. The hauler was packed, the car was ready and Travis and his crew made their way up the road just alittle from Bronson to Columbia Motorsports Park. He practiced the car and it was good. No rain clouds, alot of heat. And in the end, Travis won his third Goodyear Challenge Late Model race.

It was not a good day for everyone. Alli Owens hit the hard concrete walls of Columbia in practice and knocked her car out of the race and hurt her foot. Jacob Warren, driving for Wayne and Tim Clark, looked good in practice but his motor seized and he was out of the race. Chuck Abel had a horse of a different color when his tow vehicle broke down on I-75 and he had to have parts brought to him to even get to Columbia. Abel arrived after qualifying and got only three laps on the track before the green.

Daniel Keene set fast time for the 100 lap event with a 17.257 followed by Travis Cope, Dustin Deschamps, Sam Watts, and Joe Winchell. Keene pulled a three for the inversion putting Dustin Deschamps on the pole. After the on-track autograph session, it was time to race.

Deschamps found his hands full from the beginning as he and Cope went side-by-side for the point. It took Cope little time to show his stuff as he led the way over Deschamps, Keene, Watts and Winchell. Being the "old pro" of the top five, Winchell spent no time getting around Watts for fourth as Watts went to fifth followed by Troy Hall, Rich Clouser, A.J. Curreli, Justin Larson and Jeremy Colangelo.

 Only 8 laps down, Abel ended his crazy night as he spun in turns 1 and 2 ending up against the wall. Abel was fine but disappointed with little practice time to shake down his car before the race. Not a very good Saturday night.

Cope holds the point as the race goes back green followed by Deschamps, Keene, Winchell and Watts. Keene and Deschamps are doing some very hard racing for second as they touch with Keene going sideways and spinning in turns 1 and 2. Keene is sent to the rear for the restart for bringing out the yellow. Deschamps remains in second.

 VWith Keene in the rear, top five are now Cope, Deschamps, Winchell, Troy Hall, and Sam Watts. Suddenly Rich Clouser begins to go backwards ending up in ninth. Clouser slows on the backstretch almost to a stop when the yellow comes out for the ailing car to get to the pits. Clouser had a tire go down but his machine was running hot, too hot to continue racing and Clouser was done for the night.

A brief green until the next yellow when Justin Larson spins in turns 1 and 2.

At this time Matt Martin (66) pits to have his hood straightened that has some damage and is back on the track with John Coffman also getting crew attention several times.

The green goes back out with Cope, Winchell, Deschamps, Hall, Watts, Curreli, Colangelo, Charles Kopach, Daniel Keene, Greg Kaouk, Dean Ferri and Matt Martin on the track. As Keene is working his way back up front, he and Kopach touch sending Kopach in a spin. Both cars are fine but must restart in the rear.
 

Halfway shows Cope, Winchell, Deschamps, Hall and Watts as your top five but Watts begins now to put the heat on Hall passing Hall for fourth. The top five continue racing hard as Hall gets loose and slides backwards to seventh putting Curreli in fifth and Colangelo in sixth. Hall now finds a hard charging Keene giving him small "love" kisses but Hall holds. Keene tries again on the outside and this time makes it and takes over seventh. Running order is Cope, Winchell, Watts, Deschamps, Curreli, Colangelo, Keene, Kaouk, Hall, Martin and Kopach.

Colangelo gets a good run on Curreli and takes over fifth as Curreli goes to sixth. Winchell, with the help of a lap car, passes Cope for the lead but Cope is not going for that and repasses Winchell and takes back his throne.

Colangelo then puts the heat on Deschamps taking over fifth as Deschamps finds himself in fifth. The caution comes out on lap 91 for Charles Kopach who has spun in turn 4.

With only 9 laps to go, Cope knows he has to have a good restart to hold off Winchell who is right on his tail.

Cope gets a good start followed by Winchell, Watts, Colangelo and Deschamps. Curreli puts the heat on Deschamps as Deschamps slides backwards with Curreli now in fifth.

Cope takes the checkered for his third win of 2006 in the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series followed by Joe Winchell, Sam Watts, Jeremy Colangelo and A.J. Curreli.

2006 FASCAR 

Goodyear Late Models


 

Orlando	Joe Winchell
Bronson	Travis Cope
New Smyrna	Brad May
Columbia	Rich Clouser
Citrus County	Travis Cope
USA International	Brad May
Bronson	Joe Winchell
Columbia	Travis Cope
New Smyrna	A.J. Curreli
USA International	Brad May
New Smyrna	Jamie Skinner
Orlando	A.J. Curreli

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