Winchell
Wins Fast Late Models At Charlotte |
November 25,
2007
A Limited Late
Model race car is 80 inches wide, give or take an inch or
two.
With Joe Winchell in front late in a 100-lap race, the No.
15 car seems three times as wide.
It's next to impossible passing the old, wily veteran with
the race on the line.
Winchell, the east-coaster who has taken many checkered
flags through the years in Punta Gorda, grabbed his first
win of 2007 this past Saturday night at Charlotte County
Motorsports Park, holding off hard-charging Kevin Macy.
Macy's 19 car was faster through the last 25 laps of the
race, but getting around Winchell proved too tough of a
task.
"I'd like to thank Kevin for racing me clean even though he
was faster at the end," Winchell said of the driver out of
Lakeland.
Winchell started on the pole and hung on all 100 laps for
the $2,000 winner's share.
But it wasn't as easy as it sounds. Winchell survived a
couple of early scares before taking the checkered flag.
One came from the 11 car of Cody Pitts, who rubbed with
Winchell on lap three. Pitts got a flat and had to play
catchup all race.
The other came on lap 34 when the lapped car of Danny Maddox
suddenly pulled in front of Winchell's 15 on the back
stretch. Macy roared to the front, but the caution was out
and Winchell got his spot back.
Randy Fox of Lehigh Acres was third in the
16-car field. Johnny Kay came back from a near-disastrous
brush with lapped car No. 77 driven by Bill Mulder on lap
19. Kay changed a tire, went to the rear and battled back
for a fourth-place finish.
Cory Collum of Cape Coral was fifth.
|
New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Oct. 20, 2007
Late Model
1. Doug Moff
2. A.J. Currelli
3. Joe Winchell
______________________________________________________ |
Veteran
Driver Winchell Still Showing How It's Done |
By BILL GREEN Tribune correspondent
August 23, 2007
Dade City's
Joe
Winchell has settled into
local racing for the past 34 years,
but there was a time when NASCAR was
part of his plan.
'I once was part of a two-car team
in 1988 that was preparing to go
NASCAR racing,' Winchell said. 'But
NASCAR pulled some strings with the
car owner. They bumped me for a guy
that had been racing in the NASCAR
series already and had lost his
funding.'
Winchell was disappointed but
continued to race the Florida
tracks. In 1988 he had moved to the
All-Pro Series, and as a rookie Late
Model driver he won the Martin
Edwards Jr. Memorial at Hialeah.
The early years showed signs of what
was to come. He has won seven track
championships, including one in 1997
in Late Models.
'Never paid much attention to any
other sport after my introduction to
Hialeah Speedway in Miami,' said
Winchell, 50. 'I was 15 years old
and soon began running a '56 Ford in
the Cyclone Class in 1973. I ran
those Cyclones, Hobby Stocks and
Thunder Cars for most of the next 10
years. Winning races and
championships has gotten some folks'
attention over the years, but still
never got me another chance at a
NASCAR ride. At this point, I'm
happy where I am now and have no
plans on changing anything.'
Last weekend Winchell competed in
his favorite series, the Goodyear
Challenge Series for limited Late
Models. He started on the pole and
held on for third place.
'While I realize I'm too old for
NASCAR now,' Winchell said, 'I still
have a thing or two to show these
youngsters and a few more races to
win.'
|
A.J.
Curreli tops GCLM 100 at New Smyrna Speedway |
by Jane
Smith
Samsula, Fla. (August 18, 2007) Just when you think
you are going to melt, a slight breeze is felt and
things are better. That is how it was at New Smyrna
Saturday. Hot, but not as hot as it could be. But
inspite of the heat, twenty nine Late Models made
their way to New Smyrna Speedway for the Goodyear
Challenge Late Model 100.
Qualifying at 6 p.m., it was A.J. Curreli who topped
the timing charts with his 18.383 lap. A.J. recently
won at Desoto Super Speedway and was still high from
that win. Second fastest was Chuck Burkhalter
followed by Doug Moff, the points leader in the
Goodyear Challenge, Rich Clouser, who runs second in
points, and Darren Brown.
Our newest member to the world of stockcar racing,
Ricky Carmichael, was sixth fastest followed by Earl
Beckner, who was running his ASA car and just
returned from the ASA race at Orange County Speedway
in North Caroline. Chad Akins, John Ripley and Joe
Winchell completed the top ten.
All five cars passed tech with Curreli pulling the
nine pill for the inversion. But Earl Beckner
decided not to run in his qualifying position and
dropped to the rear putting Joe Winchell on the pole
with John Ripley on the outside. Fans gathered
around the Late Models for their on-track autograph
session and to get up close to the cars and drivers.
Then it was time to go with Ms. Katlyn Clouser,
daughter of Rich Clouser, giving the command "daddy
and drivers, START YOUR ENGINES."
Joe Winchell quickly jumped to the point but before
a lap was down, there was a massive pile-up in turns
3 and 4 involving Chuck Abell, Greg Kaouk, Jeremy
Goddard, Brandon Thomson, J.R. McMickel, Daniel
Keene, Jr., and Richard Douglas. Abell, Keene, and
Douglas had major damage and were out of the race.
Kaouk had sheet metal damage and was able to return.
Since no lap was down, a complete restart was in
order as Winchell took the point followed by Ripley,
Chad Akins, Ricky Carmichael, and Darren Brown. But
another short run as Chuck Burkhalter and Ricky
Carmichel get together with Burkhalter spining in
turns 3 and 4 breaking a control arm and finds
himself out of the race. Carmichael is sent to the
rear for the restart.
Winchell takes the point once again on lap 5
followed by Akins, Ripley, Brown and Curreli.
Curreli wastes no time as he passes both Ripley and
Akins and takes over third. Brown finds a mirror
full of Moff who passes Brown and takes over fourth
when the caution comes out once again for Earl
Beckner who finds himself against the turn 1-2 wall.
Beckner is fine but also done for the night.
On the restart Curreli takes over the lead from
Winchell but once again the caution comes out one
lap later for Greg Kaouk who spins in turns 1 and 2.
Winchell is put back in the lead for the restart on
lap 21 followed by Curreli, Akins, Moff, and Justin
Larson. But once again as the racing gets hot, the
caution comes out on lap 29 for Drew Brannon who has
spun in turns 3 and 4.
On the restart Curreli proves he does have the
fastest car as he passes Winchell for the lead
followed by Winchell, Moff, Akins and Larson.
Completing the top ten are Brown, Clouser, Thomson,
Ripley and Steve Gill.
Dustin Deschamps brings out the next caution on lap
42 when he goes hard into the turn 2 wall. Deschamps
is fine but done for the night. Twenty one of the
twenty nine cars are left for the restart as Curreli
leads the way over Winchell, Moff, Larson and Akins.
Brown, who is the top rookie in points in the
Goodyear Challenge Series, now puts pressure on
Akins for fifth but Akins holds. Moff looks high and
low on Winchell for second but Winchell holds.
Jeremy Colangelo retires his car on lap 68 as the
crowd watches his crew slowly push the 05 back into
the pits. Running order is Curreli, Winchell, Moff,
Larson, and Brown.
Winchell, Moff, and Larson are running nose to tail
as Curreli set sails in the front on lap 72. Moff
goes to the outside, Winchell on the inside as Moff
takes over second on lap 77. Suddenly the caution
comes out for Larson as Drew Brannon goes into the
pits. Brannon has gotten over-heated and finds he
must exit the car before he passes out. Brannon was
fine but need water and cooling off.
With Larson out of the top five, Curreli takes the
point on the restart followed by Moff, Winchell,
Clouser and Brown. With no further cautions, Curreli
leads the way and takes the checkered followed by
Doug Moff, Joe Winchell, Rich Clouser and Darren
Brown.
The next event for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model
Series will be at USA International in Lakeland on
September 1. For more information on the Goodyear
Challenge Late Model Series go to
www.fascartours.com.
GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100
1. #2 A. J. Curreli, Daytona Beach
2. #46 Doug Moff, Ft. Meyers
3. #57 Joe Winchell, Dade City
4. #9 Rich Clouser, Palm Bay
5. #53 Darren Brown, Ormond |
|
Moff tucks win 3 under his belt at Desoto
Super Speedway |
Bradenton, Fla. (May 26, 2007) It was Joe Winchell
who topped the 21 car field in qualifying at the
Goodyear Challenge/Turner Tree and Landscape Late
Model 100 Saturday night at Desoto Super Speedway.
Winchell ran a very good 14.901 which was good
enough to top the field. Completing the top five
were Doug Moff, Justin Larson, JR McMickel and Jesse
Dutilly. Winchell was on a roll as he drew the 0
pill starting the field straight up for 100 laps of
excitement.
As the green was waved, Winchell took the point
followed by Moff, Larson, Gill and Dutilly. But it
was a short green as on lap 5 there was a massive
pile-up on the front stretch involving Rich Clouser,
Daniel Keene, Sr., Dwayne Barrus, and Greg Kaouk.
Some were able to pit and bring out damaged cars for
alittle more action where others were in the pits
for a long time before being able to return. Just
one of those racing things as they say.
Once the cars were finally cleared, it was back to
racing as Winchell lead the way over Moff, Larson,
Gill and Dutilly. But it did not take Moff long
until he was able to pass Winchell on lap 15 and
take the lead and build quit a space between him and
Winchell. Lap 19, McMickel looks to pass Dutilly for
fifth but Dutilly holds strong. There is no way he
is giving up his position. Suddenly on lap 24 Dustin
Chisolm slows and enters pit road, his night done.
Also exciting the track is Barrus who is also done
for the night after suffering damage in the first
wreck of the night.
Once Moff got the lead, he began to build space
between him and the second place car of Winchell.
There was no catching him. By lap 30 it was Moff,
Winchell, Justin Larson, Steve Gill, Jess Dutilly,
JR McMickel, Darren Brown and Daniel Keene on the
lead lap.
It was more mechanical problems than damage that
took some of the cars out of the race. Jeremy
Colangelo left the field on lap 52 with motor
problems. On lap 53, Drew Brannon had a wild spin on
the frontstretch but was able to continue but only
for alittle while.
On the restart, Moff took the point but it was very
short as McMickel and Dutilly get together fighting
for the fifth place position and bring out the
caution. Both cars are fine but sent to the rear for
the restart. This changes the front running five to
Moff, Winchell, Larson, Gill and now young Darren
Brown.
Lap 67 sees Drew Brannon have more bad luck as he
comes off 4 and hits the backstretch wall with a
large thump felt in the stands. Brannon is fine but
the same can't be said about his car which is now
definitely done for the night.
At this time, second in points going into the race
Rich Closuer returns sixty laps down but running in
the conclusion of the race. Rich definitely has a
beautiful modified now instead of a Late Model but
it does run.
Just when you think it is almost over and safe, the
caution comes out again on lap 73 for JR McMickel
and Lonnie Miller who get together hard on the
backstretch. Both are fine but done for the night.
The race goes back green on lap 76 with Moff leading
the way over the 12 car field left still standing.
Dutilly, who had been sent to the rear when he and
McMickel brought out the caution, has made his way
back up to the top five as he passes Brown for
fifth.
With the laps slowing ending, it is the Justin
Larson/Joe Winchell show as Larson tries his best to
rattle Winchell's cage but Winchell has nothing to
do with it. Justin looks and tries everything to
pass Winchell for second but Winchell is an old
master and knows the tricks of the trade. Winchell,
as only Joe Winchell can, did not let the pressure
get to him and came home second as Moff took the
checkered for this third win in the Goodyear
Challenge Late Model 2007 season.
Moff, as any good man will do, thanked his wife for
all her help as he took home the trophy and she
picked up the money. One footnote, it was great and
a pleasure seeing Daniel Keene Sr. back behind the
wheel of a racecar although it was too short lived.
It has been too long since the fans have seen father
and son racing together. It was a true pleasure for
the fans.
The next Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 will be
June 9 when they go for 100 laps of Late Model
action at Columbia Motorsports Park in Lake City.
For more informaiton on the Goodyear Challenge Late
Model Series go to www.fascar.org.
OFFICIAL RESULTS
DESOTO SUPER SPEEDWAY MAY 26
GOODYEAR CHALLENGE/TURNER TREE & LANDSCAPE LATE
MODEL 100
1. #46 Doug Moff, Ft. Myers
2. #57 Joe Winchell, Davie
3. #88 Justin Larson, Safety Harbor
4. #5 Steve Gill, Bradenton
5. #30 Jesse Dutilly, Bradenton
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