Trackside Now: Smyrna Speedweeks - Wednesday, Feb. 13th

Trackside Now: Smyrna Speedweeks - Thursday, Feb. 14th

Choquette & Blewett Give Their Women Some Valentines Presents

2008 Smyrna Speedweeks

Super Late Models

Tour-Type Mods

Much More

Feb. 8th-16th

New Smyrna Speedway

New Smyrna, Florida

NOTE - Updated photos will come at the end of the night.

Thursday 11:35pm ET - All week long, it appeared that the drivers in the Crate Late Model Serie had been chasing 13-year-old Logan Ruffin.

Ruffin had one three of the first four Crate Late Model wins. But there was another guy that had been there all week long, just waiting in the wings.

And tonight, it was his turn. That was Will Thomas.

Thomas took the lead early in the 25-lap event and pulled away to earn his first win of Speedweeks and his second-career.

“It feels good. We work real hard down here,” said Thomas. “It’s a lot tougher this year than it was last year. We won one last year and had a bunch of trouble. This year, we’ve been good all week. Opening night, I didn’t qualify as good as I wanted to and that put us a little behind. I had one won the other night, but Logan was running second and we had a right front go down. It was just a racing deal I guess.

“If that wouldn’t have happened, I think we would have had a couple. Tomorrow is the 50 lapper and I’m generally better suited to those. I like those and we should be even better tomorrow night.”

Ruffin started deep in the field, and ended up finishing fourth.

Crate Late Model Results

Will Thomas

David Rigan

Jimmy Lang

Logan Ruffin

Griffin McGrath

Steven Brooks

Casey Caudill

Brandon Johnson

Joey Pole

David Wagner

James Weller III

Patrick Mennaga

Thor Anderson

Blake Koch

Nick Glaze

Eric Chase

Donald Williams

Cody Pitts

Chazz Anderson

Brett Moffitt

Dustin Skinner

Thursday 10:55pm ET - Scott Bishop was able to take the wheel of his old ride, a truck that he drove to the Speedweeks Championship in 2007, to the checkers in the Advanced Auto Parts Pro Truck Series first race of Speedweeks on Thursday night.

Pro Trucks Results

Scott Bishop

Paul Antley

Kevin Henry

Ricky Moxley

Danies Scott Reeves

TJ Duke

Mark Evans

Jessica Murphy

Zach Jarrell

Pat Mahoney

James Campbell

Tim Gertsch

Cole Powell

Patrick Staropoli

Steve Senerchia

Mike Schnaekel

Steve Baie

Heath MacDougall

Logan Bordeau

Brett Huber

Les Law

Martin Wolf Jr.

Philip Luizzo

Derrick Reeves

Thursday 10:25pm ET - Jimmy Blewett had an emotional night on Wednesday night, winning a race named after his brother. However, on Thursday night, Blewett’s win in the SK Modified Division was just about as meaningful to him.

Mmostly because, it was Thursday night.

The car Blewett drove to the win was the same car that his late brother used to drive in the SK Modified Division on a weekly basis at Thompson International Speedway in Thompson, CT.

“There is something with this car,” said Blewett. “There is like there is someone who doesn’t want me to drive the other car. I like this car. It is comfortable. I know why my brother liked it."

Josh Sylvester was right there the whole time and pulled into Blewett’s bumper at the checkered flag, but wasn’t able to grab his first win of Speedweeks.

"He is going to be a good driver. Actually, he is a good driver. He runs everyone clean. The only thing that helped me tonight is experience. My car was not faster. I just beat him tonight with experience."

Billy Anderson had an impressive run, but it was negated when he was involved in an accident with Eric Goodale. Anderson never went to the back of the field after the accident, and was penalized from his fourth-place position to an actual 10th-place finish.

SK Modified Finish

1 Jimmy Blewett

2 Josh Sylvester

3 Glen Griswold

4 Brad Vanhouten

5 Butch Perry

6 Jimmy Zacharrias

7 Shelly Perry

8 Russ Savoy

9 Kevin Shea

10 Billy Anderson

11 David Cramner

12 Don King, Jr.

13 Eric Goodale

14 Chris Jensen

15 Barry Callavini

16 Mike Fiebelkoran, Jr

17 Phil Wehrkiem

18 Jason Migonia

Thursday 9:45pm ET - Joe Winchell took the win in a caution-filled, race-shortened 30-lap Limited Late Model feature.

Winchell is one of just a handful of drivers that actually survived the crashfest. The field was paired down to less than 10 cars after several early race accidents. It forced officials to shorten the race from the originally scheduled 50 to just 30.

In the end, Winchell was one of a few drivers who had little damage and was able to hold on to the finish.

An early race acicdent among leaders Drew Brannon, Jessica Murphy, JR McMichael and Kevin Ingram.

Limited Late Model Results

Joe Winchell

AJ Curreli

Johnny Clark

Derrick Kelly

Alan Bruns

Ben Bargnesi

Rob Knox

Steven Simpson

Drew Brannon

Greg Skyta

Jessica Murphy

Chad Akins

Brennan Palmiter

JR McMichael

Kevin Ingram

Gary Fountain Sr.

Jerry Symons

Ginney Quinones

Kirk Hooker

Bryan Silas

Thursday 8:50pm ET - What a different 24 hours makes.

Last night at this time, Jimmy Blewett was racing in the 50-lap John Blewett III Memorial. He won the event, leading all 50 laps, but he was hotly pursued the entire night by a whole host of drivers.

When he won the event, Blewett was emotional. And rightfully so.

But tonight, it was a different story. Blewett took the lead from Chuck Hossfeld on lap four and pulled away from the field, blowing the rest of the competitors out of the water.

And tonight, when he got out of the car, he wasn’t emotional. Instead, he was happy, joyful and boastful. This night, he was proud to boast he had the best car in the land.

“Last night, we didn’t have the best car,” said Blewett. “Ron Hutter, Grasso Brothers, Eddie Patridge, Pro Shocks… I don’t have to say anything else. This team is unbelievable. They put me here. I just can’t wait to race the entire season with these guys.

"In fact, I really can’t wait until tomorrow night baby."

Tour-Type Modified Results

1 Jimmy Blewett

2 Chuck Hossfeld

3 Ted Christopher

4 Eric Beers

5 Ryan Preece

6 Bobby Grigas III

7 James Civali

8 Charlie Pasteryak

9 Ronny Silk

10 Jon McKennedy

11 Buck Catalino

12 JR Bertuccio

13 Billy Pauch, Jr

14 Rowan Pennick

15 Kevin Goodale

16 Marisa Neidermeyer

17 Billy Anderson

18 Butch Perry

19 George Bierce

20 Andy Seuss

Thursday 8:20pm ET - Not quite sure if Jeff Choquette likes playing video games, but the Florida driver sure made New Smyrna Speedway look like one on Thursday night in the 50-lapper for the Super Late Models.

Choquette ran second for the first part of the race to Tim Russell, the driver that he has chased all Speedweeks long.

But things took at turn on lap 13, when following a restart, Choquette dropped off the pace with an apparent flat tire. Choquette came to a stop in turn two, bring out a caution. However, he got it changed, got back out on the track before the green came back out.

Then, he made it look like a video game.

Choquette charged from the back of the pack in 13 laps, mostly making passes on the high side, and took the lead from Russell on lap 36 to claim his third Speedweeks win.

“The right rear tire was going flat,” said Choquette. “Sometimes you don’t always feel it until you start spinning the tires. So I had to stop and cause a caution. They knew that so they made me hurry. We put on a tire that we ran today during practice and it was on from there.

“The outside is good. No one wants to go outside here. If they pick the bottom, I’m going to go to the top. If they pick the top, I’m going to the bottom. This car is just really good right now. There is nothing more I can say. The top has been good here all week long up top. And it’s coming around even more. Hopefully, we can get a few more.”

Super Late Model Results

Jeff Choquette

Tim Russell

Ryan Sieg

Trevor Sanborn

Louis Mechalides

Jack Landis

BJ McLeod

Ricky Carmichael

Jared Allison

Justin Drawdy

Kurt Jett

Kevin Bayless

Jeremy Gerster

Darrell Midgley

Derrick Wood

Steve Weaver Jr.

Russ Shaw

John Coffman

Bruce Gowland

David Rogers

Jeff Scofield

Brad Bischoff

Nevin Gainey

Justin Larson

John Gerster

Frank Alberson

Joey Pletka

David Myer

Jerry Symons

Thursday 7:30pm ET - The Super Late Models are taking to the track right now.

Thursday 6:15pm ET - Right now, the driver's meeting is going on. Things are quiet now here at the track until 7:30pm, when racing will beging. The Super Late Models will be first up.

Thursday 5:45pm ET - Ted Christopher is on the pole for tonight's Tour Modified event.

Tour Modifed Qualifying Results

Ted Christopher

16.628

Jimmy Blewett

16.706

Chuck Hossfeld

16.769

Kevin Goodale

16.800

Ryan Preece

16.851

Charlie Pasteryak

16.855

Jon McKennedy

16.863

James Civali

16.864

Eric Beers

16.925

Ronnie Silk

16.928

JR Bertuccio

16.948

Bobby Grigas III

16.952

Andy Seuss

17.003

Buck Catalano

17.016

Rowan Pennick

17.061

Billy Pauch Jr

17.088

Butch Perry

18.020

Marisa Neidermeyer

18.084

Thursday 5:25pm ET - Jimmy Blewett won the pole for tonight's SK Modified event.

SK Modifed Qualifying Results

Jimmy Blewett

17.319

Billy Anderson

17.603

Eric Goodale

17.705

Josh Sylvester

17.718

Jimmy Zacharrias

17.753

Brad VanHouten

17.918

Barry Callavini

17.951

Glen Griswold

17.977

Shelly Perry

18.171

Butch Perry

18.173

Mike Fiebelicorn Jr

18.337

David Cramner

18.569

Jason Migonia

24.297

Thursday 5:00pm ET - JR McMichael took the pole for tonight's Limited Late Model 50-lap feature event.

Limited Late Model Qualifying Results

JR McMichael

17.858

Drew Brannon

17.883

Jessica Murphy

17.959

Alan Bruns

18.014

Jerry Symons

18.020

AJ Curreli

18.026

Derrick Kelly

18.153

Chad Akins

18.181

Kevin Ingram

18.283

Gary Fountain Sr.

18.293

Kirk Hooker

18.377

Joe Winchell

18.484

Steven Simpson

18.494

Greg Skyta

18.549

Tom Malloy

18.715

Brennan Palmiter

19.330

Ben Bargnesi

19.523

Rob Knox

19.918

Thursday 4:30pm ET - Jeff Choquette is back on his game today... winning the pole for tonight's 50-lap Super Late Model feature event.

Choquette went out early and was able to hold off the rest of the driver, including Ryan Sieg and Tim Russell, to grab the top spot.

The Super Late Models will run the first feature tonight.

Super Late Model Qualifying Results

Jeff Choquette

17.012

Ryan Sieg

17.188

Tim Russell

17.312

Jack Landis

17.391

David Rogers

17.430

Justin Drawdy

17.448

Trevor Sanborn

17.510

BJ McLeod

17.517

Louis Mechalides

17.529

Jeff Scofield

17.541

Justin Larson

17.583

Ricky Carmichael

17.677

Jerry Symons

17.705

Jared Allison

17.800

Kevin Bayless

17.874

Kurt Jett

17.959

Darrell Midgley

17.975

Bruce Gowland

18.123

Derrick Wood

18.326

Rusty Ebersole

18.478

Nevin Gainey

18.505

John Gerster

18.520

John Coffman

18.541

Steve Weaver Jr.

18.725

Jeremy Gerster

18.848

Frank Alberson

19.129

Russ Shaw

20.124

David Myer

21.492

Thursday 4:00pm ET - Super Late Model qualifying is set to begin here at 4pm.

Thursday 3:50pm ET - A little bit of news that affects Speedweeks here at New Smyrna, but didn't happen here. Billy Pauch Sr., who raced here earlier in the week in the Tour Modifieds with his son, left New Smyrna to head to Volusia to race in the Big-Block Modifieds. And he made it pay off...

"The last time Billy Pauch buckled in behind the wheel of a DIRTcar Big-Block Modified in Florida was 1989. His last Modified victory in the Sunshine State was registered one year before that. Steering the no. 1W Will Brown Truck Repair-K&A Excavating/Bicknell machine on Wednesday at Volusia Speedway Park, it was just like old times as Pauch led all but the initial circuit to open the 37th Annual Alltel DIRTcar Nationals in victory lane for the first time in 20 years. His dominating performance to kick off the 10th season for Advance Auto Parts was rewarded with the $2,000 top prize."

Thursday 2:45pm ET - There are several new Limited Late Models in attendance as well today, preparing for tonight's 50-lap feature. Some of those newbies include Brennan Palmiter, Ginney Quinones and Gary Fountain.

Jerry Symons is not getting much of a break at Speedweeks. He has spent most of the week playing double duty in the Florida Modifieds and the Super Late Models. With the Florida Modifieds done now, Symons will continue his double duty, racing with his Limited Late Model.

Thursday 2:20pm ET - Jessica Murphy, who hasn't done too much in the Limited Late Model this week, will be pulling double-duty tonight in the Late Models and the Pro Trucks.

Thursday 2:05pm ET - Practice has been rather uneventful except for in the Crate Late Models. Gene Kirila III wrecked his Crate car hard. He was actually checked out by EMS before being released back to his pits.

Thursday 1:30pm ET - There are a couple of new Super Late Models here in attendance for tonight’s 50-lapper, led by Florida regular Justin Larson. Larson has his #88 Skinner Nurseries machine in attendance tonight and will be looking to make the field.

BJ McLeod is back again tonight. He had planned on racing in last night’s feature after fixing hs car following a early week accident, but after the field was lined up by points, he pulled out to avoid starting in the rear of the pack.

Travis Kittleson is once again practicing Justin Drawdy's backup car.

Thursday 1:00pm ET - We are on the homestretch here at New Smyrna Speedway. Tonight is night seven of the nine-night Smyrna Speedweeks.

Tonight will be a regular program, with a couple of exceptions. The Florida Modifieds are all done now, and in for the final three nights are the Advanced Auto Parts Pro Truck Series.

All divisions are practicing right now.

Tonight, four divisions will qualify. The Super Late Models, Limited Late Models, SK Mods and Tour Mods will begin qualifying at 4pm.

The race lineup for tonight goes as follows: Super Late Models (50 laps), Tour Mods (25 laps), Limited Late Models (50 laps), SK Modified 20 laps), Pro Trucks (25 laps) and Crate Late Models (25 laps)

CHECK OUT PAST TRACKSIDE NOWS FROM SMYRNA

WEDNESDAY (2/13) - CLICK HERE

TUESDAY (2/12 - RAINOUT) - CLICK HERE

MONDAY (2/11) - CLICK HERE

SUNDAY (2/10) - CLICK HERE

SATURDAY (2/9) - CLICK HERE

FRIDAY (2/8) - CLICK HERE

THURSDAY (2/7) PRACTICE DAY - CLICK HERE

Click Here For Speedweeks Point Standings