It’s Cope’s Challenge at New Smyrna

By Rodney Meyering on May 31, 2015

Daniel Keene Jr. side by side with Travis Cope (Rodney Meyering photo)

The 2015 Bright House Challenge 100

New Smyrna Beach, Fla. — Travis Cope bobbled on his first lap of qualifying, but recovered to post the sixth fastest time of the 13 Super Late Models that showed up to race 100 laps on a beautiful, Chamber of Commerce, picture perfect night. Tim Russell was back in the car tonight, it’s been awhile since we’ve seen him behind the wheel, and set fast time, drew a 7 for the invert, making it an all Weeki Wachee, Florida front row. Daniel Keene Jr. on the pole with Travis Cope outside. These 2 would certainly be good odds to win tonight.

The green flag flies and almost immediately the first yellow flag flies. Fast time setter Tim Russell and Anthony Cataldi get together in turn 2. Russell will retire with little visable damage, Cataldi would continue but be out of contention.

Tim Russell (11) (Rodney Meyering photo)

David Rogers (11) under Tyler Scofield (Rodney Meyering photo)

Daniel Keene Jr. (5) spins in front TJ Duke (28) and Anthony Sergi (Rodney Meyering photo)

On the restart Cope gets the jump and Keene feels pressure on the outside from Brad May and Anthony Sergi door to door with TJ Duke behind them. This last only a short time and Keene spins in turn 4. Duke spins and slams the inside wall hard, he’s done. Sergi slips by, Rogers and Keene pit.

Two quick yellows to start the race is all we will see for the night. The restart see’s Cope (26) lead May (9), Segi (20), Bret Holmes (H2), Fontaine (47) rounds out the top 5. Cope gets away as Rogers and Keene work their way through the field after restarting at the back. Halfway and it looks like Brad May, is running Cope down. Cope later tells us he made a break bias adjustment halfway through. Whatever he did, it worked. May feels pressure from Sergi and looses that spot. Sergi will later be DQ’d. Rogers and Keene make their way past Bret Holmes to finish third and fourth.

Cope takes the checkered (Rodney Meyering photo)

Cope gets no pressure and takes the win, May a solid second, Rogers, Keene, Holmes make up the top 5. From sixth on are Scofield, Fontaine, Atwell, Cataldi, Cornman, Duke, Russell and the DQ’d Sergi.