Nasse takes the Checkered

By on January 7, 2013

 

 

Stephen Nasse races past the flag to victory (photo by Rodney Meyering)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Smyrna, Fla. — Rocket Sports & Entertainment Network friend, Stephen Nasse, won his 2nd Red Eye 100 at New Smyrna Speedway Saturday night.  After setting fast time and starting fifth, Nasse outlasted the competition to win his 2nd Red Eye in just 3 years.  Nasse qualified 2nd and won in 2011. 

20 Super Late Models started the annual event, which historically starts the new season of racing, but only 12 would make it to the ¼ mark and just 8 would finish.  This year’s version of the Red Eye would also mark to first race of the Florida Triple Crown.  Two weeks from now, New Smyrna Speedway will host the Pete Orr Memorial leg 2 and the final night of Speedweeks in late February will mark the final race of the crown.  Nasse plans to compete in the next two, with his sights on taking home the title.

In this year’s Red Eye Nasse would set fast time and draw a 5 pill to set the inversion.  Starting 5th would make it tough for Nasse to win, but with a little help from attrition, Stephen made it look easy.  BJ McLeod would start on the pole and get outrun into turn 1 by Rich Clouser.  Clouser would lead through two early cautions, and on a lap 7 restart, McLeod would slow and 2nd fast qualifier, David Rogers, would see his machine erupt in fire, ending 2 contender’s nights before lap 10.  6th place starter Brandon Johnson, who moved as high as 3rd at the start, would fall back on the restart and would be in the pits for an extended time.

By a quarter of the way, only 12 cars would remain, the top three being Clouser, Travis Cope, and Stephen Nasse in third.  Cope would put pressure on Clouser before halfway, pulling beside him and running side by side for a number of laps.  The battle with Cope on the inside, and Clouser on the preferred high line would end badly for Cope.  As the 2 cars exited turn 4, Cope would loose control and slam the inside wall.  New Smyrna Speedway officials would penalize Clouser for the incident, sending him to the rear of the field.  This gave Nasse the lead and eventual win.

Nasse all smiles in victory lane (photo by: Rodney Meyering)

 

Nasse would pull away from #56 Gus Dean, who would battle with #81 Anthony Campi for second.  Campi’s night would end with mechanical failure on lap 60, giving 3rd to a charging Rich Clouser.  No one had anything for Nasse who would pull away for the victory.  Second and third place finishers, Dean and Clouser would not survive Rick Brooks “Room of Doom” and would be DQ’d for weight infractions.

 

Michael Lira driving the #58 in second place would finish there (photo by: Rodney Meyering)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Results for the Red-Eye 100
1 51 Stephen Nasse
2 58 Michael Lira
3 84 Danny Foster
4 29 Spencer Davis
5 67 Chad Allman
6 20 Anthony Sergi
7 19 Ray Black Jr.
8 22 Dusty Cornealius
9 81 Anthony Campi
10 26 Travis Cope
11 118 Brandon Johnson
12 11 David Rogers
13 77 BJ McLeod
14 33X Derrick Wood
15 07 Jeff Scofield
16 33 Rick Wood
17 13 Bob Greene
18 27 Cody Lane
19 50 Karl Weber

Danny Foster finished third driving Wayne Anderson’s # 84 (photo by: Rodney Meyering)

DQ 56 Gus Dean
DQ 9 Rich Clouser

Categories: Motor Sports, Sports
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