Nothing can Stop Nasse on Night One

By Rodney Meyering on February 15, 2014

Stephen Nasse in victory lane (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

The 48^th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing kicked off Friday night at New Smyrna Speedway and Rocket Sports & Entertainment friend Stephen Nasse could not be stopped as he started 6^th, took the lead on lap 8 and led the rest of the 35 lap sprint race. New Smyrna runs races 8 of 9 nights up until the night before the Daytona 500 next Sunday. The races at the beginning of the 8 night grind are short sprint races. Usually 35 laps. As the week progresses the races get longer, ending with the final leg of the Florida Triple Crown next Saturday night, a hundred lapper.

Speedweeks in the Daytona Beach area is unique, with races being run over a whole month. Starting with the Rolex 24 hour race, ending with the Granddaddy of stock car racing, The Daytona 500. This event at New Smyrna’s ½ mile is considered one of the hardest championships to win, having to keep the car in one piece over all 8 nights. This tradition began in 1967, and has seen many great drivers from all over the United States and Canada compete. The list of champions include: Gary Balough, Pete Hamilton, Mike Eddy, Mark Martin, Junior Hanley, Dick Trickle, Joe Shear, David Rogers, Dick Anderson, Wayne Anderson, Jimmy Cope and Pete Orr, just to name a few.

Kyle Benjamin (71) gets under Jeff Scofield (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Tonight, young South Carolina resident, Kyle Benjamin would set fast time, followed by Steve Wallace, T.J Duke, Ross Kenseth, Jeff Scofield, and Steve Nasse rounding out the top 6. Twenty four cars would take qualifying times, 3 would be inverted for the start, giving T.J. Duke the pole position. We know the high line is the fast way around this high banked oval and on the start it was no different. Wallace and Kenseth would take off on the start, leaving Duke in third. Nasse, starting outside row 3, challenges Kenseth for second by lap 3. Lap 6 has Benjamin challenge Scofield for 3^rd, Scofield, Benjamin gets loose out of turn 4 and taps Scofield in the left rear, causing him to tap the wall. The 2007 World Series champ comes to rest in turn one with no visible damage, done for the night.

Stephen Wallace (66) battles Ross Kenseth (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Double file restart finds Wallace on the inside and Nasse outside the front row. Wallace puts up a good fight, but Nasse holds him off, leading by lap 9. Benjamin takes third before the next caution, caused by Tyler Dippel having a flat tire coming out of turn 2. Nasse on the outside again for the restart, takes off, Kenseth by Benjamin for third. Cameron Haley is 5^th, followed by Rogers and Spencer Davis. Nasse and Wallace gap the field as Kenseth and Benjamin swapped third and fourth. 10 to go and Wallace is catching Nasse, with Benjamin close behind. Wallace makes a couple of tries under Nasse, but is unable to get past. Nasse wins, Wallace second, Benjamin third.