Suarez Starts Season Strong at Smyrna

By Rodney Meyering on February 17, 2014

Lee Pulliam (11) raced with Daniel Suarez all night. Pulliman finished 5th (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Last night was night number 3 of this year’s edition of The World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing brought NASCAR’s K & N series to New Smyrna Speedway. This would mark the first NASCAR points paying race to visit this high banked half mile in the speedway’s almost 50 year history.

Cameron Haley, a west series regular, would run fastest of 30 cars making a qualifying attempt and would elect to start on the outside of the front row. This would give Ben Rhodes the inside spot for the start. Hayley would get the jump at the start with Rhodes falling into second and Brandon McReynolds to third. Kenzie Ruston has figured out that the high line works here and comes from 6^th to take the lead by lap 5. The top 8 cars all scramble for position with Hayley dropping back. Lap 10 sees Ruston fade as Gray Gaulding takes the point, this last till lap 14 when Brandon Jones goes to the front. We are almost 25 laps into this 150 lap race and things finally settle down, Suarez gets past Ruston for 3^rd, Jones still leads with Gaulding 2^nd. As the leader approaches lap traffic, the first yellow appears for car 55, Jerry Dawson, spinning in turn 2.

Cameron Haley (98) looks to get under Daniel Suarez (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

The first restart of the race and Suarez moves past Gaulding for second, he works on Jones for 15 laps and takes him for the lead on lap 50. 100 laps to go. As Suarez pulls away, the rest of the field appears to be in ride mode, saving their equipment and tires for this long race. The race is about to reach the halfway point and the yellow flies for only the second time, Rusty Skewes is in the turn 4 wall.

The race is stopped for a break halfway through. No tire change is allowed, fuel and adjustments only. Can anybody make their car good enough to catch Suarez? Saurez takes the outside for the restart, followed by Jones, Gaulding, Pulliam, Ruston and Hayley.

Saurez, Pulliam, Jones and Hayley provide some great racing for the second half of the race, pulling away from the field. 25 laps to go sees Hayley and Jones side by side for 3^rd, Saurez pulling away from Pulliam. Less than 15 to go and Saurez is lapping cars left and right, while Hayley is reeling him in. One late caution for a single car incident makes it a ten lap dash to the finish. Looks like Suarez and Hayley will fight for the trophy. Dust flies on the restart as Saurez gets the jump from the high side. 4^th through 10^th battle 3 wide, cars sliding everywhere, they all hang on to it, we are still green. Two laps to go and 1^st and 2nd are even, Saurez or Hayley? White flag, Hayley low, Suarez high, Saurez wins by a nose, taking his second career K & N win.

Daniel Suarez, Monterrey Mexico (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Unofficial Finishing Order:

1	6	Daniel Suarez	150
2	98	Cameron Hayley	150
3	33	Brandon Jones	150
4	41	Ben Rhodes	150
5	11	Lee Pullliam	150
6	96	Kenzie Ruston	150
7	20	Gray Gaulding	150
8	21	Mackena Bell	150
9	46	Brandon Gdovic	150
10	31	Kaz Grala	150
11	99	Patrick Staropoli	150
12	52	Matt Tifft	150
13	24	Brennan Newberry	150
14	16	Brandon McReynolds	150
15	15	Nick Drake	150
16	1	David Garbo Jr	150
17	71	Eddie MacDonald	150
18	97	Jesse Little	150
19	04	Ronnie Bassett Jr	150
20	43	Brodie Kostecki	150
21	34	Scott Heckert	150
22	4	Sergio Pena	149
23	2	Ryan Gifford	149
24	42	Jay Beasley	149
25	75	Nathan Russell	148
26	07	Clint King	135
27	22	Austin Hill	116
28	18	Sam Hunt	104
29	51	Rusty Skewes	66
30	55	Jerry Dawson	58

Gray Gaulding (20) gets into Kenzie Ruston. Ruston finished 6th and Gaulding 7th. (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Kenzie Ruston (96) takes the high line around Ben Rhodes. Rhodes would end up finishing two places ahead of Ruston in 4th place (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)