Wallace Wins!

By Rodney Meyering on July 4, 2014

Winner Steven Wallace accepts the trophy with his Dad Rusty (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Friday July 3^rd at New Smyrna Speedway

The 12^th Annual Clyde Hart Memorial was run Thursday night at New Smyrna Speedway. This year the race would mark the 4^thof 6 races making up the Bright House Challenge Series. Clyde built and promoted the races at the high banked oval until his death in 1998. His son Robert Hart, along with his wife and son Andrew, have been promoting the track since then.

With rain all around we were lucky to get the race in. After a slight delay due to the wet weather, Stephen Nasse got the lead at the start, pulling away from Wallace. The two Steve’s started on the front row after an inversion of 8. Fast time went to Bobby Goode, who turned a lap of 17.464 in time trials, he would start 8^th. One quarter of the way and it’s all Nasse. Keene and Wallace race side by side, half a straightaway behind. Two quick cautions for minor spins can’t stop Nasse. He continues to lead by half a lap, until lap 77, he loses it getting past lap car Johanna Long and destroys the back of the car. The dominate car is out of the race. Halfway through the race and David Rogers is moving through the field, slowly catching Keene and Wallace. By the time Nasse spins, Wallace and Rogers are past Keene, who is losing ground to fifth place Joe Boyd. Rogers is all over Wallace, as Boyd pressures Keene. Boyd gets past Keene as Nasse spins.

Stephen Nasse out front (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

Stephen Nasse out front had a dominate car until going out of the race (photo Rodney Meyering / RSEN)

The restart will be Wallace, Rogers, Boyd, Keene, Clouser, T J Duke and Travis Cope with one quarter of the race to run. Wallace pulls away with Rogers right on his tail, The winner of the inaugural Clyde Hart Memorial will continue to challenge Wallace to the end, but will not have enough for the son of 1989 Winston Cup Champion Rusty Wallace, and will settle for second. The battle for third will see Boyd lose places to both Keene and Cope.

World Series of Asphalt Champion Wallace, made the trip to New Smyrna Speedway from Mooresville, NC. He would overcome a practice crash on Wednesday and, with a little help from the other Steve, Nasse, win in impressive fashion here tonight.