World Series: Crate Late Model Finale Rained Out, Laperle 2nd Overall Again

Delaney finishes third overall

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- It seems only fitting that the 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing would end for the Crate Late Model division as it began -- soaking wet. Heavy rains on Friday have forced the cancellation of Night 8 on the nine-night championship at New Smyrna Speedway, which was scheduled to be the final night of racing for the division. Inclement weather also cancelled racing on opening night of the World Series last Friday (Feb. 5) and again on Tuesday.

As a result of the cancellations, former American-Canadian Tour champion and Milk Bowl winner Patrick Laperle of St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Qué., has clinched second place in the Crate Late Model point standings for the second-straight year, with former CVRA and Devil's Bowl Speedway racer Dustin Delaney of Mayfield, N.Y., third overall.

Laperle posted a victory -- the fourth of his career at New Smyrna Speedway -- on Wednesday night after a drive from 15th starting position, and also turned in a pair of third-place finishes and an 18th-place effort in his four starts during the World Series. Delaney's best result was a runner-up finish on Monday night, followed by a third-place showing on the night of Laperle's win. Delaney was fifth on Saturday and eighth in Thursday's 50-lap feature.

Sean Bass of Orlando, Fla., found himself in the right place at the right time on Thursday night, winning the 50-lapper and taking the point lead away from 14 year-old Stephen Nasse. Nasse wrecked out of a top-five position with five laps remaining, eventually limping home in 16th place and dropping from first to fourth in the standings. Brandon Johnson finished fifth overall in the division.

Northeast noteables include Stayner, Ont., teenager Brandon Watson, who finished in a three-way tie for ninth place in the Crate Late Model division, and Shaun McWhirter of Mt. Forest, Ont., and Wayne Smith of Timberlea, Nova Scotia, who were among a six-way tie for 13th overall.

In other action at the World Series, B.J. McLeod leads St. John, New Brunswick's Lonnie Sommerville entering the Super Late Model division's Pete Orr Memorial 100 finale on Saturday, and Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn., holds a slim three-point lead over Chuck Hossfeld of Ransomville, N.Y. entering Saturday's Richie Evans Memorial 100 in the Tour-type Modifieds. Ronnie Silk of Norwalk, Conn., leads the SK Modified division, Todd Allen leads the Limited Late Model class, and T.J. Duke leads the Pro-Trucks. James Tucker defeated second-generation driver Travis Eddy for the Florida/IMCA-type Modified championship.

FINAL POINT STANDINGS
44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
New Smyrna Speedway -- New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Crate Late Models, after Night 7, Thu., Feb. 11, 2010

Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Points

1. Sean Bass, Orlando, Fla. -- 178
2. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Qué. -- 158
3. Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y. -- 154
4. Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, Fla. -- 150
5. Brandon Johnson, Tampa, Fla. -- 146
6. David Wagner, Akron, Oh. -- 102
7. Austin Kirkpatrick, Ocala, Fla. -- 98
-- Jerick Johnson, Mooresville, N.C. -- 98
9. Thor Anderson, Bondurant, Ia. -- 90
-- Brandon Watson, Stayner, Ont. -- 90
-- Erik Jones, Byron, Mich. -- 90

World Series: Laperle Wins at New Smyrna, Delaney 2nd in Points

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Patrick Laperle of St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Qué., drove from 15th starting position to win the Crate Late Model feature at New Smyrna Speedway's World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing on Wednesday night. Laperle, a former American-Canadian Tour champion and three-time winner of the Chittenden Bank Milk Bowl at Barre's Thunder Road Int'l Speedbowl, now sits fifth in points after four events have been completed in the series.

Dustin Delaney of Mayfield, N.Y., a former Modified racer at Devil's Bowl Speedway in West Haven, finished third in the Wednesday night feature, and is tied for second in points with Tampa, Fla., driver Brandon Johnson, just markers behind young Stephen Nasse of Pinellas Park, Fla. Part-time ACT competitor Brandon Watson of Stayner, Ont., is ninth in points after a disqualification for illegal fuel earlier in the week.

Only three of five scheduled Crate Late Model events have been completed; rain cancelled racing on Friday, Feb. 5, and heavy fog wiped out racing on Tuesday, Feb. 9. The Crate Late Models are slated to race again tonight, with a final 50-lap feature on Friday. Fourteen year-old Nasse won on Saturday and Monday to open the series, but finished seventh last night. Delaney has three top-five finishes to his credit.

For additional coverage of the 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway, visit Marc Patrick Roy's "Oval-Racing" website.

UNOFFICIAL POINT STANDINGS
44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
New Smyrna Speedway -- New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Crate Late Models, after Night 6, Wed., Feb. 10, 2010

Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Points

1. Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, Fla. -- 146
2. Dustin Delaney, Mayfield, N.Y. -- 142
-- Brandon Johnson, Tampa, Fla. -- 142
4. Sean Bass, Auburndale, Fla. -- 138
5. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, Qué. -- 126
6. David Wagner, Akron, Oh. -- 98
7. Jerick Johnson, Mooresville, N.C. -- 94
8. Thor Anderson, Bondurant, Ia. -- 82
9. Brandon Watson, Stayner, Ont. -- 74
10. Erik Jones, Byron, Mich. -- 70

(PHOTO: Patrick Laperle at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway; Photo by Marc Patrick Roy)

Laperle, Watson Headed to New Smyrna's World Series

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Former American-Canadian Tour champion Patrick Laperle of St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Qué. has filed an entry for the 44th Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at Florida's New Smyrna Speedway, Feb. 5-13. Laperle will race in the Crate/ASA-Type Late Model division, competing alongside fellow ACT driver Brandon Watson of Stayner, Ont., and former CVRA Modified competitor Dustin Delaney of Mayfield, N.Y.

Laperle won three of the first five features in the Crate/ASA division at last year's World Series, but was involved in a hard crash on Night 6, which ultimately led to him finishing second in points to champion David Wagner of Akron, Oh. Laperle went on to finish second in points in the Canadian-based Série ACT-Castrol later in the year with three wins, adding another victory on the U.S.-based ACT Late Model Tour at Airborne Speedway.

Watson, 16, is one of the hottest prospects in northeastern Late Model racing, having success in ACT, OSCAAR Super Late Models, and at Kawartha, Barrie, and Peterborough Speedways in Ontario; he finished third in the inaugural ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September.

Delaney, who raced with the Champlain Valley Racing Association at Devil's Bowl Speedway in West Haven and Albany-Saratoga Speedway in Malta, N.Y. as recently as 2008, finished eighth in NASCAR Camping World Series East points last year, with Vermont native Jamie Aube as his crew chief.

Eric Chase of Milton has finished in the top ten in points in each of the two previous World Series and was a feature winner in 2008, but confirmed on Monday that he will not return to New Smyrna this year.

World Series: Jarvis Squeaks Out Top Ten Point Finish

Ascutney racer Peter Jarvis concluded the 43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing with an eighth-place finish in the Tour-type Modified division at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Saturday night, and moved back into the Top 10 in championship standings on the final night. Jarvis entered the 25-lap finale in a tight battle for points positions 8-11 with John Jensen, Louie Mechalides, and Kevin Goodale, and was able to move up a position to finish 10th overall in the nine-night series.

Jarvis, the 2007 True Value Modified Racing Series Rookie of the Year, did all he could by finishing eighth in the race with Jensen and Goodale right behind in ninth and 10th, but was unable to overtake either driver in the standings. Mechalides was unable to make the start of the finale, dropping him to 12th overall behind Jarvis and J.R. Bertuccio. The final tally saw Goodale finish eighth in points, just four markers ahead of Jensen (644-640) and only six ahead of Jarvis (638).

Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn. won the race and the World Series championship in the Tour-type Modfieds.

Final Point Standings
43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
New Smyrna Speedway - New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Tour-type Modified

Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Points
1. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT - 819

2. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY - 727
3. Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, NY - 709
4. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ - 701

5. Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, MA - 697
6. Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA - 678
7. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA - 670
8. Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY - 644
9. John Jensen, Wolcott, CT - 640
10. PETER JARVIS, ASCUTNEY, VT - 638

World Series: Chase Finishes 8th in Crate Late Points

Eric Chase parlayed a smooth seven-night campaign into a top-ten championship points finish at the 43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing on Friday night. The American-Canadian Tour veteran from Milton finished 13th in the ASA/Crate-type Late Model division's 50-lap finale, which was good enough to secure eighth place overall for the traditional week-long series at Florida's New Smyrna Speedway.

Chase's 2009 World Series began on a rocky note with a 16th place finish on Friday, Feb. 6 after a minor on-track incident. A fuel problem relegated the driver of the Gary Clay Builders/Mansfield Heliflight/Chicken Charlie's #40 Chevrolet to 23rd the following night. An eighth-place finish on Monday, however, triggered a strong finish to the series; Chase finished fifth on each night from Tuesday to Thursday before his 13th-palce effort in the finale.

Chase and Ryan Nolin combined their efforts in 2008 to finish seventh overall at the World Series.

Defending ACT Late Model Tour champion Patrick Laperle completed only one lap of the 50-lap race on Friday night before parking his car and being scored 26th. Laperle's JPN Racing/Shear Metal Products #91 Chevrolet was severely damaged in a crash on Thursday night. Laperle won three-straight features during the week and settled for second place in the championship behind Ohio's David Wagner.

Thirteen year-old Stephen Nasse of Pinellas Park, Fla. captured the 50-lap finale over Wagner, Austin Kirkpatrick, Brandon Johnson, and Tommy Martins. The top ten was completed in order by Landon Cassill, Josh John, David Rigan, Nick Glaze, and Kawartha (Ont.) Speedway driver Shaun McWhirter.

The 43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing concludes on Saturday night with events for the Super Late Models, Tour-type Modifieds, SK Modifieds, Late Models, and FASCAR Pro Trucks.

Final Point Standings
43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
New Smyrna Speedway - New Smyrna Beach, Florida
ASA/Crate-type Late Model division, after Fri., Feb. 13, 2009

Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Points
1. David Wagner, Akron, OH - 282
2. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC - 226
3. Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, FL - 222
4. Landon Cassill, Cedar Rapids, IA - 198
5. Joey Gase, Cedar Rapids, IA - 186
6. Kyle Maynard, Weirsdale, FL - 162
7. David Rigan, Clarence, NY - 158
8. ERIC CHASE, MILTON, VT - 146
9. Austin Kirkpatrick, Ocala, FL - 142
10. Jimmy Weller, Hubbard, OH - 126

World Series: Jarvis 10th in Richie Evans 100

Peter Jarvis of Ascutney held on for a top-ten finish in the 24th Annual Richie Evans Memorial 100 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Friday night. Jarvis, a True Value Modified Racing Series regular, drove the Wally and Dennis Albro-owned #9NH to his third top-ten in seven starts in the Tour-type Modified division at the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, but slipped to 11th in points after chief rivals John Jensen and Kevin Goodale had better finishes. Jensen, of Wolcott, Conn. finished seventh after leading some laps after the halfway point, while Riverhead, N.Y.'s Goodale clawed to a fifth-place finish.

Championship positions 8-11 are seperated by just ten points, with Goodale leading the group at 568. Tyngsboro, Mass. driver Louie Mechalides sits ninth at 566 after failing to finish the Richie Evans 100, with Jensen (562) and Jarvis (558) close behind. The World Series draws to a close on Saturday night with a 25-lap finale for the Tour Modifieds.

Ted Christopher of Plainville, Conn. copped the Richie Evans Memorial 100 victory for his fourth career triumph in the race. He also won in 1994, 1997, and 2000. Ronnie Silk, Bobby Grigas, III, Matt Hirschman finished second through fourth. Goodale was next in fifth place at the finish, followed by Chuck Hossfeld, Jensen, Eric Goodale, Andy Seuss, and Jarvis.

Point Standings
43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing
New Smyrna Speedway - New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Tour-type Modified, after Night 8 of 9, Fri., Feb. 13, 2009

Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Points
1. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT - 719
2. Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, MA - 633
3. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY - 632
4. Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, NY - 627
5. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ - 617
6. Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA - 590
7. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA - 584
8. Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY - 568
9. Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA - 566
10. John Jensen, Wolcott, CT - 562
11. PETER JARVIS, ASCUTNEY, VT - 558

World Series: Nasse Wins Crate Late Finale, Wagner Secures Title

Thirteen year-old Stephen Nasse of Pinellas Park, Fla. has won the 50-lap finale for the ASA/Crate-type Late Model division at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway's 43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. Nasse took command of the race with 10 laps remaining as the car of early leader Sean Bass lost power on the race's final restart. David Wagner of Akron, Oh. was able to finish in second place and clinch the division's 2009 championship, unofficially, by 56 points over Patrick Laperle, 282-226.

Laperle, of St-Denis, Que., won features on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday before a hard crash took him out of Thursday's race. The 2008 American-Canadian Tour champion was able to complete one pace lap with his badly bent car on Friday night in order to collect last-place points and lock up second place in the World Series championship. Unofficially, Nasse finished third in points, just four markers behind Laperle.

World Series: Chase Scores Another 5th, Jarvis Rebounds to 13th

Milton's Eric Chase continued his streak of top-five finishes on Thursday night at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway's World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing, finishing in fifth place for the third night in a row. With the finish, Chase continues to hold onto eighth place in the ASA/Crate-type Late Model division point standings, and tightens the gap considerably to just four points - or, one on-track position - behind seventh-place driver David Rigan, 146-142.

Former point leader Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Que., the defending American-Canadian Tour champion, was involved in a lap 10 crash that heavily damaged his JPN Racing/Shear Metal Products #91 Chevrolet, as it slammed the Turn 1 wall rear-end-first before hitting the driver's side. Laperle was uninjured, but his crew is already in the process of pulling an "all-nighter" to make repairs to the car in time for Friday's 50-lap finale. Laperle, who officially finished 22nd, now trails David Wagner, who won Thursday's feature, by 24 points for the championship, 246-222.

Points in the Crate Late Models are awarded as follows: 40 points to the winner, 36 for second place, 32 for third, etc., to a minimum of four points (10th place and lower). To clinch the championship, Laperle will need to win on Friday and have Wagner finish 8th or worse, or finish second and have Wagner to finish no better than 9th. One saving grace for Laperle may be that the Crate Late Models will qualify via time trials for Friday's 50-lap race. For most of the World Series, the division has had heads-up starts based on the previous night's finish, meaning Laperle would have had to start in 22nd place Friday under the regular format.

Peter Jarvis of Ascutney rebounded after crashing in afternoon practice to post a 13th-place effort in the Tour-type Modified event on Thursday. Jarvis is now tied for ninth with Kevin Goodale at 482 points, while John Jensen sits 11th just two markers back. The 24th Annual Richie Evans Memorial 100 is up next for the Tour Modifieds on Friday night, with a 25-lap feature scheduled to close out the World Series on Saturday.

World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Night 7 Results:
ASA/Crate-type Late Models
1. David Wagner
2. Stephen Nasse
3. Kyle Maynard
4. Joey Gase
5. ERIC CHASE
6. Austin Kirkpatrick
7. Josh John
8. Nick Glaze
9. Landon Cassill
10. Shaun McWhirter
--
22. Patrick Laperle

Tour-type Modifieds
1. Ted Christopher
2. Bobby Grigas, III
3. Ronnie Silk
4. Matt Hirschman
5. Chuck Hossfeld
6. Jimmy Blewett
7. Eric Goodale
8. Robbie Fuller
9. Jon McKennedy
10. Kevin Goodale
--
13. PETER JARVIS

Point Standings Following Night 7:
Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Points
ASA/Crate-type Late Models
1. David Wagner, Akron, OH - 246
2. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC - 222
3. Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, FL - 182
-- Joey Gase, Cedar Rapids, IA - 182
5. Landon Cassill, Cedar Rapids, IA - 178
6. Kyle Maynard, Weirsdale, FL - 158
7. David Rigan, Clarence, NY - 146
8. ERIC CHASE, MILTON, VT - 142
9. Jimmy Weller, Hubbard, OH - 122
10. Nick Glaze, Austin, AR - 110
-- Austin Kirkpatrick, Ocala, FL - 110

Tour-type Modifieds
1. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT - 619
2. Jimmy Blewett, Howell, NJ - 555
3. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY - 552
4. Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, NY - 543
-- Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, MA - 543
6. Jon McKennedy, Chelmsford, MA - 530
7. Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA - 498
8. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA - 496
9. PETER JARVIS, ASCUTNEY, VT - 482
-- Kevin Goodale, Riverhead, NY - 482

World Series: Laperle Pulls Off the Hat Trick

Chase 5th again, Jarvis hangs on to Top 10 points position

"We did it again," is all you need to hear Patrick Laperle (left) say to know how Night 6 went at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway's 43rd annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing. The St-Denis, Que. driver pulled off a hat trick in the ASA/Crate-type Late Model division on Wednesday night, his third consecutive victory and fourth top-three finish in the division's five feature events since the World Series began last Friday. He now leads Ohio driver David Wagner for the World Series championship by 12 points and has a 48-point edge over 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year Landon Cassill.

"It's just been a perfect week," said the defending American-Canadian Tour champion. "Seventh, third, then three wins in a row. Unbelievable!"

Milton driver Eric Chase also repeated his performance from Tuesday night, finishing fifth for the second night in a row. With his third straight top-ten result after two rough outings to open the World Series, Chase holds on to eighth place in the Crate Late Model point standings with two features remaining.

With New Smyrna Speedway's policy of heads-up starts pending a draw for inversion of the Top 10 by the previous night's winner, Laperle drew a "0" - meaning no inversion - giving him the pole position. Although Laperle started from the top spot, Wagner challenged him - as he often has during the week - and led from lap 1 until Laperle passed him back with 10 laps remaining. Laperle suggested that his team's success was due in large part to a major difference in chassis setups between his car and everyone else's.

"My car is so fast, and it's so good in the corners, but they're all running on their bump stops on, like, lap 2 or 3. That's totally wrong," Laperle said. "Their cars (suspensions) settle early and push right up the track (in the corners), and I can wait and just drive right under them. Our car is set up perfect, but they're making it a little easier, too."

Technical inspection officials are reportedly combing Laperle's car over after each victory, trying to find components that run afoul of the rulebook. "They haven't found anything and they won't," said brother Daniel Laperle, "so they added 25 pounds to our car after each win. If we keep winning, by the end of the week we'll be 200 pounds heavier than everyone else!" On Wednesday night inspectors looked closely at the carburetor, intake, distributor, and looked all over the car for a traction control device.

"The only traction control I need is in my right foot," Patrick Laperle said.

***

Ascutney's Peter Jarvis has been plugging away in the Tour-type Modified division, and despite an 18th place finish in the John Blewett III Memorial 50 on Wednesday night, hangs on to ninth place in points after five features.

"It's going good, although we're a little underpowered," said Jarvis on Wednesday afternoon. "We're here having fun trying to take what we can get. We've kept our nose clean and stayed out of trouble. With the amount of cars they've junked down here in wrecks and stuff like that, we've been lucky."

For someone racing an underpowered car and just having fun, Jarvis and car owner Dennis Albro are certainly doing well. Jarvis brought the #9NH car home in seventh place on opening night last Fridayand again on Monday, and has also earned finishes of 12th and 15th in fields of 20-25 cars.

"The choice was to stay at home in the cold and snow in Vermont, or come to Florida and race, so what the hell?" said the 2007 True Value Modified Racing Series Rookie of the Year. "And if we make it out of here in one piece, we'll go home and race when it's warm up there in a couple months."

***

Patrick Laperle dedicated his Crate Late Model victory on Wednesday night to the memory of John Blewett III, who was killed in a crash at Thompson (Conn.) Int'l Speedway in 2007. Blewett, of Howell, N.J., was one of open-wheel Modified racing's top stars at the time of his death, and was a perennial contender at New Smyrna's World Series. Laperle befriended Blewett and his brother, Jimmy, also a Modified racer, at New Smyrna Speedway in 2004.

"Jimmy and I have been joking around all week," Laperle said. "I told him he needed to touch my car for good luck, and he told me I was (expletive) crazy." The joke was obviously on Laperle, as Jimmy Blewett won the opening round of the Tour Modified division on Friday, and is undefeated in five SK Modified division events. He finished fourth in the 50-lap event named in honor of his late brother on Wednesday night.

"John was a great guy and an awesome driver," said Laperle. "We still miss him a lot."

***

World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing Point Standings after Night 6, Wednesday, Feb. 11:

Pos.-Driver-Hometown-Points

ASA/Crate-type Late Model division
1. Patrick Laperle, St-Denis, QC - 218
2. David Wagner, Akron, OH - 206
3. Landon Cassill, Cedar Rapids, IA - 170
4. Joey Gase, Cedar Rapids, IA - 154
5. David Rigan, Clarence, NY - 146
-- Stephen Nasse, Pinellas Park, FL - 146
7. Kyle Maynard, Weirsdale, FL - 126
8. ERIC CHASE, MILTON, VT - 118
-- Jimmy Weller, Hubbard, OH - 118
10. Nick Glaze, Austin, AR - 98

Tour-type Modified division
1. Ted Christopher, Plainville, CT - 519
2. Jimmy Blewett, Nowell, NJ - 471
3. Eric Goodale, Riverhead, NY - 470
4. Chuck Hossfeld, Ransomville, NY - 457
5. Jon McKennedy, Chelsmford, MA - 452
6. Bobby Grigas, III, Marshfield, MA - 448
7. Louie Mechalides, Tyngsboro, MA - 426
8. John Jensen, Wolcott, CT - 416
9. PETER JARVIS, ASCUTNEY, VT - 412
10. Matt Hirschman, Northampton, PA - 408

(Photo by Marc Matrick Roy - http://picasaweb.google.com/marc.patrick.roy)

Laperle Goes Back-To-Back at New Smyrna

Chase a World Series-best 5th, Jarvis double-dips in open wheel divisions

Patrick Laperle has won his second consecutive ASA/Crate-type Late Model feature at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway's 43rd annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing.

Laperle, the 2008 American-Canadian Tour Champion from St-Denis, Que. near Montréal, won an ugly race on Monday night that was shortened from 25 to 11 laps due to time constraints and multi-car pileups, but walked the definitive walk by defeating Dave Wagner of Akron, Oh. in Tuesday's full-distance, 25-lap event.

Joey Gase of Cedar Rapids, Ia. and Weirsdale, Fla.'s Kyle Maynard finished behind Wagner, while Milton's Eric Chase posted his best finish of the 2009 World Series in fifth place.

Jimmy Weller and Crate Late Model division point leader Landon Cassill - Friday and Saturday's feature winners, respectively - were knocked out of contention with 10 laps remaining after Weller spun Cassill into the wall. Weller was penalized and sent to the rear of the field while Cassill's car was too heavily damaged to continue. Laperle, running third at the time of the wreck, inherited the lead and pulled away from Wagner for the victory.

Other winners on the night included Drew Brannon (Late Model), Ryan Preece (Florida/IMCA-type Modified), Ted Christopher (Tour-type Modified), Jimmy Blewett (SK Modified), and Jeff Choquette (Super Late Model).

Ascutney's Peter Jarvis, a regular on the True Value Modified Racing Series, pulled double-duty by finishing 12th in the Tour-type Modified event and 19th in the Florida Modified division. Tuesday was Jarvis' second night of double-duty in this year's World Series, as he finished 6th (Tour Mod) and 28th (Florida Mod) on Friday. He also has posted finishes of 15th (Saturday) and 7th (Monday) in the Tour Modified division.

Photos: World Series Night 4

Photos by Marc Patrick Roy - visit his entire Picasa album here: http://picasaweb.google.com/marc.patrick.roy

1. Patrick Laperle (#91) at speed at New Smyrna Speedway

2. Eric Chase (#40) enters the pits after a practice run

3. ASA/Crate Late Model point leader and Hendrick Motorsports development driver Landon Cassill (#7)

4. Patrick Laperle (front, right), Normand Girard of JPN Racing (front, left), and the #91 team celebrate their victory on Monday night

Laperle "Finally" Wins Shortened Race at New Smyrna, Eyes World Series Title

American-Canadian Tour Champion Patrick Laperle earned his first victory in the 43rd annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing on Monday night at Florida's New Smyrna Speedway. Laperle's victory in the ASA/Crate-type Late Model division, however, came in a rather unconventional way.

The feature race was scheduled to run 25 laps, but was cut short after just 11 circuits due to a seemingly out-of-control field of race cars. Laperle, of St-Denis, Que., started in third place and took the lead from Landon Cassill on lap 11 before the seventh, eighth, and ninth caution flags came out. During the eighth caution period, more than an hour into the race, officials informed the drivers that due to the time - and machinery - wasted during the opening laps, that the next yellow flag would end the race, regardless of the number of laps completed. As the field came to the green flag for the restart, a backmarker spun, bringing out the yellow and checkered flags.

"It was awful, everybody was wrecking," said Laperle. "It was crazy, even though we were restarting single-file, they were wrecking. It's too bad, because our car was really good, but we still won and it feels good."

Milton's Eric Chase rebounded nicely from a rough first two outings in the World Series on Friday and Saturday nights, finishing in eighth place.

Laperle apologized to the fans at New Smyrna Speedway during his victory lane interview for the wreck-filled race.

"You don't want to win like that," echoed Daniel Laperle, Patrick's brother and long-time crew member, "but the car was a rocket. We earned it." Cassill, who won on Saturday night, finished second. Dave Wagner, David Rigan, and Joseph Gase completed the unofficial top five.

"I'm glad that race is over," said Patrick Laperle. "We finally got (a win), and I think after a few beers, we're all going to bed." Laperle, favored as one of the championship favorites prior to the start of the 2009 World Series, has established himself as one of the proven forces to reckon with, along with Cassill, whose worst finish is second in three nights.

The ASA/Crate Late Model division will be back in action on Tuesday night.

Laperle Wins Wreckfest at New Smyrna, Chase 8th

Reigning American-Canadian Tour Champion Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Que. has won the ASA/Crate Late Model feature at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Monday night. The race, scheduled for 25 laps, was shortened to just 11 laps. Multiple-car crashes marred the race, which took more than an hour and a half to complete its 11 circuits. Eric Chase of Milton finished eighth, unofficially.

World Series After 2: Laperle Looking Good, Chase Struggles Early

Reigning American-Canadian Tour Champion Patrick Laperle (#91, left) is looking strong at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway's World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing with the Crate Late Model division's first two events now complete. Laperle, from St-Denis, Que., started and finished finished third on Saturday night to follow up his seventh-place finish in the Friday opener.

Eric Chase of Milton has struggled a bit to open the 43rd annual World Series, having finished 16th on Friday after being involved in a multi-car crash early in the race. Chase ran as high as 13th with two laps remaining on Saturday night before retiring with a fuel problem. He was scored 23rd, unofficially. Jimmy Weller of Hubbard, Oh. was victorious on Friday.

Laperle raced hard with Hendrick Motorsports development driver Landon Cassill of Cedar Rapids, Ia. and Clarence, N.Y. driver David Rigan throughout the 25-lap race, but was unable to complete a pass for second place in the closing laps. Cassill, the 2008 NASCAR Nationwide Series Rookie of the Year, held on for the win.

If Laperle or a rebounding Chase prove to be championship challengers over the final five events, it's likely that their toughest competition will come from Cassill, Rigan, and Dave Wagner of Akron, Oh. The latter three drivers each have a pair of top-five finishes in two starts. The Crate Late Model division has Sunday night off at the World Series, and will finish out its seven-race schedule on each night from Monday through Friday.

(Photo courtesy www.onroule.ca)

Chase and Laperle Carry ACT Banner at New Smyrna's World Series

Milton's Eric Chase (left) and defending American-Canadian Tour Champion Patrick Laperle of St-Denis, Que. will carry the northern colors at New Smyrna Speedway's 43rd Annual World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing in New Smyrna, Fla. Chase will attempt to defend his opening night 2008 victory on Friday in the ASA/Crate-type Late Model division. The ACT veteran captured the opening round during the traditional nine-night winter championship series at the fast half-mile last February, and, with teammate Ryan Nolin splitting time in the car, finished seventh in point standings despite skipping the final race.

"Just like last year, we're just going down to have some fun and race our car," said Chase.

In 2008, Chase posted the first main-event victory of his career at the 25-lap World Series opener on Friday, Feb. 8, surviving three red-flag periods for violent crashes, including one that took fellow ACT competitor Joey Polewarczyk, Jr. out of the race. Chase earned a seventh-place finish the following night, while Nolin posted finishes of eighth, 21st, and 16th in his three starts. Chase withdrew from the final race after a lackluster qualifying effort.

Nolin will reportedly not be sharing driving duties with Chase in the Gary Clay Builders/Mansfield Heliflight #40 car in this year's World Series.

Laperle is also competing in the ASA/Crate division, and like Chase, is considered one of the early favorites for the championship. According to Laperle, it sounds like he'll be hard to beat. Laperle reported Thursday night that his car performed so well it seemed "too easy" in practice sessions during the day. "If it stays like this all week, we could have a lot of fun," he said confidently.

Multi-time ACT Canadian Champion Claude Leclerc of Lanoraie, Que. helped Chase's team on Thursday, substituing in the driver's seat for Chase, who was on a business trip to Paris, France. Chase is scheduled to arrive in New Smyrna on Friday morning.

The World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing opens on Friday evening, with NASCAR Tour-type Modifieds, SK Modifieds, Super Late Models, Late Models, and Florida/IMCA-type Modifieds joining the ASA/Crate-type Late Models on the card. The ASA/Crate division runs cars with chassis similar to ACT Late Models, but larger engines and 10-inch tires are permitted.

The ASA/Crate division has the most official entries filed of any of the seven divisions competing at New Smyrna, with 32 drivers pre-registered. Polewarczyk, however, confirmed that despite filing an entry, he will not be competing in 2009. Among the pre-entered drivers are Hendrick Motorsports driver Landon Cassill of Cedar Rapids, Ia., Kawartha (Ont.) Speedway regular Shaun McWhirter, and NASCAR Nationwide Series driver Jerick Johnson of Mooresville, N.C. Logan Ruffin, who at age 13 was last year's ASA/Crate division champion, has not filed an entry for this year's World Series.

The ASA/Crate division is scheduled to compete on seven nights, including Friday and Saturday this week, and each weeknight next week. The division's finale will be a 50-lap race on Friday, Feb. 13. Stay tuned to Vermont Motorsports Magazine, Green-White-Checker, and The Backstretch for New Smyrna Speedway coverage.

(Photo courtesy http://www.nolinracing.com/)