Legendre Ready for Hickory, Eyes PASS South and National Series

HICKORY, N.C. -- Steven Legendre is quickly making his mark on the southern Super Late Model scene. After his first two starts in 2010, the 17 year-old Danville High School student is proving himself to be a contender in the Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model ranks against northern stars Ben Rowe, Johnny Clark, and Brad Leighton, and southern shoes Jeff Choquette, Preston Peltier, and Jay Fogleman.

Despite their home base in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, Legendre and his crew chief-father, Kendell, have decided to tackle the PASS South schedule, running at tracks in the Carolinas, Virginia, and Tennessee. Steven is also chasing the five-race PASS National Championship from Maine to Florida, and will run a pair of PASS North events at his home track, White Mountain Motorsports Park in North Woodstock, N.H.

Legendre heads to North Carolina this week for Saturday's Easter Bunny 150 at the legendary Hickory Motor Speedway, a race that counts for both South and National points. In his two previous starts this year, Legendre drove from 20th to finish sixth in the National opener at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway and 18th-to-third in the South lid-lifter at Dillon (S.C.) Motor Speedway.

"Hopefully we can keep it going," Legendre says. "I've never been to Hickory. I guess it's pretty bumpy, sort of like Unity [Raceway in Maine]."

While Hickory and Unity may be rough, Legendre has been nothing but smooth since he first strapped in. He won more than a dozen times in White Mountain's youth division, took a win in only six Strictly Stock starts, and was a two-time Late Model winner and the Rookie of the Year in 2008. He posted a respectable three top-tens in his first PASS North season last year, and has aligned himself with Fogleman's Shark Racing Development for 2010. He's also the lead driver for Ford Racing's Detroit-based PASS crate engine program.

The teenager finds himself fourth in the PASS National Championship standings, third in PASS South, and potentially looking at a season's worth of headlines.

"We had a good run at Dillon and New Smyrna," Legendre said. "We're doing things a little differently, but it's working. Down south, everybody runs Hamke chassis and Chevrolet engines, but we've got a Jody Lavender chassis and a Ford. I haven't been to most of the tracks we're racing on this year, but we've made it work so far. We've had a lot of help from Jody Lavender, Jay Fogleman, and Mike Delahanty from Ford Racing."

Legendre said he wants to finish in the top-five in PASS South standings, but thinks he has an even better chance at doing well in the National points. Two of the National races are at Thompson, Conn., and Beech Ridge Motor Speedway in Scarborough, Me., with the finale at Newport, Tennessee. Luckily for Legendre, the South schedule goes to Newport two months before the National event and he'll be able to get some good notes for his return.

"It was important to get a good start at New Smyrna. Since the National thing is only five races, one bad race will hurt you a lot," he said. "My first top-ten last year was at Thompson, and I was running second in the 300 at Beech Ridge before we had a tire problem. We're already planning on doing all the southern races anyway, so it's not like it's going to be a problem for us to get there.

"We're off to a good start. If we have one bad week we'll have a hard time playing catch-up, but I think if we can get through Hickory we'll be in good shape."

(PHOTO: Danville, Vt.'s Steven Legendre at Dillon Motor Speedway in South Carolina. Photo coutresy www.stevenlegendre.com)

Maine Driver Brackett to Make Truck Debut at Martinsville

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Dale Brackett has some lofty goals for the 2010 season, not the least of which include his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway on Saturday. The Strong, Me., driver will race in equipment purchased from Tim Bainey, Jr.

Brackett made his Pro All Stars Series Super Late Model debut at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway in January, finishing in 12th place. He plans to contest the full five-race PASS National Championship schedule and attempt seven NCWTS events, beginning with Martinsville's Kroger 250.

"I haven't raced much up north since 2006, but I raced a lot up here before I went into the military," said Brackett en route to Virginia. "While I was stationed in North Carolina I raced on dirt and asphalt at places like Clary's Speedway, Orange County, and Wake County." Brackett has made occasional appearances in long-distance events at Unity (Me.) Raceway from 2007-09, and also raced with the former PASS Outlaw series in 2005.

"We came back this year full-bore," he said of his NCWTS and PASS plans. "We're ready to go."

Brackett, slated to drive the #06 Chevrolet, is one of nine drivers scheduled to make their NASCAR Truck debut at Martinsville, including former American-Canadian Tour winner D.J. Kennington of St. Thomas, Ontario.

(Photo courtesy www.brackettfamilymotorsports.com)

Legendre 3rd in PASS South Opener at Dillon

DILLON, S.C. -- Steven Legendre just might be on to something. The 17 year-old from Danville finished third in the Pro All Stars Series South season opener, the South Carolina Clash 150 at Dillon Motor Speedway, on Saturday evening.

Legendre, in his sophomore season, has been strong in his two starts thus far in 2010; at the PASS National Championship season opener at Florida's New Smyrna Speedway in January, he finished sixth. The Danville High School basketball player is the lead driver for Ford Racing's new crate engine program in the PASS Super Late Model series.

"It was good, really good. Better than I expected," Legendre said by phone. "We started 18th, but we were just picking them off one by one."

Legendre's team had help directly from Ford at Dillon Motor Speedway, in the form of Ford Racing Sportsman Circle Track Program Manager Mike Delahanty. "Mike was here working with us [on Friday] and giving us some help," said Legendre. "The Ford is great. It makes really good power against the Chevys.

"I think it's going to be a good year."

Sixteen year-old Ryan Blaney, son of NASCAR Sprint Cup Series driver Dave Blaney, notched his first career PASS South win, ahead of veteran racer Hal Goodson. Preston Peltier and Spencer Wauters completed the unofficial top five finishers.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- South Carolina Clash 150
PASS South -- Dillon Motor Speedway, Dillon, S.C.
Saturday, March 13, 2010

Pos.-Driver
1. Ryan Blaney
2. Hal Goodson
3. Steven Legendre
4. Preston Peltier
5. Spencer Wauters
6. George Gorham
7. John Batten
8. Cooper Fassen
9. Tayla Orleans
10. Duane Linville
11. Heath Hindman
12. Kenzie Ruston
13. Trey Mitchell
14. Joe Heigl
15. Jay Fogleman
16. Andy Loden
17. Dana White
18. Justin Wakefield
19. Jimmy Weller
20. Devin Jones
21. Tim Nooner
22. Joey Coulter
23. Dylan Presnelly
24. Alex Fleming
25. Chris Bowers
26. Clay Jones
27. Chris Bohlman

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)

Leighton, North Tame PASS in Florida

St. Johnsbury teen Legendre sixth

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. -- Brad Leighton led a strong contingent of northern drivers to win the inaugural PASS Winterfest 150 at New Smyrna Speedway on Sunday afternoon in his debut performance with Maine-based Richard Moody Racing. For Leighton, of Center Harbor, N.H., it was his first PASS victory and his first win in a Super Late Model car since 1995. The Winterfest 150 was the opening round of the five-race 2010 PASS National Championship.

The race was hotly contested, with Leighton, Johnny Clark, Ben Rowe, Preston Peltier, Sam Watts, and Jeff Choquette each leading laps. Rowe was eliminated from contention following two wrecks just past lap 100, and Leighton recovered from a flat tire with just 25 laps remaining to take the lead from Clark and speed to the win.

Following Leighton across the finish line were Clark, of Hallowell, Me., Floridians Watts and Choquette, and Canadian Lonnie Sommerville of New Brunswick. Seventeen year-old Steven Legendre of St. Johnsbury finished sixth after starting 20th in the 22-car field. The top-10 was completed by North Carolina racers Peltier and Jay Fogleman, Jared Foley of Kentucky, and Florida's Kyle Maynard.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS -- PASS Winterfest 150
PASS National Championship -- New Smyrna Speedway, New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
Sunday, January 31, 2010

Pos.-Driver-Hometown

1. Brad Leighton, Center Harbor, N.H.
2. Johnny Clark, Hallowell, Me.
3. Sam Watts, Winter Springs, Fla.
4. Jeff Choquette, Loxahatchee, Fla.
5. Lonnie Sommerville, St. John, N.B.
6. Steven Legendre, St. Johnsbury
7. Preston Peltier, Harrisburg, N.C.
8. Jay Fogleman, Durham, N.C.
9. Jared Foley, Williamsburg, Ky.
10. Kyle Maynard, Weirsdale, Fla.
11. Kevin Ingram, Auburndale, Fla.
12. Dale Brackett, Strong, Me.
13. Justin Larson, Clearwater, Fla.
14. Ben Rowe, Turner, Me.
15. Tim Russell, Apopka, Fla.
16. Devin Jones, Mooresville, N.C.
17. Joey Gase, Cedar Rapids, Ia.
18. Steve Nasse, Pinellas Park, Fla.
19. Brandon Ward, Winston-Salem, N.C.
20. Eddie Gainey, Fort White, Fla.
21. Mario Gosselin, Lake Wales, Fla.
22. Clay Jones, Goldsboro, N.C.

(PHOTOS: 1. (L-R) 3rd-place Sam Watts, winner Brad Leighton, runner-up Johnny Clark; 2. A mid-race restart with Clark (#54), Preston Peltier (#26), Jeff Choquette (#33), and Leighton (#55) up front. Photo 1 by Norm Marx/PASS, Photo 2 by Dave Parker for VMM)

PASS WinterFest: Update #1

As promised, our man Dave Parker has delivered a little parcel from Florida, giving us the first look at the inaugural PASS WinterFest 150 at New Smyrna Speedway.

As of 12:15pm on Friday, the bad weather is holding off -- it's 72 degrees and partly cloudy, with practice scheduled for 2:00-7:00pm. Keep checking in, we'll have a few more updates throughout the weekend.

Brad Leighton's new Richard Moody Racing #55 Ford Fusion, sponsored by Subway of Barre, Montpelier, Waterbury, and Northfield, Vt.

A crew member makes a change on the left-rear corner of Leighton's car

Four-time and defending PASS North champion Johnny Clark's #54

The Juice: The All-Star Showdown Ain't About All-Stars Anymore

-by Justin St. Louis

The season-long hype surrounding the inaugural ACT Invitational at New Hampshire Motor Speedway was a pretty cool thing for the fans and teams of the American-Canadian Tour. The pressure bearing down on 300 or so Late Model drivers to win a race and get invited to compete at the "Magic Mile" nearly broke some of the toughest men in the sport, while for others, the feeling of overcoming that pressure, getting that big win, and stamping their tickets to The Big Dance was pure utopia.

It reminds us of something: The NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown at Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, in the glitz and glam of suburban Los Angeles, live on SPEED TV. A national stage for the local heroes. The Super Bowl of NASCAR short track racing. The highlight of the whole year.

It was a simple and wonderful concept in 2003: race your heart out all year long, and if you finish in the top-15 in points in what are now the K&N Pro Series East and West divisions, you'll get rewarded with an invitation to race on national television at what may be the nicest short track facility in the country. No points on the line, just money, bragging rights, a really nice trophy, and a chance to maybe turn yourself into the next hot prospect in the NASCAR garage.

Californian Austin Cameron stole the hearts of America as he came back from cancer to win the inaugural 125-lap event. In 2004, Massachusetts underdog Mike Johnson set the world on its ear with his victory. David Gilliland won in 2005, and just another year later found himself winning a Nationwide Series race at Kentucky and a Sprint Cup Series pole at Talladega. Matt Kobyluck brought the trophy back to New England in 2006. Everyone gathered around their TVs to watch -- even us East Coasters who had to stay up way past our bedtimes. The were times when the racing got a little chippy and cars got torn up, but the idea was that we were watching the 30 best short trackers in the country.

Then NASCAR went ahead and ruined it.

Beginning in 2007, ten starting spots and 100 more laps have been added to the race (only 225 laps for this year's edition, however), and qualifying is open to anyone approved by NASCAR to run on a half-mile or longer track. The top-15 from both the East and West divisions are still invited, but only the champions and race winners are automatically qualified for the race. In addition, the champions from the northern and southern Whelen Modified Tours, the Canadian Tire Series, the Corona Mexico Series, and the Whelen All-American Series (read: drivers that have nothing to do with the East and West divisions) are guaranteed starters, provided they can find a ride. And since the only East/West drivers guaranteed to start are the champions and winners, the potential exists for a championship runner-up to travel to California only to not qualify for the All-Star (!!!) race.

"That race had tremendous potential when it was first announced," said reigning American-Canadian Tour champion Brian Hoar, a three-time Toyota All-Star Showdown participant. Hoar, of Williston, ran full-time in the Busch North/Busch East/Camping World East/K&N Pro Series East/What'll It Be Next Year Series from 2001-2006, and was a top-10 finisher in all three of his starts at Irwindale.

"When it first started, that race was huge for our group of drivers that, at the time, was still centered here in the northeast, and it was just as big for the group of guys regionalized out west. The East versus West thing was a neat format, and we beat those guys on their own turf two out of the three years I went out there. It's totally different now, and not only do I not have the answers for [why NASCAR changed it], I don't care. It still has the potential to be great again if they fix it."

Hoar points to NASCAR's recent penchant to seemigly try and reinvent the wheel as the blame for the change in the Showdown. "NASCAR changed the event when they changed the series [from Busch North to Busch East in 2006]," he said. "By 2006 things had really started to change, and by 2007 everything had changed. Now anyone can get in the race and win. Look at Joey Logano last year."

Logano, the 2007 Busch East Series champion (and eventual 2009 Sprint Cup Series Rookie of the Year), won the Showdown following his championship season. In last year's event, he brought his Joe Gibbs Racing Nationwide Series team to Irwindale and was dominant -- in his one and only race in the East/West divisions the entire year, mind you -- before ultimately being disqualified from the win following a last-lap wreck with Peyton Sellers, who at the time was a high-talent, low-budget full-timer with the East Series. Multi-time Camping World Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday was also in the race and wrecked several cars. Matt Crafton, another Truck Series racer, finished fifth, one spot better than Hornaday.

Logano has a ride (and backing from his Sprint Cup sponsor The Home Depot and Nationwide crew chief Kevin Kidd) in the Fadden Racing entry fielded by ACT driver and former Busch North/Busch East champion Mike Olsen of North Haverhill, N.H. Olsen will also enter a car for -- get this -- 18 year-old Willy Boucenna, a road course racer from France who has zero history with NASCAR.

"It's all buy-a-ride now," says Hoar. "You can't blame Mike for taking the money that [Logano and Boucenna] bring with them, he races for a living and has to do what he can to survive. But it's sad that the regulars of the series can go out there and get their butts handed to them [by outsiders]. Say they have a bad qualifying lap, that's it. They can support the series all year long and look forward to [Irwindale], and then not make it in. It's too bad. I'm excited to see this year's race, I always am, but I'm not excited to see guys like [Logano] in the race."

Hoar also said that in the formative years of the Showdown, the East and West series regulars really were the stars, and that having drivers like Logano and Hornaday in the race now takes away from the original purpose of the event. "We had all kinds of support and exposure from NASCAR for the whole week we were out there. The TV crews were there, and their job was to make us stars, and they did it. Last year it was all Joey Logano, and he wasn't even part of [the series]."

The similarities between the first Irwindale event and September's ACT Invitational at NHMS were many, says Hoar, and going through the same type of experience brought back a lot of memories. It also reminded Hoar of the changes the old Busch North Series went through once the Loudon, N.H., mile became a part of the series. "Absolutely, to a great degree," he said. "We had exposure all year, and it was all anyone talked about, just like Irwindale [in 2003]. Will the second one be the same feel? I don't know. But I hope the race doesn't get out of control. As long as ACT stays on top of it, I think it will be good.

"Running races at Loudon singlehandedly changed the Busch North Series [in the early 1990s], and everyone thought they had to go out and get superspeedway bodies and superspeedway cars and spend lots of money. Then the series became what it is now. And it's already started in ACT -- Patrick Laperle had a car built specifically for Loudon before he was even invited. Ricky Rolfe tested well there in August, and put his car up on jackstands and pulled out a back-up car for the rest of the races until the Invitational. Guys are figuring out that aerodynamics have never been as important on a Late Model as they are at Loudon. It's up to ACT to clamp down on it."

Brian Hoar is right. The Toyota All-Star Showdown was an outstanding event at one time, and it still could be if it went back to the basics. Now it's just another race. For that matter, the K&N Pro Series East was an outstanding series at one time, too.

Let's hope the ACT Invitational doesn't go down the same path. We don't think it will.

***

Speaking of the Showdown, there's a touch of local flavor headed for L.A. this weekend -- Colchester's Sam Caron, a part-time ACT competitor, will head to the event as crew chief for driver Steve Park and owner Bob Torriere's NDS Motorsports, working under the #35 Whelen Engineering team based in Georgia, Vt., and Barre native Matt Goslant will be the crew chief for two-time West Series champion Eric Holmes and the #20 NAPA Toyota, fielded by California powerhouse Bill MacAnally Racing.

Catch the Toyota All-Star Showdown live on SPEED TV or Sirius NASCAR Radio at 10:00pm, Friday and Saturday.

***

How does anyone not love Robby Gordon?

***

Remember those old commercials with the egg and the frying pan?

"This is your brain." ---SMASH!--- "This is your brain on drugs."

Well that's what I feel like when I watch Madhouse. It's not real racing. It's WWE with nerf bars and a southern accent.

Here's my expert analysis after three shows:
1. Burt Myers is a moron. And a hot-head. I can't imagine what's gonna happen to that poor little baby he has at home the first time he spills his Cheerios.
2. Chris Fleming is a moron. Some people get it, some people don't. Guess which category he falls under.
3. Junior Miller is a total moron. I have nothing else to say about him.
4. Jason Myers might be a moron, but they don't show him enough for me to be able to tell.
5. Tim Brown isn't a moron, but he is a total jerk. His wife hates him, but hey, look at the publicity Michael Waltrip Racing is getting from that crew shirt!
6. Eric Stigall is a special kind of moron. Far and away my favorite character on television right now. In fact, his personality is so addictive, even I twitch when he talks.
7. I am a moron, because I can't freaking wait for the next episode. And I guaran-damn-tee you I'll buy the DVD after the season is over.

***

By the way, Irwindale isn't the only place running this weekend. The Pro All Stars Series heads for sunny... er, not... Florida this weekend for the first annual WinterFest 150 at New Smyrna Speedway.

VMM will have a correspondent at the track in Dave Parker, who will be taking notes all day and giving us occasional updates during the event. It looks like rain might play into the schedule, which may postpone the event from Saturday to Sunday.

The WinterFest 150 is the first PASS National Championship event for 2010. Drivers expected to compete include 2009 PASS North champion Johnny Clark, Danville youngster Steven Legendre, Québec native Mario Gosselin, and the new teams pairing owner Richard Moody with driver Brad Leighton, and owner Scott Mulkern with driver Ben Rowe.

We're not entirely sure how close to the computer we'll be all weekend -- ya know, real world commitments and all -- but we can Tweet with the best of 'em! Keep a watch on the VMM Twitter page at twitter.com/VtMotorMag, or "@VtMotorMag" for those of you that already know what the heck a Twitter is.

PASS Champions Rowe, Clark Team Up for National Race

(From team press release)

FARMINGDALE, Me. -- With 10 championships between them, Maine racers Ben Rowe and Johnny Clark are teaming up for a winter road trip.

A long winter road trip -- to Florida.

Rowe, who has four PASS North Series championships as well as PASS South and PASS National championships on his resume, and Clark will field a joint effort for the inaugural PASS Winterfest 150 at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway on Jan. 29-30. The event is the first of five PASS National Championship races scheduled for the 2010 season.

"We wanted to go down and support this race, because we think it could grow into something really big in the future," said Clark, a four-time PASS North champion, including the last two series titles. "If everything goes well, we should both have a chance to win this one."

Clark's race hauler will carry both his familiar Clark's Car Crushing No. 54 and Rowe's new Community Pharmacies No. 48. The deal to pool the resources of Johnny Clark Motorsports and Mulkern Racing was finalized at last weekend's Northeast Motorsports Expo held at the Augusta Civic Center.

Rowe was named Touring Series Driver of the Year at the Expo.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun," said Rowe, who will debut with his new team and new crew chief, Seth Holbrook, at New Smyrna. "Me and Johnny have never teamed up before, so it's going to be a blast."

Of the two drivers, only Clark has New Smyrna experience, having competed on multiple occasions in the annual New Smyrna World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing held each February.

He compared New Smyrna's high-banked half-mile layout to Thompson (Conn.) International Speedway, a track familiar to PASS North Series competitors.

"It's a lot like Thompson," Clark said. "It's big and fast, and it's definitely a fun and challenging track. It's extremely hard on brakes, and you need one of the biggest motors you can find there."

Rowe said he'll take Clark's word for it, having never raced at New Smyrna himself. He has, however, watched a number of races there from the pit area.

"It does race a lot like Thompson -- at least that's what Johnny tells me," Rowe said. "Hopefully he'll help me out when we get there and we can go from there.

"We're going to take a bunch of guys from the north down there and see what we can do together."

Teams hit the track on Friday, Jan. 29 for an extended practice session. Qualifying and feature racing will be held on Saturday, Jan. 30. The Winterfest 150 is tentatively scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. green flag.

(PHOTO: Ben Rowe (left) and Johnny Clark at the Northeast Motorsports Expo; JohnnyClarkMotorsports.com photo)

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.

ACT Champion Laperle to Skip Lee USA Opener

American-Canadian Tour Champion Patrick Laperle will not be present at the series' 2009 season opener at Lee USA (N.H.) Speedway this weekend. Laperle announced in February that he would not defend his ACT Late Model Tour title and confirmed Thursday that he won't be making the five-hour haul from his St-Denis-sur-Richelieu, Que. home to the New Hampshire seacoast this weekend, but will likely be at the next two events at Thunder Road and Airborne Speedway in May.

After winning the Série ACT-Castrol championship in 2007, Laperle ran a part-time schedule with the Québec/Ontario-based tour last year. One of the races he ran was the season opener at Autodrome St-Eustache, which he won. He will not repeat the feat this weekend with the ACT Late Model Tour at Lee.

"(Lee is) two days with practice on Saturday and the race on Sunday, and it's a long trip for us. It would cost us a lot, and it only pays $2,000 to win," said Laperle. "We want to win at Thunder Road for the 50th anniversary, I'm saving my car for Thunder Road. I can't wait to see the new Airborne, plus it's the closest track to home in the U.S., and we'll be at St-Eustache (the Castrol opener on May 23) for sure."

Laperle had originally planned to hit only big-money events on both sides of the border with the ACT Late Model Tour, the Série ACT-Castrol, and the Pro All Stars Series. His Super Late Model car intended for PASS competition, however, was badly wrecked in Florida during New Smyrna Speedway's World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing two months ago and is still in need of repair. And like several drivers in the northeast, Laperle has a new Late Model car under construction, designed specifically for the inaugural ACT Invitational event at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in September by short track legend Junior Hanley.

With his plans changing due to the Super Late Model's current state, Laperle said he may return to the Série ACT-Castrol full-time. Plans right now hinge on the level of support his sponsor, Normand Girard of JPN Racing, will commit to.

"I don't know what he wants to do, so I guess we will see," Laperle said of Girard. "If he wants to run the whole season in Québec, I will. We're supposed to be having a meeting about it soon."

(Photo courtesy ACT)

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.