Giving Stephen Nasse three races in four days to dial down a new chassis was always going to be a matter of time.
So, it came to pass that Mr. Excitement finally parked it in Victory Lane at the conclusion of Race 5 of the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway on Wednesday night. Nasse has been using the second half of Speedweeks to dial-in a new Rowdy Manufacturing chassis.
He finished fifth with it on Sunday night upon his arrival, third on Tuesday night and broke through on Wednesday after starting the race from fifth.
The victory was hard-fought, the winning move taking place with 14 laps to go on a slick track, contact between himself and an early dominant Augie Grill deciding the race. A caution unfurled shortly afterwards but only after Nasse had officially taken the lead.
Nasse surged ahead of Grill on the ensuing restart and held a steady gap over points leader Derek Griffith for the remainder of the race.
“The Modifieds really put some rubber on that track and I think a lot of the guys were scared to use that bottom through one and two to start out with,” Nasse said. “That’s my preferred line down there, I try to pass cars and set them up over there off two to get them in three and four. Once that lane was open I was rolling. I got by a couple of them pretty quick, I was able to get behind Augie there and trail him. He started slipping off the corner and was able to get by him.”
The win was the seventh in World Series Super Late Model competition for Nasse and 10th when including his Pro Late Model triumphs.
With his runner-up, his third in five nights of racing, Griffith extended his championship lead to 12 points over Jesse Love.
“We try not to points race too much, but it’s hard not to be happy with a bunch of podium finishes,” Griffith said. “It gives us something to be hopeful at the end of the week. It’s going to be a tough one.
“The competition is tough. When you get the guys like these — Majeski, Nasse, and Augie Grill, good finishes get tougher to come by so we’re happy with days like this for sure.”
The Super Late Model World Series of Asphalt continues on Thursday and Friday with a pair of 35 laps races before concluding with the Orange Blossom 100 on Saturday night.
The complete results from Wednesday can be found below.
- Stephen Nasse
- Derek Griffith
- Jesse Love
- Augie Grill
- Gus Dean
- Sammy Smith
- Jake Garcia
- Brad May
- Todd Stone
- Justin Mondeik
- Austin MacDonald
- Jerry Artuso
- Trey Bayne
- Max Calles-McDonald
- Ryan Moore
- Joe Valento
- Colin Garrett
- Patrick Thomas
- Kyle Sieg
- Jett Noland
- Vincent Staggs
- Steve Weaver, Jr.
- David Rogers
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