While Connor Jones may have crossed the finish line first on the opening night of the World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway in the Pro Late Models, defending champion Hunter Wright got the win after Jones was disqualified.
In post race tech, Connor Jones’ #44 Pro Late Model would fail tech due to his carburetor. Wright, who crossed the line second, would be declared the winner. However, Jones’ team will try to appeal the call, so the DQ could be overturned, giving Jones his win back. Officials are currently looking to see if there is a way the team can appeal, or if it is case closed.
Wright started the race in sixth and cut his way through the field. With 15 laps to go, the driver of the 29W would get past Max Reaves, who led the most laps, for second place. Wright had his sights set on Jones and was closing the gap, but would run out of time.
“We needed tonight to be the 100 lapper,” said Wright post-race, before Jones’ DQ. “Wrong night to have a long run car. All the Ford guys qualified up front, but we rode around and let them burn their stuff up. Chevrolets came to the front. Not a bad run for the week, just got to find a little bit more for the rest of it.”
Jimmy Renfrew Jr. will officially finish second. After starting back in 11th, Renfrew made it clear he was on a mission. On several restarts, he made it three wide on the bottom, and wasn’t shy about nudging some people out of the way on his march to the front.
“We were pretty good, just got to clean it up in qualifying a little bit,” said the driver of the 00 post race. “Started too far back. The last 15 laps we could match these guys’ times, but got a little bit too far behind in the beginning. We need to gain a little bit of speed, but this thing drives really well. I’m excited to come back tomorrow. I think the top three you see here on the frontstretch will be the ones competing for wins every night.”
Brody Manahan set the fastest time in qualifying for the 59 lap race, but with the invert he would start in third, with Alex Labbe on the pole and Max Reaves on the outside of the front row.
Reaves would take the lead on the initial start on the outside, but a spin from Ryan Phipps in turn two would negate the pass. It would be the same song, second verse for Reaves though on the second attempt to start the race as he got by Labbe once again.
Monahan would then get by Labbe for the second spot, but he wouldn’t keep it for long. On lap 14 Jones would move comfortably into the runner-up spot. Then on lap 17, Larry Gelanis spun off of turn two, drawing the second caution.
One lap after the ensuing restart, the 25k of Isacc Kitzmiller would get loose in one and two, causing a check up in the middle of the pack that would cause the 15 of Hudson Sharp, 51 of Anthony Bello and the 54D of Diogo Moscato to crash. Reaves would retain the lead on the next restart, and cruise until Jade Avedisian would come to a halt in turn four, drawing another yellow.
Once again, Reaves kept the lead on the ensuing restart, but chaos would break out in turn three, as the 1 of Derrek Keely, 3 of Chris Munson, and 18S of Mike Scorzelli would collide and hit the outside wall. That would be the final yellow of the race, and Reaves would shoot off into the lead again on the restart.
Jones would start catching him though, and with 23 to go, the 18 of Reaves would slip up on the exit of turn two, allowing Jones past. Reaves would fall back to fourth on track; third after DQ. Brody Monahan and Isacc Kitzmiller would round out the top five.
The full finishing results for the first night of the World Series of Asphalt can be viewed below.
World Series of Asphalt Hoosier Pro Late Models Night 1
1. 29W Hunter Wright
2. 00R Jimmy Renfrew Jr.
3. 18 Max Reaves
4. 42L Alex Labbe
5. 47 Brody Monahan
6. 25K Isacc Kitzmiller
7. 0T Treyten Lapcevich
8. 29R Cole Robie
9. 6 Brandon Lopez
10. 51 Anthony Bello
11. 24 Jade Avedisian
12. 153 Travis Stearns
13. 25 Taylor Reimer
14. 11 Randy Sargent
15. 10 EJ Tamayo
16. 18S Mike Scorzelli
17. 4 Brody Whorff
18. 83 William Roberge
19. 124 Derrick Kelley
20. 3 Chris Munson
21. 54D Diogo Moscato
22. 15 Hudson Sharp
23. 37 Larry Gelinas
24. 48 Raphael Lessard
25. 5 Ryan Phipps
26. 44 Connor Jones
