Carson Brown wins World Series opener after William Sawalich DQ

The World Series of Asphalt Super Late Model opener on Friday night at New Smyrna Speedway was decided by a dubious on-track move by William Sawalich on Cole Butcher but then again in post-race technical inspection in which neither of them won the race. 

Sawalich, driving for Kevin Harvick Inc. powered by Rackley WAR, was found to be too wide (tread width) upon crossing through The Referee after the race. The disqualification was detailed to FloRacing by Champion Racing Association chief inspector and veteran racer Rick Turner.

“Usually after every race I tech, we check the track (sic) width on the front end,” said Turner. “I know from my own experience racing Late Models that my car will get wider up north, and I know some of the guys do it down here and some of them don’t. I have a habit of checking them. This is the first one I’ve found that actually went wide and stayed wide.

“We ran it back through like a pre-tech deal like it was pre-qualifying tech and it was still too wide. We gave him the opportunity to make it right by going through a pre-tech session and he failed it both times. As a racer for 45 years, this is one thing I don’t like about what I’m doing. I know what kind of money it takes to do this deal, I know the time it takes and I really feel for them. But I have to uphold the rule too, and that’s why they hired me.”

Thus, the victory was awarded to Carson Brown of Anthony Campi Racing who earned second as a result of some on-track contact between Sawalich and Butcher.

The two leaned on each other for numerous restarts up front but it came to a head on the one with six laps to go. Again, leaning on each other, Sawalich drove in deep into Turn 3 coming to four to go but broke traction and slid into Butcher.

Sawalich maintained the lead over Brown but Butcher fell to third and that’s how they crossed the finish line before heading to inspection.

Both drivers were teammates together at Wilson Motorsports and consider themselves friends. Butcher did take a swipe at Sawalich under the cool down lap.

“I feel like we had the two best cars out there and did a little bit of short track racing out there,” Sawalich said. “Had to get into him in 3 but we were both hitting each other, using each other up. It was good racing.”

Sawalich said he would reach out to Butcher about it. For his part, Butcher has a reputation as an aggressive racer and admitted it too.

“It was hard racing, I guess,” Butcher said. “I’ve certainly done it in my career. It is what it is. If I start on the inside of him this week, I might get a little free in.”

He said it with a chuckle.

Butcher also said he just needed more short run speed and if they had it, this wouldn’t have been an issue in the first place but that was no discredit to Wilson Motorsports and its lead driver said they will get back after it.

Another Wilson Motorsports driver, Gavan Boschele, ran towards the front until a flat tire on a restart led to this stack up and massive melee.

Super Late Models return to the World Series on Sunday with a 35-lapper. Saturday at the World Series of Asphalt is headlined by the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour and a 50-lapper for the Pro Late Model division.

World Series of Asphalt Super Late Models Night 1
New Smyrna Speedway
February 7 2024

1. Carson Brown
2. Cole Butcher
3. Derek Griffith
4. George Phillips
5. Conner Jones
6. Michael Hinde
7. Cody Ware
8. Nicholas Naugle
9. Brad May
10. Gavan Boschele
11. Paul Shafer, Jr.
12. Cory Hall
13. Billy VanMeter
14. Derrick Kelley
15. Dawson Sutton
16. Ty Fredrickson
17. Mike Hopkins
18. Bobby Kendall
19. Jeremy Davis
20. Danny Knoll
21. Bobby Good
22. Kasey Kleyn
23. Derek Kraus
24. Austin Teras
25. Steve Weaver, Jr.
26. William Sawalich
27. Beto Monteiro

Continuing World Series of Asphalt coverage on Short Track Scene is presented by SUBLMT Apparel.