Super Late Models

Ryan Moore Takes Night One World Series Victory

The 2013 World Series champion took advantage of a fast car and a lucky draw

by
Matt Weaver
February 5, 2021

Luis Torres

Old age, trickery and some old-fashioned luck.

That’s how Ryan Moore emerged victorious on Friday for Opening Night for the Super Late Model World Series of Asphalt at New Smyrna Speedway.

The 37-year-old was fourth in time trials but inherited the pole through an invert drawn by fastest qualifier Jett Noland. That proved to be fortuitous because the beginning of the race was marred by a multi-car crash that began from the second row with Noland and Jake Finch.

Moore fended-off challenges from Jacob Goede and Noland — winning over the latter by .342 seconds.

A victory for the veterans.

“I think it is, man,” Moore said. “There are a lot of these kids and they’re fast. I mean, I was giving it all I could and they’re on it. They’re good and in superior equipment, compared to my generation, so we kept tuning on it and trying to give good feeback.

“They made awesome changes in the last couple of days, and that’s what we have to do, to stay on top of the track all week.”

https://twitter.com/NASCARRoots/status/1357883085879087104

It helps to be in some of the best equipment out there as Moore entered the World Series in a brand-new Rowdy Manufacturing chassis.

“We’ve been down here a long time and we’ve been good, we’ve been bad, we’ve been all over the board,” Moore said. “We built a new car. There is nothing wrong with our old one by any means, just ready for a new challenge, and we got with Rowdy and built this car.

“Just a stellar performance. My best friend Jamie, him and I, we pour our heart and soul into these things. It’s good to get him a win. We’re going to be a force to be reckoned with this week.”

Moore was able to pull away in the closing laps, but a caution with two laps to go for a Doug Elliott spin in Turn 4 meant the race was once again in doubt.

Briefly.

Moore drove away and Noland just barely fended off defending champion Derek Griffith for second-place at the line.

“I felt like we had a good car,” Noland said. “I think we could’ve won the race, I just spun the tires up off the corner on the last restart. Having a few issues but hoping to sort them out. I can’t thank Anthony Campi enough for the hard work they’ve put into the car.”

Meanwhile, Griffith was ecstatic to finish third, especially given the damage to his right side and a failing brake system in the closing laps.

“I’m pretty happy because you can see the car behind us is pretty tore up,” Griffith said. “Early in the race we just got banged up in a racing incident. We kind of hung on there for a podium finish. I think we have a good race car, but tonight was just kind of a mess. We kept it in one piece, but we have some work to do.”

Night 1 took a turn for the worse for Jake Finch.@newsmyrnaspdwy | @_TrackPass pic.twitter.com/kPfJUk4UkZ

— NASCAR Roots (@NASCARRoots) February 6, 2021

The race changed dramatically on a second lap restart when Finch spun off the nose of Noland. It wasn’t entirely clear if Noland got on the throttle too hard or if Finch spun the tires, but the end result was the Phoenix Racing No. 51 sideways in front of the field and collecting numerous contenders.

The melee collected Kody Swanson, RJ Braun, Dan Frederickson and Kris Wright. Finch is already going to a back-up but was measured when asked what happened.

“I don’t really know from my viewpoint in the car,” Finch said. “We had a really good race car. We worked super hard on it, so I’m bummed. It is what it is and we can’t go back on it.

“I don’t know the whole deal is about that. First super race for Speedweeks and I didn’t want to start like that. Have to get the backup car and get back after it tomorrow.”

Noland wasn’t sure either.

“I don’t know why there’s so much pushing on Night 1,” Noland said. “We have a full week of racing and let’s not start wrecking them.”

Bubba Pollard brought a brand new Senneker Race Cars chassis to New Smyrna but was involved in a first lap incident after qualifying 14th. He did not return to the track.

Moore captured the 2013 World Series of Championship, but he’s not thinking about another, at least not immediately.

“We’ve won the championship before,” Moore said. “We’re here to win races. If we win a lot of races, the championship will take care of itself. But we came here to win.”

So far, so good.