Brannon Runs 11th in Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 at USA International by Bill Green, From Behind The MIC!
Twenty five Late Models were on the track for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model 100 that followed the 3rd leg of the Florida Super Late Model Triple Crown.
Brad May of Orlando made one of his rare appearances in 2007, setting fast time with a 21,379 followed by A.J. Curreli, Doug Moff and our own Drew Brannon picked up a full second and a half from the Friday night practice, taking 4th on the clock. That left fellow racer Justin Larson 5th quick.
May pulled a 9 pill for the inversion, putting Drew into 6th starting spot, outside row three, behind pole sitter Kevin Macy of Bartow, with Daniel Keene, Jr. of Weekie Wachee, the outside pole.
When the green flag drops, Drew falls into line, after getting hung on the outside the first few laps. Meanwhile, up front it's Keene, Larson, Ingram, Macy and Cope leading the way.
Suddenly, on lap 21 the caution comes out for Daniel Keene, Jr. and Justin Larson who have gotten together in turn 4. Larson goes in for his crews attention, as fellow racer and friend, Joe Winchell goes in behind the wall, never to return. The #08 moves up a few spots.
Mid-race on one of the numerous restarts, Drew makes the tactical decision to go to the outside of a struggling car a few spots in front of him. This leads to a bottle neck as others soon realize the outside is the place to be and the Brannon Specialties freshly re-skinned #08 car is caught in the accordion style bumper tag and looses a few body pieces.
In the end Brown passes Moff for second and tries to chase down winner Keene, but just does not quite have it. Brannon finishes fights back in the 100-Lap event for 11th. A great finish for the size track, length of the race and a really good showing by Crew Chief Bobby Beauchemin and the Brannon Specialties crew.
The next event for the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series will be September 22 at Columbia Motorsports Park in Lake City. For more information on the Goodyear Challenge Late Model Series go to www.fascartours.com.
OFFICIAL RESULTS GOODYEAR CHALLENGE LATE MODEL 100 USA INTERNATIONAL - SEPT 1, 2007
1. #16 Daniel Keene Jr., Weekie Wachee 2. #53 Darren Brown, Ormond Beach 3. #46 Doug Moff, Ft. Myers 4. #2 A.J. Curreli, Daytona Beach 5. #19X Kevin Macy, Bartow 6. #JR McMichael, Davie 7. #10 Brad May, Orlando 8. #05 Jeremy Colangelo, Deland 9. #03 Raymond Folwell, St, Pete 10. #56 Wayne Morris, Mulberry 11. #08 Drew Brannon, Miami
