Florida Speedweeks
Naugle Wins, Cormier on Podium At INEX Winter Nationals
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia’s Nicholas Naugle and Grand Barachois, New Brunswick’s Michael Cormier took home trophies from Day One of INEX Winter Nationals.
Naugle was the winner of the Semi Pro Legends division after dominating the 25-lap feature. The #88 Brycon Construction Legend led wire to wire in the feature, which only featured one caution period late in the race. Cory Hall was poised for a top five finish and was running fourth going into Turn Three on the final lap before getting swept up in a last corner incident. Hall was credited with tenth at the finish. Will Farrell brought his car home in 16th of 20 starters.
Cormier finished second after a late restart choice put the #68 Moncton Chrysler Dodge Bandolero to the outside of Casey Call. Cormier was able to tuck in behind the eventual winner and would hold on for the runner-up spot in the 20-lap main event. Austin MacDonald and Sam Rogers raced hard for third place late in the feature, but after some contact both were shuffled out of line with Rogers taking fifth place and MacDonald sixth. Josh Langille (eighth) and Nathan Blackburn (ninth) also scored top tens in the 12 car field.
Braden Langille had a strong car all day long in the Young Lions Legend division, but contact at the end of the second lap from eventual winner Eddie Fatscher put Langille hard into the Turn One wall. The pole sitter would be credited with 18th place on the afternoon. Eastbound Park champion Waylon Farrell avoided most of the excitement in the 25-lap feature and held on to a very loose race car to finish seventh.
Owen Mahar was the top Atlantic Canadian in the Bandolero Bandit feature, finishing sixth after being passed for the fifth spot on the final corner. Nathan Langille was penalized for his role in a mid-race caution period but would rebound for a strong ninth place run. Bryson Ruff took home the victory.
Gary Bursey and Phil Fowler both had tough runs in the Masters Legends division. Bursey had something break on his car going into Turn Three and would spin, collecting Tony Steinbuck in the process. Fowler had a heim break in the shifter linkage and would finish 21st, one spot ahead of Bursey. Calgary, Alberta’s Ira Laughy led most of the feature before losing the lead on the final restart to Tim Brockhouse.
INEX Winter Nationals at Orlando Speedworld continue Tuesday for the second of five days of competition.
Quick Results: Young Lion: Braden Langille 18th, Waylon Farrell 7th. Semi Pro: Nicholas Naugle 1st, Cory Hall 10th, Will Farrell 16th. Masters: Phil Fowler 21st, Gary Bursey 22nd. Outlaw: Michael Cormier 2nd, Sam Rogers 5th, Austin MacDonald 6th, Josh Langille 8th, Nathan Blackburn 9th. Bandit: Owen Mahar 6th, Nathan Langille 9th