Milton, VT driver survives crash-filled “World Series” race for first career victory
NEW SMYRNA, FL – American-Canadian Tour (ACT) stock car driver Eric Chase of Milton, VT scored his first-ever victory on opening night of the annual “World Series of Stock Car Racing” at New Smyrna Speedway in New Smyrna, FL on Friday night. Chase survived a vicious, crash-filled race that saw three red flags to take the win.
“Man, that was a wreckfest, but we made it through,” said a jubilant Chase following the win. “It was nerve-wracking trying to get the first lap in; we had three yellow flags and a red flag before one lap was complete. I almost crashed the car on one of the restarts, but we held on and got the job done.”
Chase time-trialed his #40 Mansfield Heliflight/Chicken Charlie’s Chevrolet in eighth position and started the main event on the outside of the front row after a re-draw. He led all 25 laps of the event.
New Smyrna Speedway’s World Series, now in its 42nd year, is a nine-night championship series from Friday, Feb. 8 to Saturday, Feb. 16. Chase is sharing driving duties in the ASA/Crate Engine Late Model division with ACT Late Model Tour teammate Ryan Nolin of Georgia, VT. Hudson, NH’s Joey “Pole” Polewarczyk, Jr., an ACT winner and Top 10 championship point finisher in 2007, crashed out during one of the Lap 1 incidents. He was uninjured.
David Wagner of Akron, OH finished second behind Chase. Will Thomas of Sharpsville, PA was third, unofficially. For more information, visit www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org. For information on ACT and periodic World Series updates on Chase, Nolin, and Polewarczyk, visit www.acttour.com.