4/6/2025
New Smyrna Speedway
First Time Winners Shine on a Wild Night!
New Smyrna Speedway
4/5/2025
The fans in attendance were graced with a seasons worth of thrills and spills as the Hoosier Pro Late Model Challenge Series kicked of their 2025 season with Twin 50s.
Pro Late Model race number one saw some incredible racing as Jason Vail, Cody Brinson and Brad May would race three wide making lap 6 look like it was the last lap. The drivers displayed some incredible car control during this battle as they would trade paint a couple times. Defending Hoosier Pro Late Model Challenge Series champion Jason Vail would eventually wrestle the lead away from Cody Brinson and settle into a groove around the halfway point. When Vail hit clean air, he was able to set sail and pick up the victory in the first race of the night. The big surprise in race 1 was Brazil’s Gabriel Casagrande driving for Ben Kennedy Racing who made a late race charge all the way to the runner up position when the checkers flew. Brad May would hang on to the final spot on the podium in this caution free race.
The invert in race 2 would put Bryton Horner on the pole, but it would be Tim Sozio who would take the early lead. His lead would not last long as Brad May would take the top spot away early and open up a huge lead. It took a little while for Vail to work through traffic but a Jeff Johnston spin with 18 laps to go would turn this race upside down. On the restart, May would hold the lead but on the next lap Cody Brinson and Tim Sozio would tangle in turn 2 to bring out another yellow with 17 to go, after a false start, the field would bunch back up and Brad May again would take control but Brinson would again have problems causing a pile up behind him. While they were crashing in turn 2. The leaders would get together off turn 2 sending Brad May spinning down the back stretch and Jason Vail to his pit for repair. May would retire from the event, but Jason Vail would continue, and things would get crazier from here. On the restart Vail, would pull up to the inside lane for the restart after being told several times by race control he was to line up on the outside groove (tail of the longest line) because he was involved in the previous incident and pitted. With Vail restarting out of place, Gabriel Casagrande would take the lead from Jeff Johnston yes, the car who spun to bring out the yellow earlier! triggering this whole sequence. As Casagrande took the top spot Vail would go low on the 57 of Johnston spinning him out of contention, drawing the caution flag for the race and the black flag for Jason Vail, ending his night. Vail would be disqualified for rough driving and failure to follow proper race procedure.
As the dust would finally settle, Gabriel Casagrande would survive all the carnage and lead the final handful of laps to pick his first career New Smyrna Speedway win. He may not have had the fastest car in the race, but he had the cleanest one and that was the key to victory. Casagrade would celebrate with the team in victory lane and even send a message in Portuguese to his friends back home if they watch it back on Speedway Video. It certainly was a wild race but everyone loves a first time winner and there were several of them on the evening.
Jason Vail and Brad May would have a brief conversation at the pay window with Vail proclaiming he did not get into May, while Brad would respond saying it felt like Vail was definitely there to his inside. Both drivers kept their cool and agreed to disagree on the matter.
A very competitive field of Super Stocks would put on a show and would again have one of the cleanest races of the night. After an early yellow for debris Doug Samion and Brandon Gaither would battle tooth and nail for the victory. Brandon Gaither got the nod the drive Justin Spears' car named “Wrinkles” and he would make the most of his opportunity. A few years ago, the Super Stocks could not have a race without some kind of controversy this year it has been 3 hard fought, clean races with some incredible battles. This week’s battle of Samion vs. Gaither was another good one featuring Veteran vs. newcomer. Gaither would eventually muscle his loose race car to the top spot and hold off Doug Samion and George Spears to pick up his first career Super Stock victory!
The Sportsman division took to the track for their 2nd race of 2025 and Will Robinson would take the early advantage. A caution for Blake Clouser’s stalled machine on lap 8 would set up a wild chain of events. On the ensuing restart, Steve Barnes’ machine would stumble off turn two causing Dylan LeBeau to get spun, so we re-stacked the field and again Barnes’ car would hiccup causing a huge stack up ending the night for Donovan Ponder and George Alexander. Barnes would let us know after the event an electrical issue would cause the car to lose power without warning. After the carnage, things would settle down and Robinson would pick up where he left off and storm away to a big lead. The rest of the race would run green, and no one would catch Robinson’s 51 machine as he would become the third first time winner of the evening.
The Speed Police were out in full effect during the Bomber A 20 lap main event as several drivers were penalized by the 24 second break out rule but that meant there was no shortage of action. Things would get interesting with 4 laps to go, when leader Dustin Higdon would have a tire go down. He would stop on track and draw the yellow flag. Initially he was given a two-lap penalty for intentionally drawing the caution, but his crew would show one of the pit stewards that there was a legitimate issue with the tire and his penalty would be rescinded. Aaron Foye would lead the field back to green, but on the restart, Brandon Monroe would go around leading to yet another restart. Foye would again take control of the race and hold off his teammate Charles Friddle and Larry Masters to pick up his first win of the season.
It was a wild night on the high banks and there was plenty of action and drama alike. Nights like this are exactly why short track racing is still a great American pastime! The excitement of the 2025 season at New Smyrna Speedway and next Saturday Night, we will do it all over again with the Mod Mini Twin 25s, Ashley Homes Jax Pro trucks, Bomber B and 602 Modifieds all in action. Join us at 6 PM on April 12th for the next thrilling chapter of high speed, cant miss racing! BE THERE!
Full Race Results: https://www.newsmyrnaspeedway.org/schedules/event/544245
Full Event Videos: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeedwayVideo
Event Photos: https://jimjonesphoto.photoreflect.com/
Submitted By: Ryan Stevens
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