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ERIC GOODALE WINS THE JB III 76 MEMORIAL RACE AT NEW SMYRNA
Goodale Captures Second JBIII Memorial Race in a Row
by Denise DuPont

In August 2007, John Blewett, III succumbed to race injuries while competing in the NASCAR Modified Touring division at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park. For many years Blewett competed and winning races at New Smyrna Speedway. This year is the ninth memorial race run in honor of Blewett.

When the green flag flew, Ryan Preece from Berlin, CT quickly took the Eddie Partridge #6 modified from second to the front of the pack. But on lap 4 Eric Goodale of Riverhead, NY, in the Edgar Goodale owned #58 modified took the lead. Goodale and Preece continued to swap the lead for about 15 laps until the two dropped back a few positions settled in and just raced around to conserve equipment. Jimmy Zacharias, Etienne Cliché, and Austin Pickens all took their turn at leading as the 76 lap race continued.

On lap 51, Goodale made his moved and passed modified rookie Austin Pickens from Daytona Beach, to take the lead in his Goodie Motorsports modified. On that same lap the caution was brought out when Preece spun to avoid making contact with Pickens who had drifted up the track in front of him. After the incident Goodale went forward to dominate the end of the race. He crossed the finish line first to take down the win followed by Preece, Bonsignore, Zacharias and Hossfeld for the top five.

This was back to back JBIII Memorial victories for car owner Edgar Goodale and the Goodie Motorsports/ YA YA’s Beachside Bar/Riverhead Building Supply sponsored team.” When we first went modified racing we were racing against John Blewett,” stated Edgar Goodale. “We were also there, unfortunately, during the time of his tragic death. We really cut our teeth racing modifieds with my son Kevin racing against John. Now John’s spotter is our spotter. This race means an awful lot to him and we do like to win it for him. He is an important part of our team and we know this race is important to him. So it is really good to win the race for our spotter, now making it two years in a row.”

On the first night of modified competition at New Smyrna Speedway Goodale pulled his car behind the wall very early in the feature event. His car had clutch issues that impacted his racing. “It felt extra good tonight to win especially after last night’s debacle with our clutch and not even getting to race. More than anything to win the race in honor of John (Blewett) is always uplifting. It makes you feel so good. We have guys on my team that were really close to him and I know that it is extra special for them. This one is always on the list to get down under our belt when we come down here.”

Goodale started the race sixth and wasted no time getting to the lead position. With 76 laps to race he knew that he had to save something for race end so he dropped back and drove at a steady pace once he reached the top five. He hung out there until it was time to race for the win. “I know that Justin and Ryan are very smart racers, I knew I was conserving and I knew they were too.” So Goodale was concerned when the caution flag flew on lap 66 knowing that Bonsignore and Preece were right behind him. “Obviously I did not want to see that caution there with ten to go.”

“At the end of the day I thought that we had a better car. We showed all through practice and then qualifying that we had a really fast car,” confessed Goodale. “I think that I was just able to conserve more and to have a little bit left there for the closing laps. A repeat win sure feels good and if there is any race that I want a repeat win on it is this one.” So with one win for the Goodie machine in the books the team will do their homework and see if they can also bring home the “Richie Evans 100 Memorial win on this Friday night.

Preece completed the second night of competition second – making it two runner up finishes in a row. Preece was right there at the race start and there at the end but again just one notch short of what was needed for the win. “When we were racing green laps that car was going really good, as a matter of fact it was too good so that I was afraid that it was neutral. Then with about 35 laps to go the car just really tightened up. I was really surprised. Now we have found our happy medium. Yesterday we were tight and now we know what we need for tomorrow night. I gave it all I had at the end and I knew Eric was too. We will just fine tune it a little bit and we are getting closer and closer. So tomorrow night we have a good 35 lap setup we are going to put in and we have a pretty good idea of what we need for the 100 lapper. We have plenty of nights to go here.” So we will see what the #6 team will bring to the track for the short 35 lap shoot out on Thursday.

Once again the #51 3M sponsored race team had a front running car. Bonsignore finished with a solid third place finish as the team continues to dial in the car and test their setups. “With all the changes that we have made, we are continuing to learn here.” Expressed Bonsignore after the race. “It was good testing tonight but we were just a little off to beat Eric to the line. We tried to get him on that last restart but he did everything that he had to do to hold me off. I think that our setup is just a little off for contending with these guys. But I think that we can get one before the week is over because we are so close. I just want to win that Blewett race yet because for two years in a row we have been so close. “

After passing inspection the top three teams secured their race finishes. Now the tour type modified teams will prepare for a short 35 lap sprint for tomorrow as they continue to take notes and prepare for the 100 lap feature event that will wind up their race week.

Last night’s Joe Brady Memorial winner Ron Silk’s chances for victory ended in a lap eight spin. Silk ended up in the first turn wall with several other cars.

So join us back Thursday night for more modified racing and great racing action from New Smyrna Speedway!

 
Source: Denise DuPont / TheChromeHorn.com
Posted
: February 18, 2016

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