On Thursday night in the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway TC and the Bear Motorsports team knew their backs were to the wall. Only three nights of racing remained and they were third in points, 27 behind Eric Beers. It was now or never and they responded in championship fashion.
In qualifying, Teddy posted the second fastest time at 17.578 seconds behind Beers’ lap at 17.448 seconds. He drew the second starting spot alongside polesitter Justin Gaydosh.
When the green flag waved Ted jumped into the lead over Gaydosh with Buck Catalano and Eddie Flemke side-by-side for third. Catalano quickly moved to second as TC’s lead expanded to five car lengths. On lap five Gaydosh’s night ended as he made contact with George Kent in turn one and both spun, collecting several cars in the melee. Gaydosh and Charlie Pasteryak were towed to the pits as Kent, Flemke and Chuck Hossfeld were on pit road for repairs.
On the restart Teddy continued to lead Catalano, Beers, Donny Lia and J.R. Bertuccio. His lead was a couple of car lengths. On lap 11 Flemke hit the wall in turn one and was towed to the pits. The race resumed and at the halfway mark it was Ted by a car length. Over the final laps TC was never seriously challenged and he took the checkered flag over Catalano, Beers and Bertuccio with Mike Fitch edging Lia at the finish line for fifth. Carl Erickson won the SK Bonus with a 16th place finish.
“We needed to win tonight in order to get back in the points,” said TC. “Bear and the guys had the car the best it’s been all week. The motor change we made yesterday seems to have really picked things up. We gained ten points tonight but we still have a ways to go. We can’t depend on anyone else; we have to keep winning. Tomorrow night’s 100-lapper is going to be a key so we need to be at our best.”
Finish: 1. Ted Christopher 2. Buck Catalano 3. Eric Beers 4. J.R. Bertuccio 5. Mike Fitch 6. Donny Lia 7. Chuck Hossfeld 8. Bo Gunning 9. George Kent 10. Kevin Goodale 11. Jeff Malave 12. Chris Young 13. John Bush 14. Jim Storace 15. Jimmy Winters 16. Carl Erickson (SK Bonus) 17. John White (SK) 18. Terry Zacharias (SK) 19. Eddie Flemke 20. Billy Anderson (SK) 21. Steve Malbach 22. Andy Seuss 23. Justin Gaydosh 24. Charlie Pasteryak 25. Stash Butova (SK) 26. Adam Horwith
Current Points: 1. Eric Beers 590 2. Ted Christopher 573 3. Donny Lia 568 4. Charlie Pasteryak 536 5. J.R. Bertuccio 533 6. Buck Catalano 508 7. George Kent 506 8. John Bush 488 9. Kevin Goodale 486 10. Chris Young 482 11. Jeff Malave 472 12. Mike Fitch 446 13. John White (SK) 436 14. Billy Anderson (SK) 430 15. Jim Storace 424 16. Jimmy Winters 422 17. Justin Gaydosh 418 18. Andy Seuss 412 19. John Blewett 394 20. Stash Butova (SK) 366 21. Bo Gunning 364 22. George Bock 342 23. Adam Horwith 316 24. Chuck Hossfeld 292
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