It was hot but not too hot. Sunny, no rain clouds as sixteen of the finest Super Lates qualified for the Sunbelt 125 at Columbia Motorsports Park. Mike Bresnahan of Lecanto set fast time with a blistering 16.623 followed by Tim Russell with a 16.627, Brian Finney with a 16.713, Wayne Anderson with a 16.736 and Jay Middleton with a 16.741. Bresnahan pulled the three pill, putting Brian Finney of Merritt Island on the pole for the 125 lap race.

After an on-track autograph session and driver introductions, it was time for the drivers to strap in and get ready to go. Brian Finney and Tim Russell went side-by-side for the lead followed by Wayne Anderson, Mike Bresnahan and James Powell but it was Finney who finally took the point. It took Anderson no time to pass Russell for second as Bresnahan also took advantage of Russell taking over third. Russell began to slide backwards as James Powell took over fourth and Jay Middleton ran fifth.

Anderson put the heat on Finney and finally was able to pass for the lead as Finney first fell back to second and settled into third. Anderson found a very fast Mike Bresnahan behind him now in second. By lap 15 it was Anderson, Bresnahan, Finney, Middleton, Scofield, Powell, Fritts, Gosselin, Choquette and Skinner running in the top ten.

Kurt Jett, who normally wheels an Open Wheel Modified at Columbia, brought out the first caution for a spin. The field was realigned and the race went back green on lap 22 with Anderson, Bresnahan, Finney, Middleton and Scofield in the top five.

On lap 25 the red flag came out for Fain Skinner who rode the front stretch wall ending up hard in the turn one wall. All cars were stopped as the safety crew checked on Skinner, who was rattled but okay. The same cannot be said for his car, which was basically destroyed. On the restart, Brian Finney’s car looked to be leaking something. Finney was brought down to the front stretch and checked and quickly went into the pits for his crew’s attention. Finney was back out but had to rejoin the field in the rear for the restart.

The restart was on lap 26 with Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Powell, Fritts, Gosselin and Choquette at the front. Now it was a race for position as Fritts looked at Powell and Gosselin looked at Fritts. Both Don Hale Jr. and Brian Finney left the field with mechanical problems ending their night.

Fritts was still on the move to pass Powell for fifth but was interrupted as Tim Russell brought out the yellow with a spin off four. The race went back to green on lap 40 as Anderson showed the way for Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield and Powell. Fritts challenged Powell once again but Powell held strong and did not want to give up his fifth place position. Middleton tried Bresnahan for second but Bresnahan held tight and Middleton settled back in third.

Choquette was now on the move as he passed Mario Gosselin and Fritts finally passed Powell. It was now Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Fritts, Powell and Choquette going for the top.

Powell seemed to be having problems as he began to slide back in the field. By lap 50 it was Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Fritts, Choquette, Powell, Kevin Durden, Russell, Gosselin, Rich Pratt, Robbie Smith and Kurt Jett. Both Durden and Russell put the heat on Powell as they passed him, leaving him sliding back in the field. By halfway, it was Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Fritts, Scofield, Choquette, Durden, Russell, Powell, Gosselin, Pratt, Smith and Jett.

The field was racing hard for position when the caution came out on lap 67 for Tim Russell and James Powell who got together. Powell had too much damage to continue and pulled in. Russell was able to continue and during the caution, Don Hale Jr. came back out but was forced to retire again.

With laps dwindling fast, it was now a race for position. Middleton once again looked at Bresnahan in second but Bresnahan held strong. Scofield charged Fritts and took over fourth as Fritts slid to fifth. Gosselin, who had been fighting his car all night, retired to the pits. It was now Anderson, Bresnahan, Middleton, Scofield, Fritts, Durden, Choquette, Russell, Pratt, Smith, Jett and Hale Jr.

Scofield tried once again to pass Middleton as Scofield went inside, Middleton outside. Suddenly Scofield did a 360 coming off four bringing out the yellow. Both Scofield and Middleton were sent to the rear for the restart, neither very happy.

The restart was on lap 108 and Anderson, Bresnahan, Fritts, Durden, and Choquette were the top five. Suddenly Anderson, who had led most of the race, slowed on the backstretch with a broken axle. Anderson limped his car into the pits, not happy after running a very good race and seeing that “monkey” yet another time during the season.

The final caution came out on lap 112 when Russell and Scofield got together as Russell spun. Both drivers were sent to the rear for the final laps of the race.

With Anderson now in the pits, the lead went to Bresnahan, with Fritts right on his tail. Fritts tried to take the lead but it was Mike Bresnahan taking the checkered for his second win of the season, followed by Mike Fritts, Kevin Durden, Jay Middleton and Jeff Choquette.

A very happy Mike Bresnahan thanked his crew for giving him such a strong car as he celebrated in victory lane. The next race for the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series is the Triple Crown, which will run Friday, Oct. 20 at Desoto Super Speedway, Saturday, Oct. 21 at Bronson Motor Speedway and conclude on Sunday, Oct. 22, at Ocala Speedway.

For more information on the Sunbelt Super Late Model Series go to www.fascar.org.