World Series of Asphalt 2023: Takeaways from Night 7 at New Smyrna

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — Night 7 of the World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway proved to be the longest and most eventful in the event so far.

Five divisions ended up sharing the track Thursday evening. Along with Modifieds, Super Late Models, Pro Late Models and Florida Modifieds, a champion ended up being crowned in the 602 Modified division.

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There was no shortage of intense on-track action and a few heated battles across each respective feature, but the night ended with plenty of familiar names finding their way to Victory Lane.

Below are the key takeaways from the seventh night of racing in the World Series of Asphalt.

• Katie Hettinger halted a week of frustration in the World Series of Asphalt by finally earning her first victory in a Pro Late Model, which she accomplished by making an aggressive move on pole-sitter Carson Brown with fewer than 10 laps remaining. Ryan Luza passed Brown to finish second, with Conner Jones and Brent Crews rounding out the top-five finishers.
• In a stroke of luck, the qualifying redraw for the Modified feature moved Matt Hirschman from third to first on the starting grid. Despite this, it would not be an entirely smooth ride for Hirschman, who had to fend off an immense challenge from Patrick Emerling for his fourth consecutive win, with the skirmish leading to contact between the two on the last restart that sent Emerling into the outside wall.
• Emerling managed to pilot his wounded car home in the second position. Teddy Hodgdon finished in third, with Jimmy Blewett and Eric Goodale completing the top five.
• On a Lap 13 restart, Casey Roderick muscled his way past William Sawalich to take his second consecutive World Series of Asphalt victory in the Super Late Model division. Conner Jones finished in third behind Sawalich, where he was followed by Giovanni Ruggiero and Nicholas Naugle.
• The final 602 Modified feature of the week was one dominated by numerous on-track incidents and an incredible battle between Luke Baldwin and Trevor Catalano. Baldwin ended up prevailing to claim the win and the 602 Modified title, with Lee Sharpsteen, Catalano, Evan Rygielski and Bobby Jones following him in the running order.
• The longest race of the evening in length was the 75-lap Florida Modified feature. Cody Stickler took home his second checkered flag in the World Series of Asphalt over Jason Lester, Bill Burba, Tim Moore and Alan Bruns.

Only two nights remain in the World Series of Asphalt. Friday at New Smyrna will include two major events in the Hart to Heart 100 for Pro Late Models and the Richie Evans Memorial 100 for Modifieds, all while Super Stocks, Trucks, Bomber Bs and Vintage Cars run their own races.

FloRacing has the coverage starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.