Gavan Boschele Wins Orange Blossom 100, World Series Super Late Model Title

Gavan Boschele closed out his World Series of Asphalt Stock Car Racing at New Smyrna Speedway in style, winning the Orange Blossom 100 and claiming the Super Late Model championship for the week-long event.

With qualifying rained out, Boschele started on the pole for the 100-lap Super Late Model feature as the points leader entering the final night of racing for the division. From there, the Mooresville, North Carolina driver led every lap to secure the hard-fought title, with four drivers entering the evening with a chance to claim the points battle.

Boschele won the two longest races of the World Series in the Super Late Model division - Thursday's Orange Blossom 100 as well as the ASA STARS National Tour Clyde Hart Memorial 200 on Tuesday. It was an impressive performance for the driver taking part in the World Series' Super Late Model division for the first time, turning 17 on Wednesday.

“It’s amazing," said Boschele. "Going into this, if you told me I’d be the champion and win the ASA race and run this good with this guys, I’d be kind of in disbelief.

“This car was on rails tonight. I’m just the lucky one that gets to drive it. I’m so blessed. I can’t thank all these guys enough.”

The points battle came down to Boschele, Derek Griffith, Cory Hall and George Phillips, with the four drivers separated by eight points. While Boschele crossed the line nearly four seconds ahead of Griffith on the final night of racing, the week-long grind proved challenging for him.

“It’s brutal, you know. It’s some of the best of the best racing, besides the Snowball Derby, obviously. The field on Tuesday was stacked. Every single day was stacked. You’ve got to be on your toes, and these guys won’t cut you a break. I loved it, and we’ll be back next year.”

While there was the disappointment of coming up short in the title hunt, Griffith had more reasons to be happy at the conclusion of his World Series. Making his return to racing after battling health complications near the end of 2024, Griffith was proud to have competed for the title and fought through the week.

“I would really like to win some races, but I didn’t expect to be here," said Griffith. "To come home second, we’ve been on the podium a bunch, three times. It’s a new car for us.

“I’ve said it a bunch of times, the last few months have been tough. I didn’t think I’d make the 200-lappers, I didn’t think I’d make one of the 35-lappers. We kind of toughed it out. My crew has been awesome about it. They’ve been really, really working hard. I wanted one, but I can’t be that upset."

A two-time World Series champion in his own right, Griffith tipped his cap to the newly-crowned champion for an incredible week.

"Gavan did a hell of a job, man, all week," said Griffith. "He’s going to be a star. That’s a hell of a race car driver. It looked easy. Mine was not easy, so I was a little jealous but congrats to those guys and the whole Donnie Wilson team. Looking forward to watching him race some more, because he’s going to be good.”

Cory Hall's championship hopes came to a dramatic end just 36 laps into the Orange Blossom 100. Carson Brown and Hall made contact in turns one and two, and then again on the backstretch while setting up for the third turn. Brown careened into the outside wall after the second contact, while Hall was parked by race officials for his role in the incident.

"I was trying to chase him down from falling back on that initial start," said Brown after the incident. "I got to him in one and two, and he just parked it in the center. I got into him a little bit, and then he just right-hooked me down the backstretch.”

A remorseful Hall said the secondary contact was not intentional, and added he has no ill will towards Brown or his Anthony Campi Racing team.

“I want to apologize to Anthony Campi and all of his guys," said Hall. "They lent us a rack earlier in the week when we needed it. Honestly, if I had the money, he’d be the first guy I’d go to if I was wanting a car.

“That whole deal was taken out of context. I went into one, hit oil, the next thing I know I was sideways, trying to gather it up. I was pointed at the wall, then I was pointed at him. The next thing I knew, we were all tore up.

“I’m completely appalled by everything that went on. Obviously, none of it was intentional on my part at all. I have no ill feelings towards Carson or anybody on that whole entire crew. I have the greatest respect for them. I’m still in shock with what happened. I don’t really know what to say.”

Gabe Sommers finished third in the Orange Blossom 100, followed by George Phillips and Ty Fredrickson.

-Photo credit: Jason Reasin

Orange Blossom 100 Unofficial Results