Joey Gase second in USAR Pro Series event at New Smyrna

Local auto racer Joey Gase is off to a strong start for the 2011 season. The 18-year-old senior at Cedar Rapids Xavier placed second in the USAR Kangaroo Express Maudlin International Truck 250 Saturday at New Smyrna (Fla.) Speedway.

Gase raced a Ford for Benny Gordon Racing. Gase clocked top 10 speeds during his practice laps, and then set a track record with a lap time of 18.523 seconds during qualifying. The old record was 19.704. Gase's qualifying time captured the pole for the race.

Gase made contact with a car on lap 50 and spun out, resulting in being sent to the back of the field for the restart. it didn't slow Gase down. He maneuvered his way through the field to finish second to J.P. Morgan, 35, of Auburndale, Fla.

"The car was great on the long runs," Gase said in a news release. "Benny ( Gordon) and the boys did a great job of getting the car fast and stable.A few more laps, or even one more lap, and I think we would of got the win. I have to thank Innovative Electronics for helping us this weekend."

According to the same release, Gase's group expects more partnership with Benny Gordon Racing.