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2001 NEWS ARCHIVE

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Sunday, February 4, 2001

Shepard Thrills His Way To "KING" Of The 360s

by Rick Anges
Night three turned into day three as the "King" of the 360 Sprint's at the 25th annual Winternationals at EastBay Raceway was called off by mother nature Saturday night and the final day was run on Sunday.


Jeff Shepard - 2001 'King' of the 360's
Over 74 cars had signed in on the first night of action that was taken by 88h of Lance Dewease. Night two saw local favorite Kenny Adams #2a take the nights top race. Adams also collected the money for thrashing his old track record of 13.07 to bring it to a blistering 12.43! Twelve other drivers also were under the track record so this field of 360s was ready for bear.

What was to be the final night for the 360 sprint cars was called off do to a persistent drizzle that fell over the Tampa Bay area all day. Unlike the asphalt tracks that dry during the day when the rains stop the clay stays wet, and wet clay is tacky clay and them big Hoosiers stick to the tacky stuff. The races were rescheduled for Sunday and when they came out for practice the middle groove was fast,they were pedal to the metal all the way around slinging dirt into the top rows of the stands. The racing would start with 5 heat races taking the top two finishers in each heat to the "A" Main.

Heat number one was a runaway for last years "King" Ron Laney #52,
#97 Paul McMahan took the second transfer spot. Heat two winner was the #29n of Larry Neighbors edging out night number two winner Kenny Adams#2a. Terry McCarl put the #3m car in the winners circle for the third heat of the day with the #F1 Ryan Flynn from Chico California in the second spot. The fourth heat of the day was taken by #87George Suprick, #00 Michael Dupuy made the A main by finishing second. The fifth and final heat race was won by the #41 of Jason Johnson with the last transfer spot going to #50z of Zach Chappeli. Young Christie Passmore in the #1Ax rolled her sprint into the turn one wall landing on her wing but walking away from the wreck unhurt.

Eight drivers were already guaranteed starting spots in the A-main by previous nights points including WO star Joey Saldena, first night winner Lance Dewease and rookies Jason Sides & Jeff Shepard. Along with them the ten qualifiers from the heat races would wait while the B & C mains were run to round out the field for the final A-Main.

The C-Main was up next. Seven cars from this race would move on to the B-main. The action started early as the # 43L of David Levingston launched airborne into the turn one fence wing first but emerged ok after the heart stopping wreck. When the track was cleared and repairs were done to the fence it was the #88A of former EastBay track champion jumping out to a commanding lead dominating the field and really looking hooked up in the moist clay. As the race was winding down a scary incident occurred on the front stretch when the #11 piloted by local racer Johnny Gilbertson slowed and the #B29 having no where to go slammed into Gilbertson's almost stopped ride flipping towards the infield. Gilbertson jumped from his broken car and immediately began rolling on the ground, unseen alcohol flames were lapping at his legs, fortunately the safety crew extinguished it and both drivers were able to walk away. This was not the first wreck for the #11 as Tim Windgardener had put the car out of the race track on previous nights action and later was given the "hard luck" award. Allen went on to take the win followed by #29 Wayne Johnson, #2H Tim Hunter, along with four other drivers moved onto the B-main feature.

The B saw 22 cars come out to compete for the final seven spots in the A-main. C-main winner Sport Allen jumped out to the lead early and never looked back to make his way into the Feature race of the evening winning the B-main. Red Stauffer #2 followed in second, #8 John Bankston, #88k Steven King, #47 Dale Howard, #25 Jon Eldreth, #11s Brian Smith were the final qualifiers for the 40 lap feature race of the night. The B race was not without it's own problems as the #V8 Chad Jones bounced his machine off the already bruised and battered turn one retaining wall and landing on his wing ending his night.

Although he missed making the big race of the day Curt Micheal in the #87M went home $1,000 richer by going wire to wire and winning the dash for cash race.

Twenty-seven cars lined up on the front stretch for drivers introductions for the final race and to crown the "KING" of the 360 Sprints for 2001. Gary Wright #9 the 1999 King started on the rear of the field after some hard luck earlier in the week. Ron Laney #52 2000 crown winner started near mid pack. The #19w of Mike Woodring started on the pole. Although the field was full of veterans from all different sprint series it was a rookie to the EastBay 360 Winternationals Jason Sides in the #7 who jumped out and took the lead early. The action was fast and furious with cars running two and three wide sliding through the turns only inches away from each others exposed tires. Another rookie #31j of Jeff Shepard made his way up and slid into second setting his sites on Sides. As those two battled Kenny Adams fought his way up to third place dodging lapped cars on the way. As Laney faded back in the field Gary Wright's mount broke and coasted into the infield. Also out due to breakage was Terry McCarl whose car gave out on him in turn three. Positions were being swapped all over it was the two rookies who were the race on the track, Shepard would go low only to have Sides get the bite coming out the turn and pulling ahead down the stretch. At one point the two were side by side approaching a lapped car and then split and passed the car like it was standing still not missing a beat. The white flag flew with Sides seeming to have taken a wire to wire win when he slid high apparently catching a rut in turn three and Shepard sliding under him in turn four and taking the checkers in a breath taking finish at the wire. Kenny Adams held on for a well deserved third, #29 Wayne Johnson came home fourth and #88 Lance Dewease unofficially fifth.

The 2001 King of the 360 sprints Winternationals was action packed every night and even though the weather didn't cooperate the shows still were awesome as always at EastBay Raceway. Congratulations to a great win and a tip of the crown to Jeff Shaped this years royal champ.

From EastBay Raceway......Rick Anges

Related Articles:
Day One - East Bay Raceway WinterNationals
Kenny Adams Tops in Day Two At East Bay


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