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| Mathews Picks Up Open Wheel Win at East Bay | by Bill Green
Michael Cherry got his #45 upside-down on the front stretchduring a wild street stock race.
TAMPA, Fla. -- Florida Electric Company was the weekend sponsor of the Limited Late Model twin 15-Lap Features at East Bay raceway Park, as 26 cars signed in for the double points night. Street Stocks were also out in force with some 31 cars starting their A-Main event.
The Gagle’s Auto Parts sponsored Open Wheel Modifieds kicked off the evening with John Bradley winning Heat-1 and Jeff Conyers taking Heat-2. The Feature would see Jeff Mathews start dead last and take the lead with 2 to go. Following an excited Mathews across the strip would be Conyers second, Rusty Dixon third, “Primetime” Bobby Dixon forth and John Bradley fifth.
That Street Stock field of 30-plus cars became two heats of 15 and 16 cars each. Heat-1 would go to Wayne Hayes, with Jody Robbins taking Heat-2.
When you start 33 cars for the feature in the Street Stock class you expect to see some action, but on restart number 3 for lap 2 Michael Cherry would plant the #45 upside-down on the front stretch. Mickey was all right, but the car looked flatter and sleeker.
To add to the Street Stock excitement, the leader of lap three, Austin Sanders would spin coming out of turn four in front of the pack and nobody hit him.
Winning the survival of the still racing 12-lap time-shortened feature would be the “Phantom-309” of Danny Paris, Jr. Steven Johnson held on to come home second, with Buck Woodhouse third. While 20th starter Hollie Smith would show her veteran driving skills, patiently moving up to fourth, leaving Jody Robbins in fifth.
Late Models would need only one heat and Trevor Merrill won it. In the feature Trevor Merrill would wind up 2 laps down, as Jack NosbischJr., to lap the field, hitting the setup perfectly for the track conditions. Second would go the current points leader David Schmauss, as “The Sheriff” Roger Crouse battled with him to finish third. “The Master” Donnie Tanner came in fourth and Bobby Alexander, Sr., as the last car on the lead lap in fifth.
Florida Electric Company Limited Late Model Twin #1 would see William Hampton use his front row outside starting spot to make it to Victory Lane. Following him across would be Forest Gaugh second, J. R. Prather, Jr., Bruce Harvey fourth and Pete Grantham fifth. Florida Electric Company. Limited Late Model Twin #2 would see Forest Gaugh use his third row inside starting spot to make it to Victory Lane and squeeze into the points lead. Following him across in the second feature would be young David Simpson who drove a fantastic race from his 19th starting spot to lead laps 13 and 14, but saw Gough get back by in turn 4 at the checkered. Timmy Bronson improved his points run in 2004 getting third, while Dorsey Strickland road to fourth and a heavily damaged Ronnie Heard came home fifth.
Mini-Stocks would only need one heat under the full moon. That would go to the #2 of Josh Peacock. The feature would see Chad Rose inherit the lead, as Scotty Williams would retire from the top spot on lap 10. Rose would survive several restarts to visit Victory Land. Rich Livernois powered to second, Cecil Martin cruised to third, Paul Weaver snuck into fourth and Steve Miller drove to the best finish of the young man's career in fifth. Congratulations Steve!
Next week the Winged 360 Sprints are back in action. Thursday, April 8th is an open practice day from 6pm-9pm and East Bay Raceway Park has worked out a deal with several of the veteran drivers to attend the practice to aide drivers with setup, chassis ideas and driving techniques for the Clay-By-The-Bay. Grandstands are open to the public for FREE. Pit entry for practice is only $10. Call the track office for more information, 813-677-7223.
We’ll See You At The Races!
EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK – Saturday, APRIL 3RD – TOP FIVE
OPEN WHEEL MODIFIEDS
1. 33-JEFF MATHEWS
2. 47-JEFF CONYERS
3. 97-RUSTY DIXON
4. 205-BOBBY DIXON
5. 01B-JOHN BRADLEY
STREET STOCKS
1. 309-DANNY PARIS
2. 67-STEVEN JOHNSON
3. 55-BUCK WOODHOUSE
4. 60-HOLLIE SMITH
5. 7X-JODY ROBBINS
LATE MODELS
1. 12-JACK NOSBISCH JR
2. 105-DAVID SCHMAUSS
3. 32-ROGER CROUSE
4. 88-DONNIE TANNER
5. 15-BOBBY ALEXANDER SR
LIMITED LATE MODELS
1ST FEATURE
1. 29-WILLIAM HAMPTON
2. 21-FOREST GOUGH
3. 007-J. R. PRATHER JR
4. 27-BRUCE HARVEY
5. PETE GRANTHAM
2ND FEATURE
1. 21-FOREST GOUGH
2. 23D-DAVID SIMPSON
3. 3-TIMMY BRONSON
4. 6-DORSEY STRICKLAND
5. 56-RONNIE HALL
MINI-STOCKS
1. 7JR-CHAD ROSE
2. 71-RICH LIVERNOIS
3. 15-CECIL MARTIN
4. 51X-PAUL WEAVER
5. 8M-STEVE MILLER
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