Sprint cars in both the 360 and limited style had their 2005 season opener tonight at Eastbay Raceway Park and a good field of racers showed up ready to do battle on the clay by the bay.
After heats for all classes the Street Stocks would be the first feature up for their 15 lapper. After many restarts Steven Johnson would outlast the field and make it two for two in 2005 . Behind Johnson there was plenty of contact in the 27 car starting field and less than ten cars would see the checkerd flag.. Danny Paris would come from the tenth starting spot to take second, steady Buck Woodhouse from eleventh to finish third, Michael Cherry from the number twelve slot to fourth, and Mac Kersey all the way from seventeenth to fifth. Johnson and Austin Sanders won the heats.
Limited Sprints were up next for their first 05 feature and “Sticks” Greg Leonard came from the back of the starting grid to the lead late in the 15 lap main and held on for the win. Frank Beck nursed his smoking “Mopar Missle” home in second, Rick Byerly finished third, “Big” Tim George wound up in fourth and was followed across the stripe by his daughter , young Susanne George in fifth. The finishing order would see a change at the tech shed as Susanne’s car came up light on the scales moving the ninty seven of Ron Flemmings up to the number five slot.. Rich Alexander won the heat.
Jimmy Waldrop saw the checkerd flag first in the Outlaw Four main event, but once again the tech shed would change the results . Waldrop’s number fifty one did not make min. weight giving the win to Jeff Conyers. Every one else moved up a spot and second thru fifth were Cecil Martin, Chad Rose, Rich Livernois., and Steve Miller. The heats went to Ryan Mitchell and Josh Peacock.
360 Sprints signed in sixteen cars for their first points night of the season and “Superman” Sport Allen worked the high groove to perfection to take the lead early on and never looked back. Stephen Darvalics drove a fine race to come home in second. Johnny Gilbertson came from the eleventh slot to third, Paulie Milum was fourth, and Daryl Smith recovered from an early spin to take fifth. Allen and Smith took the heats.
Our 29th season is now in high gear and we will be right back at it next Saturday night on The Clay By The Bay.
