(Gibsonton, FL; 10/29/2000) With the last night of regular racing winding down, Donnie Tanner showed he can hardly wait for the 2001 season to begin. As the field was set for feature races only and the starting position was determined by the pill draw for the Late Models, Tanner wanted the big paycheck. He picked up the feature win in the first race and starting last in the second feature event of the 23-car field where he finished in the runner-up spot.

In the first feature of the night, the #45 of Bob Peterson took off from the front row and did a great job of using lapped traffic and the low groove, with the second through fifth place cars behind him battling allowed him to open up a lead. On lap 16 after getting around Bill Howard for second, Tanner shoved the nose of the red and white #88 under Peterson and never looked back.

But again the yellow flew, putting Peterson back in front but it was not for long as Tanner made the same move on the 45. As Tanner moved out to a comfortable lead the battle continued behind him as the Peterson was fighting for that runner up spot with Bill Howard and Rodger Crouse closing in to make it a battle for the runner up spot. Peterson was going to make sure second was his as he held off Rodger Crouse and Bill Howard taking home the fourth spot.

Feature number two found another guy new driver in the cat bird's seat as the #63 of Greg Meredith was looking for his first win. As Meredith led the way, the veterans were on the move as all of the Nosbisch clan were on hand, Bobby Alexander, and the winner of the first feature, Donnie Tanner, had other plans for the checker.

On the 6th circuit the yellow flew for a spin and that allowed the #41 of Ken Nosbisch to close up on the back bumper of Meredith as well as Bill Howard and Bobby Alexander. The number 63's time up front was running out with the track that Bill Howard likes "slick." On lap 9, Howard took the point and began to show his muscle as he pulled away to a commanding lead and was untouchable. Tanner made an impressive run to the front as he made some major moves to the front and slipped into the second position ahead of Ken Nosbisch and J.R. Austin.

In a post-race interview, Howard was asked about the $30,000 to win Renegade Stars upcoming races and he was uncommittable saying ,"We would just have to wait and see."

The Sprints made a limited/shortened main event with Robbie Smith being the class of the field as he took the lead on the start, left the field, and was never challenged for the event. The only guy on the same page as the #1A of Smith was the #02 of Gene Lasker. Under the caution, Lasker pulled up next to Smith to let him know he would be there on the restart, and Smith waved goodbye on the green.

The Limited Sprints and the title of "Mr.Budweiser" would belong to Gene Lasker. Lasker worked the high side and did a masterful job of working the cushion. This was somewhat of a gift for Lasker as Darrin Miller was leading and retired on lap 14, after fighting off Lasker lap after lap.

There was still some excitement as the #34 of John Davenport looped it with laps winding down and Andy Kelley now on his back bumper. It didn't matter "Mr.Budweiser" belong to Lasker. This a been a tough year for Lasker in the Sprints as he has gone winless in the Burger King 02 but that win in the Limited Sprints helped lick his wounds just a little.

The first of two features saw a first time winner of Buddy Wisham. Wisham who has been a long time competitor and not getting that first win till the last night of the season so he will have a long off season. As the luck of the draw, Danny Bowman the winner of three feature events held the lead until a spin and crash found him in the infield changing a tire that would end his chance for victory in the first feature of the night. In a strong finish, Tim Gay and Teddy Jernigan rounded out the top three and Mike Land took fourth.

Feature number two started with a bang as Shane Koperda jumped to the lead only for the race to go yellow on the first lap with a six-car crash blocking the back straightaway. When racing resumed, Ike Walker decided it was his turn to take and hold the lead until Forrest Gough made his way to the front. Another strong showing by the #57 of Teddy Jernigan and the #35 of Tim Gay with another second and third place finish.

The Mini-Stocks had their last races of the year with two features. In the first main event for the Minis, the #29 of William Hampton was the man who had everyone covered. It wasn't a "gimme" as the #2b of Jamie Browers put pressure on Hampton but he wouldn't be rattled and picked up the win. Hampton was followed by Browers and Dorsey Strickland rounding out the top three.

The main events had some guys with wins that were far apart as Jamie Browers and William Hampton tried to add their names to the list of winners for the 2000 season. Browers was the one to take the win as he thanked his crew it looked like it might a bit of good as well as the 2b was blowing water and looked to be overheating. The runner-up spot was Scotty Williams and the show position was Dorsey Strickland.

-Jay Parrish-

LATE MODELS
1ST MAIN
1. Donnie Tanner
2. Keith Nosbisch
3. Bob Peterson,
4. Jack Nosbisch, Jr.
5. Bill Howard

2ND MAIN
1. Bill Howard
2. Donnie Tanner
3. Ken Nosbisch
4. JR Austin
5. Ted Erskine

LIMITED LATE MODELS
1ST MAIN
1. Buddy Wisham
2. Tim Gay
3. Teddy Jernigan
4. Mike Lamb
5. Danny Bowman

2ND MAIN
1. Forrest Gough
2. Teddy Jernigan
3. Tim Gay
4. Buddy Wisham
5. Jamie Burrows

MINI-STOCKS
1ST MAIN
1. William Hampton
2. Jamie Burrows
3. Dorsey Strickland
4. Jason Buzbee
5. Chris Nosbisch

2ND MAIN
1. Jamie Burrows
2. Scotty Williams
3. Dorsey Strickland
4. Robbie Mena
5. Art Gulvin

STREET STOCKS
1ST MAIN
1. Scott Vanert
2. Steve Johnson
3. Jerry White
4. Gary Sheffield
5. Hollie Smith

2ND MAIN
1. Terry Bronson
2. Danny McCall
3. Tim Hunt
4. Danny Jones
5. Hollie Smith

SPRINTS
1. Robbie Smith
2. Gene Lasker
3. Casey Johnson
4. Tom Winegardner
5. Jimmy Bellew

LIMITED SPRINTS
$2500 TO WIN MR. BUDWEISER
1. Andy Kelley
2. Tim George
3. Clyde Poole
4. Jerry Collins
5. Johnny Law

Gene Lasker finishing 1st was DQ'd as well as Tom Hall who finished 4th

Heats-Darrin Miller, Gene Lasker







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