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| Don O'Neal Two In A Row At East Bay | by Bret Emrick
GIBSONTON, Fla.- For the second consecutive night at East Bay Raceway in Gibsonton (Tampa), Fla., Don O'Neal of Martinsville, Ind., found himself in victory circle after capturing the $7,000 to win Renegade STARS Racing Series-sanctioned 25th Silver Anniversary Late Model Winternationals. Aboard the Indiana Department of Tourism/O'Neal Wood Products/C.J Rayburn Race Cars/Rayburn Racing Engines Real Racing No. 71o Chevrolet Monte Carlo, the “Real Deal” blasted past early race leader Davey Johnson on lap 4 of the 75-lap main event to take the lead, only to lose the top spot to Steve Shaver on lap 12. O'Neal, who started eighth, dogged Shaver for the next few laps, regaining the lead on lap 18 - a lead he would never give up.
"I can't believe how well this C.J. Rayburn racecar is working," stated the very happy winner. "All we've done since we unloaded yesterday is change tires. This car is working so well it's almost unreal. The track surface was really rough on equipment tonight but this car just kept working and working."
Shaver held on for second with 12th-starting Chub Frank finishing third after passing Johnson exiting the final corner. Jackie Boggs wound up fifth from his 27th starting position. Rounding out the top-10 were Steve Francis, Bill Frye, 18th-starting Shannon Babb (the last car on the lead lap), Dennis Erb Jr. and Terry English.
Before the first lap could be completed, Andy Fries lost the handle in turn 2 to bring out the caution. On the restart, pole sitter Johnson jumped into the lead with Shaver, O'Neal, Brian Birkhofer and Francis trailing at the end of the first lap. O'Neal shot past Shaver for second on lap 2 while Francis grabbed fourth from Birkhofer one lap later.
Johnson used the extreme inside groove of the track while O'Neal using the outside line shot past Johnson for the lead exiting turn four on lap 4 with Frye taking fifth from Birkhofer. Before lap 5 could be completed a multi-car tangle in turn 1 brought out the caution. Two laps after going back to green, John Gill and Scott Bloomquist slowed and dropped from the race with damage suffered in the lap 4 multi-car tangle.
Entering lapped traffic on lap 10 allowed Shaver to fly past Johnson for second on lap 11 and then take the lead from O'Neal one lap later. Caution again on lap 12 slowed the pace as Fries stopped with a broken front suspension. Shaver and O'Neal went at it hard once the green replaced the yellow with Frank breaking into the top five on lap 13. O'Neal kept using the outside groove and worked his way back past Shaver for the lead on lap 18. Once in front, O'Neal continued to open some distance on the field as the laps went on.
By lap 30 O'Neal enjoyed a six-car-length advantage over Shaver, with Johnson third, Babb now fourth and Frank fifth, followed by Boggs, Frye, Rick Eckert, Erb Jr. and English. Ten laps later O'Neal's lead was now 10 car-lengths with Babb now up to third. Cautions on laps 41, 52 and 73 slowed O'Neal's relentless pace but Shaver could not do anything with O'Neal on the restarts with O'Neal taking the win by five car-lengths.
The $35,000 purse drew 91 cars to the semi-banked 1/3-mile track with Francis demolishing the single-lap track record with a time of 14.198 seconds during Carrera Shocks "Challenge the Clock" time trials. Heat race wins were taken by Frye, O'Neal, Dale McDowell, Eckert, Shaver and Rick Aukland. The triple MasterSbilt Race Cars "B" mains fell to Matt Miller, Rodney Franklin and Steve Lucas, while Johnson earned the feature pole with his win in the Isky Racing Cams dash. The East Bay Raceway Invitational Dash was won by Ed Dixon for the second straight night.
RESULTS
Results from Tuesday's $35,000 25th Silver Anniversary Late Model Winternationals at East Bay Raceway - round 2 of the 2001 Renegade STARS Racing Series, showing finishing position, starting position in parentheses, car number, driver, laps completed, money won and reason out (if any):
1. (8) 71o Don O'Neal, 75, $7,000.
2. (2) 30 Steve Shaver, 75, $4,080.
3. (12) 1* Chub Frank, 75, $2,500.
4. (1) 1J Davey Johnson, 75, $1,600.
5. (27) 4B Jackie Boggs, 75, $1,400.
6. (4) 15 Steve Francis, 75, $1,350.
7. (7) 66F Bill Frye, 75, $1,200.
8. (18) 18 Shannon Babb, 75, $1,100.
9. (15) 28 Dennis Erb Jr., 74, $1,000.
10. (13) 96 Terry English, 74, $900.
11. (25) 71R Rod Conley, 73, $800.
12. (14) E1 Mike Balzano, 73, $700.
13. (9) 17M Dale McDowell, 51, $650, handling.
14. (21) 5 Steve Lucas, 50, $640, handling.
15. (10) 24 Rick Eckert, 41, $550, suspension.
16. (26) 2J Mike Johnson, 41, $540, handling.
17. (23) 00K Randy Korte, 31, $490, engine.
18. (11) 12 Rick Aukland, 30, $400, handling.
19. (3) 15B Brian Birkhofer, 30, $460, handling.
20. (22) 00 Freddy Smith, 16, $440, handling.
21. (5) 55 Jeep Van Wormer, 14, $440, handling.
22. (28) 27 Ray Tucker, 12, $400, handling.
23. (24) 82 Andy Fries, 11, $440, suspension.
24. (17) S9 Dan Schlieper, 6, $400, suspension.
25. (16) 75 John Gill, 6, $400, rear-end.
26. (6) 0B Scott Bloomquist, 6, $435, rear-end.
27. (20) 1CJ Rodney Franklin, 4, $440, accident.
28. (19) 7 Matt Miller, 4, $440 accident.
Time of race: 57 minutes.
Cautions: 9.
Lap leaders: Davey Johnson 1-3, O'Neal 4-11, Shaver 12-17, O'Neal 18-75.
Provisional starters: Rod Conley, M. Johnson, Boggs, Tucker.
Results from Tuesday's Renegade STARS Racing Series Carrera "Challenge the Clock" time trials - part of the 25th Silver Anniversary Late Model Winternationals at East Bay Raceway, showing qualifying rank, car number, driver, hometown and time:
1. 15 Steve Francis, Ashland, Ky., 14.198.*
2. 0B Scott Bloomquist, Mooresburg, Tenn., 14.345.
3. 4B Jackie Boggs, Grayson, Ky., 14.409.
4. 55 Jeep Van Wormer, Pinconning, Mich., 14.493.
5. 30 Steve Shaver, Parkersburg, W. Va., 14.507.
6. 1J Davey Johnson, Greensburg, Pa., 14.549.
7. 2J Mike Johnson, Imperial, Pa., 14.560.
8. 7 Matt Miller, Toledo, Ohio, 14.569.
9. 15B Brian Birkhofer, Muscatine, Iowa, 14.575.
10. 27 Ray Tucker, Greensboro, N.C., 14.588.
11. 28 Dennis Erb Jr., Carpentersville, Ill., 14.607.
12. 5 Steve Lucas, Charleston, W. Va., 14.635.
13. 66F Bill Frye, Greenbriar, Ark., 14.636.
14. 96 Terry English, Benton, Ky., 14.644.
15. 17M Dale McDowell, Rossville, Ga., 14.648.
16. 0 Booper Bare, Rockbridge Baths, Va., 14.652.
17. 21 Billy Moyer, Batesville, Ark., 14.688.
18. 12 Rick Aukland, Zanesville, Ohio, 14.711.
19. 1* Chub Frank, Sugar Grove, Pa., 14.730.
20. 71o Don O'Neal, Martisnville, Ind., 14.734.
21. 75 John Gill, Mitchell, Ind., 14.744.
22. 24 Rick Eckert, York, Pa., 14.750.
23. 71C R.J. Conley, Wheelersburg, Ohio, 14.760.
24. 1C Eddie Carrier Jr., Leburn, Ky., 14.776.
25. 98 Pete Broughton, Wimauma, Fla., 14.791.
26. 6T Tim Dohm, Charleston, W. Va., 14.803.
27. 77B Barry Bragdon, Wheelersburg, Ohio, 14.814.
28. 21H Jack Hewitt, Troy, Ohio, 14.816.
29. 50 Ed Dixon, Washington, Mo., 14.843.
30. 18 Shannon Babb, Decatur, Ill., 14.856.
31. 32 Greg Lucas, Whitesburg, Ky., 14.860.
32. 69 Terry Eaglin, Versailles, Ind., 14.884.
33. 00K Randy Korte, Highland, Ill., 14.903.
34. E1 Mike Balzano, Parkersburg, W. Va., 14.914.
35. S9 Dan Schlieper, Pewaukke, Wis., 14.934.
36. 28B Dick Barton, Ashville, N.Y. 14.975.
37. 00 Freddy Smith, Knoxville, Tenn., 14.984.
38. W7 Thomas Ware, Cynthiana, Ky., 15.011.
39. 17D Charlie Duncan, Millersburg, Ohio, 15.019.
40. 66 Joey Izzo, LaSalle, Ill., 15.064.
41. 32C Vic Coffey, Lieceister, N.Y., 15.065.
42. 53 Ray Cook, Brasstown, N.C., 15.095.
43. 28M Jimmy Mars, Elk Mound, Wis., 15.096.
44. 33 Al Purkey, Coffeyville, Kan., 15.099.
45. 42 Todd Andrews, Eldred, Pa., 15.117.
46. B12 Kevin Weaver, Gibson City, Ill., 15.142.
47. 82 Andy Fries, Mercersburg, Pa., 15.151.
48. 26 Steve Boley, West Liberty, Iowa, 15.151.
49. 1P Earl Pearson Jr., Jacksonville, Fla., 15.180.
50. 6M Wendell Wallace, Batesville, Ark., 15.233.
51. 19Y Tim Yeager, Harrodsburg, Ky., 15.272.
52. 19M Mark Mears, Decatur, Ala., 15.291.
53. 10P Pete Parker, Kaukauna, Wis., 15.324.
54. 77 Bill Bartels, Marina Del Rey, Calif., 15.354.
55. 71R Rod Conley, Wheelersburg, Ohio, 15.355.
56. 31 Skip Arp, Georgetown, Tenn., 15.377.
57. 89 Marshall Green, White, Ga., 15.390.
58. 24B Roy Deese Jr., Odenton, Md., 15.408.
59. 27J Danny Johnson, Phelps, N.Y., 15.433.
60. 56 Gary Webb, Blue Grass, Iowa, 15.433.
61. 00H Chuck Harper, Beverly, W. Va., 15.436.
62. 21D Dan Stone, Thompson, Pa., 15.481.
63. 64 Ryan Dauber, Tonica, Ill., 15.483.
64. 3 Steve Smith, Powell, Tenn., 15.492.
65. 19 Jeremy Miller, Littlestown, Pa., 15.600.
66. 2 Anthony White, Clinton, Tenn., 15.615.
67. 5M Tony Marks, Napolean, Ohio, 15.635.
68. 14 Corey Conley, Wellsburg, W. Va., 15.635.
69. 97 Greg Walters, Portlan, Ore., 15.663.
70. 1CJ Rodney Franklin, White Post, Va., 15.746.
71. 1 Sammie Halcomb, Bluffton, Ohio, 15.783.
72. 2C Clint Coffman, Clermont, Fla., 15.809.
73. 6 Richard Jenkins, Huntington, W. Va., 15.963.
74. 21M Jason Montgomery, Jackson, Ohio, 15.968.
75. 1K John Anderson, Omaha, Neb., 16.028.
76. 12C Cortney Clewell, Cambridge, Ohio, 16.031.
77. 11 Ace Ihm Hazel, Green, Wis., 16.113.
78. 32S Ronnie Smith, Waco, Ky., 16.197.
79. D2 Nolan Dalton, Morgantown, W. Va., 16.238.
80. 7N Bill Pearson, Portola, Calif., 16.254.
81. 99H Sherri Heckenast, Orland Park, Ill., 16.304.
82. j0 J.O. Nobles, Nahunta, Ga., 16.331.
83. 007 Jeff Weber, Clayton, Ga., 16.425.
84. 45K John Kresser Jr., Chicago, Ill., 16.553.
85. 35P Wayne Parson, Quincy, Ky., 16.600.
86. 28G Davey Sanders, Ironton, Ohio, 16.756.
87. 71M Lance Matthees, Winona, Minn., no time.
88. 10 Dennis Lamb, Front Royal, Va., no time.
89. 99 Donnie Moran, Dresden, Ohio, no time.
90. 17 Frank Smith, Mechanicsville, Md., no time.
91. 71 Delmas Conley, Wheelersburg, Ohio, no time.
* - new single-lap track record
HEAT RACE #1: Frye, Frank, Francis, F. Smith, M. Johnson, Broughton, G. Lucas, Mars, E. Pearson Jr., Harper, Jenkins, Rod Conley; DNS - Marks, Dalton, Parson, Matthees. (top three advanced to the feature)
SCOTT PERFORMANCE WIRE HEAT RACE #2: O'Neal, English, Bloomquist, M. Miller, Dohm, Purkey, Ware, Wallace, Stone, Sanders, Eaglin, C. Conley, B. Pearson, Montgomery, Lamb, Arp. (top three advanced to the feature)
HEAT RACE #3: McDowell, Birkhofer, Gill, Bragdon, Korte, Andrews, Moran, Anderson, Dauber, Duncan, Green, Walters, Heckenast, Boggs; DNS - Yeager. (top three advanced to the feature)
HEAT RACE #4: Eckert, Balzano, Van Wormer, Franklin, Weaver, Izzo, Deese Jr., Clewell, Nobles, Bare, Mears, F. Smith, Tucker, Hewitt, S. Smith. (top three advanced to the feature)
HEAT RACE #5: Shaver, Erb Jr., Schlieper, R.J. Conley, Fries, J. Miller, Dixon, Coffey, Danny Johnson, D. Conley, Ihm, Weber, Moyer, Halcomb; DNS - Parker. (top three advanced to the feature)
HEAT RACE #6: Aukland, Davey Johnson, Babb, Carrier Jr., S. Lucas, Barton, Boley, Cook, Webb, White, Kresser Jr., R. Smith, Coffman, Bartels. (top three advanced to the feature)
MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" MAIN #1: M. Miller, F. Smith, Purkey, M. Johnson, C. Conley, Montgomery, E. Pearson Jr., Eaglin, Broughton, Lamb, Parson, Mars, Stone, Ware, Arp, G. Lucas, Wallace, Matthees, Dohm; DNS - Harper, Sanders, Jenkins, Rod Conley, Marks, Dalton. (top two advanced to the feature)
MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" MAIN #2: Franklin, Korte, Andrews, Duncan, Bare, B. Pearson, Dauber, Anderson, Clewell, Green, Izzo, Nobles, F. Smith, Deese Jr., Weaver, Heckenast, Bragdon, Moran; DNS - Mears, Walters, Tucker, Boggs, Hewitt, Yeager, S. Smith. (top two advanced to the feature)
MASTERSBILT RACE CARS "B" MAIN #3: S. Lucas, Fries, J. Miller, R.J. Conley, Barton, Carrier Jr., D. Conley, Cook, Webb, Halcomb, Danny Johnson, Kresser Jr., Coffey, R. Smith, Bartels, Dixon, White, Parker, Boley, Ihm; DNS - Weber, Moyer, Coffman. (top two advanced to the feature)
ISKY RACING CAMS DASH: Davey Johnson, Shaver, Birkhofer, Francis, Van Wormer, Bloomquist. (finish determined the first three rows of the feature)
INVITATIONAL DASH: Dixon, G. Lucas, Moran, D. Conley, Dauber, Webb, Bartels, Nobles, Parson, C. Conley, E. Pearson Jr.
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