Frank Conrad Tops Classic Auto Racing Series Rivals at East Bay
For the first time in the eight year history of the Classic Auto Racing Series it was time to "do it in the dirt" at East Bay Raceway Park near Tampa Saturday night. In fact, it came very close to being an evening of "doing it in the mud" after four and a half inches of rain fell at the speedway Friday night. But track crews went to work and had everything more than ready by race time.
Sixteen Classics signed in with heat races going to Daryl Grief and rookie Greg Helton, his first career win in automobile racing, and he received a big round of applause from the huge crowd saluting his first time claiming the checkered flag.
At the start of the 15 lap feature, Grief and Helton moved out front to a big advantage but Grief got sideways coming out of turn four. Helton tried to dive low but just clipped Grief's sedan and slid head-on toward the turn four wall, stopping just an inch short of the concrete.
With the two front row cars now relegated to the rear of the field, Frank Conrad had the pole slot, but it was outside polesitter Bud Spencer who grabbed the early lead much to the delight of a busload of fans from Spencer's Eagles Lodge in Palm Harbor who came over to watch him race.
Just as lap two was completed, Helton and Al "Hot Rod" Hagan got together to bring out the first caution flag of the race with Helton going to the back of the field for a second time along with Hagan. Joey Strehle passed Spencer for the lead on lap four and was looking strong until he got loose and spun coming out of turn two at the start of lap six. Spencer spun to avoid Strehle and was T-boned by Ben Booth who had come up from 15th on the starting grid to fourth. Both Spencer and Booth were done for the night while Strehle continued but was relegated to the back of the field.
Conrad missed the mess on the backstretch and took over as the new leader only to see the caution out again on lap seven as Strehle got together with E.B. Carr in turn three putting both cars on the sidelines.
The final eight laps would be run under green as Daryl Grief worked his way back up to second but was unable to catch Conrad who was using a low line uncharacteristic of his usual "back 'er in" style. Conrad won with room to spare getting his first win of the season in his Frank's Sandblasting/DAWB Motorsports/Shriner's Children's Hospital Charities '34 Chevy sedan.
Grief held on for second while Greg Helton put on a show coming from the rear twice to get third spot. Helton also won the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Race Award for the first time in his short career. Randy Grief nabbed fourth spot just ahead of a steady run by George Hall, Jr. who took fifth.
Simeon Spagnuolo, Al Hagan, George Hall III, Sharen Ewing, and E.B. Carr rounded out the top ten.
The Classic Auto Racing Series now heads to Orlando Speedworld next Saturday for the first in a series of special Saturday events at the fast three-eighths mile that runs of Friday nights. however the first Saturday of the month is being reserved as an evening for racing clubs from around the state to get together to race while kids Bandelero racing will also be featured.
RESULTS - EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK - 4/26/03:
1) Frank Conrad, Ft Pierce #11 2) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 3) Greg Helton (R), Orange City #3 4) Randy Grief, Orlando #88 5) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 6) Simeon Spagnuolo, Vero Beach #21 7) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6 8) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 9) Sharen Ewing (R), Brooksville #16X 10) E.B. Carr, Okeechobee #90 11) Joey Strehle (R), Lake Mack #42 12) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 13) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 14) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12 15) Harvey Ewing, Brooksville #17 DNS Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00
