Strehle Zips to Classic Auto Racing Series Win at East Bay
by Dave Westerman
After over a month of inactivity, the Classic Auto Racing Series was back in action on the "Clay by the Bay," East Bay Raceway Park near Tampa.
Heat race action saw Deland's Joey Strehle dominate with his new Sedan in its first time on dirt while Bud Spencer of Palm Harbor outlasted the field in heat two.
Strehle and Spencer made up row one for the 15-lap feature and the two drivers immediately took over the front two spots as the remainder of the field was searching for some bite out of their economy Goodyear Eagle tires.
Daryl Grief got loose and spun in turn two on lap five with Frank Conrad and Keith Baiga also getting involved. All three were done for the evening.
Strehle and Spencer continued to head the pack with Bill Posey in third spot while point leader Ben Booth was moving up from his 11th starting spot into fourth, however he half-spun in turn two, recovered after riding up over the inside berm, and continued quickly moving around two cars and back into fourth spot.
The second and final caution of the race came on lap eight as the right front collapsed on Randy Grief's car and he came to a halt in turn four.
Strehle continued to keep his car in the low groove and that strategy worked to perfection. Booth got around Posey for third and closed on the two leaders trying to get some bite on the "cushion" but had to settle for third coming up two positions short of earning the DAWB Motorsports/A-1 Discount Vacations Worst-To-First Award.
The final run to the checker saw Strehle, Spencer and Booth finish under a blanket in that order with Posey getting a hard-earned fourth spot after having to replace yet another radiator following his heat race. George Hall, Jr. made a late charge to claim fifth spot while Patrick Sanders, Tim Ousley, Hot Rod Hagan, George Hall III and Randy Grief rounded out the top ten.
Strehle's victory also earned him the Door Operating Systems Rookie of the Race award.
The Classic Auto Racing Series is back in action this coming Friday night at Ocala Speedway.
OFFICIAL RESULTS - EAST BAY RACEWAY PARK - 8/23/03:
1) Joey Strehle (R), Deland #X11 2) Bud Spencer, Palm Harbor #7 3) Ben Booth (R), Deland #12 4) Bill Posey (R), Rockledge #00 5) George Hall, Jr., St. Petersburg #32 6) Patrick Sanders, Winter Garden #8 7) Tim Ousley, Windermere #88 8) Al Hagan, Merritt Island #6 9) George Hall III, St. Petersburg #9 10) Randy Grief, Orlando #31 11) Daryl Grief, Deland #1 12) Frank Conrad, Ft. Pierce #11 13) Keith Baiga, Deland #42
