East Bay Raceway Park Answers Saturday Rainout with Sunday Racing
by Bill Green
Tampa, FL (Sep. 21st, 2003) - Rain stopped the Saturday Night Action at East Bay Raceway Park for the 11th time this weekend, but EBRP Officials returned to Sunday afternoon rainout racing for the second time this season.
Fans and racers were greeted with beautiful blue skies with very few scattered clouds. A nice breeze kept temperatures down, but dried the track out some. Leaving drivers to contemplate the tire selection for an all feature afternoon.
Street Stocks lead off the afternoon action with 18 cars signed in for the make-up event. Using the inside third row starting spot, Jason Bronson would take the win on the track, but loose it in tech as he was found to be without a muffler. That makes Bruce Harvey the Sunday feature winner, with Rob Hall second, Paul Gibbs third, Austin Sanders fourth and Joe Mathews makes it into the top-5 in fifth.
Gagel’s Open Wheeled Modifieds brought 23 cars to the green. When the checkered flag fell it was Bill Howard in Victory Lane, Jamie Burrows second, Buddy Wisham third, “Prime Time” Bobby Dixon fourth and Bruce Watkins.
Limited Late Models flex some sunshine muscle as 16 cars took to the track, with J. R. Prather, Jr. getting the Prather Racing Family into Victory Lane. Bill Howard would go second after his earlier victory, with Timmy Gay getting third, Timmy Bronson fourth and Terry Bronson would over come a hot right rear that blew, was changed quickly by an efficient working pit crew, to get Terry back into the top-5 spot.
Late Models pulled out another stellar showing with a late race pass that showed David Schmauss’ patients and ability to use lapped traffic. Nudging the lapped car just enough to slide him up the track and into the path of leader Roger Crouse, Schmauss would sneak through on the inside for the Victory two laps later. Going second would be Devon Dixon, third to Roger Crouse, fourth to “The Master” Donnie Tanner and another top-5 finish for Phillip Cobb.
The 1-800-A$K-GARY DA$H-4-CA$H brought out the middle of the points pack in the Gagel’s Open Wheeled Modified class. The six cars, for five laps and a $400 purse was a good’n, with Jamie Burrows winning the lion’s share of the cash and making for a nice Sunday afternoon, after his second place finish earlier in the OWM Feature. Second would go to Buddy Wisham, who finished behind Burrows earlier, also. Third would be feature winner Bill Howard.
Mini-Stocks found themselves really battling at the end for the win with 5 cars in close proximity of the leader at the checkered flag. Wayne Williams would visit victory Lane, for his first time in 2003. Second went to Chad Rose, third to Scotty Williams, fourth to Jim Coursen and Dorsey Strickland got the fifth place finish.
Limited Sprints would have 11 of the wingless wonders take the green, and it was Tim Holston back in the Victory Lane in the end. Second was Rich Alexander, third Travis Bliemeister, fourth went to Tim George and Donnie Maxwell took fifth.
Next week it is 360 Winged Sprints, along with the regular classes. Final chance for a Thursday practice comes up on September 25th, 2003 starting at 5:00 PM with the gates opening and hot laps starting at 5:30 PM. Go-Kart practice this Friday from 5:00 PM until dark. For more information on practice or competition call the track office at 813-677-7223.
