IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

October 11, 2004 FSCR East Bay Celebrates Second Week Of Full Program Racing By Bill Green Tampa, FL (Oct. 10th, 2004) Six classes were scheduled for the second week of racing after the resent hurricane activity here on the Gulf coast. Limited Sprints and 360 Sprints normally are not on the same program, but as East Bay battles back from Mother Natures summer nightmare, each class gets on the schedule more. Mini Stocks started the night off with heats going to Chris Douglas and Scotty Williams. Williams fell out of the feature early, but teammate Chad Rose took care of business. Taking the win and thanking Wayne Williams, who was back at the track after a long layoff. Second went to Jim Courson, third to Ryan Mitchell, fourth was Brian DeBore and Greg Pae brings the "Purple People Eater" home fifth. Able Body Limited Late Models saw Jeremy Simpson and Forest Gough with heat wins. The feature saw Sheryl Cockran starting outside row one after a gret second place finish in her heat. But the night belonged to the #66 of Ricky Land as he picked a few pockets in his last lap win of the feature. Second would go to David Simpson, with Forest Gough rebounding from an early spin for third. Fourth found Timmy Bronson in front of fifth place finisher Dennis Williams. The 360 Winged Sprints were out in force as Michael Smith and Bob Auld took the heat wins. Michael Smith found himself in front of the feature most of the night, that was until "Crazy" Joe Melnick took a shot at the lead as Smith stumbled into turn-1. The result would be the removal of Michael Smith’s rear tire as Melnick launched the #8m into the turn-1 wall. Both drivers were OK, but A. J. Maddox inherited the lead and held on for the win. Second was Paulie Milum chasing the leader across the line, Bruce Durden came from Jacksonville to East Bay for third, while Danny Curry took forth and Frank Carlson, Sr. fifth. Late Model heats went to Roger Crouse and Bobby Alexander, Sr. The "Mayor of Muddville" Roger Crouse made a clean sweep of the night with the feature event win. David Simpson gets my vote for "driver of the night," as he brings the #007 Prather Racing machine to second. Third went to "The Master" Donnie Tanner, Trevor Merrell save forth and "The Sheriff" K. D. Kelly fifth. Limited Sprint heats saw a red flag for the contact and tumbles of Rich Alexander and Frank Beck III, both drivers were unhurt, but Alexander was finished for the night. Heat-1 was won by Greg Leonard and Larry Brazil, Jr. drove away with heat-2. Greg Leonard, or "Stix" as his friends call him, drove a masterful race as he drove away from second place finisher Tim Holston. Third saw new comer Bryan Eakley’s first top-5, fourth went to Frank Beck III after a nasty tumble in his heat and fifth was "Big" Tim George. Street Stocks had a full field, plus two, for 26 feature starters. Heats went to Mac Kersey and Danny Paris. Feature would go very smoothly for a 26 car field. First went to Danny Paris in the "Phantom 309." "The Col." Austin Sanders took second, with Jody Robbins third, Steve Burch fourth and Ronnie Whitley fifth. Next week fans will see the L. H. P. Motorsports sponsored Open Wheeled Modifieds in their Twin-15 Features. Along with the Gagle’s Auto Parts OWM, they’ll see Late Models, Limited Late Models, Street Stocks, Limited Sprints & Mini Stocks in action. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!