Tampa Fl. September 2 2006 The drivers were ready, track officials were ready, and the fans were more than ready as weekly racing made its return to East Bay Raceway Park. Ninety-six cars in five classes signed in for tonight’s action on The Clay By The Bay.
After the eleven heat races were completed and intermission the first feature event took the green flag at 8:45.
The Gagles Open Wheel Modifides ran their 15 lap main flag to flag without interruption and what a race it was. Racing was two and sometimes three wide as seventh starter David Schmauss picked his way to the front taking the lead from Trevor Merrill with just two laps to go. Raymond Rogers mounted a late charge from the tenth starting slot to take second from Merrill on the last lap and finished right on Schmauss’ back bumper. Merrill hung on for third ahead of Jamie Burrows and Scotty Williams. Merrill and William Hampton took the heat wins.
The Limited Late Models took several attempts and a lot of bent up racecars before the first two laps of their main was completed. Once everyone got settled in the rest of the fifteen lapper was clean and green David Simpson and early leader Austin Sanders swapped positions and paint several times before Simpson was able to take the lead for good. Fourteenth starter Ryan Mitchell recovered from an early race altercation to take third ahead of Bruce Harvey and Tommy Evonosky. Jeremy Simpson, Austin Sanders, and David Simpson won the heats.
A new face showed up in victory lane in Outlaw Four action. Travis Varnadore used every available groove on the track, and his head, to take the lead away from early front-runner Matthew Haynes and hold on for his first feature win. Varnadore is one of several “young guns” in this class and his car control and ability to pick his spots have served him well. A mix of veterans and youngsters rounded out the top five with Haynes holding on for second ahead of Jim Coorssen, Austin Gillman, and Cecil Martin. Gillman and Martin claimed heat wins.
After a two-month lay off in our abbreviated summer season, twenty-one Late Models came ready to race on tonight’s card. Jack Nosbisch Jr. never missed a beat as he made his way to the lead early from the seventh starting spot and held on for the twenty-five lap win. If Jack could have seen behind him he would have seen some great battles going on. Even FOUR wide at times. K.D. Kelly was the best of the rest coming home second and closing in on the leader. Roger Crouse loves the high groove and used it to come home third in front of Phillip Cobb and Jeff Mathews. David Schmauss and Nosbisch won the prelims.
K.C. Laramee took the nightcap in the Four Cylinder Bomber class. Laramee made his way to the lead early and was able to hold off all challenges on the way to the fifteen-lap win. George Christiansen stayed in close contact with Laramee but could never pull the pass for the lead. Frank Miller finished third. Laramee and Buck Skinner took the heat events.
Next week, the 360 Sprints make their return to action as we are back on our weekly schedule now thru the middle of December. And in two weeks, September 16th it’s the Late Model Show Down 100. $5000.00 to win! Hope to see You here.
