The 2007 Season Gets Underway at East Bay Raceway Park
By Jason Loughren
After a week delay due to rain, the 2007 regular season got underway tonight at Eastbay Raceway Park. A large crowd in the grandstands, 91 cars in the pits and a great Florida evening saw the season start off with another great night of racing action. Five classes highlighted tonight’s racing program.
Charlie Paris Jr. took the first feature win of the season in the Street Stock class. After starting second in the field he used an early pass to take the lead and then the win in the 15 lap feature race. Rounding out the top five were Buck Woodhouse, Joe Luce, Bob Smith and Tim Spencer. Heats in the Street Stock’s went to Smith, Paris and Spencer.
In the Limited Sprints Tim George defended his 2006 title by taking the first feature race of the season. Danny Jones finished second while Gene Lasker, Frank Beck and Dakota Stephens rounded out the top 5. Jones and Lasker took the victories in the heat races.
The Out-Law 4’s started the season with a bang as Austin Gilman took the feature win. After starting 9th in the 14 car field he worked his way to the front through numerous caution flags. A lap 10 caution saw Shane Burrows and Chad Rose get together in turn four. Gillman took the lead with 5 laps to go and brought it home for the first feature win of the season. Burrows, Harmon Byrd, Matt Haynes and Rose rounded out the top five. Alex Boerner and Rose placed first in the heat races.
The 360 Sprints were back thundering around the track at East Bay. Danny Martin Jr. cruised to victory in a 25 lap feature race that saw 8 caution flags. The battle for second place came right down to the wire as RJ Johnson edged out TJ Winegardner. Outside pole sitter Bryan Eckley came home fourth and Frank Carlson who started in the fourteenth spot came home fifth. Martin Jr. and the Eckley won the heat races.
The 4 Cylinder Bombers rounded out the night with their 15 lap feature race. Frank Miller took the checkered flag as he led every lap on the way to the win. Tim Albright, DB Hogwaller, Paul Huffstutler and BJ Harp rounded out the top five. Miller, Collin Kruse and DB Hogwaller finished in the top spot in the three heat races.
The racing season continues next Saturday at 6:30pm with 5 classes taking to the track. Late Models, Limited Late Models, the Open Wheel Modifieds, Street Stocks and 4 Cylinder Bombers will all be running along with the Spring Special Kids Bike Race. For more information visit www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
