Keith Nosbisch wins 2nd Annual Scott Thompson Memorial Late Model Race
By Jason Loughren
The National Late Model Series 38 Lap Scott Thompson Memorial was the feature race of the night as a big crowd packed the grandstands at Eastbay Raceway Park.
The 25-car field was set early on in the night with two 10 lap last chance races. The top 4 from each race would get to take part in the $5000 dollar top spot feature race. Last chance race number one saw Dillon Wood take the checkered flag. Bill Howard, Brandon DeWitt and William Hampton held off all challenges to race their way into the feature. In race number two Alex Vickers, Terry Lumley, Matt Carlton and East Bay regular JR Prather, Jr finished in the top four to advance.
With the field set for the feature the cars that did not qualify were given the opportunity to race for a $500 wining prize. Due to attrition from the 10 lap last chance races only three cars were able to start. National Late Model Series regular Ben Faircloth suffered mechanical problems on his way to the green flag leaving Travis Varnadore and Henry Carter to race to the checkered flag. Varnadore took the win and the cash holding off the challenge from Carter.
The fans were on their feet as the 25 cars took the green flag in the 2nd Annual Scott Thompson Memorial race. Chesley Dixon started on the pole and lead early. After running the first half of the race caution free the field was spread out around the track. A caution at the midway point bunched the field up. Series regular Mark Whitener lead during the middle of the race but a challenge was coming from weekly series points leader Jack Nosbisch, Jr. and Keith Nosbisch who had worked their way up through the field from their starting positions in the middle of the pack. Nosbisch, Jr. took the lead with less than five laps to go but his brother Keith would not concede the victory. The leaders moved into lap traffic opening the door for Keith Nosbisch to take the lead and eventually hold off his brother for the feature win. Mark Whitener, Steve Mathis and Terry Lumley who raced his way into the feature earlier in the night and started near the rear of the pack rounded out the top 5.
In the Street Stock class Tim Spencer, Sr. won his first feature race of the season holding off a hard charging Bob Smith. Smith who was leading coming to the white flag slipped coming out of turn 4 allowing Spencer, Sr. to take the lead and eventually the win. Smith came home in 2nd. David Strickland, Buckshot Meixner and Donnie Reed rounded out the top 5. Charles Paris, Jr.’s early domination of the class this season ended with a flat tire on lap 9 after he and Buck Skinner got together at the end of the back stretch racing for the lead. Paris, Jr. ended up finishing 15th. Dave Floyd and Paris, Jr. won the heat races.
The Open Wheeled Modified’s were back in action with 17 cars in the line up for the feature race. Raymond Rogers started in the 5th position and quickly advanced to the lead where he would stay to take the checkered flag. Dakotah Stephens who started on the pole finished 2nd. Roger Crouse, Jeff Mathews and Bobby Dixon rounded out the top 5. Austin Sanders and Rogers took the top spot in the heat races.
The final show of the night was the TC Modifieds. Six cars hit the track for their feature race. The 1100 CC Suzuki motors cranked up and brought a distinctively different sound to the racetrack. Travis Carter won the feature race outlasting David Rader, Jim Aldous, Daryl Graves and Rick Shafer.
East Bay Raceway Park resumes ASA-sanctioned racing Saturday 4/28/07 at 6:30pm with a full slate of racing action. Late Models, Limited Spints, Outlaw 4’s, 4 Cylinder bombers and the end of the month special for the Open Wheel Modified’s. The always-popular Fan Participation Race will also be held at intermission. For more information visit www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
