Jamie Burrows Wins Open Wheel Modifieds End of Month Special Feature Race
By Jason Loughren
One hundred cars signed in at East Bay Raceway Park ready to race the last weekend in April. Another large crowd in the stands witnessed some of the best racing action of the young season.
The Outlaw 4’s were the first class to take to the track as 15 cars were entered in the 15- lap feature race. Cecil Martin started on the front row and never looked back as he took the feature win. Matt Haynes finished 2nd. Points leader Chad Rose started deep in the field and worked his way through traffic to take home the 3rd spot. Mavrick Varnadore and Alex Boerner rounded out the top 5. Varnadore and Martin won the heat races.
The Limited Spints were back in action for the second week in a row. Rich Alexander slated to start on the pole suffered mechanical problems during the warm up laps and never started the race. Jimmy Balew led early until a broken wing ended his night. Balew’s problem worked to the advantage of Paulie Milum as he quickly moved to the front of the field. Gene Lasker started 10th and furiously charged to the front of the field to challenge for the lead. On the final lap of the caution free race Milum was able to hold off Lasker throught turn 4 to take the victory. Lasker finished 2nd. Dakotah Stephens finished 3rd. Rick Byerly came home 4th and 2006 points champion Tim George finished 5th. Milum and Jimmy Balew took the checkered flags in the heat races.
Another full field of Late Models was on hand for their 25-lap feature race. With 29 cars entered not only would 3 heat races be necessary, but also a 10-lap consolation race was run to determine the starting line-up for the feature. The top 7 cars from each heat race qualified for the feature setting the stage for the consolation race. Six cars took the green in the consolation race. Jackie Nosbisch, Jr took the victory followed by Wallace Peacock ,Brian Barce, and Jimmy Waldrop.
Early on in the feature the lead was not the place to be. Marshall Austin led early but his front end broke on Lap 5. Then on lap 9 Roger Crouse suffered a flat tire while leading the race and had to go to the pits for some new rubber. Meanwhile Nosbisch, Jr was making his way to the front of the field from the 12th starting position. Nosbisch, Jr. took the lead and never looked back taking the checkered flag. Josh Peacock finished 2nd. Ryan Mitchell ran in the top five all-night and finished 3rd. KD Kelly finished 4th and Travis Varnadore came home 5th. Crouse, Austin and JR Prather, Jr. won the heat races.
The race fans saw a tremendous feature race in the Open Wheeled Modified class. A four-way battle for the lead took place for most of the race. Raymond Rogers was out in front early using the high line to ride around the Clay by the Bay. Roger Crouse, Jamie Burrows and Jeff Mathews all had chances to lead through out the race. The lead would swap hands numerous times as Burrows settled in on the low side of the track. As the laps wound down the four cars at the front of the field battled for each position. Burrows was able to hold off Roger Crouse to take the victory. Raymond Rogers came home in the 3rd position. Jeff Mathews and Dakotah Stephens rounded out the top 5. Dale Kelley and Burrows took the checkered flag in the heat races.
Another great night of racing came to a close with the 15 lap 4 cylinder bomber feature race. Frank Miller held off Kyle Eash to take the win. Wayne Kissam finished 3rd. Collin Kruse battled from the back of the field to finish 4th. David Miller rounded out the top 5. Randy Taylor and Kruse wont he heat races.
East Bay Raceway Park resumes ASA-sanctioned racing Saturday 5/5/07 at 6:30pm with a full slate of racing action. Late Models, Limited Late Models, Open Wheel Modified’s, Street Stocks, and Outlaw 4’s will all be in action. There will also be this season’s first golf cart race at intermission.
For more information visit www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
