With the first hints of fall in the air,a large crowd of fans came out for some hot racing action this past Saturday night.103 drivers also showed up to test their skills on The Clay By The Bay requiring a total of 13 heat races to set the fields for 5 feature events.
The Street Stock main was the first to hit the track right on schedule at 9pm.The 24 car starting field found many of the points leaders mired deep in the pack .On the initial start outside front row starter Tim Spencer Jr. spun in turn 2 triggering a massive jam-up. Once the track was cleared the race was restarted and recent asphalt convert Steve Olone got his turn at the front of the pack.
Olone also spun forcing him to go to the end of the field due to the yellow.Seventh place starter Steven Johnson would carefully work his way to the front over the course of this 15 lapper with eight and ninth starters Charlie Paris Jr.and Danny Hill close in tow.
Paris made several attempts to pass Johnson but could get no farther than drawing even with the leader.The top 3 would finish in that order with Buck Woodhouse and points leader “Buckshot”Mixner rounding out the top five.The 3 heat races fell to Woodhouse,Buck Skinner,and Hill.
The Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds also required 3 heats to set the line-up for their 15 lap main.The preliminaries went to Jeff Mathews,Dakota Stephens,and Austin Sanders.Mathews started 10th in the 22 car feature line-up and charged to the front by using just about every inch of racetrack to his advantage.
Jeff’s wide-open,take no prisoners style of driving has earned him a loyal fan following and they would not be disappointed on this night.Roger Crouse was forced to settle for 2nd and could never mount a serious challenge to Mathews lead.Jamie Burrows wound up 3rd Austen Sanders,and Trevor Merrill completed the top five.
The mighty Late Models were up next in the line-up of feature races and this 25-lap event had the fans either standing or on the edge of their seats over the entire distance.Pole-position starter Hamp Conley held the lead very early over William Hampton,and Ted Erskine before finding himself facing the wrong direction in turn 2.
From that point on it was a battle of the ‘young guns”against the seasoned class veterans.The Miller Brothers Steve and Matt both had extremely strong runs along with Ryan Mitchell and Travis Varnadore,but when the dust settled veteran Jack Nosbisch Jr.was 1st under the checkered flag.Steve Miller held on for 2nd and also earned some new fans in this hotly contested affair.KD Kelley recovered from 2 trips to the back of the 22 car starting field to record a 3rd place finish followed by 19th starter Philip Cobb,and David Schmauss.Schmauss’ finish earned him a mathematical lock on the 2007 class points championship.
Schmauss and Nosbisch in a show of fine sportsmanship congradulated each other in victory lane.Kelley,Steve Miller,and Ted Erskine won the qualifiers.
Points leader Chad Rose earned his 4th feature win of the season in the Outlaw 4s final of the night .Cecil Martin,Matt Haynes,Jerry Bruce,and Paul Sampson completed the top 5 in this caution filled 15-lapper.Rose extended his point lead over 2nd place Shane Burrows after Burrows was eliminated from the feature in an early race incident.Earlier in the program Burrows and Martin prevailed in the heats.
The night of non-stop action was capped off by the Limited Late Models.Tim Gay claimed the feature win after a torrid,but extremely clean battle with points leader Forrest Gough.Jeff Mathews driving the JR Prather 007 took 3rd ahead of Jeremy Simpson and “Bullet”Bob Peterson.Gough also helped his cause by winning heat #2.Jason Pope won heat #1
This coming Friday and Saturday night Nov.9-10 the ASCS Sprint Cars will descend on East Bay Raceway Park.They will be joined both nights by the Florida Mini Sprints The Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds and Outlaw 4s will join the ASCS Sprinters on Fri.And the Limited Sprints,Street Stocks and Convire 4Cyl.Bombers will cap-off the Sat.night show.
You won’t want to miss any of this upcoming action! For more info contact track office at 813-677-RACE{7223}
