IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

March 2, 2008 Buzzie Reutimann Back in Victory Lane on Opening Night at Eastbay By Jason Loughren Over 100 cars were on hand for the opening night of the 2008 regular season at Eastbay Raceway Park. The Limited Late Models were first to hit the track for their 15-lap feature event. Tim Gay took the win in convincing fashion. JR Prather, Jr. challenged for the lead and finished 2nd. William Pugh came home 3rd. Jason Dyal and Bob Peterson rounded out the top-5. Gay and Dyal won the heat races. The Gagel’s Auto Parts Open Wheel Modifieds class was one of the most exciting classes on a weekly basis in 2007. If the opening race of 2008 is any indication of how this season will be in this class the fans are in for some great racing this season. Wayne Hammond had a strong car in the early running battling with Dale Kelley and John Bradley for the lead. A midrace incident ended Hammond’s night. Buzzie Reutimann started in the 3rd spot and took the lead after the caution that took out Hammond. Reutimann held of the challenge of Scotty Williams to take the win. Williams started 12th and finished 2nd. Bobby Dixon finished 3rd. Jamie Burrows came home 4th. Austin Sanders rounded out the top-5. Hammond and Bradley won the heat races. Twenty-one cars started the Motorstats.com Street Stock feature race. Steve O’Lone said that he has been racing asphalt cars for 21 years. Last season he made his first start on dirt in this class at Eastbay. Saturday night O’Lone won his first ever feature on dirt. He started on the pole and held off the challenge of Danny Hill for the win. Hill finished 2nd. Buck Skinner ran strong all night and finished 3rd. Buck Woodhouse was 4th and Donnie Reed finished 5th. Hill, Roberts and Paris, Jr. won the heat races. Another full field of Late Models was on hand as twenty-five cars thundered around the Clay by the Bay. Marshall Austin and David Schmauss swapped the lead numerous times during the 25-lap feature event. Austin took advantage of a late re-start to hold off Schmauss for the win. Schmauss finished 2nd. Steve Gillman was 3rd. Bobby Alexander, Jr. overcame a Lap 1 spin to finish 4th. Josh Peacock finished 5th. Tony Payne, Schmauss and KD Kelley won the heat races. The Outlaw 4’s provided one of the best races of the night as Jim Coursen and Dorsey Strickland battled for the lead for several laps leading up to the checkered flag. Coursen used the high line and Strickland worked the low line as the laps wound down. Coursen was able to hold off Strickland for the win. Strickland finished 2nd. Shane Burrows had a strong run and finished 3rd. Chad Rose started deep in the field and was able to finish 4th. Jerry Bruce finished 5th. Stickland and Matt Haynes won the heat races. In the Convire 4 Cylinder bombers Frank Miller picked up right where he left off in 2007 with a trip to victory lane. Miller and Collin Kruse had a furious battle for the lead as the laps wound down. George Christensen drove to a 3rd place finish. Tommy Smith and Kyle Kruse rounded out the top-5. Miller and C. Kruse won the heat races. ASA sanctioned racing resumes at Eastbay Raceway Park Saturday, March 8, 2007 at 6:30pm. Late Models, Limited Sprints, The Motorstats.com Street Stocks, Outlaw 4’s and Convire 4-Cylinder Bombers will all be in action. For more information call the track office at 813-677-7223 or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!