"I'm
noticing a turn of the tide on racing Web sites like Florida's
Karnac.com, the gathering place for the most dedicated race
fans in the state." -Orlando Sentinel
Saturday, November 29, 2008– Before the race began, it was all about the return of NASCAR standout David Reutimann running with his father Buzzie in the Mod-Gobbler 50 Lap, $1000 to win A-Main Feature Event. Along with the Reutimanns, the usual crowd of Modified drivers was on hand to make sure it wouldn’t be a #00 runaway for the special event including Jeff Mathews, Devin Dixon, Jamie Burrows and Bobby Dixon. Three heat races set the top 12 for the A-Main race Buzzie Reutimann won his heat race while Kyle Bronson finished 2nd and Bobby Dixon in the #205 finished 3rd. Jeff Mathews won heat race #2 with Rick Hall finishing 2nd and the 00g machine of Greg Reutimann crossed the stripe 3rd. Heat race #3 was won by Greg Leonard in the #40 machine with Shane Burrows and Roger Crouse finishing 2nd and 3rd. B-Main action for the Modifieds was intense but in the end, David Reutimann picked up the win in B-Main #1 while Billy Boyd in the #4b from Riverview was the winner in B-Main #2. After the pill draw took place, Devin Dixon in the 2b machine was placed on the pole and Jeff Mathews from Seffner, Fl started 2nd and Kyle Bronson, Greg Leonard and Buzzie Reutimann rounding out the top 5. Dixon lead the majority of the 50 lap event, but Mathews stayed tight on his bumper for 2nd and Shane Burrows close behind him for 3rd. Mathews finally made his way past Dixon for the lead, but both would battle each other throughout the event. Mathews would hang on for the win while Dixon and Tampa veteran Roger Crouse finished 2nd and 3rd. Greg Leonard had a super performance to finish 4th and Dale Kelley in the #22 rounded out the top 5.
The Limited Sprints were dominated once again by the 8J machine of Gene Lasker. He not only won his heat race, but picked up the win in the A-Main 20 lap feature. Rick Byerly, Kurt Taylor, Tim George and Travis Bliemeister rounded out the top 5 for the A-Main. Heat Race #1 went to Rick Byerly while #15 Rocky Sullivan and Clint Reynolds finished 2nd and 3rd. 2nd and 3rd in heat race #2 went to Bliemeister and Rich Alexander.
The Limited Late Models once again provided great racing action for the capacity crowd, but in the end, Forrest Gough took home the win to bolster his Championship Points lead. JR Prather in the #007 finished 2nd with John Bradley, Roger Crouse and Dean Varnadore rounding out the top 5.
The Motorstats.com Street Stocks was dominated by the #7 team of Mathew Grissom as he picked up his 1st win of the 2008 racing season. Danny Hill wound up 2nd and David Strickland in the #05 machine started last in the field, but fought his way through the pack to finish 3rd. Buck Woodhouse and Buck Skinner rounded out the top 5.
Shirlene Hammond in the #22 Outlaw 4’s made it back-to-back feature wins as she put her All Florida Realty machine in the winners circle for the 2nd time in as many weeks. Points leader Shane Burrows finished 2nd, Matt Haynes 3rd, Mickey Wright 4th and Chad Rose 5th.
Another tremendous field of Convire 4-Cylinder Bombers were on hand for their 20 lap A-Main feature event. Kyle Eash in the 17x machine finally took home a win from the “Clay by the Bay” as he held off #13 Frank Miller, who finished 2nd, Kyle Kruse who finished 3rd, #7 Roberto Morfin who finished 4th and Kever Raulerson who finished 5th.
ASA sanctioned racing resumes at Eastbay Raceway Park Saturday night, December 6th at 6:30pm. The Late Models, the Gagel Open-Wheel Modifieds, the Limited Late Models, the Motorstats.com Street Stocks and the Outlaw 4’s will all be on hand for another night of action packed racing. For more information, call the track office at 813-677-7223, or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com
