IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 31, 2009 Peacock Prevails at East Bay By Larry Jewett 5/30/09 More than 100 cars graced the pit area for a four-class race program Saturday night. The main event for South Shore Auto Sales Late Models was a 25-lapper, but it took three heats and a consy to set the lineup. Devin Dixon, Shon Smith, and Jack Nosbisch copped preliminaries while three drivers (David Pollen, Paul Gibbs and Mavrick Varnadore) advanced from the last chance. A field of 23 came for the green. Within the first few laps, Josh Peacock had shot to the bottom to move from his fourth starting spot to grab the lead from Steve Mathis. While Peacock was moving away, there was constant battling inside the top five. Maxx Bennett and Travis Varnadore each took turns inside the elite group while Jimmy Waldrop charged up to challenge for second. Jack Nosbisch claimed the runner-up spot and carried it to the finish behind Peacock. Waldrop claimed third ahead of Mathis and Bennett. The strong Late Model count is expected to return next week for a 40-lap main that pays $2,000. The Street Stocks brought 27 cars to the dance with heats going to first-time East Bay racer Howard Osteen, Buck Skinner, and Danny Hill. The 23-car main saw a few multi-car pileups before two laps were completed. Polesitter Donnie Reed took the race lead and went wire to wire in an event that was shortened by curfew. Buck Woodhouse inherited second late in the race when Hill spun in turn two, collecting David Strickland in the melee. Ed Hill, in his first 2009 start in a new Street Stock, came from deep in the field to claim second. Steve O’Lone recovered from a lap one incident to stake fourth with Herschel Bonner rounding out the top five. The Q Auto & Injury Attorney Limited Late Models offered 15 cars for a 15-lap main. J.R. Prather Jr. took the early lead with Forrest Gough and John Bradley looking for a way around. Gough found it and slipped past as Prather spun in turn one and hiked the car into a wheelstand. On the restart, Gough had to hold off Tim Gay and did for several laps, but Gay slipped past. The good fortune for Gay turned sour immediately as an apparent rear end problem set the car off the pace and out of the race, giving the lead back to Gough. On the restart, Alex Boerner slipped Bradley and closed in on the leader. Boerner went low and put the pass on with two laps remaining. The young racer sealed the deal, bringing home his second feature win of the season. Gough kept second while Prather rallied from the rear to finish third. Bradley took fourth with Paul Sampson fifth. The Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers were 31 cars strong on the night, getting three heats with Raymond Vann, Kever Raulerson and Roberto Morfin Jr. the class of their respective preliminaries. Collin Kruse fought off the challenges of Vann and Raulerson in the main, which was shortened due to curfew. A high attrition rate struck the class with nearly half of the 29 starters parked by the time the checkered flew. Kruse was able to prevail ahead of Vann and Raulerson. Kyle Kruse claimed fourth and Bubba Puyear came for a mid-race incident to return to the top five. ASA sanctioned racing resumes at East Bay Raceway Park Saturday, June 6, 2009 at 6:30pm. The South Shore Auto Sales Late Models will contest a 40-lap, $2,000 to win event. They will be joined by the East Bay Sprints, Street Stocks, Outlaw 4s, motorstats.com 4 Cylinder Bombers, Dirt Daubers and Vintage Cars. 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!