"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
East Bay Raceway park was back in action on Saturday night with a full field of cars and grandstand packed with fans. It was a fantastic night for racing around the legendary Clay by the Bay.
The Outlaw 4’s hit the track first for their 15-lap feature event. Brian Danforth had the car to beat all night long after starting on the front row. Danforth pulled away and took the win. It was his first feature win of the season. Mickey Wright had a strong run and finished 2nd. Steven Hohlbaugh was 3rd. Jason Russell and Jerry Bruce rounded out the top-5. Danforth won the heat race.
Twenty-four Street Stocks were on hand for their main event. Buck Skinner started in the 3rd spot and held off early challenges from Thomas Pratt and Ed Hill. Skinner was the man to beat as he went to the lead and eventually the checkered flag for his series leading 6th feature win of the season. Points leader Donnie Reed finished 2nd. Danny Hill who had his problems in the heat race started deep in the field in the 22nd spot and finished 3rd. Buck Woodhouse finished 4th. Jarod Gay was 5th. Ed Hill, Skinner and Pratt won the heats.
In the Limited Late Models Tim Gay was able to hold off Forrest Gough for the victory. Gay and Gough battled for most of the 15 laps for the lead. Gough finished 2nd. John Bradley stayed near the front and finished 3rd. Alex Boerner was 4th. Roger Crouse started shotgun on the field in 13th place and was able to take a 5th place finish. Gay and Bradley wont he heat races.
The Gagel’s Open Wheeled Modifieds stuck to the script that they have been on most of the season. Jeff Mathews started on the pole with a very strong car. Austin Sanders started next to Mathews on the front row after dominating his heat race. Sanders and Mathews battled for the lead early, but it would be Mathews who had the upper hand. Sanders slipped up in the middle laps and fell back in the field. Mathews drove way from the field and won his 6th feature race of the season in this class. Mathews has 10 feature wins at East Bay this season including his wins in the Late Model Class. He is the points leader in the Late Models and the Gagel’s Open Wheel Modifieds. Burrows held on and finished 2nd. Dale Kelley stayed near the front all night and was 3rd. Bruce Harvey and Brian Hollifield rounded out the top-5. Sanders and Kelley won the heats.
It was a double victory for Roberto Morfin, Jr. in the Motorstats.com 4 Cylinder bombers. Morfin Jr. won the 15 lap feature and an extra $250 for winning the Smokin’ Hot Summer Series sponsored by Motorstats.com. Raymomd Vann finished 2nd. Roberto Morfin, Sr ran in the top-5 all night and finished 3rd. Jimmy Alvis and Kelli Hill rounded out the top-5. Curtis Book and Jim Baker won the heat races.
Randy Tyler was victorious for the first time in the wild and wet Dirt Daubers.
Redneck Smash-A-Rama is August 8th, 2009. The Crazy night of Destruction will include an Enduro Race, Chain Race, Backwards Race, Boat Trailer Races, Demo Derby. Racing will take place rain or shine. Tickets are $15 for adults, $6 for kids 5 to 12 years old and 4 & under are free. For more information, call the track office at 813-677-7223 or visit us on the web at www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
