IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

October 12, 2009 Lasker tops Top Gun Sprints at Eastbay The Top Gun Sprints made their second visit of 2009 to East Bay Raceway Park on Saturday October 10, 2009. There were 28 cars at the track to give fans three heat races and a 25 lap feature race. The X of Rick Martin and the 8 of Rich Alexander made up the front row for the start of the first heat race. The 8 took the initial race lead but was passed on lap 2 by A.J. Maddox in the 3X car who went on to take the heat win. The only caution of the heat race was on lap 3 when the 38 of Tony Agin spun at turn 3 ending his night’s racing. The second heat race saw Rick Byerly in the 50 car with Mike Schroeder in the 6 car alongside, but it was fourth place starter Gene Lasker in the 02 car who took the lead and the heat win. The 55 of Kerry Gilbert and the 27 of Troy Knowles had the front row view for the third and final heat race. The 27 took the race lead at the start but was passed by Tim George in the 1 car on lap 3, who went on to take the heat win. With the 38 of Tony Agin and the 13 of Howard Harris unable to start the feature event, it was decided to start all 26 remaining cars. After an inversion, Mark Ruel Jr. in the 83 car had the pole for the start of the feature race with Ryan Partin in the 14 car on the outside. On the first start of the evening, Gene Lasker in the 02 car came from the fourth place starting position to take the lead, but a spin by the 18 car of Jeanette Burnett in turns 1 and 2 bought out the caution flag and a full restart. On the second start, Mark Ruel was able to keep the 83 machine out front, but a spin by the 3X of A.J. Maddox in turn 2 bought out the caution flag for a second time and another complete restart. The third start proved to be the most disastrous when the 15 car of Rocky Sullivan spun going into turn 1. In an effort to avoid the 15 car, the 99 car of Danny Jones rolled over coming out of the front straightaway. The 21A of Amanda Ferguson came to a stop in front of the 99 car but the cars behind her did not and she was hit by the 47w of Kyle Welchance which shoved her car into the 99. In an attempt to avoid that situation, the 83A of Christine Auld pulled to the inside, unfortunately using the tire barrier as a ramp to launch herself into the infield and almost rolling the car over, while the 3X of A.J. Maddox pulled to the outside of the crash and into the wall at the end of the front straightaway. The red flag was brought out while the cars were removed and the drivers checked out. Apart from a bruised ankle on Amanda Ferguson, the drivers were all OK, but 5 cars were out of the race, those being the 3X, 83A, 99, 21A & 47W. On the fourth full restart, Mark Ruel Jr was again able to hold onto the lead as the cars got away, but a spin involving the 27 of Troy Knowles, the 24 of Jeff VanDusen and the 85 of Clyde Poole at turn one bought the caution flag back out again. The 85 was done for the night but the other two cars were able to rejoin the field. With 4 start, 6 cars out and not a single lap completed, it was decided to try a single file start. It sounds like this should have worked, but no, the 07 car of Clint Reynolds spun at turn 2 while the 19 car of Keith Butler spun out in three after contact with another car. The 19 car was taken off the track and the 07 car was fired back off. The remaining cars lined up again to take the start for the sixth time. This time the field made it away and Mark Ruel in the 83 car took the lead for the first lap, but was passed on lap 2 by Gene Lasker in the 02 car. The X car of Rick Martin pulled off on lap 4 followed by the 07 car of Clint Reynolds and the 27 of Troy Knowles on lap 5. Also on lap 5, the 2 car of Frank Beck spun between turns 3 and 4 bringing out caution #6. The car was refired but pulled off after only one more lap of green flag racing. The 50 car of Rick Byerly pulled off on lap 7. On lap 11, the 8 of Rich Alexander spun at turn 3 and the 30X car of John Crowder spun at turn one for caution # 7. The 30X was done for the night and while the caution flag was out the 21 car of Jason Webster pulled into the infield. The 8 was pushed back off and the track went back to green with the 02 car still in the lead. On lap 14, the 8 spun again between 3 and 4 and was hit by the 42 car of Paulie Milum, ending the race for both cars and bringing out caution # 8. The cars were cleared away and the race went back to green. The 15 of Rocky Sullivan pulled off on lap 23 and on the final lap the 24 car of Jeff VanDusen stole the lead from the 02 of Gene Lasker to take the win. The initial top 5 finishers were the 24 of Jeff VanDusen, the 02 of Gene Lasker, the 1 of Tim George, the 83 of Mark Ruel Jr and the 6 of Mike Schroeder. The top 5 cars went to the tech area where protests were made against the top 3 cars, with each car being asked to strip down the motors. Approximately 4 hours later, the 24 of Jeff VanDusen and the 1 of Tim George were disqualified for failing the tech inspection, giving the win to Gene Lasker in the 02 car. The next Top Gun race is at Ocala Speedway on Friday, November 13. Top Gun Sprints East Bay Raceway Park, October 10, 2009 Heat #1 1) 3X A.J. Maddox (Brandon, FL) 2) 8 Rich Alexander (Tampa, FL) 3) 83 Mark Ruel Jr. (Jacksonville, FL) 4) 42 Paulie Milum (Bradenton, FL) 5) 15 Rocky Sullivan (Plant City, FL) 6) 99 Danny Jones (Land O’Lakes, FL) 7) X Rick Martin (Plant City, FL) 8) 47w Kyle Welchance (Sebring, FL) 9) 30X John Crowder (Summerfield, FL) 10) 38 Tony Agin (Fort Myers,FL) Heat #2 1) 02 Gene Lasker (Tampa, FL) 2) 6 Mike Schroder (Southwest Ranches, FL) 3) 14 Ryan Partin (Orlando, FL) 4) 24 Jeff VanDusen (Englewood, FL) 5) 2 Frank Beck (Sarasota, FL) 6) 21A Amanda Ferguson (Montverde, FL) 7) 50 Rick Byerly (Wesley Chapel, FL) 8) 18 Jeanette Burnett (Riverview, FL) The 13 car of Howard Harris from West Palm Beach did not start the heat race Heat #3 1) 1 Tim George (Venice, FL) 2) 85 Clyde Poole (Gibsonton, FL) 3) 19 Keith Butler (Riverview, FL) 4) 27 Troy Knowles (Gibsonton, FL) 5) 21 Jason Webster (Sarasota, FL) 6) 07 Clint Reynolds (San Antonio TX) 7) 55 Kerry Gilbert (Dover, FL) 8) 83A Christine Auld (Largo, FL) 9) 30 D.J. Peeples (Wesley Chapel, FL) Feature 1) 02 Gene Lasker; 2) 83 Mark Ruel Jr.; 3) 6 Mike Schroder; 4) 30 D.J. Peeples; 5) 14 Ryan Partin; 6) 55 Kerry Gilbert; 7) 15 Rocky Sullivan; 8) 18 Jeanette Burnette; 9) 42 Paulie Milum; 10) 8 Rich Alexander; 11) 21 Jason Webster; 12) 30X John Crowder; 13) 50 Rick Byerly; 14) 2 Frank Beck; 15) 27 Troy Knowles; 16) 07 Clint Reynolds; 17) X Rick Martin; 18) 3X A.J. Maddox; 19) 19 Keith Butler; 20) 99 Danny Jones; 21) 21A Amanda Ferguson; 22) 47w Kyle Welchance; 23) 83A Christine Auld; 24) 85 Clyde Poole The 38 of Tony Agin and the 13 of Howard Harris did not start of the feature race. The 24 of Jeff VanDusen and the 1 of Tim George were disqualified for failing tech inspection after the race. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! or Email KARNACto send a letter to the editor!