Roger Crouse Steals Show In Front of Packed East Bay Grandstands
By Jason Loughren
Roger Crouse celebrates the second of two feature wins at East Bay
Thirty Late Models entered the pits with sights set on earning a starting spot in the 25 lap feature. Three heat races and a consi race were necessary to set the starting grid as only 24 cars would start the feature. Bobby Clark, Brian Barse and Dennis Williams raced into the feature via the consi.
Roger Crouse was a busy man at the track on Saturday racing in two classes, and also visiting victory lane 2 times. Crouse held off the advances of Ryan Mitchell and Jackie and Keith Nosbisch for the win. It was Crouse’s 2nd feature win of the season in Late Models.
Mitchell was 2nd. Keith Nosbisch started 11th and finished 3rd. Jackie Nosbisch, Jr. was 4th. Shan Smith was the mover and shaker of the race, after starting in the 21st position he rounded out the top five. Mark Haase, Crouse and KD Kelley won the heat races.
It was “Motorcycle Mania” night Saturday night as Tampa Bay area bikers came to the track to watch a night of racing on the Clay by the Bay.
"Man! What an exciting, action packed night of racing..." - Mike Peters, owner Ocala Speedway
New fans at the track for the first time were treated to 5 great classes of racing along with a packed midway that included a motorcycle show, food and clothing vendors, and even homemade beef jerky. There were all different types of motorcycles on hand for this first time event at East Bay.
The Street Stocks were up first on the last weekend of racing in September that saw 100 cars pack the pits again at East Bay. Gary Sheffield has been running well lately in this class.
He started 12th in the 21 car field for the feature event.
Sheffield made his way to the front and held off the challenge of Danny Hill for his first ever feature win at East Bay.
"It's been a long time of coming out here, and working on a lot of cars, and finally getting a win; it means a lot, it was something I wanted to prove to myself I could do, now I've done and I feel like it's a great accomplishment." Sheffield said in an interview with KARNAC.com after the race.
Hill started in the 20th spot and finished 2nd. Buckshot Meixner finished 3rd. David Strickland was 4th and Dave Floyd rounded out the top 5. Charlie Paris, Jr., Floyd and Sheffield won the heat races.
In the Open Wheel Modified division 15 lap feature event Roger Crouse went to victory lane for the second time this season and the first time this night. Crouse took the lead midway through the race and if he had a mirror would have watched a tremendous battle for 2nd through 5th positions going on behind him as those spots swapped hands numerous times as the laps wound down.
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Scotty Williams finished 2nd. Jeff Mathews was 3rd. Jamie Burrows and Dale Kelley completed the top five. Bobby Dixon and Jamie Burrows went to victory circle in the heat races.
The Outlaw-4’s provided one of the best short green flag runs of the season as the race began with 4 wide racing at all corners of the track. Every inch of clay was being used and the fans were on their feet as the first caution came out on Lap 5.
After things settled down Shane Burrows assumed the lead and stayed there with the dominate car of the night. It was Burrows 3rd feature win of the season. Jim Coursen was 2nd. Cecil Martin came home 3rd. Paul Sampson and points leader Chad Rose rounded out the top 5. Martin and Burrows won the heat races.
The 4 Cylinder Bombers closed out the night of racing action. Randy Tyler picked up his 2nd feature win of the season. Howie Woods crossed the finish line in 2nd. DB Hogwaller finished 3rd. Kever Raulerson raced his way to a 4th place finish. Jason Russell earned his first top 5 of the season with a 5th place finish. Collin Kruse and Randy Tyler won the heat races.
East Bay Raceway Park continues ASA Sanctioned racing on 10/6/07 with a full slate of racing scheduled. Late Models, Limited Late Models, Open Wheel Modified, Street Stocks and Outlaw 4’s will all be in action. Racing starts at 6:30 PM. The Sprint Car show that was rained out last week will be rescheduled, for more information visit www.eastbayracewaypark.com or call the track office.
The Street Stocks were up first on the last weekend of racing in September that saw 100 cars pack the pits again at East Bay. Gary Sheffield has been running well lately in this class. 
