East Bay Raceway Park vs NASCAR Saturday Night Racing
By Bill Green “From Behind The MIC”
Some would tell you it is Saturday Night suicide to go up against the world’s biggest racing machine. NASCAR is enjoying popularity that has for such a long time been reserved for super-stars of movies and music. Now with the subtle move of NASCAR events to Saturday Night shows, local tracks see and feel the difference.
The big boys are not moving to Saturday Nights to mess with the little guy and show them who’s boss. Or are they? They say their looking for cooler temperatures for the fans, more horsepower in the cooler air and because of TV contracts. Yes TV. They say the new breed of lights make for a better TV showing at night, bring out more distinct car colors and graphics enhancement. That’s what they say.
So the real diehard local Saturday Night racing fans will set the VCR and watch the race sometime Sunday, as normal. The rest, they just miss out on the heart and soul of racing. Where a passion for the sport always somehow over comes the cost of the car and it’s parts. That’s how it is at East Bay Raceway Park, passion and heart, from owners, racers, officials and fans! Tonight’s racing would be no different as one hundred plus cars signed in for racing action.
Hill’s Dirt Pit, Pioneer Tire & Auto, Buzbee Aquatic Mini-Stocks kicked off the night with exciting fender bending racing. Leading the field of 20 cars to the green flag, Scott Howard would still be out front when the 77 of Wayne Williams would clear out the center of the field in turn two as he spun in traffic. Back under green Howard would try to keeping the bottom groove and catch the inside curb and loose his lead and find himself in the infield.
Scotty Williams is hearing impaired, but he sure can drive a 4-cylinder. He took the win going away, with point leader Dorsey Strickland second, third would go to Rich Liverois, forth would be Josh Peacock, but fifth would be determined in tech. Greg Pae would arrive at Tech, muffler-less and give 5th to 16th starter Rick Tamski.
The Limited Sprints sponsored by Brakes Plus would see only 6 cars take the green, but as a great battle brewed between Tim Holston’s #30 and Donnie Maxwell’s #5, Holston would break and leave Maxwell to finish first in the battle with Larry Brazil, Jr. second, Tim George third, James Surrency forth and Curt Sutton fifth.
Open Wheeled Modifieds sponsored by Gagle’s Auto Parts would put on one heck of a show with Bobby “Prime-Time” Dixon leading the first 9 laps before 13th starter Bruce Watkins would take the top spot away. Dixon would then see Jamie Burrows slide past to challenge the leader. Dixon went third, watching as Burrows battled hard for the lead, only to finish second. Greg Reutimann took forth and Billy Boyd would start 20th, dead last, and salvage a Top-5 finish.
Limited Late Models came to the green next as Shane Kaperda lead them to a third restart, before a lap would be in the books. That would allow Forest Gough to work his way into the Victory Lane for the 4th time this year. Bill Howard would take second from a third finishing Mike Rudder, forth went to Roger Crouse and Timmy Bronson held on for fifth.
Late Models continued an unbelievable year of close, exciting racing with Roger Crouse climbing out of his Limited Late Model and into his Late Model to go to Victory Lane. Bobby Alexander would go second, in front of Devin Dixon third, Phillip Cobb forth and Ted Erskine fifth.
Street Stocks came to the green looking for that elusive extra $20 per position for going, green to checker, with no yellows. It only took one lap for Christina Cameron to loose control in turn four and bring out the 1st of several yellows. Surviving the may lay would be Jason Bronson to take the win, Eric Johnson second, Bruce Harvey going third, Paul Gibbs finished forth and Steve Johnson rounded out the Top-5.
Next week it’s the Winged 360 Sprints in action. We’ll See You At The Races!!!
