IT'S TIME TO RACE!!

May 30, 2004 FSCR East Bay Raceway Park Celebrates Local Veterans With Six Classes In Action! by Bill Green Tampa, FL. (May 29th, 2004). Everyone in racing and every other sport in America took time this Memorial Day weekend to honor our military veterans. East Bay Raceway Park was no different with our newly formed Kid’s Club and track pastors Natz & Elana Peters organizing a wonderful salute to the veterans in attendance. As the magical voice of Jeff Boggs sang “God Bless The USA,” Kid’s Club junior members handed out Thank You packets containing a copy of the poem read during the celebration and a copy of “Path To Victory” Sports Testament, plus other goodies. It was a great program, enjoyed by all in attendance. Mini Stocks took to the clay first with Daniel Bowman, Jr. and Scotty Williams winning Heat-1 and Heat-2 respectively. The feature would see three-wide racing out of turn two at the green, but Adam Weeks would pin Rick Vosiey into the turn two and back stretch wall to bring out the 1st caution during lap-2. In the end it would be Ryan Mitchell in victory Lane, with Scotty Williams second, third to Cecil Martin, fourth for Daniel Bowman, Jr. and Chad Rose comes home fifth. Limited Late Models followed the 4-cyl action with Heat-1 going to Terry Bronson and Heat-2 won by Shane Koperda. Excitement was the theme of the Limited Late Model feature, with a red on lap-5 for track blocking may-lay on the front stretch involving the “Flying Zero” of Keith Simpson and Rick Hormening. That would collect the 25R of Rowley, 104 of Combs and 26 of Evonosky, Jr. On the restart, David Simpson would get sideways in turn one and be collect by Sheryl Cochran, ending both their nights. William Hampton would watch as Terry Bronson drive away headed for victory, only to have mechanical problems end his night 1-lap from the win. Hampton brought the field back to the green and white restart for the last lap dash and looked to be cruising to another win, when J. R. Prather, Jr. got a bite off turn-2 and was under Hampton in turn-3. Once he got un him, Prather never lifted and was 1st across the finish after the contact in turn-4. Hampton held on for second, with Forest Gough third, Dorsey Strickland fourth and Shane Koperda fifth. Gagle’s Auto Parts sponsored Open Wheel Modifieds saw Heat-1 go to Jerry White, with Jeff Mathews taking the Victory in Heat-2. The feature saw veteran Buzzie Reutimann battling with Jeff Mathews, only to have the new yellow #00 of Reutimann caught behind a lap car during a passing attempt, falling to fifth. The victory would go to the #33 of Jeff Mathews, while Devin Dixon came home second. “Prime-Time” Bobby Dixon getting third after spinning early, David Schmauss held on for fourth and Buzzie salvaged a fifth place finish. Late Models signed in 10 cars for tonight’s action, but 12 cars rolled out for the heat as a few late arrivals made the show. Jackie Nosbisch, Jr. would use his outside front row starting spot to take the Heat win. Then make a clean sweep with a repeat performance in the feature for the win. Second was David Schmauss, third to “The Mayor of Muddville” Roger Crouse, fourth went to “The Master” Donnie Tanner and Bobby Alexander, Jr. borrows the keys to dad’s car and brings the #15 home fifth. Limited Sprints competed in two great heats that saw Clyde “Elvis” Poole winning Heat-1 and Tim Holston taking Heat-2. Brian Maddox would show that that outside front row spot always pays good dividends, taking the win wire-to-wire with a great start at the green. Second in line at the end would be “The Mopar Missile” of Frank Beck, III. From 8th starting spot, Tim Holston made it to third, Clyde Poole took fourth and “Big” Tim George came home fifth. Street Stock Heat-1 would go to Danny Paris in the “Phantom-309”, while Heat-2 saw Buck Woodhouse take the checkered. Feature would not go green to checkered, but the action theme continued with heat winner Paris taking the win, second to Steven Johnson, third to Michael Cherry, fourth to Buck Woodhouse and Brad Button held on for fifth ion a wild last lap, turn-4 battle that saw Tim Spencer fall from third to out of the top 5. Next week the same six classes are back in action on the June 5th. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! news@karnac.org or send a letter to the editor!