East Bay Welcomes December With Warm Hearts and Hot Racing
By Whit Holley
The Kevin Haynes racing team opened up tonight’s show along with the Marine Corps Toys For Tots campaign. A large box truck was on hand to collect unwrapped gifts and the gift giver received a discount on their grandstand ticket. To quote Paul Harvey. “Now the rest of the story”.
Michael Cherry Racing threw down the gauntlet with a large donation and a challenge to meet it. The “Odessa Flash” George Christensen clan was up for it and the giving was on! Even tonight’s 50/50 winner gave up the cash to help out the cause. Thanks go out to Dunlap Signs for the return. And thanks to ALL of our great fans and racers for making this a success. The money is still being counted and we will let you know the total.
Now to the racing action. The Crate Late Models made their return to East Bay Raceway Park for a December stand that will culminate with the championship race on Dec. 16
The entire starting field was made up of East Bay regulars trying out the new motor/chassis combination with one notable exception. NEXTEL Cup driver Ken Schrader decided to once again try his skills on the CLAY BY THE BAY.
Heat race number one fell to Devin Dixon and he pulled the Number two pill for the feature inversion. Jackie Nosbisch took heat two and got the feature pole by the pill draw.
Nineteen cars saw green for the 25-lap feature. Every driver was using every groove on the changing surface to try and work to the front. Schrader was dedicated to the very top line for most of the event and saw his groove come and go. Multi time track champ Keith Nosbisch used track savvy to move to the front and stay there. Josh Peacock had a fine showing moving from seventh starting spot to second at the finish. Roger Crouse grabbed third away from Schrader late in the event and held that spot to the finish. Schrader and Jeff Mathews rounded out the top five.
In Gagles Open Wheel Modified action, Raymond Rogers took the win. Rogers set himself up for a late race restart and charged from third to first using the outside line in turns one and two. Jamie Burrows held on for second ahead of Buzzie Reutimann, Jeff Mathews, and Josh Richeson. The win was protested, and parts have been sent out for testing by the manufacture. Reutimann and Trevor Merrill won the heats.
Jim Courson once again put his mount in victory lane in the Outlaw Four division. Courson took the win ahead of Cecil Martin, Steve Miller, Zach Amundsen, and Travis Varnadore. Courson also won heat two and Alex Boerner took heat one.
Another multi time winner made a return visit to victory lane in the Four Cylinder Bomber feature. Frank Miller pulled off a late race pass to claim the win over up and comer B.J. Harp. K.C. Laramee held on for third ahead of Calvin Moore and Tim Albright. Miller and Laramee took heat wins.
The Crate Late Models are back in action next Saturday night and Street Stocks will be added to the program.
