Roger Crouse Takes the Top Spot in Two Feature Races
By Jason Loughren
The phone was ringing off the hook at the track office all day Saturday as fans and drivers called to see if racing would take place as scheduled. Fortunately there was a break in the weather long enough to prepare the track and allow almost 100 cars to go racing on the damp clay by the bay. With most of the rain moved out of the area the sun was shining as the green flag dropped on the first heat race.
The Limited Late Models were in action for the third week in a row as Forest Gough and Shane Koperda had a fierce battle for the lead during the early laps. Problems with the Kaperda machine ended his night early and turned the lead over to Gough. Gough never looked back and won his first feature race of the season. Bruce Harvey finished in the 2nd spot. William Pugh, Bob Peterson and Roger Crouse rounded out the top 5. Gough won the heat race.
In the Open Wheel Modifieds Bobby Dixon and Robert Douglas battled for the lead for the first half of the race. While they were racing hard for the lead Roger Crouse was making his way through the field from the 12th starting spot. As the laps wound down Dixon suffered mechanical problems that ended his night. Crouse drove to the front of the field and took the feature win. Douglas who started 2nd finished in the same position. Jamie Burrows finished 3rd. Tony Agin and pole sitter Chad Hadlick completed the top 5. Raymond Rogers and Scotty Williams claimed victories in the heat races.
Charles Paris, Jr. has been the car to beat in the Street Stock division this year. Paris, Jr started in the 4th position and quickly worked his way to the lead. Buck Skinner challenged Paris, Jr. on a number of restarts, as the raindrops were moving in on the track. Paris, Jr. held off Skinner for his 7th feature win of the season. Dave Floyd finished 3rd. Buck Woodhouse who started in the 14th position came home 4th and Donnie Reed rounded out the top 5. Paris, Jr. and Buckshot Meixner won the heat races.
Another full field of Late Models were on hand for their 25-lap feature race. Roger Crouse fresh off visiting victory lane in the Open Wheel Modifieds started the race in the 3rd position. He had the car to beat and moved to the lead after an early caution for a multiple car accident on the front stretch. Once in the lead Crouse never looked back and went back to victory lane taking the feature win. The hard charging David Schmauss started in the 11th spot and finished 2nd. Jeff Mathews also started deep in the field and finished 3rd. Dorsey Strickland finished 4th and Ryan Mitchell took the 5th spot. KD Kelley, JR Prather, Jr. and Crouse won the heat races.
The 4 Cylinder Bombers were given an extra 5 laps for their feature race as the track conditions did not allow for the heat races to be run. Randy Tyler started on the first row and cruised to his first feature win of the season. Frank Miller finished 2nd. Robert Kissam ran in the top 5 all night and came home 3rd. Collin Kruse and Stephen Katz completed the top 5.
East Bay Raceway Park resumes ASA-sanctioned racing Saturday June 9th at 6:30pm with a full slate of racing action. 360 Sprints, Limited Sprints, Street Stocks, Outlaw 4’s and 4 Cylinder Bombers will all be in action. For more information visit www.eastbayracewaypark.com.
